Out of Step by Maggie Makepeace Page B

things up here,’ she said, ‘but I thought we could clear it out, and maybe paint it up a bit when you get here. There’s even a loo through there. I think it must have been a separate bedsitter once.’
    Mic looked about her. ‘Oh yeah, and there’s a sink too, where we can wash paintbrushes out, and that big table’d be good too.’
    ‘It belongs to Rob,’ Cassie said, ‘but he’s not getting it back.’
    ‘Could do with more chairs,’ Mic said, ‘and maybe a sofa or two?’
    ‘We could go to a furniture auction,’ Cassie suggested, getting enthusiastic. ‘I haven’t been to one for ages. It would be fun!’
    ‘Great,’ Mic said.
    They went down two flights of stairs into the kitchen, and sat at the dining end with one glass of dry white wine and one sweet sherry.
    ‘Cheesy bic?’ Cassie offered.
    ‘Oooh, thanks.’ Mic took three. She demolished the first in two bites, and then proffered the jar. ‘You?’
    ‘No thanks,’ Cassie said. ‘I don’t.’
    ‘That the cooker?’ Mic asked, nodding towards it and corralling biscuit crumbs into a neat pile on the table in front of her.
    ‘Yes it is. It’s an Aga and it’s marvellous.’
    “Cos I’d need to give them a hot meal, dinnertime. It’s part of the regulations.’
    ‘That’s fine,’ Cassie said. ‘I only cook in the evenings, and then as little as possible. So, what do you think?’
    Mic’s grin animated her whole body. ‘I think I musta died and gone to ‘eaven!’ she said, and she drained her sherry with a flourish.
    And now here they were at last. Cassie dropped the sheets in a heap on the floor, and ran downstairs to open the front door.
    ‘Hi,’ Mic said. She looked both hopeful and nervous. ‘This is it, then.’ She turned to her son, who was dragging the holdall along the ground towards the door. ‘Say “Hello, Cassie”, Gavin.’ The boy ignored her.
    ‘Hello again, Gavin,’ Cassie said. He’s probably overawed, she thought. Not used to a house as big as this. She tried an easy question. ‘How old are you, then?’
    ‘Go on, Gav,’ Mic encouraged him.
    ‘I’m six and I’m reely
reely
strong!’ Gavin picked up the holdall and half fell with it into the front hall, crashing into the coatstand and almost upsetting it.
    ‘He’s a bit of a bruiser,’ Mic apologised, catching it and propping her rucksack against it. ‘I reckon he’ll be a right little thug, time he’s sixteen. Where’s your kids, then?’
    ‘I parked them out with a friend for a couple of hours. I couldn’t face them going on at each other while you two were trying to get settled in. It’s a nightmare sometimes! Now, why don’t you dump your bags there for the time being, and come into the kitchen? We could have a cup of something.’ As she led the way, Gavin pushed past her legs and got there first, making straight for the toy chest at the far side.
    ‘Well, the kids won’t be a problem no more,’ Mic said. ‘Not now I’m here. Watch yourself with that, Gav!’
    ‘Thank goodness …’ Cassie began. ‘Do be careful, Gavin, that’s Josh’s best Space Lego. Tea or coffee?’
    ‘Tea, please. Milk, two sugars.’
    They sat a little self-consciously together whilst Gavin played heavily on the floor at their feet. I shall be better now, Cassie thought, now I’ve got help. And the children will have friends to play with, which will be good for developing their sociability. Josh needs to be more assertive with other children; he’s a sensitive boy. Gavin could be a great help. He’s only about six months older, ideal really, and Josh always said he wanted a brother …
    Mic put her teacup down with a sigh of contentment. ‘It’s great to have a proper roof over our ‘eads at long last,’ she said. ‘Know what I mean?’
    ‘It must have been hell,’ Cassie said. ‘However did you manage?’
    ‘Well, after that sod – not me ‘usband, thank Gawd – buggered off, we lived wiv me mum for a while, but that didn’t work