Page 77 of The House of Hopes and Dreams
‘You know he’d been counting on Julian taking him as his apprentice when he left college this summer.’
‘Yes, but didn’t Julian persuade him to apply to art college first? It’s a good idea to learn about designing and new techniques.’
‘He applied, but he was really keen to get down to work. It’s all he’s wanted to do since I first took him to see the workshop years ago, when he was a little lad. He’s been really depressed since Nat told him he wasn’t wanted and my daughter’s really worried about him.’
He shook his head, but then brightened. ‘Still, Julian would be thatproud of you, setting yourself up on your own like this, and who knows what will come of it?’
I blinked away a sudden tear. ‘I think he would be pleased, don’t you? And it’s thanks to Carey I’ve got this chance.’
‘Did I hear my name?’
Carey stuck his head in, his hair adorned by a large cobweb, which I brushed off for him. I was glad it didn’t still have an occupant.
‘I was just telling Ivan what a slave driver you were, making me trudge all over the house, taking notes and holding your camera and tape measure.’
‘I’ve got another slave at the moment: Louis is coming round to the stables with me to help carry the ladders.’
‘Great, then we can finally get going!’
‘So, what do you want us to start with?’ asked Grant, who had followed Carey in.
‘A big clean down, ready to begin painting the walls, doors and window frames,’ I said. ‘But first, there’s a box of cups and two big Thermoses of coffee in the studio. Let’s start with that.’
After the coffee, Carey and Louis went for the ladders and were gone for so long that I assumed they’d got distracted by something, but we began the great clean up without them. When finally they did return, though, they started cleaning out the gutters and washing down the outside paintwork, a cold and messy job.
Louis came back in when that was done and told me Carey had gone up to the house. ‘And he said I could come to Mossby any time I wanted, to help out with the restoration.’
‘How generous of him,’ I said, but the sarcasm went over his head. I suspected there was a touch of hero worship developing, though Carey wouldn’t notice: he assumes everyone he talks to shares both his enthusiasms and his knowledge.
‘Carey says …’ Louis started again, and this was clearly going to be his new catchphrase.
‘Carey says going to art college is really useful, because you can tryyour hand at all kinds of other things, not just your main subject,’ he said now, casually. ‘If I can get on a course, then he thought you might let me come and do work experience with you in the holidays.’
‘Of course I would, Louis, and I’ll help you with your college application too, if you like? You’ve had lots of relevant experience; they should jump at offering you a place.’
‘That would be great, thanks, Angel.’
‘AndI’ll be here as often as I can make it, helping you get the workshop ready –andafter it’s open,’ Ivan said. ‘If you’ll have me, that is? I don’t care if you can’t pay me till the business gets going, because I’m bored to death doing nothing – just like Louis is bored to death being a teenager.’
‘Oh, Granddad!’ Louis sighed long-sufferingly.
‘You know I’d love your help, Ivan. I’d have already asked you, except I didn’t want to take advantage when I couldn’t pay you. How about I give you petrol money, till the business starts to earn out?’
‘And a bottle of Old Spoggit Brown every day, to go with my sarnies?’ he suggested cunningly.
‘Done – it’s a bargain!’
‘And you know you said you needed a plumber? Well, I think I can help you with that one,’ Ivan said, and tapped the side of his beaky nose mysteriously. ‘I’ll make a call.’
It’s amazing what you can accomplish with help –andit makes everything a lot more fun – so we’d already made quite a difference by the time we finally adjourned to the house.
It was later than we’d thought, so Carey suggested he show Louis and the others the windows I’d been telling them about another day. Louis seemed more interested in the cellars and the haunted wing, anyway.
I spread out my brochures and the list of workshop equipment and materials on the kitchen table, among the coffee cups and a big plate of amazingly delicious custard-filled chocolate choux buns that Molly had left, with a note taped to the box saying, ‘Eat Me’.
‘I know what I want with the air filtration system,’ I said to Grant. ‘Asmaller version of the one Julian had. It’s the kiln I’m not sure about. There seems to be a huge choice these days …’
We pored over the catalogues while Ivan, his lips moving, read through the long list.
