Page 31 of A Seaside Escape
Mallory ate breakfast on the patio, in her checked pyjamas with unbrushed bed hair. The sun warmed her skin as she drank her freshly brewed coffee and looked over the jungle that, at some point, she was sure, used to resemble a cottage garden. It certainly needed work.
She had found an area of ground near the workshop, yesterday, that had been formerly used as a vegetable patch. There were still a few pegs with seed packets and labels attached, pointing out where potatoes and other veggies had been grown. That was a project she quite fancied attempting, she decided.
She heard a thudding which she eventually realised was coming from the front door. She checked the kitchen clock which read eight a.m.Who the heck would be calling around this early?she huffed, making her way through the house to find out.
Greg stood there in a sleeveless T-shirt and combat pants. ‘Morning! Am I too early? Just thought I’d call in as I was out and about so… shall I have a look at that tap?’It is too early and it’s not that bloody warm, she mentally rolled her eyes at his attire and his persistence to turn up in front of her uninvited. She guessed he was trying to be friendly but this just affirmed that he had no social skills whatsoever.
‘I’m not exactly… er…’ she gestured at her pyjamas, hoping he would get the hint.
He trailed his eyes down to her attire and back up to her face. Smiling, he said, ‘Oh, no bother, they’re very fetching. Get the kettle on, eh?’
Good grief, this man takes no hints.She pursed her lips at the smiling buffoon in front of her. Reluctantly she let him in with his large metal toolbox.
‘Shall I just go away up there? I know my way,’ he said, walking past her.
‘Why not, you probably will anyway,’ she chuntered under her breath.
Greg paused and turned to her. ‘Sorry? I didn’t catch that.’
She mustered up as much cheeriness as she could manage. ‘Yes, sure go on up, it’s open. I’ll get the kettle on.’
Whilst the coffee was brewing, she dashed upstairs and changed into lounge pants and a hoodie and when the coffee was ready, she trudged up the garden, with minimal enthusiasm, to the workshop.
When she had made the suggestion to Greg, she had expected a little notification of his intention to call round, or for the visit to at least be at a more reasonable time of day. She felt guilty for being so negative; he was doing her a huge favour after all. She pushed the door open with her bottom and found Greg lying on the floor under the sink. She placed the coffee down and leaned against the work surface.
‘How bad is it?’ she enquired, hoping the answer would be a positive one.
‘Hard to say at the moment, the nuts are all seized… and there’s nothing worse than seized nuts!’ He laughed heartily at his own joke. Mallory chuckled. It was quite funny after all.
She took out her iPod from her pocket and attached the little speaker. Selecting a Foo Fighters track list, she placed it down to create some background noise and Greg began to sing along as he worked.
He poked his head out from where he laid. ‘So you’re one of these gadget types, eh?’ He nodded towards the iPod. ‘I prefer CDs mysel’. Or even better,vinyl.’ He said the word like it was something awe-inspiring and Mallory shook her head, bewildered, as he disappeared once again.
She stood and drank her coffee in silence as he faffed around with spanners, hammers and bolts under her sink. She realised she had a very clear view of his tattoo now – something she had been curious about since her first encounter with Greg. She had always had a fascination with ink, but had never dared go under the needle herself. Greg’s tattoo was puzzling. The image showed the alphanumeric ‘K2’ wrapped in barbed wire.
‘That’s an interesting tattoo on your arm, Greg, what does it mean?’
Greg stopped working and sat up. He pretended to examine the mangled bit of metal in his hand. ‘Ah, it’s just something I had done last year,’ he said, glancing up at her. His expression told her he wasn’t going to elaborate.
‘Oh right. Why K2? What’s the significance?’ she pushed, figuringhehad been personal, so why couldn’t she?
He rose to his feet, scraping his hair back off his face. ‘Maybe it’s a story for another time, eh?’ He came to where she stood, took a gulp of his coffee and went back to work.
That’s the end of that conversation then, she surmised. She decided to take the empty cups back into the house and jump in the shower.
‘I’ll be in the house if you need anything, okay?’ She didn’t wait for an answer.
She felt refreshed after she had showered, towel-dried her hair and applied moisturiser. When she was dressed again, she returned to the workshop where Greg was stood wiping his hands.
‘You finished already?’ Mallory enquired, hopeful.
‘Na. You’ll need a new tap. I’ll pick one up and come back to fit it tomorrow if that’s okay?’
‘Sure, if you don’t mind. I don’t want to keep you from anything.’
‘It’s fine. I’ll squeeze it in. It’s not a massive job. I’ve got to go now ’cause I’m working on my boat this afternoon and I need to get lunch before I go.’ He tucked the dirty cloth into his back pocket and closed his toolbox.
‘Oh, I could’ve made you some sandwiches or something to take, it’s the least I could do.’
