Page 52 of A Perfect Algarve Villa
‘Right. Big bill?’
‘I settled it. I want to spend time with Alex. I won’t see him again for two months. Can you take back trying to open a post-box please?’
Mark swivelled in his chair. Emily was flapping a sheaf of papers at him. ‘If I pick up the post-box, could you do something for me? Could you ask Jess to pipe down? The squealing ...’
Emily rolled her eyes and dropped the papers onto his desk. ‘Two days and then they’ll be gone. Put some earplugs in if you find it that offensive.’
He grunted, elbowing the papers to one side. His phone rang and he snatched it up. ‘Pedro!’
‘Mr Ellis, how can I help?’
‘Any progress on the hot food licence?’ He couldn’t keep crossing his fingers hoping Emily didn’t check, but how often does a sole trader check the copy on their website? He’d taken a precaution; there was now a very similar photograph of breakfast, but this one showed a plate of pastries. What would happen if the council did a spot check and found his wife cooking? He didn’t dare ask Pedro.
‘These matters take time, Mr Ellis. Anything else?’
‘We’re still booked in for our residency certificates on Friday, aren’t we?’
‘Yes, Mr Ellis. 10 o’clock. I will meet you on the steps of the town hall.’
‘Thanks. One last thing, Pedro. How do I get hold of you if I need you in a hurry? Your assistant told me you would call me back in twenty minutes.’
‘And I did, Mr Ellis. But these were Portuguese minutes,’ he said, chuckling.
‘I’m serious.’
‘Mr Ellis, I will put you on my special list.’
Hearing his son calling out to Emily prompted Mark to call his mother. The phone rang and rang, and he was starting to think she must’ve gone out when he heard a wheezy voice say, ‘Gwen Ellis.’
‘Mum?’
‘Boyo!’
‘You sound exhausted. What’s wrong?’
‘Mustn’t grumble. Hot is it out there? Baking here. There’s a heatwave, and Deidre and I are making the most of it, we’ve only got it for two days. Still, that’s what we love about it, isn’t it, the fact that it’s temporary. Make the most of it before it rains again.’ She coughed; the sound became muffled, and he imagined her holding her hand over the old-fashioned receiver. His brow furrowed.
‘Come out and see us.’
‘What would happen to my tomato plants? I don’t trust Deidre to water them properly, they need to be done first thing of a morning.’ His mother let out a sharp gasp.
Mark’s fingers tightened around his phone. ‘They still haven’t given you a date for the op, have they?’
‘Sorry about that, love. Must be the hay fever.’
‘I’m worried. Are you sure you’re, OK?’
‘Fine, love. Now tell me what’s going on with you, eh? When you coming to see me?’
He groaned. He wanted to curl his arms round his mother and hug in that baking smell. Once they were resident, he would celebrate with a trip to Essex. He pictured turning up unannounced on the Chalkwell doorstep, even though he knew it wasn’t in his tax days allowance and wasn’t going to happen.
Eighteen
July 1st
Ellis bank balance: (£2,186.98) Overdrawn.
90-Day Rule Tally: Emily: 28 Mark: 14
