Page 122 of He's the One

Theo gaped at him. “You think that’s possible?”

“I’ll have a look.”

“It would look great in here with a vaulted ceiling.”

Col put the ladder under the hatch and climbed up. He used his phone to illuminate the space, then crawled through onto the beams.

“Is there anything up there?” Theo called. “Treasure in particular.”

“Empty.” Col had a good look around and came back down again. “It looks as though it was once open to the room. We can make it like that again, but I’d have to plasterboard, then plaster all the sections between the beams.”

“Let’s do it. By that I mean, you’ll have to do it but I’ll make all sorts of admiring noises.”

“That sounds like a deal. I’ll start taking down the ceiling and you move the old plasterboard to the stable. If it’s too big to carry, then cut it with the saw. Wear this mask and gloves and open the windows. It’s going to be dusty.”

Within a short period of time, they had the ceiling down. Light fittings dangled from the crossbeams, and Col wasn’t sure he could sort those out, but the room looked really big.

Theo pulled down his mask. “I can’t believe how different it looks.”

“It’ll be lovely. Those beams are in great condition. I can see a huge Christmas tree in that corner, assuming you could get it up the stairs. But you’re going to have to get an electrician in to refit the lights.”

“I can afford to do that.”

“If you clean up the rest of the debris, I’ll make a start on boarding.”

Col sawed wood, attached battens, and it didn’t take long before he’d done the easy half of the rectangular room. He showed Theo how to measure and saw, and the delight on Theo’s face when he attached a section of plasterboard made Col’s heart lurch.

“You look like you’re enjoying yourself,” Col said.

“I like working with you. Much better than making bookends in craft club that Mr Philips was never satisfied with. I used to think his only pleasure in life was making us do things over and over. Mine got smaller and smaller.”

Col laughed. “Still talking about bookends?”

“Ha ha. I gave them to Sarah and she used them as a door stop.”

Col scuffed his boot on the floor. “I wonder if this would clean up. We’d have to hire a sanding machine, but I think it would be worth it. Maybe I could salvage boards from another room if there are any in here that are too damaged.”

“That sounds a really good idea. Let’s stop now. You’ve been working all day. You might be too tired to do other stuff and that would be a tragedy.”

As Theo was speaking, Col’s phone rang. Unknown number. His heart jumped.Dominic?“Let me get this. Hello?”

“Don’t hang up. It’s Megan. Robert’s ex.”

Col switched the phone to speaker. “Robert’s wife?” That was to give Theo a head’s up. Theo’s eyes widened.

“I’ve kicked him out.”

“Right.”

“I’m calling to warn you that he’s pissed off with you. The police tried to deliver what turned out to be a harassment notice to this address but I sent them to his office. One of his colleagues caught wind of what was happening and Robert didn’t take that well.”

Col winced. “No, he wouldn’t.”

“He’s pissed off with me too. I’d like to think he has better sense than to come after you, but we’re both aware that’s not true. I’ve finally figured out I don’t know him at all. He’s delusional. The only reason I know what happened at his work is because that same colleague called me. He was concerned for me. Unlike Robert.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“We’re both better off without him. But he still has the right to see the kids. Unfortunately. In a way, I should thank you. At least I haven’t wasted any more of my life on him. And…and I’m really sorry about your job and hitting you and the way I spoke to you.”

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