Page 18 of He's the One

Col tried not to bristle.

“Your dad and I are going on holiday soon and we don’t want to leave you on your own while you’re like this.”

“I’m—”

“You’re not fine, Col. Don’t you dare say you are. It’s your default response and it’s not good enough. This is what we’ve decided.” She glanced at his dad. “On Monday you’ll apply for Job Seekers Allowance. You’re entitled to it, you paid the contributions, you should claim it. It’s only out of some misplaced sense of pride that you haven’t.”

He nodded.

“Good. We’ve ordered some limestone and sandstone blocks for you to work on so you have something to do. They’ll arrive this afternoon. You can help your dad set up the gazebo on the patio and move the workbench out of the garage. He says it’s strong enough to support the stone. Do some carvings so you can show people how good you are. We set up an account with the place we ordered from so if you need more stone, you can get it.”

Col’s jaw had dropped. He was torn between being grateful and hoping they’d not wasted their money on something he couldn’t use.

“In return, you’re going to volunteer one day of your time at a promises auction. Asquith Hall is holding the event on the fifteenth as part of their autumn show and our Women’s Institute is getting a share of the profits.”

Col immediately thought of the grey-eyed guy who worked there. Would he see Theo again? If he could have afforded to pay the hefty entrance fee, he’d have gone back and looked for him.

“Are you listening?” his mum asked. “You know what a promises auction is, right?”

“Yes, but what do I have to offer?”

She frowned. “All sorts of things. Brick work, gardening, walking a dog, picking up litter on the beach, reading to an elderly person. We’ll brainstorm. Thirdly, you are going to enter at least one competitive class. Bake six scones, produce a garden on a tray, a flower arrangement, display six different vegetables…”

His dad laughed. “Where’s he going to get those from? Sainsbury’s? He’ll be disqualified.”

“I was giving examples. There’s lots of choice. Bake bread that celebrates the harvest, create a castle out of fruit and vegetables, make a child’s birthday cake. You’re really creative, you can do something wonderful. Go online and put your name down for at least two things. I’ll pay the entry fees.Andyou’re going to spend the day at the show. You can help us set things up, and wander round talking to people. Being sociable won’t kill you.”

She stared at him. And kept staring.

Col caved. “Okay.”

His mum laughed. “Well, that was easier than I thought it would be.”

Col didn’t want to enter any of the classes at the show, or promise his services for the day, or bloody wander around talking to people, but he did want stone to carve. That was a good idea, though he’d never have bought it himself. Spare cash went into Dominic’s fund.

“How many blocks am I getting?” Col asked.

“Seven,” his dad said. “All different shapes and sizes. Mostly limestone but the guy said he’d throw in a chunk of something he thought you might like.”

“Thank you.” Col hoped they’d not told the guy why he was miserable, but he suspected his mum hadn’t been able to help herself.

“We’re thinking of it as an investment,” his dad said. “Now come and help me with the gazebo.”

Col supervised the delivery of the stone. There were some lovely looking blocks, honey-coloured limestone and sandstone, and one piece of silver-flecked granite, though granite was hard to cut, let alone carve. Col was already eyeing up a rectangular block of limestone that was shoutingI’m a dragon curled over my tail.

“Sorry your mum’s in bulldozer mode.”

“Maybe I needed bulldozing.” Col slipped his dad a smile. “Though I could have done without her telling all her friends what’s happened. I’m assuming the neighbours know too. Did she put it in the local paper?” He was joking about that.

His dad winced. “You know how terrible she is about keeping secrets. Doesn’t matter whether it’s good or bad, it won’t stay in the house.”

“I know.”

“You can live with us as long as you need to, you know that, don’t you?”

“Yes. Thanks, Dad.”

“And if you’ve not moved out by the time we go on holiday, no wild parties while we’re away.”

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