was doubtful Laurie would want her up in Yorkshire. She and Cam had the builders in big time at the moment. There was no way they’d want Siena under their feet. Jason smiled. He’d be shot of her by the end of the week.
Siena let herself out of the front door, pocketing the front door key that Jason had handed over, after carefully sliding it onto a little Lego man key ring, so she wouldn’t lose it. When he wasn’t being grumpy, he could be quite kind. Although, that would go up in smoke if he found out what she was really planning.
Guiltily she looked back down the street. Satisfied she was out of earshot, she pulled out her phone, dialled and then carried on walking briskly, trying to warm up. A layer of frost coated the windscreens of the parked cars lining the street. It felt cold enough for snow and the tip of her nose tingled in the freezing air.
‘Siena.’ Laurie’s voice rang with pleasure.
‘Hi Laurie.’
‘How are you? I am so sorry I’m not there. If you’d given me a bit more notice I could have made arrangements. It’s chaos up here, otherwise I would invite you. We only got the water back on yesterday. And I can’t leave Norah.’ Laurie paused before adding. ‘Do you remember Uncle Miles’ housekeeper? She should have retired but she insists on coming to,’ there was another awkward pause, ‘to Merryview to help out.’
Siena winced at Laurie’s careful mention of her inheritance, the house which had left their mother incandescent with affronted rage. A weaker woman might have taken to her bed. Not Maman. No, she’d called in a team of Paris’s finest legal advocates to query the veracity of her brother’s last will and testament.
Siena swallowed. ‘It was sort of a spur of the moment thing.’ That sounded much better than a nowhere-else-to-go flight.
‘Next time, you idiot,’ the warmth of Laurie’s voice made the insult affectionate, ‘phone me first. I’m gutted I can’t see you. When are you heading back?’
Siena stopped and leaned against the nearest garden wall. ‘Here’s the thing.’ She kept her tone shiny bright and upbeat. ‘You know how you said I’d always have my own room,’ she left the pause, hoping that Laurie would fill it with effusive acceptance.
Unfortunately Laurie didn’t oblige.
‘Remember, you said it was mine, ‘whenever I want it’?’
‘Yes,’ Laurie sounded hesitant.
‘And you decorated it and everything. Your house is gorgeous inside by the way. I love the way you’ve done it. I can’t believe you did the bedroom for me. I’ve been dying to see it and,’ she took a breath, ‘I want to stay for a while.’
‘Wow. I didn’t see that coming. How long’s a while?’ Trust Laurie, Miss Practical Pants to get straight to the point.
‘Quite a while, like a year or two or three.’
There was silence.
Siena rushed on. ‘I’ve decided to do a fashion degree. In London. I need to apply. Maman won’t be too keen but I figure if I go back, all signed up, with somewhere to stay and a place, she can’t really stop me.’ She didn’t add that she hadn’t realised that Leighton Buzzard was so far from London but she’d worry about that later.
‘Siena, that’s great. You said that’s what you wanted to do. Good for you. I’m sure your, I mean, our mother will be fine.’
Siena pulled a face. She wasn’t so sure.
‘Of course you can stay. Although what about Jason? I can’t kick him out. It’s been quite handy having him there, looking after the place.’
‘Oh Jason’s fine. He doesn’t mind.’ Siena looked back over her shoulder.
‘Really? I guess it makes sense. There’s plenty of room and the two of you can share the bills. The council tax is a killer and I’m sure he’ll be grateful to share that as well as the electricity, gas and water.’ Laurie lowered her voice. ‘Nice for him to have company too. I don’t know him that well, he’s a uni friend of Cam’s so he must be alright.’
‘And how is the lovely Cam?’ asked Siena grateful to change the subject.
‘Fine,’ said Laurie matter of factly. ‘In fact when we’re a bit straighter you must come and see us.’
‘Just fine?’ teased Siena. ‘Mighty fine, I seem to recall.’ She might have met him only once but as men went, he was more than fine.
Laurie laughed. ‘He’s gorgeous, stubborn, opinionated, absolutely lovely and a pain in the arse in equal measure.’
Once they’d wound up their conversation. Siena started walking again, a grin on her face. Looked like everything was working out perfectly.
Electrical Assembler. What the heck was that? Experienced assembler required.
That counted her out. Her finger scanned down the rest of the column as she leaned on the dresser, studying the back pages of the local paper.
UK driving licence required. Perhaps they might consider a French one.
A possible.
Must be fully conversant with Word/Excel and have some knowledge of accountancy packages.
No, not suitable.
Car owner.
‘You’re back.’ She jumped at the sound of Jason’s voice and folded the newspaper quickly.
‘Yes, I popped into town,’ she said brightly as if sounding upbeat might dispel the leaden lump in her chest. ‘I’ve got your money for you.’ She handed it to him.
‘Thanks.’ He put the money on the side, leaving it there as he began to pull clothes from the yawning mouth of the washing machine.
It hurt that he left the crisp bank notes so casually on the side. They represented a third of all she had access to at that moment.
Her bank account wasn’t as flush as she’d thought. Of course there’d been the first class flight to London, the new dress and boots from Printemps and this winter’s collection new Prada handbag and the matching purse this month. Asking Maman for an advance on next month’s allowance appeared to be out of the question.
‘I really appreciated you lending me the money.’ She fingered the ribbing on the sleeve of her fine knit jumper not looking him in the eye.
‘No problem.’ He shook out a pair of jeans.
‘So the bills here. Are they quite expensive?’
‘They’re alright.’ Jason picked up the basket and hummed to himself.
Hesitantly she watched as he started pegging out his washing on a rack besides the rather feeble radiator.
‘So,’ she said brightly, ‘how much do you pay?’
He looked up from the task and glared at her. ‘If you want
