It had been a long day of hard graft and Alex was glad to have stopped off for fish and chips on the way home. He had been landscaping today, a posh way of describing shifting several tonnes of muck using shovel and wheelbarrow. This week he was labouring for a local garden designer, for a townhouse in Hampton Hill. Alex was picked up at 7 and dropped home at 5:30. He had worked late today to finish the soil moving as the plants were arriving tomorrow and first thing the skips were being removed. Paul had even paid for Alex's supper, which comprised of two fish and a large chips.
The story was Alex lived with his 'great-aunt' and acted as part time carer. Mrs Drummond was now Aunty Enid. Alex was living in her downstairs extension, an area that had been used as a storeroom. The old woman, on finding out her handy man was technically homeless, had offered her junk room for a tenner a week, if he did her shopping, gardening and cleaned up after himself. Alex kept the whole house spotless now. Enid had been really poorly last year and could no longer manage the stairs. Her room and the spare room acted as bedroom and sitting room. Every morning Alex left her with a carafe of water, two thermos of tea and her lunch and breakfast waiting. She rang if she needed anything during the day and could get to the bathroom with her walker. Twice a week her friends came over for cards and on Saturday Alex took her to the local day centre; so Mrs Drummond could socialise and enjoy the music at the weekly tea dance.
Enid refused to install a stair lift and clung to her staying in her own house as her reason for living. Her 'nephew' living in allowed her independence.
As the lodger opened the door, he went straight to the kitchen to put the food in the oven and dinner plates to keep warm and filled the kettle. Then he went upstairs to see his landlady.
"Evening Enid, have you had a good day?"
The old woman was sat by the window playing patience, "Quiet. I really enjoyed the racing on Channel 4 this afternoon."
Alex smiled and put the dirty flasks, dishes and silverware on a tray to take downstairs to wash up. "Fish and chips for supper tonight in about fifteen minutes." That would give Alex enough time to wash and get clean clothes on.
"What's the occasion for such a treat?"
"Job well done today. Paul is a hard task master, I did not stop today so this is his treat. He also apologises that I was late home." Alex left out the fact he's had the mickey taken out of him for being a 'mummy's boy', who had to be in bed by eight. It was a first time in his life, he had that sense of home with no underlying powerlessness, loneliness or unhappiness. Jack, while being fun and great, had always just been there as staff and nothing deeper than sort of friends until Ian died and both their lives were on the knife edge of uncertainty because of the Bank. The ex-spy dragged himself from his dark thoughts by changing the subject to future plans. "I'll be able to repoint your garden wall next week as promised; with the added bonus that you can have cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner." Alex found he had calmed down with this oasis, two lonely people co-existing. It was so much more than mere survival. The old lady had taught the young lodger how to cook, to appreciate opera and classical music and to play bridge. Alex had taught her in turn, the importance of counting cards, memory, sheer nerve to play blackjack, poker and baccarat. The young lodger did basic maintenance and servicing of the fifteen ear old VW Polo in the garage. Very helpful for both occupants of the household, it was nice to get about as Alex used the car for jobs and shopping. The car becoming more important as Enid was not as mobile as she had been when they first met two years ago. It was coming around to winter again and Alex worried that this would be the frail old ladies last. He knew she had already paid for her funeral, organised it to the last detail, and put her estate in order. Her will accompanied by an affidavit from a psychologist proving she was of sound mind.
This was how life was meant to be, getting to a ripe old age, keeping yourself entertained, enjoying friendships old and new, and being cared for. Enid had admitted to having and expecting a hard life and priding herself on her endurance. She had always exploited her little freedoms, despite the controlling of her husband. Her daughter had been spoiled by her father and Cyril had sent the child to boarding school. It had been then Enid had lost the daughter, as the child returned to suburban London and had found it wanting. School had shown the spoiled only child the reality of her rich and upper class classmates. Her own mother was more a skivvy than a proper lady and the child let her mother know her every fault. Enid had set about improving herself, learning piano, deportment and elocution. She enjoyed her lessons, made new friends, talked to her neighbours without hiding and found her husband was less exacting and harsh. Cyril worked long hours and had never considered entertaining at home. Enid then took french cookery evening classes and watched Fanny Craddock on TV. She stopped being a doormat and her daughter had not liked the changes in her mother, who was acting above her station. Donna had grown to expect a woman who did everything for her family but had no voice.
Alex's own life had changed while living in Twickenham. Alex was now 23 and being celibate suited him. He had grown to hate his short love affairs and one night stands. Each encounter brought some level of curiosity or pure repulsion at his scars and the fact he could not explain their origin beyond he had a shit life between the ages of fourteen and sixteen. He had grown used to his body and each and every blemish from his chest, stomach, back and arms. He had once stated to one shocked lady that they were proof he was really him, not his evil twin. His real problem was that he could not commit or afford to fall in love. He had nothing to offer any woman, as he could not expect a lover to follow his lifestyle nor could he explain why he had to stay under the radar. Living with Enid had broken the cycle of short term and unfulfilling relationships, mostly with older women. He had found one night stands with women his age even more unsatisfying, as he got a glimpse of the life he could not have. He loved sex, and knew he was an attentive lover, but he wondered if he needed therapy to resolve his control issues. Love was meant to conquer all, but it was an impassible mountain when you were basically a shadow, living in the underclass below the unemployed or those on large council estates.