Page 39

Chapter 39

Mid-May 1931

The next time Keith appeared at the scullery door, Ann was ready for him.

‘I’m so pleased to see you again,’ she began.

‘There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.

’

He put down the toolbag he was carrying.

‘I know. I do owe you an apology. I said I’d get that front door fixed weeks ago and it’s still not done.

’

‘It doesn’t matter.

’

‘It matters to me. I don’t want you to think I’m a man who doesn’t keep his word.

’ He bent down and opened the bag.

On the rough canvas the name G.

ANDERSON was painted in worn letters.

Ann shook her head. Why did he have to be so obtuse?

He pulled a carpenter’s metal plane from the bag and inspected the blade.

The handle on the top of the frame was painted purple and there was a turquoise stripe along one side.

‘This should deal with the problem. It won’t take more than five or ten minutes, and I’ll come back and give the edge a touch of paint tomorrow.

I’d have done it before but I had to move out of my flat last week and hand back the keys.

It all took longer than I expected and the landlord isn’t the most patient of men.

’

This wasn’t what Ann was expecting at all.

He saw her looking at the lettering.

‘My brother’s tools.

Gregor Anderson. He was a joiner before he got called up.

The oldest of the three of us.

’

Ann immediately remembered what Isobel had said about his brothers and was again lost for words.

Keith didn’t notice and pressed on.

‘On a building site, see, there’s a lot of men with the same planes and chisels and he told me that he’d picked up another man’s tools by accident more than once.

He happened upon some leftover paint from the end of a job he was doing and we spent an evening marking up all his tools.

’ He put the plane down on the kitchen table.

‘A few of his friends did the same thing. It’s not that anyone would try to steal someone else’s kit – you’d be off a site and not asked back if that was the case – but every joiner sharpens in a way that suits him, and let’s just say some tradesmen are better at looking after their tools than others.

’ He tried to find a better explanation, mistaking her silence for a lack of understanding.

‘It would be like using someone else’s fountain pen after you’ve got the nib to write the way you want.

’

‘I see.’ She clutched at the most important thing he had said.

‘So you’ve found somewhere else to live?

’

He shrugged. ‘Well, I have and I haven’t.

My friend Rab has asked his mother if I can stay at their flat.

There’s just the two of them, and they’re struggling as well.

Three can live as cheaply as two and I’m grateful.

It’ll do until the trade picks up a bit.

’

‘But if they’re having a hard time too, will there be room for you?

’ Her mind raced. ‘I mean, will you have a proper bed to sleep in? Because—’

‘I’ll manage.

We all will.’

‘It’s just that I was going to put a proposal to you.

’

‘You are proposing to me?’ He grinned.

‘That’s not a thing I ever thought would happen.

’

Ann could feel herself getting tied in knots.

‘Not that sort of proposal.’

‘What a pity.’ He was laughing now.

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!

’ Frustration flooded out of her.

‘I was going to offer you a room here. A free room. Without any rent.’

His laughter evaporated as soon as it had surfaced.

‘Absolutely not!’

‘But I have plenty of space and you need somewhere to live.’

He frowned at her, a heavy expression she had never seen on his face before.

‘I do not need charity. Not yours and not anyone else’s either.

I’ve known Rab’s mother since I was a wee lad in primary school.

She has made me a kind offer and I will take it because I can help them out while I’m staying there.

I am not a charity case.

’ He picked up the plane.

‘Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a door to sort out. ’