Page 23 of So This is Christmas

She laughed. ‘Walter, I would be honoured to do the job, but my life is in England, not in Vienna.’

‘Shame,’ he said.

‘Having someone here for a little extra support isn’t such a bad idea, though.’ She knew from experience that it wasn’t easy for a lot of people to admit they needed help, but perhaps he would come round to it. ‘Why don’t you let me help temporarily while I’m here?’

‘I would like that very much. Would you be able to come with me to the bank so I can get some cash?’

‘Let’s talk about that. I’m happy to go to the bank with you, but I don’t think you really want to be withdrawing great amounts of cash and walking the streets with it.’

‘At my age, you mean.’

‘At any age.’ She spotted an iPad on the kitchen bench furthest from the kettle. ‘Why don’t I try to show you how online banking works?’

‘Oh no, you’d need the patience of a saint.’

‘You remember my job, don’t you? Well, sometimes I need the patience of a saint with some of the residents at the lodge. Some are lovely like Bea and some are incredibly difficult, mostly through no fault of their own but occasionally because they’re being downright stubborn.’

A smile formed. ‘I suppose you are cut out for showing me.’ He gestured to the iPad. ‘Come on then, let’s give it a go.’

‘I can show you what I do with my account as an example.’

‘I have an online account.’

‘You do?’

‘Yes. Jennie set it up but I don’t use it. I always press the wrong buttons. I can’t even remember my password.’

‘Did you write it down anywhere?’

‘You shouldn’t do that.’ But he began to smile as she raised her eyebrows. ‘All right, yes I did.’

‘And do you have the payment details for the wool delivery person?’

‘In the bureau.’ He disappeared for a moment and came back with a sheet of paper. ‘I printed this out when it came via email. It’s the invoice for today’s delivery.’ He picked up his phone. ‘My password is in my notes.’

‘Don’t you see?’ she said. ‘You’re very capable on your phone and using an iPad. You’re clearly better with technology than you think.’

‘Greta always said I was, but I never got the hang of banking.’

‘It’s no different to learning anything else. Let’s try it.’

Within thirty minutes Walter was adept at logging on and logging off, he’d moved a small amount of cash from one of his accounts to another as a practice, and he’d not only set up the wool company as a payee, but he’d also paid the invoice.

‘I wonder if Gretchen will let me pay for cookies online,’ said Walter as they heard the door go and a voice call out, ‘Hello!’

‘In here, Jennie,’ he replied. ‘We’re in the kitchen.’

When Jennie came in she clearly hadn’t been expecting the we to include Sophie.

‘Hello again.’ Jennie’s polite, clipped tone took her by surprise and all Sophie could do was smile and try to be friendlier than Jennie was.

‘Hello,’ said Sophie.

‘What are you doing?’ Jennie pulled her gloves off by the fingertips after she hugged Walter hello. Walter hadn’t even looked up from his iPad.

‘I’m doing my banking,’ said Walter.

‘He’s getting quite into it,’ Sophie said with a smile that wasn’t returned.

‘Sophie helped me,’ Walter told Jennie, finally looking up as she removed her coat. ‘I’ve paid for my wool delivery and I’m going to pay for the cookies each week. It’s like a whole new world.’

‘That’s great,’ said Jennie.

Sophie could tell she didn’t mean it.

Walter was still over the moon with his progress. ‘We sat there with my iPad and Sophie’s patience and I did it. Not that you weren’t patient, Jennie.’

‘No offence taken.’ For Walter she had a lovely, kind smile.

‘She even wrote me a cheat sheet of instructions too, so I’ll know for next time.’

He finally put down the iPad and pulled the paper bag of biscuits towards where Jennie had taken a seat. ‘Have one of those.’

‘Thanks, you know my weakness. I love these.’

‘So does Sophie.’

The buzzer to the apartment sounded but Walter shook his head as Jennie made to get up. ‘No, Jennie, you let me get it. It’ll be the wool company and I can’t wait to tell them I’ve paid online and I won’t be giving them any more piles of actual cash. They’ll be thrilled.’

The two women listened to the shuffle of his slippers along the hallway.

‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ Sophie offered.

Jennie fixed her with a stare. ‘I can make it.’ She didn’t move straight away but when she did, Sophie wanted to say something before Walter came back.

‘I’m not here to take advantage, you know.’

Jennie kept her back to Sophie while she filled the kettle, took out a mug and picked out a teabag from the caddy.

‘I promise I’m not,’ Sophie persisted. ‘I enjoyed Walter’s company yesterday and it makes me feel closer to Bea, coming here. I brought him the comfort teddy I’d knitted too.’

Jennie turned to face her. ‘That was nice of you.’

‘I thought it could go with his collection.’

Jennie brought her tea over to the table. ‘You know, both Greta and Bea were always going on about getting you over here. It was like some weird obsession.’

She wasn’t sure what that meant. ‘Look, I don’t want to be in the way, but I would like to visit again. I was going to offer to make another few comfort teddies while I’m here.’

‘That’s kind.’ The words were nice enough but Sophie could tell there was a whole lot of suspicion behind them. ‘I made one too, haven’t had a chance to make any more, unfortunately.’

A smile only appeared on Jennie’s face when Walter came back in the room, sharing how happy the wool company was to not have to take away a pile of cash this time.

‘What were you both talking about while I was at the door?’ Walter asked.

‘Sophie was saying she might help you make another comfort teddy or two,’ said Jennie.

His eyes widened. ‘You’d really do that? Even though you’re on holiday?’

‘I’d really love to, Walter.’

‘I did suggest Sophie became my home help,’ Walter announced.

Jennie’s face fell but a fake smile soon appeared. ‘Nice idea, but I’m sure Sophie wouldn’t have the right visa to work here, and you wouldn’t want to do anything illegal.’

‘I could pay cash in hand while she’s here.’

Sophie saw Jennie tense, her knuckles white around her cup of tea. ‘Jennie is right, I wouldn’t have the appropriate visa, and I’m only here on holiday.’

Sophie wondered whether Jennie would be keeping a closer eye on her now she knew she’d helped with Walter’s online banking.

She’d seen Jennie looking at the cheat sheet which had his username and password at the top.

Sophie had told him to keep it hidden once he was done with the banking and he’d assured her he would, but no doubt Jennie would be suggesting he change the password the second the two of them were alone.

Sophie tried to smile across at Jennie and convey her warmth, let this woman know that she could be trusted. But Jennie’s guard was up and nothing she could do would change her opinion just like that. She’d just have to appreciate Walter who seemed happy enough to have her around.

Greta and Bea might no longer be here, but they’d still helped her in ways she wished she could thank them for because being here in Vienna with Walter felt so much nicer than being on her own.