Page 10 of The Man Upstairs

“Cup of tea?” Mum asked him, dashing through to the kitchen.

“No, I’m ok, thank you. Like I said, I have things I need to get back to. Work paperwork waiting upstairs.”

He didn’t sound all that convincing, despite the token smile he shot my mum. It wasmyeyes his fixed on while she busied herself with the kettle.

“And how about you, Rosie. Are you doing ok?”

My cheeks bloomed looking at him. I pushed my glasses up my nose as always, self-conscious. “I’ll survive. We really appreciated your help last night. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, and I looked at him fresh. He was wearing the same suit as yesterday. His tie was hanging exactly the same way. He saw me looking and straightened it, then seemed to bluster and walk away.

“I’ll let myself out,” he said. “Glad you are both recovering.”

Mum caught up with him before he reached the door.

“Hey, Julian, I was thinking. Maybe you could come over for a, um… thank you dinner. You deserve one.”

I caught his eyes over her shoulder. They were still on me.

“I’m pretty much stocked up on dinners for the week,” he said. “Thank you for the offer, though.”

“Maybe next week?” she pushed, and I cringed inside for her. She was trying so hard.

He didn’t want to give her the cold shoulder, that much was obvious, so he smiled politely and gave her a nod. “Maybe, yes. I’ll have to check my calendar. Work’s very busy this month.”

“Great,” she said, naïve enough to believe him.

“Nice to see you both,” he said, before he walked away, his eyes still on me.

Mum practically squealed as she closed the door behind him. It was as though he’d just accepted a wedding proposal, not given her a half-assed maybe on a dinner at some point in the future.

“Do you think he likes me?” she asked, and I didn’t have the heart to disappoint her.

“I think so, maybe. He didn’t say no, after all.”

She sat down on the sofa and breathed out a sigh of relief.

“That’s good. I’ll still head out with Trisha for a drink, though. I can tell her all about it.”

Poor Mum. Seriously. Life with Scottie had screwed with her mind. She was so oblivious to reality. Clinging on to so much blind hope.

I was glad I’d grown up enough to manage the two of us.

I just hoped Julian really would turn up for a meal with her sometime. I’d kind of like him as her boyfriend, and maybe, just maybe that could happen one day. My thoughts were interrupted, because Mum started laughing on the phone to Trisha, and her words gave me a chill in my heart.

“Shall I head up to him later after a couple of drinks? I wonder what he’d say if I turned up at his door with a bottle of wine in my hand.”

I could only imagine Trisha would be there at the bottom of the stairs, cheering Mum on as she climbed. There was nothing I could say, nothing I could do, nothing that would make any difference once Mum had a couple of vodkas in her. I just hoped she wouldn’t blow it.

I wanted the best for her, I wanted to give her the best possible chance, even drunk after a night out with Trisha at the pub. So, there was only one thing for it, I had to set the stage.

I had to warn him, prepare him for her knock at the door.

Chapter Four

Julian

I really didn’t wantto drop by their apartment, but I hadn’t had a choice. I could have sworn I’d seen Scottie lurking outside the block this morning and I imagined he’d be trying to worm his way back in. Thankfully he wasn’t back in their living room. Maybe Beverly would keep him far away from her in future. Sometimes miracles can happen, so they say.