Page 8 of In at the Deep End

“Well, he told us he’s trying to find a bit of work for the summer. He said he can’t work twenty-four-seven on the dissertation, and besides, he wants some money in his pocket. So I was thinking…. What if you take him on to work on the garden and the pool?” Before Owen could get a word out, Jeff pressed ahead. “Don’t get me wrong. He’ll be great at it. He’s good around a garden, ever since he was old enough to hold a trowel. And he knows how to maintain a pool. He should do—he’s been looking after ours for years. I made sure of that.” He grinned. “I mean, what else are kids for but to do all the jobs you don’t want to deal with? So you wouldn’t be hiring a novice.”

Owen tilted his head. “What’s he like to have around?”

“Matt’s the laidback type. There isn’t much that ruffles him.” Jeff smiled. “You know the phrase ‘old head on young shoulders’? It could’ve been written for him. But he’s conscientious, hardworking…. And I think this is perfect. Something physical that won’t make him think too deeply. He does enough of that with his studies.”

Owen roared with laughter. “Don’t you think you’d better ask his opinion on all this? Before you hire him out?”

Jeff laughed too. “Fair point. I tell you what, I’ll go home and put the idea to him. Then I’ll send him over. You can decide for yourself.” He reached for a biscuit, but paused midway. “There is one thing.”

“Oh? Because we haven’t talked about pay yet. Not that you should worry. I’ll pay him the going rate, after I’ve done some research.”

“I wasn’t thinking about that.” Jeff bit his lip. “The way you were living after you came out… Are you still living… that way? Is he going to get freaked out?”

Owen laughed. “I would love to know what’s going on in your head right now. Just what are you picturing?”

“Nothing!”

The flush that crept up Jeff’s neck said plenty.

Owen put down his mug. “I promise not to freak him out, all right? But this is assuming he wants the job, and I want to hire him. So how about we wait until after the pair of us have actually spoken?”

Jeff finished his tea. “Yeah, that sounds good.” Another shake of his head. “Babs is not going to believe this.”

“I can’t believe you still call her that. It’s so very… Seventies.”

“Her dad still calls her that.” Jeff stood. “And you know you’ll get an invite for dinner. She’ll want to catch up.”

Owen stood too. “That sounds great. I’ll see you to the door. And thank her for the casserole.”

“I will.”

Owen led him into the entrance hall, and opened the front door. “I’ll be ready to interview Matt whenever he comes over.”

Jeff nodded. “I’m sure he’ll be a good fit.” He held out his hand, then laughed. “What am I doing? Come here.” He grabbed Owen and gave him a fierce hug. He took a step back. “Of all the places for you to move to…”

Owen chuckled. “I know.” He watched as Jeff crunched his way over the gravel, then waved as he turned right into the lane. Owen closed the door with a sigh.

I didn’t think life had any more surprises for me.

Looked like Callum was right again.

None of us know what’s waiting right around the corner.

Chapter Three

This was a bad idea.

Matt Daley surveyed the chaos that was his bedroom. All his things from uni were still in boxes piled under the window, against the wall, around the bed…

There’s always the garage.

Except he’d already taken a peek in there. Dad had claimed every available inch of space, for his and Mum’s cars, the tools Matt had used more than Dad ever had, and countless boxes of stuff they’d accumulated over the years.

Thirty plus years together? That added up to a lot of stuff.

Matt’s room hadn’t changed much since he was a kid. The desk Dad had put together when Matt had been studying for his GCSEs seemed woefully small, and looked as if it was on its last legs.

That made him smile. Dad was good with his brain, not his hands, but Matt had appreciated the effort.