I waited eagerly by the phone like a young schoolgirl anxious not to miss a call. At three minutes past midnight I received a text message. All it asked was if I was awake. “Awake and waiting for your call,” I responded immediately. A minute later I answered his call.
For no more than two minutes he talked about his day before he asked about me. What had my day been like?
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” I told him. “Neeta and Rich are still on honeymoon. I went to dinner with Jane and Simon this evening. They send you their love, and best wishes for a full recovery for Harold.” I paused, uncertain how to begin with my suggestion. “Do you do all the cooking, washing, cleaning?” I asked. He did. “You must be physically as well as emotionally exhausted.” He admitted he was. “What you need is a cleaning lady who will relieve you of all the drudgery, so you can concentrate on giving the emotional support I’m sure they all need.”
“I know, but I really don’t have time to find one,” he replied, clearly exhausted. “I wouldn’t want just anyone wandering about their house. I would have to interview them, take up references and so forth. I just don’t have the time available to do all that.”
“Well,” I began and then paused. “I have a suggestion. I’ve talked it over with Jane and Simon and they both think it’s a great idea.” I paused again, briefly. “What if you had someone you could trust; someone not afraid of hard work. Someone who really wanted to help. Someone like, well, like me?” He was quiet for maybe ten seconds.
“It’s a lovely idea, but I couldn’t.”
“Why not? It would only be for two weeks. I’m not expecting it to be a holiday. I know it will be hard work. But it would give you a break; give you a chance to recharge your batteries. If I’m brutally honest…”
“Which you are not,” he interrupted. “You’re gentle and kindness personified.”
“If I’m brutally honest,” I insisted, “You sound washed out at times. You make me want to cry for you. I’m sure you are doing a fantastic job, but you cannot continue the way you are. You need a holiday but there is no way you can take one, I know that. But it would allow you time to find someone locally who has the right qualities and references.” I paused, waiting for a response, but none came. “Are you still there? You haven’t died on me, I hope” I asked, jokingly. It was a poor joke and tasteless, I realised as soon as I’d said it.”
“You’d do that for me?” he asked incredibly. I could sense the tears misting his eyes.
“Think of it as repayment for fixing my flooded house.” It was a much better joke than my previous one.
“It’s not the same. I wanted to do that, for you,” he laughed.
“And I want to do this for you. Will you let me help you?”
“I really don’t know what to say.”
“Just one word – Yes!” I suggested
“It would be marvellous, absolutely marvellous. But there are things you haven’t thought of. I won’t be able to meet you at the airport. Eleanor might object. She isn’t in her right mind at present and can change her mind at any time. I’d have to reorganise the sleeping arrangements here. There are no spare bedrooms at present.”
“Don’t worry about anything. I’ll fit in with whatever is decided. And maybe Eleanor could do with some female company.” Oliver chatted animatedly until it was time for him to go. He would talk to his sister and text me with the answer.
And the answer was waiting for me when I woke up. Eleanor hadn’t objected. The only stipulation he made was that I wasn’t to be allowed to pay for my ticket. He made me promise to let him know when I could get time off, and for how long, and he would book the ticket himself.
I was excited as I went to work that morning. The girl who had been sick was back at work. My boss wasn’t keen to let me have time off at such short notice until I explained the reason. And then she couldn’t have been more helpful. I could go as soon as I could get a flight, and I could take up to three weeks off, although one week would have to be unpaid leave.
I sent a text to Oliver immediately. It would be early morning for him, but he would get it as soon as he awoke. And as soon as he did, he called me at work. He suggested I went the following Monday. I could return the Saturday almost three weeks later. That way, I’d have a day to get over jet lag.
We spoke again the following evening. The tickets were booked. I would have to collect them from the Air Canada desk, so I would have to be at Heathrow in plenty of time to collect them. He told me the weather wasn’t particularly warm and that I would need layers rather than anything heavy. I should also be prepared for rain. He also made a request to bring him English tea bags and chocolate.