Someone Else's Conflict by Alison Layland Page B

He told me he’d spoken to you and you didn’t seem happy. He’s started on the Grants’ place, hasn’t he? You’ve got to admit, Lynnie, he’s bound to give them priority. It’s their home, they’ve got three young kids—’
    â€˜Did I say I was complaining? And I’ve asked you to stop calling me that.’
    â€˜Sorry on both counts.’ He held his hands up and she wondered how she’d ever found the familiar gesture and accompanying expression anything other than patronising.
    â€˜I just wanted to say I’ll probably be needing the spare workshop a bit longer than we planned.’
    â€˜Hm. We could do with letting it out before too long. We’d hoped it’d be free in the next couple of months. But I do understand the position you’re in.’
    â€˜I’ll be leaving it in a far better state than when I came. It was a wreck.’
    â€˜Merely cosmetic.’
    â€˜A wreck and you know it. And don’t forget it’s in lieu of my share in the business.’
    Matt laughed. ‘How much do you think we’re making here? If it was a market rent it’d already take months of your “share” to balance it out. Of course I wouldn’t dream of asking for money, seeing as it’s you, but… I’m sure you know where I’m coming from.’
    Only too well; he never tired of reminding her what a favour he was doing her.
    â€˜Listen, Lynnie – Marilyn – since Alan told me the news I’ve been thinking. What have you told the insurance? Could you get them to cough up some rent for the extra period?’
    â€˜I haven’t mentioned it as such,’ she said.
    â€˜â€œAs such”. You haven’t contacted them, have you? I’d have thought even you—’
    â€˜We’ve been too busy clearing the yard and getting the car out – no phone, remember? – and I had an appointment this morning. I’m going over to the brokers’ now. I wanted to update you first. And…make sure it was all right for me to stay on at the unit a bit longer.’
    â€˜If you say so. Good luck, then. So who’s “we”?’
    â€˜What? Oh, I’ve had a friend over to help me.’
    â€˜Anyone I know?’
    â€˜No.’ She smiled and stood. ‘Right, I’ll be off. Thanks for being OK about me staying on.’
    â€˜And for reminding you about the insurance.’
    For once his smug insistence on having the last word didn’t bother her. As she left she thought that, rent aside, the insurance might enable her to give Jay a decent wage. Perhaps she wouldn’t even need Matt’s mate Alan at all.

Chapter 8
    The hole in the roof was still bothering him. Try as he might to ignore it, it was there. Even if he concentrated determinedly on the view, the solid stone house across the yard with its pretty but neglected garden, the dwindling pile of rubble at his feet, it was still there, seared into his imagination like a brand. Every piece of damaged, broken timber pointing accusations through the grey-skied hole. He wished he’d insisted on patching it up. As soon as she’d gone he’d even got the ladder back out and checked the rest of the roof in random places. It seemed fine. Those builders were deceiving her, suggesting work that didn’t need doing, for extra money. He wouldn’t deceive her. Not about that. Not about…
    He forced himself to concentrate. A few more shovelfuls and he’d be ready to take the barrow with another load of debris to the pile. Past the gap in the barn wall with its glimpse of the hole in the roof. He kept shovelling. Soil was overflowing. Go. More shovelling. You weren’t going to think about it. He picked up the handles and the creaky wheel was part comforting, part menace. He breathed deeply and headed up the yard to the pile. Wonder what she’ll want to do with all that soil? Better.