“Now… that’s a question; one with so many loaded answers to it…”
“Well I’m rather busy at the moment but if you would like to call my office and schedule an appointment…” I smirk coyly, knowing I’m goading him.
“What are you doing right this minute?”
“I’m about to fuss with the curtains at The Ashton. It’s starting to look a fait accompli.”
“Why, Madam Myers you sound awfully sexy when you speak French.”
I chuckle at his silly comment. “Do I now? Well… let me hear you speak the language of lurve to moi?”
“Regarde mon pantalon nouveau.”
I burst out laughing at his heavily put on Yorkshire accent laced with Peter Sellers French. “You daft thing - what the heck did you say?”
“You are regarded as my new most favourite thing.”
“No, you didn’t!” Did he? I’d never been very good at French at school.
“Alright - perhaps it wasn’t that per se but that’s what I was thinking. What I really said in appallingly broken French was ‘check out my new trousers’ - it’s all I know; well, other than the usual… voulez vous coucher avec moi…..”
“Of course you’d know that one, every man does - that phrase I get but why would you know how to say ‘look at my new trousers’ in French?”
His deep laugh, encourages my own from me. I like hearing him laugh, that softer freer side. “It’s a long story, lady…”
“Ok. Nuff said.” I don’t think I want to know more, I figure it involves women and that makes my skin itch. “Right, Mr. Silver, you are delaying me from work and I need to crack on. What can I do you for?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to hear your voice.”
I melt inside and sigh happily as I take a step up the first rung of the ladder, located at the windows. “So, you’ve heard it now - is it enough?”
“Not nearly. Now all I want to do is drive over and test out one of those new beds. I’m becoming rather partial to that place. I could be there in 15, I’m on my way to a meeting.”
I’m four rungs up when I begin to feel dizzy and I stumble clattering on the metal ladder.
“Lu? Baby? You OK?”
Whoah… “I’m fine I just feel a bit dizzy.”
“What’s with all the banging - where are you?”
“Up a ladder.”
“Bloody hell, Lu - whilst you’re on the phone? Get your tight little arse down now and take a breather. You’re doing too much. I know you, and you’ll work until you’re a zombie to get the job done.”
“Like minds hey?” I joke but shake my head to focus properly - my vision is fuzzy. “I’ll be… fine… just feel a bit light-headed… that’s…all.” My words are slowing and slurred and I begin to wobble, stepping down two rungs, instead of one, causing me to fall backwards into thin air.
“”Lu? Lu?”
I can hear his voice, yelling at me angrily in the distance but it’s no good, I can’t respond as my hand loses it’s grip on the phone and it falls to the floor below with a crash.
“I’m here, sorry I dropped the phone. I’m ok. Seb? Seb?”
I check the screen to see if we’re still connected. We’re not, and he’s gone. “Oh well. I needed to work anyway.” I speak into the now empty room. God I really need that sweet tea now, I feel very wobbly. I take a seat on the window box and close my eyes… just need a moment of stillness… to ease the spinning top that is my head. I’ll be fine in a minute. I haven’t got time for any delays.
This is where Jackie finds me a short while later, a look of concern across her face. “Lu, are you alright? You look drip white?”
“I’m absolutely fine. Just had a bit of a dizzy spell on the ladder, that’s all - I’ve never been good with heights.” Yeah, it was definitely the heights, I convince myself.
“Here have a sip of this - I’ll be back in a jiffy. Leave the curtains, I’ll get one of the workmen to sort it.” She places a china teacup, in a saucer on the window ledge next to me and smiles comfortingly before rubbing my shoulder. “This will calm you, or rather be the calm before the storm in a teacup.”
“Eh?”
“You’ll see.” She raises her penciled brows and holds up the tray of mugs adding, “I’ll give these to the lads; they’re working in Room 40 now and then I’ll be back.”
I smile my thanks to her and take a sip of the Earl grey, laced with sugar - it hits the spot instantly and makes me feel less drippy within seconds. I hate weakness. Maybe Seb was right? I’d just been overdoing it lately?