Angelica showed him into the kitchen, where he pushed in the number. She made two mugs of tea. “Damn! He’s not picking up.” He sounded desperate. “I live in Northampton. I don’t even have money for the train. Would you mind if I call my wife?”
“Go ahead. Milk or sugar?”
He looked embarrassed. “You don’t have to make me a cup of tea.”
“You’re freezing.”
“Well, it is cold out there without a coat! Milk, two sugars. Thank you.” He rang his wife. “Hello, love, it’s me . . . I’ve been bloody stupid, Steve’s run off with my coat . . . Good question, he left his on-site, but it’s all locked up now. I thought he’d come back once he’d discovered his mistake . . . Yes, I’ll get home . . . I’m not sure, I’ll think of something . . . Yes, I know it’s Robbie’s birthday, I’ll make it, don’t worry . . . I’ll call you when I’ve worked out what to do . . . This nice lady has let me use her phone . . . She lives opposite the site . . . Yeah, I know, I’ll tell her . . . Okay, ’bye . . . She says thanks for looking after her old bloke!”
“Not at all. Why don’t you call your boss?” She handed him his mug of tea.
“I don’t have his number. It’s in my phone.” He shrugged. “I’m self-employed. I have a different boss every week.”
“Look, how much do you need? I can lend you some money to get you home, and you can pay me back tomorrow. You’re working opposite, after all.”
“I can’t ask you to do that! You don’t know me. For all you know I might run off and never come back.”
“The small amount I have in my wallet won’t get you very far, I’m afraid.”
“Well, it’s very kind of you. I feel bad, but I won’t refuse your offer, because I don’t know how I’m going to get home otherwise. It’s our Robbie’s birthday. He’s going to be six.”
“Same as our daughter.”
“You know how much it means to be there.”
“I certainly do.” She opened her handbag and delved inside for her wallet. “I have fifty quid. Will that get you home?”
“That’s more than enough. I’ll pay you back tomorrow, I promise.”
“I trust you.”
“Thanks for the tea. Just what I needed. I feel much better now. It’s cold out there.”
“You can’t go out in just a shirt.”
“Oh, I’m strong. I’ll survive.”
“But it’s freezing. I was wearing gloves and a hat, and I was still cold.”
“But you’re a lady. I’ll bet you’re not used to laboring outside like I am.”
“Why don’t you borrow a coat?” She marched into the hall and opened the cupboard where Olivier’s coats hung in a neat row. She pulled out a navy one. “I won’t tell him if you don’t,” she said with a grin. “Give it back tomorrow, and he’ll never know.”
“I couldn’t.”
“Go on. It’s subzero, and it’s only going to get colder.” She looked outside. It was already dark.
“Well, all right. You’re really kind. Not many people like you around these days. People are so guarded. The world is a less friendly place than it used to be.” He shrugged it on. “Nice.”
“Cashmere.”
“Very nice.”
She handed him the money. “You go carefully now, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I look like a real gent in this.” He laughed, and she opened the door. “I start at seven in the morning.”
“I’ll be up. You know what children are like, and I have to get them ready for school. Just ring the bell. If I’m not here, give it to Sunny, my housekeeper.”
“God bless you.” He smiled at her gratefully and thrust his hands into the pockets. “’Bye now.”
Angelica felt virtuous helping out a stranger in need, and still a little tipsy. She called the children into the dining room to do their homework and forgot all about him in the pile of Kipper and Biff books and math. When Olivier returned, she didn’t bother to tell him. She certainly didn’t want to admit that she’d lent a total stranger one of his favorite coats. In the morning she was so busy getting the children dressed and down to breakfast that she didn’t give the carpenter a thought. They were late for school, distracted by the snow that had fallen in the night. It was only when she returned home that she remembered him.
She expected Sunny to mention that he had dropped in with the coat and money. But Sunny said, “No one has rung the bell.”