Judith Wants To Be Your Friend (15 page)

‘I’ll be it then,’ offered Rosie, ‘or at least be one as well.’

‘You’re not eighteen,’ they both said.

‘Let’s take advice from someone else then, and go with what they suggest,’ said Rosie.

‘I’m not trusting anyone else to make that decision for me,’ said Judith and sighed.

‘No, me neither, so we’ll have to share the responsibility. I’ll ask Tina to arrange for a doctor to do a certificate of capacity then we can ask John Greig to help us with the forms.’

Judith sighed again, but knew she wasn’t going to get any better than that. ‘OK, you win.’

The dinner had started to smell delicious and decidedly cooked. Rosie got up and said, ‘I’ll put the veg on, Mum. Are you staying, Auntie Ju? Roast chicken.’

Judith was going to say no, but changed her mind. ‘Yes please. I’d like that.’

‘Good,’ said Rosie and disappeared into the kitchen to finish cooking.

‘Shall we go out to Mill View later, then, and ask Tina to make a start on all this?’

‘She won’t be there today,’ said Fiona, ‘she told me she had a family christening to go to this afternoon. Come with us to see Mum, though.’

Monday 8
th
December 2008

Judith was awake early and had got to the office before Helen. The place was so tidy and she was up-to-date with her work so she opened the mail as she waited for the kettle to boil. There was the usual stuff, then a letter from Mrs. Henson advising her that she would no longer be needing her services due to the ‘disproportionate amount of work’ involved in dealing with her.
Good riddance
, she thought, then changed her mind. She was fed up with losing clients; she needed to keep them. She decided that a charm offensive was needed. As she considered how to win Mrs. Henson round she opened another envelope from a very small business advising her that he would be doing his own book-keeping from now on and requesting that all of his documents be returned to him as soon as possible. Two people on one day; not good. Judith left the open mail and took her coffee through to her office to work on a plan to keep them.

Helen came through.

‘Morning Judith. Is everything alright?’

‘Yes, thanks, well no actually. Mrs. Henson is taking her business away and so is Lennie May. He’s a small builder and hates doing his own accounts. I don’t understand that. I’ll work on Mrs. Henson and get her to change her mind but I don’t know how I’ve upset Lennie.’

‘I’m sure I don’t know,’ said Helen.

‘I’m sure you don’t,’ replied Judith, ‘and I don’t expect you to. I need to get to the bottom of it though. Anything urgent for me to do today?’

‘I’ll ring Lennie,’ said Helen, ‘it might be easier for him to talk to someone he doesn’t know.’

Judith considered this for a moment. ‘OK, you ring Lennie and I’ll do Mrs. Henson. Let me know what he says. And make sure he knows he can talk to me if he wants to.’

Judith called Henson Electricals and spoke to Mrs. Henson’s son Jason. She arranged to call round later. He sounded quite friendly, she thought. She spent the rest of the morning writing an advertisement to go in the local paper to attract more business.

Jason called his mother.

‘Do you know why Judith Dillon wants to come and see me?’ he asked.

‘Probably because I am taking our business elsewhere. I don’t trust her any more.’

‘I think you could have consulted me on this. We’ve always used her ever since she set up. I’m not sacking her; you’ll have to come down and see her.’

‘It isn’t convenient today.’

‘It isn’t convenient for me either. If you don’t come down I’ll tell her to carry on.’

‘Really Jason, you are difficult sometimes.’

‘Mother it is you that is difficult sometimes, not me. If you insist on staying a part of our business, you must come and see your decisions through. She’s coming at two.’

Judith was ready to leave.

‘Did you get hold of Lennie?’ she asked Helen.

‘Yes, I did. He’s trying to save money, that’s all. Nothing to worry about.’

‘It is to worry about. Small businesses like his are hard work in the beginning but now I know how he works, it’s easy money. We can’t afford to lose him, or any others.’

‘Well, he’s lost. I offered him to talk to you but he said he’d decided.’

‘OK, well, thanks for trying. I’ll go and try to save the Hensons.’

Judith had a feeling that she could win Jason round. He was a soft touch and just wanted an easy life. She was dismayed to see his mother waiting and knew from the outset that it was a wasted journey. On her way back to the office after an uncomfortable twenty minutes drinking horrible coffee she patted her new car and wondered whether she had been just a little bit reckless buying it.

Back at the office Helen was going through a client’s file.

‘Looking for something in particular?’ asked Judith.

‘No, thinking I would put together some sort of cover sheet for each one so we can keep track of what needs to be in there, what is in there, anything we’re waiting for and any key dates we should be aware of. That sort of thing. I’m trying to remember what we used in my last place. Here, look.’

‘Hmm, good idea. You’re so efficient, you need to watch out that I don’t reduce your hours. There won’t be much more for you to do soon.’

‘I thought you were working on getting more business,’ Helen laughed, clearly not worried at this hint of a threat, ‘we need to be ready for the rush of new clients.’

‘You really are most impressive, Helen. Well done.’

Judith thought that Helen smiled the smile of someone who knew that already but she didn’t let it bother her. There was work waiting for her today and she could get on with it knowing that the capable Helen would deal with everything else.

‘By the way, before you start on that tax return,’ she said, ‘Martin Lloyd rang. I’ve made an appointment for him to see you on Wednesday.’

‘Right, thanks,’ said Judith. She went into her office and was tempted to get Henry’s books out again to check that they were in order. She knew they were. She checked the date. His bank statement was due next week. She received them directly every three months. There was plenty of money in his accounts, but this quarter it would show rather a large payment into the H.M Revenue and Customs. She would deny all knowledge of it, of course. The executor may even have all of Henry’s books by then.

Wednesday 10
th
December 2008

‘Martin Lloyd’s here, Judith.’

‘Thanks. Show him straight through please.’ She stood up to greet Martin.

‘Hello Judith,’ he said, shaking hands then giving her a tentative air kiss. ‘It’s good to see you. I’ve been meaning to call in but there’s been so much to sort out with Henry’s stuff.’

‘Yes, I’m sure. It was hard enough for us moving Mum from home to Mill View. I can’t remember doing anything when my dad died but can imagine how much sorting out there will be when Mum’s time comes.’

‘I’ve seen her a few times. I understand I’ve caused her a bit of distress, quite unintentionally, though.’

‘Yes. It’s all sorted out now, at least for as long as she remembers our conversation about it. It was nice for her to have Henry at Mill View. They go, went I mean, back a long way.’

‘They played bridge together when his wife and your father were alive. Remember?’

‘Yes, I remember.’

‘I don’t think they had so much to do with each other in recent years though.’

Silence for a few seconds. ‘So, have you come about Henry’s accounts?’

‘No,’ said Martin, ‘I came to see you.’

God
, thought Judith,
he can’t still fancy me. He’s almost as fossil-like as his uncle was, and he’s not even ten years older than me
. She hovered for a moment thinking about what he was likely to inherit, but she couldn’t entertain the thought at all. ‘I see. I, um, I…’

‘Don’t worry, Judith. I have long since realised that you aren’t interested in me, nor ever will be. I do care for you, though, and think you should know that Mrs. Henson tried to warn me about you. I wouldn’t listen to her, but she’s not doing you or your business reputation any good at all.’

‘She was upset that I was late doing their accounts round about the time Mum was getting bad and Fiona and I were having to make difficult decisions about her. I know it’s no excuse, but, well, you know, we’re all human.’

‘I know and understand. I simply wanted to let you know so that you can plan your counter attack, as it were.’

‘You’re a good man, Martin, thank you. And I haven’t even offered you a cup of coffee.’

Helen came in. ‘Would you like some coffee? I’m so sorry I forgot to ask.’

‘Yes please,’ said Martin and stayed to talk for a while about their school days and what other people were doing now.

Friday 12
th
December 2008

Chloe and Louise were putting the finishing touches to the shop in preparation for the cheese and wine Christmas celebration. Chloe was considerably less worried than when they had been preparing for the opening.

‘How many replies did you get in the end?’ asked Louise.

‘Thirty-five. I bet they don’t all come, though.’

‘I bet we get some who haven’t replied as well. I think we’ll have enough. We can take home anything that’s left.’

‘Mmmm, cheese all weekend. Cheese sandwiches, cheese on toast, quiche, cauli-cheese. Can’t wait.’

‘There won’t be much left, trust me.’

‘You will be nice to Judith, won’t you? You promised.’

‘If I promised, then I will.’

‘I still feel mean about keeping my distance.’

‘Be careful, Chloe, you only need to be friendly-professional.’

‘Yeah yeah. I’ll be fine. Oh look, people, customers, I mean guests, approaching.’

People came and went, and several of them were casual shoppers who appeared delighted to be offered wine and cheese and several bought things.

‘We must give our customers wine every day,’ Chloe whispered to Louise as she went to the store room to get a vase to replace one that she had just very carefully wrapped. She turned as she heard the door open again. ‘It’s Judith.’ Chloe nearly dropped the vase she had in her hand.

‘Careful with that! You OK?’

‘Yes. I’ll go and say hello. Just make sure you come and say something to her as well.’

‘Will do.’

‘Judith! What can I get you to drink?’

‘Just orange juice please. I’m driving. Those cheeses look lovely, though.’

‘They are. Help yourself. Here’s a plate.’ Again Chloe fumbled with the china, but at that moment someone asked her about silver cutlery and she excused herself and made another sale. After a long flurry of activity she came back to Judith.

‘Sorry to have been neglecting you.’

‘Don’t be sorry. Were you expecting to sell that much tonight?’

‘No, not at all. It’s a real bonus. So many people still buying Christmas presents, and there’s less than two weeks to go. I can’t believe it.’

‘I can,’ said Judith.

Chloe looked surprised.

‘I mean because I know how late people leave it to do their tax returns every year.’

‘I see what you mean.’ Chloe glanced at her watch. ‘It’s nearly seven,’ she said, ‘and time I had a drink myself.’

‘Is Louise driving you home tonight?’

‘No, I’m on the train. Since it’s got colder I’ve decided to catch the train when I can. It’s just as easy really as long as I haven’t got any stock to move around.’

‘Where do you live? Haltwhistle did you say?’

Chloe paused; she didn’t remember telling Judith where she lived but decided not to pursue it now.

‘You mentioned it one day when we were having lunch here.’

‘Oh, OK.’ Chloe’s hands started to shake. She snatched them away from the antique glass vase on the pedestal and took a deep breath. ‘Anyway, it’s just as easy to walk to the station as it is the car park from here.’

Chloe broke off with relief to say goodnight to a group of people from one of the cafes in town who were starting to display the effects of early wine after a busy day. Judith went to find her coat as well.

‘I’ll be off too. Bye Louise, bye Chloe.’

‘Bye Judith. Take care,’ Louise called from the store room.

‘Will do. I’ll call in the next couple of days.’

The last two couples followed her lead and left shortly afterwards.

‘Woo hoo! That was fab-u-lous,’ said Louise pouring herself another drink. ‘What a lovely evening. It was fun and we sold loads.’

‘I wish I could give you the day off tomorrow, oh wondrous retailer, but I need you here for the next couple of weeks,’ Chloe replied as she refilled her own glass.

‘Try and keep me away,’ said Louise, ‘I love it when it’s busy. Cheers. You alright?’

‘Me? Yes.’

‘Something. What is it?’

‘Have you ever told Judith where I live?’

‘No, of course not. Why?’

‘She said, ‘You live in Haltwhistle, don’t you?’ kind of thing. I don’t remember ever mentioning it. I thought she was following me home one day; decided I was getting paranoid so I never told you.’

‘Well, everyone does know everyone’s business around here, but … ’

‘What?’

‘Nothing. Just a gut feeling. Don’t trust the gut, that’s what Geoff says.’

Sunday 14
th
December 2008

Judith decided to call into the office on her way to Mill View to visit her mother. She had left all her stuff about power of attorney on her desk and wanted to discuss it with Tina. She parked around the corner in the Market Place and was lucky to find a space as it was busier than usual.
Bloody Christmas shoppers
, she thought, then remembered that she still hadn’t got anything for Fiona, Rosie and her mother. She hurried along the road but had to wait for traffic to sort itself out before she could cross. She automatically looked up to the first floor windows and was surprised to see Helen there again, this time leaning against the window with the telephone to her ear. ‘Bloody cheek. What’s she doing here again?’ Judith muttered to herself as she opened the door and crept up the stairs to catch her out.