Ah went intae the hall tae phone.
‘Is that Barbara?’
‘Speaking. Is that you Jimmy?’
‘Aye.’
‘How’s your hand?’
‘Oh, it’s fine – looked worse than it was.’
‘I hope you don’t mind my calling but I was wondering if you ever did any work in Edinburgh.’
‘Work?’
‘You know, painting.’
‘Eh, well, maisty our work is local – we’ve usually got plenty tae keep us busy. We dae the odd job as far as Stirling or that but ah don’t think we’ve ever had a job in Embra.’
‘I’m looking for a decorator – there’s quite a lot of work needing done in my flat. And I’ve kind of put it off because I work at home most of the time and the idea of having someone around whom I don’t know … well. Anyway, after meeting you at the retreat the other week I just thought it might be the ideal solution if you were able to do it. Obviously I’d pay you a bit more to compensate for your having to travel.’
‘Eh, ah’m no sure … when were you thinkin of?’
‘Well, it was more when it was suitable for you. Any time over the next few months. Be nice to get some of it done before Christmas but there’s really no rush. Are you very busy just now?’
‘We’ve a couple of wee jobs on this week and there’s a big commercial wan comin up soon.’
‘Would it be possible for you to come through and see the place, give me a quote, towards the end of this week maybe? I’d pay expenses, of course.’
‘Aye, ah think we’ll be finished on Friday mornin … ah suppose ah could come through Friday lunchtime if that’s OK.’
‘Great.’
Ah’d never done much drivin in Embra but the flat was quite easy tae find, in a street somewhere up fae the Meadows. Fae the ootside it didnae look much different fae a tenement in Glesga. The close was dark and the front door was painted a dull green. There was a tartan doorplate wi ‘Tweedie’ on it and under that was a piece of card on wi ‘B. Mellis’ typed on it. The bell was wanny they real old-fashioned bell pulls, no an eletric wan – it made a nice jinglin sound. Ah could hear Barbara’s footsteps comin towards the door; she planted her feet doon heavily though she wasnae a heavy wumman, and ah could hear her janglin as she moved.
When she answered the door she was wearin purple leggins, a big baggy jumper and lots of rattly metal bangles up her airms.
‘Hi Jimmy. Nice to see you. Come in.’
As ah came in the door she kissed me on the cheek.
‘Come through and I’ll make us some coffee.’
She led me intae the livin room, which was huge wi a fancy cornice round the ceilin. A couch covered wi a velvet throw and a coupla bean bags was aboot aw the furniture except for an enormous statue of the Buddha in the bay windae wi caundles aw round.
‘My God, you don’t need tae go on retreat. You could set up yer ain Centre here.’
‘Suppose so. He’s lovely isn’t he? A friend brought him back from India then didn’t have room for him. I find his presence very calming.’
‘Aye.’
‘Have you had some lunch?’
‘Afore ah came through. Could murder a cuppa tea though.’
‘I’ve got Earl Grey or herbal.’
‘Nae Typhoo? Or even Scottish Blend?’
‘Fraid not.’
‘Oh well, gie’s the Earl Grey. Milk, nae sugar.’
When she was oot the room ah had a look round at the paintwork. It was basically in good nick though it was pretty dull, painted a kind of putty shade all round, the cornice a dingy cream. A coupla coats would dae if she was just wantin it brightened up. The hall was a disaster though – a dreary shade of dark green wi a red carpet. Ah can never unnerstaund how folk paint these halls in really dark colours when they get nae light.
‘Casting a professional eye, are you?’
Barbara set a tray doon on a wee table wi elephant legs, which she pulled oot fae behind the settee. Two mugs and a plate a biscuits.
‘Whit was it you were wantin done?’
‘This room, the bedroom and the hall to start off. The kitchen and bathroom have been refurbished quite recently so they’re fine and there’s another room which I use for my work but that can wait till later.’
‘Whit is it you dae?’
‘Research – I don’t actually carry out the research myself but I do the writing up. I examine the data, work out the statistical evidence and all that. Do you know much about homeopathy?’
‘No really. But Liz buys they wee remedies oot of Boots if you’ve got a cold or that.’
‘Yes, it’s getting more popular now.’
‘Right enough. Aboot yer decoratin – did you have any colours in mind?’
‘I’m not sure. Something neutral in here – keep it light. And maybe a violet-blue for the bedroom. I did wonder about orange for the hall. It’s such a healing colour and I think it would be welcoming.’
‘Ah presume you’re thinkin aboot gettin a new carpet.’
She looked at me as if she didnae know whit ah was talkin aboot for a minute, then a smile broke ower her face.
‘I see what you mean. The red wouldn’t exactly go with it. Yes I’m getting rid of it. Actually I might just get a rug. The floorboards underneath are polished – I can’t imagine why they covered it over with that thing.’
‘They?’
‘The people I bought it from. The Tweedies – their name’s still on the front door in case there’s mail for them. Oh, and speaking of the front door – I’d like that painted too. Bright red. Good feng shui. That’s why I haven’t put up a proper brass nameplate on the door yet – I was waiting till I got the door painted.’
‘Have you no been here lang then?’
‘Three months. Look, d’you think you could do the job?’
‘It’s no a difficult job if you’re just wantin it painted. Coupla coats in here and the bedroom, three in the hall tae cover that dark colour. It’s just ah’d need tae talk tae ma brother first – you know we don’t usually work this far out.’
‘Do you work with your brother then?’
‘Aye. We used tae work for other firms but him and me set up thegether nine year ago and we’ve never looked back. Always had work on the go and it’s nearly always word of mouth now. Wan guy works for us full-time and we can call in some others if it’s a bigger job.’
‘So you’re doing well.’
‘Cannae complain. Look, suppose ah send you a quote and throw in a bit extra for the travellin. Ah’ll talk tae John and check he’s up for it. We could fit you in the week after next if he’s OK aboot it.’
‘Great. Thanks, Jimmy. I’d be happy to pay whatever you think is suitable. I just couldn’t face some strange men wandering round my house.’
‘Sorry, Barbara – the job’s aff.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘If you don’t want strange men wanderin roond yer hoose ye cannae call in me and our John – ah mean they don’t