The Loner Read Online Free Page B

morning if you want. I had a job booked in but Mr was took bad with a heart attack so they put it back till August.’
    â€˜Tuesday would be great.’
    â€˜8.30 all right?’
    â€˜Fine. Thanks so much.’
    Relieved that she wouldn’t have to wait weeks with the risk of the damage getting worse, Jess spent the rest of Sunday catching up with housework. On Monday morning, while the washing machine quietly churned, she baked a lemon drizzle cake and a tray of mixed fruit flapjacks. Having brought up two permanently hungry sons, and with vivid memories of labouring for Fred during the cottage’s renovation, she knew how much tradesmen appreciated cake to accompany regular cups of tea.
    Colin Terrell arrived promptly on Tuesday morning wearing clean blue overalls. His dark hair was cropped short, showing a silver stud with a tiny cross in one earlobe.
    â€˜Morning, Jess.’ His smile revealed very white teeth. The familiarity surprised her. She didn’t like people she didn’t know using her first name. But saying anything would give it importance it didn’t deserve. And he was doing her a favour by turning up so quickly. Before she could respond he went on, ‘Fred rang to say he’d given you my name and I better make sure I done a good job. Think the world of you, he do.’
    â€˜He and Jason did a fantastic job here.’
    He nodded. ‘I remember what it was like before they started. But these old cottages was built to last.’
    â€˜Come in, Mr Terrell.’ Maybe he’d take the hint. As he passed her, wafting aftershave, she was pleasantly surprised when he slipped off his shoes.
    â€˜Front bedroom, you said? All right if I take a look?’
    â€˜It’s the first door on the left at the top of the stairs.’ She followed him up. He went directly to the window and studied the patch.
    â€˜That was some rain we had last week.’
    Jess nodded. ‘It was blowing straight at the window like handfuls of gravel.’
    He nodded. ‘Rare to get rain like that on an east wind. I’d guess it blew up under the eaves.’
    â€˜That’s what Fred thought.’
    â€˜I’ll know more when I’ve had a look from outside.’
    â€˜Fred didn’t touch the roof when I had the renovations done. It looked sound and he didn’t want to disturb anything he didn’t have to.’ He’d known she was on a tight budget.
    Colin Terrell nodded. ‘Quite right too. But trouble with these old places is that they haven’t got felt over the roof timbers. The slates was laid direct onto battens.’
    Panic stirred like mud in a pond. Jess fought it down. ‘I can’t afford to replace the roof.’
    â€˜You won’t have to, my ’andsome.’ He flashed his white smile. ‘Don’t you go worrying. Good job you didn’t wait though. Water damage can cause all kinds of trouble. What I’ll do is take off the bottom two rows of slates, fit a strip of felt along so he hangs into the gutter, then put the slates back. So instead of rain blowing up underneath and dripping down inside, it’ll hit the felt, run into the gutter, and be carried away to the down pipe.’
    â€˜How much will it cost? I know it has to be done, but I’d like a rough idea.’
    â€˜Shouldn’t be more than …’ he sucked air through his teeth, ‘three hundred.’
    Trying not to wince she nodded.
    â€˜I can knock a bit off for cash.’ He winked. ‘How about putting the kettle on while I have a look from outside.’
    She followed him down, calculating adjustments to her budget for the month. She didn’t have a choice. Waiting risked further damage and an even higher price. It was better to get the job done now. Writing Marigold’s story for Simon Opie would earn her some of the money back.
    Colin Terrell pushed his feet back into his shoes, leaving the door open as he walked