Free When Alice Met Danny by T A Williams Page A

phoned the removal people yesterday and, miraculously, they have got a spare slot next Tuesday. So, the flat is yours whenever you want it after that. I’ll get it cleaned for you on Thursday or Friday, so let’s say any time from next weekend. Of course, I suppose you have to give notice to your landlord. There’s no rush.’
    He gave her a broad smile. ‘That’s fantastic. My landlord was delighted to hear that I was leaving.’ He glanced sideways at her. ‘It’s all right, future landlady, it’s not because I’m a terrible tenant. He is going through a divorce and he badly needs somewhere to stay. I know how that feels. So, if it’s OK with you, I reckon Saturday week would be great for all concerned.’
    At that moment, the food arrived. An uncommunicative waiter laid two enormous plates of steak pie and chips in front of them and disappeared.
    ‘Sorry, Danny, there wasn’t a lot of choice. I know you aren’t veggie after what we ate the other night at the Tate Modern. Will this do?’
    ‘Excellent choice, though we’ll be doing well to get through all these chips. You might need to reinforce the couch if you plan on making this a regular feature of your diet.’
    ‘There’s a pub in the village where I’m living that does really good food. I’ll have to be strong-willed if I’m to avoid the feared slobbing out.’
    ‘I’ll be able to check you out when I come down for the windsurfing thing in June.’
    ‘Won’t you be tied up all weekend?’
    ‘No, as far as I know, my discipline will all take place on the Saturday. There’s a big dinner on the Saturday night, but apart from that, I should be free as a bird.’
    But for his mention of this Janie girl, she would have invited him round to her house for dinner. As it was, she buried her face in her pie and chips. After a while, she brought the subject back to builders.
    ‘The first thing that’s got to happen to the house is for specialist contractors to go in and get rid of the dry rot. Hopefully that can take place as soon as possible.’
    ‘And in the meantime? How are you going to occupy your time? A spot of gardening maybe?’
    She snorted. ‘You’d need a mechanical digger to do that. The back garden is a metre deep in rubbish and rats. And the surveyor has discovered that the water main in front of the house has been leaking. He tells me they will have to dig that up and fix the leak before I can plant anything there.’
    ‘So, what are you going to do? I can’t believe you are just going to sit on your thumbs.’
    She gave him a shy glance. ‘Don’t laugh, Danny, but I am planning on going back to university.’
    He didn’t laugh. He gave her a look of admiration. ‘That’s great, Alice. To do what? An MBA?’
    ‘You’re the second person to ask me that. No, my days in the world of high finance are over. I’m seriously thinking about an MA in history. I’m getting really interested in the First World War.’ She swallowed a few more mouthfuls of pie before pushing it away, the huge pile of chips still almost untouched.
    ‘I’m done. If you want any more chips, please help yourself.’ He rolled his eyes. His plate was still more than half full. ‘You know, Danny, the more I read about those days, the more fascinating, if depressing, I find it.’
    The drive home was uneventful, although the traffic was appalling. It took them almost two hours to do what had taken less then half an hour by public transport. By the time they got back to Greenwich, it was four o’clock.
    Danny refused a ride home, not wanting to add to her stress levels. She had arranged with a neighbour to park in their precious car parking space and, by the time she had reversed in, she was exhausted. The combination of the unfamiliar vehicle and the congested roads had taken their toll.
    ‘Well done. For somebody who says she has never driven in London, that was impressive.’
    She locked the car and gave him a weak smile. ‘I hope I didn’t frighten