Tom came home at half past six. That in itself was a positive signnormally, he didnt show up before eight. Id only just finished washing up after dinner and could hear him faffing about in the hallway. He was taking longer than usual.
Anna? he called, his tone tentative. Like someone cradling a fragile ornament, unsure where to set it down.
I dried my hands and stepped out of the kitchen.
There were two of them in the hallway. Tom looked both heroic and slightly bewildered, as if hed just pulled off some bold move but wasnt sure if it was for better or worse. Beside him stood a woman of about fifty, slinging a travel bag over one shoulder; a suitcase rested at her feet.
This is Julia, Tom said. My cousin. Do you remember me mentioning her?
Did I? Perhaps vaguelysomething years ago, only in passing: Julia from Leeds, or was it Lancaster? Not that it mattered.
Shell be staying with us a couple of weeks, Tom added. Things are a bit complicated for her at the moment.
A couple of weeks, I echoed in my mind.
Hello, Anna, Julia said quietly, almost with embarrassment, barely above a whisper. Sorry about this. I know its awkward. Honestly, I wont be any botherI’ll help out with cooking and cleaning, and keep out of the way.
I glanced at her, then at Tom, then back. What was there to say? The woman was standing in my hallway with a suitcase. I couldnt exactly turn her back out onto the street.
Come in, then, I said.
Tom let out a sigh of relief so profound it made me tense up inside. That was it, wasn’t it? All decided, and no one had asked my thoughts.
Julia made her way into the sitting room, scanning it with a gentle, careful gazecurious but not prying. She placed her suitcase discreetly in the corner.
Youve got a lovely place, she murmured. Not to flatterjust stating a fact.
I stared at that suitcase, pondering what complicated situation actually covered.
Because, honestly, complicated situation is an awfully wide net.
Julia truly wasnt much trouble. She was up early each morning, moving about quietly like a cat. Shed drink her tea at the kitchen table before I was even awake, wash her cup and wipe down the counter. She left no crumbs, never hogged the bathroom, and now and again shed make a pot of soupwithout asking but also without fuss. The soup was goodeven better than mine, annoyingly.
And that irked me, for reasons I couldnt put my finger on.
Honestly, its so much simpler when someones outright difficult. At least then youve got something to talk about, a reason to address things. When everythings tidy and quiet, courteous even, but something still feels offwell, that gets under your skin. Like a splinter you cant see. It doesnt quite hurt, but you still feel it.
A week passed. Then a month.
Tom relaxed, strutting around satisfied, declaring, See, nothings amiss. I would nodyes, all fine. On the surface, anyway.
But Julia always whispered on the phone.
I overheard it by accident oncepassing by the sitting room door, I caught a snippet of her voice: low, urgent, nearly indecipherable. Not words, just the anxious tonenobody discussed the weather like that.
I paused, not eavesdropping, reallyjust lingered a moment. Then moved on.
Yet it lingered in my mind, like the faint smell of gas you cant be sure has gone.
Oddly, Julia would freeze whenever the doorbell rangwhether it was the postie, a neighbour, or a delivery. Shed stare at the front door with a wary look, unsure what news might be waiting.
I noticed. I kept quiet.
One afternoon, gently, I tried to ask:
How are you, Jules? Is everything working out?
Yes, slowly but surely, she answered, with a calm, even smile. Dont worry, Anna. Just a bit longer, then Ill be off.
Just a bit longer. Another phrase that can mean anything.
Watching her walk away, I thought: theres something more here. A story hidden away, something were not being told. But what?
There were no answers. Then, one night, I got up for a glass of water. The living room door was slightly ajar and Julias voice drifted outgentle, but clear in the nighttime silence.
Ill stay with them for now. They dont know anything.
I stood by the fridge, water bottle in hand.
They dont know anything.
I stood there for half a minute, then crept back to bed. I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling. Tom slept peacefully beside meas if he had no secrets, and his soup was impeccable.
I didnt wake him. Didnt know what to say. What exactly didnt we know? First, I needed to understand it myself.
Understanding arrived that Saturday, around noon.
The doorbell ranga perfectly ordinary ring. I opened the door.
A well-dressed woman of about forty stood on the doorstep, a folder in hand. A silent man hung back behind her.
Good afternoon. Were looking for Julia Thompson. We understand shes staying here.
I felt a chill creep up my spine.
And you are? I asked.
Were from a debt collection agency, the woman replied, matter-of-fact, used to awkwardness.
I glanced at the folder, at the man. The word debt collectors seemed to fill our hallway like a third uninvited guest.
Please wait here, I said, shutting the door.
Julia was already emerging from the sitting room, phone in hand, wearing the expression of someone whos long expected something dreadful and now its finally here.
Theyre here for me, aren’t they? she whispered.
I said nothing. Just looked at her.
Ill explain, she said.
Lets talk to them first, I replied, stepping aside.
Tom was down at the allotment. I called him.
Tom, I need you home today. We need a chat.
Whats happened? His voice was instantly on edge.
Its nothing catastrophic. Just come home, please.
The visitors went quiet and eventually left. Julia vanished back into the lounge.
I sat at the table, pondering how complicated situation wasnt just broadit was also someone elses business. And now, it had been living in my house for over a month.
And me, Anna, Id nodded along. Endured. Said, Its fine.
But it wasnt fine.
Tom came home about three hours later. He stepped into the hallway, took one look at me, and immediately understood something was up.
Whats happened? he asked, all levity gone.
Come through. Julia as well.
Julia sat on the edge of the sofa, shoulders taut, hands clasped in her lap like someone bracing themselves for a dreaded conversation.
Tom sat down.
Can someone please tell me whats going on? he asked.
Julia, I said evenly, tell Tom who came round today.
Julia kept her eyes on the coffee table. Then looked up.
Debt collectors, she said softly. That was who it was.
Tom seemed not to get it at firstprocessing the words.
Debt collectors? he repeated. What for?
Because I owe quite a lot, Julia replied. I took out a loan two years ago. Thought it would all work out, that I could get my business going. It didnt. I tried getting another loan to pay it backno luck. In the end I lost my flat and still owe money.
She trailed offher voice thin and weary.
Thats why I was hiding. From them.
Tom was silent. That sort of silence when you realise the ground isnt where you thought it was.
Jules, he said, voice low. Do you realise what youve done?
I do.
You used our address, without asking.
I know, she repeated.
I didnt know, Anna, I really didnt, Tom said.
I know you didnt, I replied.
Julia sat perfectly still, eyes fixed on a glass of water.
Julia, I said quietly. I want you to realise something. Helping is one thing. We wouldve helped, probably, if wed known. But living in someone elses house on false pretencesI cant do that.
She met my gaze.
Youre right, she said. I know youre right. I just panicked. I had nowhere else to go. My daughters flats too tiny with her own family. My friend has builders in. And you, Tomyou always said if I needed anything, I should come. So I
So you turned up. With your bag. And your debt, I finished.
Tom stared at the floor. Then he asked:
How much do you owe?
A lot, Julia admitted. She hesitated. Eighty thousand pounds. Maybe more, with the interest.
Tom blew out his cheeks.
Jules, I cant give you that sort of money. We just dont have it.
I know, Julia replied swiftly. Im not asking. I only needed somewhere to lie low for a while till they gave up or
Jules, I cut in gently, they know where you are. They were right outside this morning.
Silence.
Julia shut her eyes.
Yes, she whispered. I get it.
You cant just wait this out, Jules, I said. Youve got to deal with it.
I don’t know how.
Well, I do, I replied.
Tom looked at me, surprisedI could tell he didnt expect that.
Listen, I went on, Im no legal guru. But my neighbour went through all this three years ago. Reorganised her debts. Took ages, was stressful, but she did it. I can pass you her number. Andare you working?
No, Julia admitted.
I know a woman whos looking for part-time staff at her shop. Its not much, but its proper workand thats important in court, if it comes to that. And in our area, people are renting out rooms. Not expensive. I saw an ad just last week.
Julia gave me a long lookher face changing gradually, like the sky before sunrise: not quite light, but no longer night.
Why are you doing this for me? she asked. After all that?
Because youre in trouble, I said, bluntly. And because youre Toms cousin.
Tom looked at me for a long moment, then said quietly, without fuss, Thank you, Anna.
I said nothing. I headed for the kitchen to put the kettle on.
Because after a conversation like that, only tea would do. That much, I knew for sure.
Julia left after four days.
Not immediatelythere was the call to the neighbour whod dealt with her own debts, then a meeting. Then I rang the woman at the shop, who agreed Julia could start a trial week. Then we sorted her a room to renta short bus ride away, not dear, the landlady was an older lady, promised not to fuss.
All of it took three days. On the fourth, Julia packed her suitcase.
She lingered in the hall longer than necessary, like someone who wants to say something but cant find the words.
Anna, she said, I dont know how to
No need, I interrupted.
She grabbed her suitcase. Tom walked her to the taxi. I stayed in the hallway.
A month later, Julia called. She was working, had made her first payment, the room was alright, landlady was pleasant, baked pies on Sundays.
I smiled to myself.
It was a good, honest chatshort, nothing extra.
