November-Charlie Read Free Page B

TV game show. “We’re going to play monopoly in the dining room,” he said.
    “Don’t keep Staci up too late.”
    “We won’t.” Jim removed the game from the sideboard and took it through to the clean table. He set the board up and then called to the girls.
    Staci carried her tea and another he assumed was his. Lou brought her tea and the biscuits. She pushed the door shut with her knee and sat down.
    Jim picked up the dice. “I start.”
    “Why?” Staci crossed her arms and frowned.
    “Because, kiddo, I’m the eldest and the only male in the room.”
    “Don’t argue, Stace,” Lou said. “Just remember that men only have two faults.”
    “Oh yeah? And what might they be?” Jim asked.
    “Everything they say and everything they do.” Lou grinned at him.
    “At least it’s only two. Not like women.” Jim poked his tongue out at her. He rolled the dice. “Usual rules apply,” he said moving his counter. That, of course, meant his own rules.
    Lou was winning until she landed on his property with a hotel and four houses. Although the girls insisted it was either four houses or a hotel he never played it that way. It was far more fun this way.
    “That’s three thousand, eight hundred quid, please,” he told her gleefully and held out a hand.
    “Some landlords need to be hauled before the European Court of human rights,” Lou muttered as she handed over all her money.
    Jim laughed and then rubbed his hands in glee as Staci threw the dice and landed on the same square.
    Nichola came in with three cups of cocoa as he was raking in his spoils. “Have you any idea what time it is?” she asked. “It’s nine forty five. Drink this, then bed.”
    Jim lay in bed a bit later, his mind still mulling over the embryo of his plan. Again, in the wee hours of dawn, he was woken by Staci crying. The plan grew a little more.
    He bolted into the girls’ room. He had to do something. “Shhhh. It’s OK,” he said, climbing onto the bed. He put his arms around her as she clung to him and sobbed. Jim rocked her, quietly talking until she calmed and fell asleep in his arms.
    “Stay there,” Lou said. “She needs you tonight.” She got out of bed. “Here, have my duvet. I’ll go sleep in the dining room. That way we’re not breaking the rule of sleeping in the same room.”
    “Are you sure?” he asked.
    Lou nodded. “Yeah.” She dumped the duvet on top of him. “But if you’re expecting me to tuck you in, forget it. You’re big enough and ugly enough to do that yourself.”
     
     
     
     
     
     

2
     
    Sunday began with a pouring rain. As usual, they went to church and had roast for dinner.
    Once again, Lou offered to do the dishes, which was followed by another game of, as the girls termed it, “Cheats.”
    This time they got no further than dealing the cards and setting up the board.
    Jim opened the notebook to a clean page and deftly divided the page up into sections. “Right, just for something to do. Let’s say I decided to take the boat out for the weekend. What would I need?”
    “Food,” Staci answered at once. “And lots of it because you’re always hungry. And plenty of fizzy drink and juice, too.”
    “Sleeping bags and blankets,” Lou said.
    “Woof,” Deefer barked eager to add his two pennyworth to the conversation.
    “That’s dog food and his bed,” Staci translated.
    “Who said he’s coming on my weekend trip?”
    Deefer put a paw over his nose and dropped his ears.
    “OK, fine. Dog food and Deefer’s bed.” Jim added that to the list. “Torches and batteries,” he said.
    “Why?” Lou asked.
    “So I can see in the dark. Besides they might be useful.”
    “In that case,” Lou said grinning wickedly, “you’d better add kettle, saucepan, cups, plates, knives, forks, spoons, tin opener...”
    “Hold on, I can’t write that fast.”
    Lou leaned over to peer at the page. “You’re not writing all that are you?”
    “Nope, it’s already on the boat.” He