She tried to out-glare him, but when she saw that clearly wasn’t going to work she finally relented with a sigh. ‘It seems it’s a little complicated.’
‘How complicated?’
‘The boiler is on its last legs. It needs to be replaced. But a new boiler won’t connect to the old system. I’m not entirely sure, but I think it’s something about microbore pipework. They need to run in a fresh central heating line.’
He nodded, as though he understood what she was saying. Which didn’t really surprise her.
‘And how long will that take?’
‘A few weeks. Maybe.’
‘A few weeks?’ Tak was disparaging. ‘It’s a small flat, surely a week would suffice?’
‘As I understand it, they think they will need to take down at least one ceiling from the building plant room above, access at least one wall void, and then certainly take up every floor covering, floor board and re-lay all new pipework. Without disturbing any of my neighbours in the building. Even a layperson like me can see that could take a while.’
‘I see. And where does this landlord of yours expect you—and all your belongings, to live during this period?’
‘Here,’ she tried for a nonchalant shrug They can work in one or two rooms at a time so we can move around with them.’
‘Then forget a few weeks! If they’re stop-starting like that to work around you—and your furniture—then that could take a month. Longer, even.’
‘I guess...’ She shrugged. ‘But that’s just how it is. At least we still have somewhere to live.’
‘And you just accepted that? For pity’s sake, Effie, can’t you see that your landlord is walking all over you?’
‘Probably—but what can I do about it? There’s nothing in my tenancy agreement stating that the landlord is legally obliged to find us alternative accommodation. If I shout and rage then he’ll only take it out on us in an even worse way.’
She’d thought it would help, but her calmness only seemed to creep under his skin all the more. As if her acceptance made him feel as though he needed to shout louder, fight harder on her behalf.
Or maybe that was just because she wanted him to.
It made no sense. She’d long since given up expecting anyone else to fight her battles, or even stand beside her whilst she fought them herself. She’d wanted someone to do that for her, her whole life. But they hadn’t. Except for that one time, but look how that had turned out.
‘No, that’s unacceptable.’
Effie blinked, barely recognising Tak’s voice. It sounded odd, somehow. Tight. A little like her smile felt as she twisted her mouth into some semblance of one. Something was bugging him. She couldn’t explain why that pleased her, but it did.
‘It’s unfortunate, I’ll grant you, but it’s just the way it is.’
‘I won’t accept it.’
His words were sharp, edgy. She could almost see them cutting the air. Something sloshed inside her.
‘What are you going to do? Repair it yourself? After having conjured the obsolete spare parts out of thin air, of course. We all know you’re a superhero surgeon, of course, but I didn’t realise your expertise stretched to boilers and central heating as well.’
A hundred thoughts were racing through Tak’s head at that moment. She could see them but she couldn’t grasp a single one of them. And the way he was watching her... It made it impossible for her to explain this dark thing which fogged her head and swirled in eddies around her chest.
‘You can’t stay here.’
His voice was too thick. It did things to her. She could almost feel her smile. It was sharp, edgy, so un-Effie-like.
‘And yet here I am.’
‘What about your daughter?’ he challenged, and her non-smile disappeared in a flash. ‘It’s like living inside a freezer.’
‘You think I don’t know that? But where else should I stay? I could stay at the hospital, but I can’t take Nell, and I can’t afford a hotel.’
‘You’ll stay with me.’