or his living room. Caesar’s barking drew her towards the end of the landing and around a corner to a door leading into the attic. Peering through the open door, she found Jack on the rickety stairs. The water tank was leaking, he insisted. Once she persuaded him to come down and return to his bed, he explained that the crash of falling plaster had awoken him and he had headed to the attic to turn off the water.
The water tank was ancient and rusted. Easy to see how it had sprung a leak. Once she had turned off the water, she rang Victor. His cheerful message on the answering machine asked for her name and number. She tried Charlie next, who picked up and said his nephew was a plumber. He promised they would come by as soon as possible.
Thinking about what could have happened if the ceiling in Jack’s bedroom or living room had collapsed while she was absent from the house added to her distress. She needed a cup of tea to ease her nerves. But when she tried to turn on the kettle, she discovered the electricity was off. Was there anything in this house that worked? Anything that was not tarnished, broken or cracked? As if to prove her point, the kitchen chair wobbled when she sat down to ring Charlie again to let him know the electricity was also down.
Thankfully, he arrived shortly afterwards with his nephew, Billy, and two grandsons who would look after the electricity and plastering.
‘Everything is under control,’ she reassured Victor when he rang back later. ‘Jack is fine. You don’t have to worry about him.’
‘I’ll call in and see him on my way home from work,’ he said.
‘I’ll see you then. Better rush. The house is full of workmen and I’m making lunch for them.’
When Victor arrived that evening, it was obvious from his worried expression that the accident was playing on his mind.
‘This house is a death trap,’ he said. ‘Can you imagine what would have happened if that ceiling had come down on top of him?’
‘Thankfully, it didn’t. And Charlie has taken care of everything. It seems there isn’t a skill his family don’t have.’ She tried to lighten the tone but she could tell he was still concerned when they went upstairs to check the repaired ceiling. Caesar growled from the bedroom next door then fell quiet with a suddenness that only Jack could command.
‘Leave him alone for tonight.’ Sophy touched Victor’s arm as he prepared to enter his uncle’s bedroom. ‘I’m afraid he’s in one of his moods and doesn’t want to see anyone.’
‘I’m not anyone, Sophia.’
‘I’m sorry, Victor. I’m just relaying his wishes.’
‘I hope he’s not regressing. The mental strain—’
‘It’s nothing like that. He’s just tired. If I noticed any signs of dementia, I’d contact his medical team immediately.’
‘He’s obviously quite shaken after what happened this morning. Have you spoken to him about moving?’
‘Not yet. I’m waiting for the right time.’
‘There is no right time, Sophia. Only lost time.’
Reluctantly, he walked away from the bedroom door and followed her down the stairs. ‘You’re doing amazing work with him,’ he said when they entered the music room. ‘Think how much easier it would be if he was willing to move into my house. The girls have turned it into their second home, as it is.’
‘I hope you don’t mind them using the tennis court when you’re at work.’
‘I told you it wasn’t a problem. You should do the same.’
‘I keep intending to but the day slides by and there never seems to be enough hours in it.’
‘Make time,’ he said. ‘I know how demanding my uncle can be. I don’t want you wearing yourself out in this wretched place when I can provide the perfect alternative.’
‘Stop worrying about me.’ She walked over to the grand piano and pointed to the framed photographs. ‘You and Jack have had a very close relationship. I’m sure he still feels that same affection for you. I control his pain but medication can only do so much. With the burns he suffered, his moods are unpredictable, which is why he doesn’t want to see anyone this evening.’
He glanced at the photographs and laughed abruptly. ‘That’s Laurence, not Jack.’
‘Oh?’ She bent closer to the photographs. ‘I just assumed it was him. Obviously, I don’t know what Jack looked like before his accident—’
‘He looked exactly like that.’ Victor lifted the photograph of the two men standing outside Hyland Hall. ‘But looks were