The Apartment - K. L. Slater Page 0,34

effect of bringing the garden inside. Here on the second floor, there’s a sense of being even closer to the leafy trees.

As we watch, a squirrel scampers up the same oak tree our breakfast blackbird favours.

Although it’s pretty, I wouldn’t necessarily want to live with so much floral busyness myself, but I do think it seems perfect for Lily.

‘Thank you, dear. I do like to surround myself with beautiful things. There’s so much ugliness in the world, don’t you think? So much distrust and focus on negative events, rather than on making peaceful progress so that the world is a better, more informed place for our future generations.’

‘I agree,’ I say, surprised at the strength of her feelings on the matter.

‘Now, bear with me a few minutes and I’ll get our tea. Skye, could I trouble you to help me to carry in the cake?’

Skye nods with no hint of shyness. Compared to her cautiousness around Audrey, she seems more than pleased to be involved in helping Lily.

The two of them disappear into the kitchen, and I close my eyes for a few moments, savouring the peace and tranquillity. Although I can hear the hum of their voices and the odd clink of china in the kitchen, it feels so relaxing here. I can almost imagine Lily being my grandmother and Skye’s great-grandmother. How it must feel to have a—

‘Ta-dah!’ Skye appears in front of me carrying a most impressive homemade lemon drizzle cake on a floral china platter.

‘Goodness,’ I exclaim. ‘You baked that really quickly!’

‘I haven’t made it, silly.’ Skye giggles. ‘Lily has.’

She places it carefully on the coffee table and stands back as Lily comes in with a tray loaded with a china teapot, cups, and saucers. She sets everything down and begins to pour the tea.

‘So. Have you met the other residents yet?’

‘We’ve met Dr and Mrs Marsden. And I’ve met Mr and Mrs Woodings.’

‘Ahh, you’ve had the pleasure then.’ Her eyes twinkle. ‘Milk?’

‘Yes, please.’ I smile as Skye hands me a slice of lemon cake on a china plate, a look of pure concentration on her face as she focuses on keeping the crockery level.

Miss Brockley serves my tea in a delicate bone-china cup and saucer.

‘I don’t know what your initial impression of them is, but try not to tar us all with the same brush,’ she says candidly. ‘I’m sure the residents here can seem a bit strange to a newcomer, but most of them are quite harmless.’

Most of them? Sounds a bit ominous.

Lily keeps her voice perfectly pleasant but I get the feeling she’s thinking something quite different. I’m not sure how to ask for the meaning behind her comment without sounding rude, and I don’t want to spoil the ambience of our afternoon.

‘I’m sure you’re right.’ I sip my tea. ‘Everyone seems very nice.’

Miss Brockley’s pale-blue eyes settle on me. ‘You’re very polite, Freya, but you don’t need to be. Not with me, anyhow. They’re harmless enough, but don’t let them get to you with their strange ways. That’s all I’m saying.’

Here’s my chance to ask a few questions. I take a breath.

‘The Marsdens do seem a bit obsessed with security,’ I begin. ‘They want to install a camera inside my apartment, but I’ve said I want to think about it. I’ve already decided I don’t want it though.’

She looks surprised. ‘Really . . . a camera?’

‘Yes. They said it was for my own security, so they could monitor the entrance to my flat.’ I put my cup and saucer down on the coffee table. ‘Seems an odd thing to do.’

‘Indeed.’ Lily looks thoughtful. ‘You did right standing your ground like that. Make sure you put them in their place.’

She doesn’t offer an opinion on whether she thinks they are obsessed with security, but seems to approve of my reaction.

‘They said all the apartments have them installed,’ I remark lightly.

‘Well, mine certainly doesn’t,’ Lily says bluntly. ‘Like you, I wouldn’t entertain it.’

‘Dr Marsden said a couple of the apartments are empty because the residents have gone travelling.’

She pauses before answering. ‘That’s true. I don’t know when they’ll be back. You might think me rude but I say good riddance. The place is better without them.’

I’m just trying to get a handle on this house, the people in it, how they work together.

I’m hoping Lily might give me a bit of extra information that helps me make sense of the setup here.

Right now, Adder House seems like one of those expensive but intriguing chrome-and-wood