Me Before You: A Novel

man, Will there, had told him that I was available. I went this afternoon and showed him what I could do, and I’m on a month’s trial. Beginning Saturday.’
    ‘You’re going to work for Will’s dad?’
    ‘Well, he said they have to do a month’s trial, to go through the proper procedures and all, but he said he couldn’t think of any reason why I shouldn’t get it.’
    ‘That – that’s great,’ I said. I felt weirdly unbalanced by the news. ‘I didn’t even know there was a job going.’
    ‘Nor me. It’s great, though. He’s a man who understands quality, Lou. I talked to him about green oak, and he showed me some of the work done by the previous man. You wouldn’t believe it. Shocking. He said he was very impressed by my work.’
    He was animated, more so than I had seen him for months.
    Mum had appeared beside him. She was wearing lipstick, and her good pair of heels. ‘There’s a van. He gets his own van. And the pay is good, Lou. It’s even a bitmore than your dad was getting at the furniture factory.’
    She was looking up at him like he was some kind of all-conquering hero. Her face, when she turned to me, told me I should do the same. It could contain a million messages, my mother’s face, and this one told me Dad should be allowed his moment.
    ‘That’s great, Dad. Really.’ I stepped forward and gave him a hug.
    ‘Well, it’s really Will you should thank. What a smashing bloke. I’m just bloody grateful that he thought of me.’
    I listened to them leave the house, the sound of Mum fussing in the hall mirror, Dad’s repeated reassurances that she looked lovely, that she was just fine as she was. I heard him patting his pockets for keys, wallet, loose change, followed by a brief burst of laughter. And then the door slammed, I heard the hum of the car pulling away and then there was just the distant sound of the television in Granddad’s room. I sat on the stairs. And then I pulled out my phone and rang Will’s number.
    It took him a while to answer. I pictured him heading to the hands-free device, depressing the button with his thumb.
    ‘Hello?’
    ‘Is this your doing?’
    There was a brief pause. ‘Is that you, Clark?’
    ‘Did you get my dad a job?’
    He sounded a little breathless. I wondered, absently, whether he was sitting up okay.
    ‘I thought you’d be pleased.’
    ‘I am pleased. It’s just … I don’t know. I feel weird.’
    ‘You shouldn’t do. Your dad needed a job. Mine needed a skilled maintenance man.’
    ‘Really?’ I couldn’t keep the scepticism from my voice.
    ‘What?’
    ‘This has nothing to do with what you asked me the other day? About him and the other woman?’
    There was a long pause. I could see him there, in his living room, looking out through the French windows.
    His voice, when it came, was careful. ‘You think I’d blackmail my father into giving yours a job?’
    Put like that it did sound far-fetched.
    I sat down again. ‘Sorry. I don’t know. It’s just weird. The timing. It’s all a bit convenient.’
    ‘Then be pleased, Clark. It’s good news. Your dad will be great. And it means … ’ He hesitated.
    ‘It means what?’
    ‘ … that one day you can go off and spread your wings without worrying about how your parents are going to be able to support themselves.’
    It was as if he had punched me. I felt the air disappear from my lungs.
    ‘Lou?’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘You’re awfully quiet.’
    ‘I’m … ’ I swallowed. ‘Sorry. Distracted by something. Granddad’s calling me. But yes. Thanks for – for putting a word in for him.’ I had to get off the phone. Because out of nowhere a huge lump had lodged itself somewhere in my throat and I wasn’t sure I could say anything else.
    I walked to the pub. The air was thick with the smell of blossom, and people smiled as they passed me on the street. I couldn’t raise a single greeting in return. I just knew I couldn’t stay in that house, alone with my thoughts. I found the Triathlon Terrors all in the beer garden, their two tables pushed together in a dappled corner, arms and legs spilling off the ends in sinewy pink angles. I got a few polite nods (none from the women) and Patrick stood, creating a small space for me beside him. I realized I really wished Treena was around.
    The pub garden was full, with that peculiarly English mix of braying students and post-work salesmen in their shirtsleeves. This pub was a favourite with tourists, and among the