Boundless Cheek
Come on, Alice, be honest with me, grumbled Nick, What difference does it make who we let the cottage tofamily or strangers? At the end of the day, the moneys the same.
Alice clipped the final shirt to the washing line, silently wishing Nick would help rather than whinge.
Nick darling, she replied, the difference is you can never actually get the money out of family. Thats the truth of it.
Oh, this again? Youre talking about Paul, arent you? Nick grimaced. But Pauls my brother! Hell pay, I swear to you. Not once has he asked for a discount. He said hell take the cottage for the whole summer for full price. And then we dont have to waste time looking for anyone else.
We have a seaside cottage, Nick. I could find takers in five minutes flat.
Why do you care so much that its let to strangers, though? Explain that to me.
With strangers its simple: contract, deposit, dont payout you go. No hard feelings. With family, suddenly its Oh Alice, you know how it is with the kids or Well sort you out next month or Sorry, we broke your telly but you wont charge us, will you? Ive seen it time and again. You have no idea how it ends.
The cottage had come to Alice from her parentswho had rented it to holidaymakers themselves while living in Brighton, using the extra to top up their wages. Alice did the same but with one rule: no friends, no relatives. Shed watched her parents get stiffed one too many times by so-called mates.
So how did it end? Nick pressed.
It ended with family paying nothing, not even bothering with an apology. As if its our duty to give them a free holiday! No. The cottage is business, Nick. Not a free guest house for your lot.
Paul had decided a sea breeze was exactly what his wife and three kids needed for three months. Summer was quieter in his trade, so why not take the chance for a proper break? Alice was sure he had no intention of paying a penny.
But Pauls not asking you to do him a freebie! Nick persisted. He said hed pay.
They always say theyll pay.
Why bother with all this drama? Theres always a queue of paying punters. They sign the contract, pay upfront, and I can actually sleep at night. No family, no friends. Business and friendshipseparate things.
Alices practicality was hard to argue against, but Nick thought hed found leverage.
Fine. You might not trust Paul, but you trust me?
She raised an eyebrow.
I do, and?
If Paul doesnt pay, Ill pay you myself, Nick blurted out, puffing up his chest. Ill cover all of it.
Only, it wasnt much of an argument.
Brilliant idea. Youll pay me out of our joint account.
Well I could find a side job. Evenings, weekends. Anything I earn on top, Ill give to you. That way its your money, not ours. Fair?
Alice was surprisedshe hadnt realised this meant so much to him. Maybe, if he trusted Paul so deeply, she should just have faith
You could talk the hind legs off a donkey, she sighed. Fine. But the responsibility is yours now. Alright.
Summer was still far off; Alice had time to try and relaxto trust her husband.
Come June, trouble came sooner than the sunshine. Nick rang Paul every few days, dropping hints that somethinganythingought to be paid upfront. He was met with ever-hopeful replies.
Yeah, yeah, Nick, no problem! The money? Im just waiting on a big job to clear. They promised the funds by month end, so as soon as that lands, youll have it. Sorry for the wait, mate, nothing I can do.
June ended.
No payment arrived.
Alice gritted her teeth for a full month. She didnt nag, didnt scoldshe left it to Nick. Hed insisted; she let him handle it. She didnt relish bruising his pride, but after another chat with his brother she asked:
Well? Has he paid yet?
Still waiting on that client to come through for his last job. As soon as the transfer comes in
The same excuse, word for word.
She nearly snapped back, Told you so.
See what I meant? Family always has the best excuses for not paying.
Alice, its just bad luck! Nick stammered. Hes not doing it on purpose, its just awkward timing, thats all. You have to be patient.
Shall we wait till September, then? Until they pack their bags and say Cheers for the lovely holiday, well sort you later?
Its not like youre missing out. Ill go find a side job, like I promised.
You? Now?
He wilted instantly.
Give him two more weeks. If not Ill pay you myself. If youre that bothered.
You took this on yourself, Nick. Prove youre as good as your word.
The air in the house grew thick after thatNick seemed listless and withdrawn.
By July, with the heat stifling and tempers fraying, Alice caught Nick browsing job sites by night, but not ringing a single one.
Nick, did you know todays the thirtieth? Two-thirds of the summer gone and not a penny from your brother.
Hes still having a rough patch but
As soon as he can, right?
Hell pay! He promised. In fact, he said hell give us a bit extra for all the hassle.
I dont believe it anymore. You vouched for him. You told me Ill pay. So wheres your side job?
Truth be told, the idea of slogging at a second job had lost its shine for Nick. It was much easier to talk than dig in and do it.
Ill find something. But these dont suit me I cant haul boxes around, not with my back.
I suggest you find your brother and get him hauling boxes for us. Either start working or Ill ring Paul myself, and tell him that if I dont see half the money by Friday, Ill evict them by the book and take the rest to small claims court.
A sheen of cold sweat appeared on Nicks brow.
Dont ring Paul! Dont mention court! Whatll the family think? What will I tell Mum? That I took my brother to court? Theyd never understand.
Paul didnt want to pay, Nick didnt want to own up, and neither wanted a family showdown. Suddenly, Nick tried to make Alice the villain.
You really dont care about me, do you? he burst out. Youd rather see me working two jobs just to pay you, my own wife! Like you havent got a heart.
I never asked you to make big sacrifices, Nick! You made the promise, not me.
Well how was I to know Paul would stitch us up?
But I did know, said Alice quietly. Because Ive seen it before, over and over. But you didnt listen.
Ive got the message! Nick snapped, his voice turning wounded. But you, Alice! Youre something else. Forcing me to slog just to make you happy. You care more about this cursed money than if I keel over with a heart attack. Is that what you wantyour husband working himself into the ground for your deal?
Im not forcing you. I just want what you offered. Thats all.
Fine! Nick shouted. Ill get that side job and pay for Paul if it means so much to you. Happy now?
His grand gesture had crumbled, but Alice had at least got her wayhe started evening shifts doing deliveries, coming home to scowl at her with wounded indignation.
Its all your fault he muttered one day.
My fault?
Yes!
Maybe this way youll learn something, Alice said. Easy to make promises on my behalfharder when its your own pocket.
Alice had foolishly held onto a sliver of hopethat Paul would find his conscience and come through in the end. And barely had she thought it, when her phone rang, Pauls name flashing upher, not Nick.
Was she wrong? Was he finally going to transfer the money?
Alice, listen, its about the cottage
Paul, I really havent got time for this. Youre overdue for August and still owe for July. Its not my problem anymoreits Nicks, since he promised to cover you.
Yeah, Nick told me! Poor bloke. But listen, theres a spanner in the works. Cars packed up and Ive spent the last of our cash fixing it. We need the car to get home, so the rent well, well sort you when we can
As expected.
Alice ended the call.
Seeing her face, Nick understood.
Alright, he said miserably, I get it. I shouldnt have trusted him so much. But you never let me make mistakes! Instead of helping, you rub it in
So what, I should just smile and wave it off? No worries, Nick, let them have a free holiday, Ill survive? You insisted youd pay.
I did, he said, sulking, but I never thought youd be so quick to let my health go to ruin for a bit of cash. Do you ever think about me?
Does your brother think about you?
Hes not a bad bloke, just unlucky
Right. Hes a decent sort leaving us high and dry, leaving you to pick up the pieces but Im the villain for wanting whats fair?
Nick was silent.
It seemed stormy times lay ahead for their marriage.
