Although the numbers were right, there was still a long way to go before final decisions could be made. It started over hot drinks and treats but soon became more about life stories and future concerns.
The questions continued.
In which part of London were they thinking of finding a house?
Building or buying?
Country or city?
Old or new property?
What kind of bedrooms were they looking for?
Shared bathrooms or ensuite?
Kitchen facilities?
House rules?
Hilary’s general response was to say these decisions would be made together and would depend on the amount of money at their disposal.
Eve Barton seemed to favour a house outside the city while Jannice O’Connor was alarmed at being without access to city buses. Hilary made a note.
Vilma Smith introduced the topic of limiting the shared facilities. She stated she had no intention of eating all her meals on someone’s else’s timetable and would require at least a kettle and microwave.
Mavis spoke up while Hilary made another note.
“I believe it would be useful to eat the evening meal together. Perhaps not every night but two or three times a week to keep in touch with each other.”
“I really dislike cooking for others,” added Josette Delacour, with a laugh. “I know, French Canadian women are supposed to live in the kitchen but my mother ruled the roost and never allowed me to learn her secrets. I rarely cook for myself preferring to eat out with a gentleman companion if possible.”
She shook her fair hair into place with a sly smile as if she enjoyed the impact her statements made on the others.
Hilary suspected Jo was not joking about the male companion. In school she had the reputation of chasing other girls’ boyfriends and never buying herself as much as a coke or ice cream. Jo was responsible for breaking up a promising romance of Hilary’s with these tactics. It appeared she had not changed much since those long-ago days.
Mavis cleared her throat and stated the objective was for each person to live her own life but with the benefit of shared tasks and the opportunity to talk to and enjoy company whenever it might be desired.
“After all,” she concluded, “if a woman wanted to live a totally separate life, an apartment in a large building would be sufficient.”
“I agree,” stated Jannice, speaking quickly and quietly. “I have lived my life as a carer for my mother and father. I rarely saw anyone of my own age to talk to, or shop with, or go for a meal with. I do not want to be isolated for the rest of my days. I have had enough of that. Now I need my own good life with pleasant companions around me.”
It was becoming obvious to Hilary that Jannice’s style of rapid talking was because of the situation she had been in with ailing parents. The poor woman was starved of companionship.
Jannice’s confession seemed to prompt the others to tell a bit about their lives.
The stylish woman, now identified as Vilma Smith, was the next to speak up but her story could not be more different.
“Personally speaking, I am looking for an all-female establishment. A few months ago I buried my second husband after a happy twenty years together during which time I looked after his three kids from a first marriage. Unfortunately, my step-children never left the influence of their mother and consequently they disliked me intensely. I could tolerate that dislike well enough for their father’s sake but after their father died and they discovered he had left a large amount of money to me, they unleashed their full disapproval and made my life a misery. I want nothing more to do with men or their children.”
This was more than the others around the table wanted to know on such short acquaintance. They looked down at their cups or fiddled with serviettes and waited, in some discomfort, to see who would dare to speak next.
Hilary filled the gap with a related question. “Vilma brings up the issue of husbands and children. How will we deal with visits from one or both categories of relatives?”
“It’s not likely we could accommodate visiting relatives for any amount of time. I don’t believe such family members should be inflicted on others in the same house. We can establish house rules whereby visitors should be entertained in town. No overnight visitors could be the rule.”
“That sounds sensible, Josette.” Mavis was pleased talk of house rules had emerged so soon. This was sure to be one of the most contentious issues but she and Hilary had decided rules were essential to the smooth operation of a joint ownership plan.
“Well, thank you for your honesty, ladies. I suggest we break into two or three smaller groups and get to know each other over an activity. I have a large jigsaw puzzle here and Mavis has a questionnaire for each of you. Don’t worry. It isn’t necessary to complete it now. Just bring it to our next meeting.”
There was an air of relief in the room. Mavis led the way into the comfortable living room where the seats were arranged in twos or threes around a coffee table or side table. She had placed copies of the questionnaire on each surface along with a variety of board games ready to be played. These ranged from a magnetic tic-tac-toe board to chess and bridge. She waited to see who would choose which.
Then she returned to the dining room and set out the jigsaw puzzle, leaving Hilary to observe the activity in the living room.
By the time she had found and placed the four corner pieces, Eve Barton had taken a seat beside her.
Mavis welcomed her and asked if she was a jigsaw fan.
“Yes, I suppose I am. I began long ago to pass the time at home when my father-in-law was first ill. He was disturbed by noise and chatter. It was a quiet activity and I guess it just became a habit. It gives you time to think.”
Eve Barton, adjusted her hat to further conceal the bruise on her face and apologized to Mavis.
“I am not really here for the puzzle. I feel we have a connection. You were kind to me earlier, and I need to explain something before I leave. I have a taxi waiting on a nearby street.”
“Of course, Eve, you can tell me anything. I am not easily shocked.”
Eve took a deep breath and swallowed convulsively before she began.
“You see, I may be here under false pretences. I am not exactly free to make the choice you require.
I am currently married to a man I have grown to hate. My escape from him became a possibility when a distant relative died leaving me a substantial sum of money. My husband knows nothing of this and I hope to leave him and begin a new life. I am not fit to live alone, however. I feel I need support and friendship until I can recover from what has happened in the past. I am telling you this, Mavis, because I must go now and I am hoping you will give me a chance to be included in your project.”
Mavis made no comment. She hid her dismay and stood at once, handing Eve a questionnaire and telling her the date of their next meeting as she helped her on with her coat.
“Please come next time, Eve. I can promise you a safe haven here. Take care.”
Eve Barton turned with tears in her eyes. It was so long since she had heard such words of comfort that she reached for Mavis and gave her a brief hug before rushing down the steps and off into the street.
Mavis stood watching her until she had disappeared.
Her emotions were in turmoil. She felt such empathy for the woman and hoped she had done the right thing by encouraging her. Hilary might have a very different view of accepting into their future home, a woman with such baggage. Mavis had acted on impulse and she felt very strongly about sticking by her word even if there was an argument pending.
She stepped quietly into the living room and was reassured by the sound of laughter. Hilary and Vilma were competing over the tic-tac-toe board. They seemed to be doing a speed contest and Vilma was winning. Mavis was pleased these two dominant personalities were taking each other’s measure. If they were to be sharing a house, it was essential that mutual respect be established as soon as possible.
Hilary looked up as Mavis entered and they exchanged an enquiring glance. Hilary nodded happily, but Mavis contributed a frown alerting her friend to trouble.
At a side table, Josette and Jannice had abandoned their card game and were now in deep conversation. Jannice’s face showed amazement at whatever tale her companion was spinning.
Mavis hoped it was not some incident from their schooldays that would be embarrassing to Hilary.
She took the nearest chair and listened in. Best to be forewarned.
“………and then he picked me up and swung me around and my foot hit the vase of flowers which clattered onto the floor spilling roses and water everywhere. We couldn’t stop laughing long enough to clear it up, so we went off to bed and left the mess there until the morning. It was très amusante!”
Mavis decided to step in before Jannice was even more shocked.
She looked at the carriage clock on Hilary’s mantel and saw it was time to draw the session to a close.
She collected up the spare questionnaire copies and Hilary took the hint.
“Thank you all so much for coming today. We hope to see you back here in one week. Mavis has your homework assignment and we will have more opportunities to answer questions when you have had time to consider your answers.”
The three women collected their coats and went off down the steps smiling, waving and exchanging information about how they had travelled to the house. Vilma and Josette had driven cars from opposite parts of London. Vilma volunteered to give Jannice a ride home and save her from the long and weary bus trip.
“Nobody’s waiting at home for me to arrive, Jannice. I’ll be happy to take you.”
Once the driveway was empty of cars, Mavis closed the front door and went to hear what Hilary thought about their first meeting.
“Well, Mavis, we have taken on quite a daunting task. I have the measure of Mrs. Vilma Smith and she is a forceful character all right, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I know the type of woman Josette is, and of the two, she is likely to be more trouble in the long run. I did not have much opportunity to talk with the other two women. What’s your opinion about them?”
Mavis took a seat at the kitchen island and waited until her friend had poured fresh tea into her cup. It was a time for brutal honesty.
“I am in agreement with your evaluation of Vilma and Josette but we have a serious issue with the two remaining women for entirely different reasons.”
“Oh, that sounds ominous. Tell me.”
“Jannice is of lesser concern. She is like a child who has been kept under such control for so many years she is barely functioning as an adult. I feel she would be very easily swayed by any of us and perhaps be unable to live comfortably as an individual with equal weight and responsibility.”
Hilary blinked and focussed fully on Mavis. She had great respect for her friend’s ability to see within people and discern their motives, but this assessment had been predicated as ‘of lesser concern’. What was to come next?”
“As for Eve Barton, I must confess I have tremendous sympathy for her situation, Hilary, but she is trouble with a capital T.”
“I am surprised to hear this. What has brought you to this conclusion?”
There was no point in sugar coating the truth. Mavis waded right in.
“She told me she is married to an abuser. You saw the evidence on her face. She is hoping to run away from her husband and take up a new life with us, using money from an inheritance.”
“Oh my! That is a problem! I take it you are suggesting this man would not be happy with her choice?”
“As far as I can tell, he knows nothing of her intentions. If we choose Eve Barton we would probably be caught up in a possible legal mess with a violent man and a damaged and cowed woman.”