Me-Before-You-by-Jojo-Moyes

Mr Lawler stayed almost an hour. I did my chores, then hung around in the
kitchen, wondering if I was brave enough to eavesdrop. I wasn’t. I sat, ate two
Bourbon creams, chewed my nails, listened to the low hum of their voices, and
wondered for the fifteenth time why Will had asked this man not to use the front
entrance.
He didn’t look like a doctor, or consultant. He could have been a financial
adviser, but he somehow didn’t have the right air about him. He certainly didn’t
look like a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or dietician – or one of the
legions of other people employed by the local authority to pop by and assess
Will’s ever-changing needs. You could spot those a mile off. They always looked
exhausted, but were briskly, determinedly cheerful. They wore woollens in
muted colours, with sensible shoes, and drove dusty estate cars full of folders
and boxes of equipment. Mr Lawler had a navy-blue BMW. His gleaming 5-
series was not a local authority sort of a car.
Finally, Mr Lawler emerged. He closed his briefcase, and his jacket hung over
his arm. He no longer looked awkward.
I was in the hallway within seconds.
‘Ah. Would you mind pointing me towards the bathroom?’
I did so, mutely, and stood there, fidgeting, until he emerged.
‘Right. So that’s all for now.’
‘Thank you, Michael.’ Will didn’t look at me. ‘I’ll wait to hear from you.’
‘I should be in touch later this week,’ Mr Lawler said.
‘Email would be preferable to letter – at least, for now.’
‘Yes. Of course.’
I opened the back door to see him out. Then, as Will disappeared back into the
living room, I followed him into the courtyard and said lightly, ‘So – do you
have far to go?’
His clothes were beautifully cut; they carried the sharp edge of the city in their
tailoring, serious money in their thread count.
‘London, unfortunately. Still, hope the traffic won’t be too bad at this time of
the afternoon.’
I stepped out after him. The sun was high in the sky and I had to squint to see
him. ‘So … um … where in London are you based?’
‘Regent Street.’