Me-Before-You-by-Jojo-Moyes

I stared at the folder in front of me. It felt like I was about to sit an exam I
hadn’t prepared for. ‘What if he needs … to go to the loo?’ I thought of the hoist.
‘I’m not sure I could, you know, lift him.’ I tried not to let my face betray my
panic.
Nathan shook his head. ‘You don’t need to do any of that. His catheter takes
care of that. I’ll be in at lunchtime to change it all. You’re not here for the
physical stuff.’
‘What am I here for?’
Nathan studied the floor before he looked at me. ‘Try to cheer him up a little?
He’s … he’s a little cranky. Understandable, given … the circumstances. But
you’re going to have to have a fairly thick skin. That little skit this morning is
his way of getting you off balance.’
‘Is this why the pay is so good?’
‘Oh yes. No such thing as a free lunch, eh?’ Nathan clapped me on the
shoulder. I felt my body reverberate with it. ‘Ah, he’s all right. You don’t have to
pussyfoot around him.’ He hesitated. ‘I like him.’
He said it like he might be the only person who did.
I followed him back into the living room. Will Traynor’s chair had moved to
the window, and he had his back to us and was staring out, listening to
something on the radio.
‘That’s me done, Will. You want anything before I go?’
‘No. Thank you, Nathan.’
‘I’ll leave you in Miss Clark’s capable hands, then. See you lunchtime, mate.’
I watched the affable helper putting on his jacket with a rising sense of panic.
‘Have fun, you guys.’ Nathan winked at me, and then he was gone.
I stood in the middle of the room, hands thrust in my pockets, unsure what to
do. Will Traynor continued to stare out of the window as if I weren’t there.
‘Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?’ I said, finally, when the silence
became unbearable.
‘Ah. Yes. The girl who makes tea for a living. I wondered how long it would
be before you wanted to show off your skills. No. No, thank you.’
‘Coffee, then?’
‘No hot beverages for me, just now, Miss Clark.’
‘You can call me Lou.’