NineThe phone in the hallway started ringing. Doug navigated packed boxes in the lounge, carefully hurdling one in the doorway before he picked up the cordless phone off the telephone table. “Hello.”
“Hi Dad. It's Jake.”
Doug looked at his watch. Half eight. “Is everything okay Son? You're calling early.”
“Is Mom there?”
“Hang on.” Doug peered up the stairs. “Love! Jake's on the phone?”
Alison came to the top of the stairs in her bathrobe. She had a towel wrapped around her head. She looked pink and flustered. “Is everything alright?” she said, descending the stairs. She took the phone from him. “Jake. Are you okay?”
“Hi Mom. Put me on speakerphone.”
Jake could hear fumbling and a few tuts from his mother as she tried to activate the speaker. “Okay, Son. Now, is everything alright?”
