Chapter 75

“What?” Lee

said. He sounded unusually rude.

“May I watch

you? I’d like to learn how you stock the kitchen and shop.” Karel didn’t seem

at all put out by Lee’s resistance. “And I can help as well. Two pairs of hands

are better than one, right?”

“Depends on the

hands,” Lee muttered.

“Lee.” Patrick

came over to the counter, phone in hand. “I have to call the decorators, and Bryan’s just emailed me, asking me to run over the budget again some time today. I’d

really appreciate you showing Karel the ropes.”

Lee’s expression

was strangely pained as he looked up. “Of course.”

Karel turned

away to tidy up some stray packaging. Patrick leaned in closer to Lee so he

could whisper. “Is there a problem? He seems sensible enough. Tough, too. And

he’s a lot older than Phiz, it’d be good to have a wiser head about the place.”

“Wiser? Or just

older?” Lee said.

“Well, I admit

it’s refreshing to have someone around who’s coming from the same era as I am.