The Locket | Hero Fiennes Tiffin

Cleaning the Mess

Amelia

I unlock the lodge for the second time today. Fuck. The mess seems worse now that I actually have to clean it up. I set to work opening the windows to get rid of the smell of booze. I'm guessing that by the look of one of the blankets on the floor that it was used as a mop to clean up a spill last night. I bend down to pick it up and it is soaking wet and reeks of alcohol. I fling it into a carrier bag to take back to the house and put in the washing machine. Next I clear the kitchen counters by tipping any crumbs into the bin and piling up all of the dishes by the sink to wash in a minute. I turn the tap on and wait for the water to warm up. When it starts to get warm I plug the sink and pour a generous amount of fairy liquid into the water. The sink is massive so whilst I wait for it to fill up I put on some music and plug in my headphones.

Once the sink is full I start doing the dishes. There are a fair few so I'll be here for a wee while. I pick up a wine glass and start from there.

Ive just finished and someone taps my shoulder. I turn around and see that it is James, Molly's fiancé. I take my headphones out.

"Wow, you can really sing. I didn't know you could sing" he tells me sounding shocked.

"Oh piss off. I can't sing. I sound like a drowning cat" I reply laughing.

"Nah I'm being serious. You have a great voice" He reply's "Anyway I came down here because the light was on and no one was in the main house. Molly said that she left her laptop in her room and wanted me to grab it"

"Oh, the living room door is open just go in and grab it. It's probably either on the desk or the bed" I tell him.

"Thank's. I'll just go grab it" he reply's "Actually before I go, you know how yesterday I said I needed to talk to you?"

"Yeah?" I reply confused with where this is going.

"Well. I was going to ask you to play the violin at some point during the wedding" I look at him confused "but now I know you can sing. I was wondering whether you could sing the first dance song?"

"I can't sing. Let alone in front of hundreds of people" I laugh.

"Well how about we record a song and play that?" he reasons. James is in a band and also owns a recording studio where he teaches people music.

"You are going to need a lot of auto tune, but if it's anonymous then I'll do it" I smile.

"Thank you. You are the best almost sister in law. I was going to get one of my students to sing but you will be even better" he beams

"I'm going back to London early on Monday, so it will probably need to be before then. Unless you want to cut it close and do it when I come back a week before the wedding?" I ask

"I'm not doing anything now and Molly's busy. Why don't we go there now and make a start on it?" he answers.

"I need to finish cleaning up this mess" I say gesturing to the open plan kitchen and living room "but give me half an hour and I'll be done"

"Okay. Do you need any help?" He replies "Then you'll be finished quicker and we can go"

"No it's fine. I only need to mop the floor, put the couches back and wipe down the counters" I look at the massive heavy Grey couches and rethink "actually, you might need to help me lift the couches after I mop the floor"

"Ok, I'll just go grab the laptop" James then leaves and I empty the sink.

I wipe down the counters and then go and get the mop out of the cupboard under the stairs. I loathe cleaning floors, especially hoovering so I'm glad that the floor is tiled and I can at least use a mop to clean up the spillages from last night. I fill up the bucket with hot soapy water and then start to clean the floor.

When I'm almost finished James comes back with the laptop. I quickly dry the floor and then get him to help me lift the big heavy couches back to where they normally are. After that I shut all of the windows and lock the door, taking with me the things I brought down with me as well as the blanket that was used a mop because it needs to go in the washing machine.

I fling the bag into the utility room and then run upstairs to grab my handbag, a pair of trainers since I am currently wearing slippers and a jacket. I then write a quick note and leave it on the kitchen island for my parents saying that I've gone out. After that I grab my car keys and meet James outside the house.

"Do you know where you're going?" He asks.

"Yes I've been there before when you first opened it remember" I reply.

"Okay. If you get lost then call me. Under no circumstances answer any calls from Molly or your mum, I want it to be a surprise"

"Yeah, don't worry" I reply "I'll meet you there" I then walk over to my mini (which is still in the visitors  car park since I didn't even need it last night like I thought I would) and get in. I chuck my bag onto the passenger seat and then start the car and drive out of the security gates listening to the local radio station because I can't be bothered to plugged my phone in.

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Sorry this ones a bit shit, but at least I've updated and it's not been a month since the last one.