Ollie Savage

Chapter 12

Ollie has not completely given up on his university plans. He has lost the fire that once consumed his heart about becoming a doctor. His father hasn't got long, he is dying of prostate cancer and he cannot help besides calling or sending money for his medical bills. His mother is constantly in and out of hospital with fall injuries, hybrid diseases resulting from her hypertension and diabetes combo. Will I ever catch a break, he wonders? Everything that could go wrong is still going wrong since setting his front foot in England. It has been a steady downhill from there. He is starting to feel as if it's karma, he is being punished for his hand in all the bad things that are happening in the world.

He has received a letter stating that he has been allocated a new caseworker with another firm in Birmingham. They go over the details over the phone as the new aid Jaimie, feels the case has no substance. He feels Ollie's case is weak and has a lot of holes that they will use to deny him his potential refugee status. Jaimie comes across as a no kiss-ass. He has too many cases to go through and his firm gets paid win or lose. He advises Ollie to withdraw and restart a new application. Ollie feels as if this will take forever. He has a sneaky feeling these guys just want to spend as much time on his case, so they get paid for the hours. However, he tells Deena about the new development and she wants to know if the file can be sent back so they can take a closer look at it for themselves. Deena is smart, as long as it's written in a language she understands, she can figure something out. Ollie is hopeful.

The big file is delivered and signed for, both Ollie and Deena go over it and they cannot see anything wrong with it. They send it back to Jaimie with the clear instruction to submit it the way it is. Jaimie agrees but informs Ollie he will have to accept their decision once they have denied him the right to stay in the UK. It is worrying on Ollie's mind. He knows the Home Office is getting strict with asylum seekers. Most are just claiming asylum as a means to buy time while still working illegally. A few church friends have been deported and their bishop has been kept on his toes visiting them in removal centres offering prayers.

As September comes to pass, Ollie has neither gotten an appointment with the Home Office nor started university. He is told that they can defer him until next year but nothing more than that. With his place for university safe until the next academic year, Ollie has time to focus on his expecting wife and everything else. Babysitting has been resolved as Nancy and Deena have found common ground. They take turns babysitting their children when Deena is at work and on her days off. Ollie spends most of his days working on his side hustle and helping Nancy with the children.

Deena's father has pleaded with Ollie that they include him in his granddaughter's life. He has let bygones be bygones and has now accepted Ollie and Deena's marriage. Deena is hopeful that the grandchildren will really help mend her relationship with her father. She is willing to move closer to him so he can help them with childcare due to her constant falling out with Nancy. She hates fighting with her, especially in front of their children and feels now is the best time to make the move before the next baby arrives. Ollie is not too keen on the idea as it's too risky. There is no guarantee that this arrangement will be any better than what they already have.

Ollie's business is booming but he has to restart all over again. He has raised enough money to secure another mortgage for another three-bedroom terraced house in Gillingham, Kent. Nancy feels abandoned and left to fend for herself with the twins. Ollie pleads with her to be patient and reassures her he is working on a much bigger plan, but for now, he needs to set everything in motion. She is not happy, but she trusts him and believes his every word.

With the distance so much further, Ollie has been allowed to report at Electric House once a month as he has never breached his terms. The time he takes on the long journey from Gillingham to Croydon is the one time he gets to plan his future goals and endeavors. The journey feels shorter than it is. While he is in London, he spends his day with Nancy and the twins, learning the business of B&Bs. Nancy has bought another property that she is decorating, and encourages Ollie to get on to the property ladder once he has his papers sorted.