Two evenings later when Michaela, in Michael mode came home from work, he was looking very cheerful and whistling as he came through the front door.

“Eve, I've got some good news for you, well I hope it's good news.”

Eve was busy cooking tea, having told both her hostesses that the least she could do was help out while she was there.

“That's lovely, Michaela, “ she said, “But why don't you get changed first and then you can tell me over a pre-dinner drink?”

“Bless you, Eve,” said Michaela, “I won't be long.” True to her word she was back in full Michaela mode in twenty minutes. The three of them sat on the big couch.

“To start with Eve, I work for a company that helps very rich people handle their money. They're not all greedy and some of them are very good at giving to charitable causes and do it anonymously. That's the case with an elderly lady called Miss Agnes Wilshire. She was the lady I saw this afternoon.

One thing we give our customers is time. If they want to talk then we let them talk, we don't push them out of the door. I knew already that she lives in a very large house in Wimbledon, on her own, apart from a live-in lady companion and a part-time cook and cleaner. It was where she was born and she's lived there all her life. Each Christmas she invites people to a cocktail party, and as her regular advisor, I've been there several times. What she had to tell me made me prick up my ears.

It seems that her live-in companion, Mrs Westmore has an elderly brother living in Scotland and his wife died recently. He needs someone to look after him and she feels obliged to go but she doesn't want to leave Miss Wilshire in the lurch. Miss Wilshire said to me “I don't suppose you know anyone who might like to take the position?” I don't think she expected me to reply that I possibly did. It's not terribly well paid, only thirty thousand pounds a year, but it comes with accommodation in a self-contained unit in one wing of the house with two bedrooms, a lounge/dining room, a small kitchen, laundry, bathroom, and toilet. There is a grocery allowance too.”

Eve's eyebrows had shot up at the mention of thirty thousand a year. Her opinion was that that was a generous amount indeed and added to free accommodation it was something she was very interested in and she immediately made her feelings known to Michaela and Jamie. Then her face fell.

“But what about James? How would an old lady feel about hearing a baby crying, perhaps in the middle of the night?”

“I mentioned James and her response was very positive. She remarked that when she was a girl, the house resounded to the noise and cries of young children playing, and she would be very happy to hear the sounds of a child once again. “Besides, I am a very sound sleeper,” she added.

“I promised to phone with your reaction this evening and set up an appointment to meet her if you are interested.”

“Oh yes! I am very interested,” said Eve, so Michaela phoned the house, spoke to Miss Wilshire and confirmed that eleven o'clock in the morning would be a convenient time.

“You must borrow my car again to get there,” said Michaela.

The following morning Eve and Jamie dressed for the interview. They both went for the 'smart businesswoman' look, silk blouses, grey knee-length pencil skirts, taupe stockings, and three-inch heels. They both wore their hair up and looked almost like twins. James was going too and wore his best outfit.

Jamie stopped the car outside the impressive mansion at ten minutes to the hour, enough time for Eve to touch up her makeup.

“Will you come in with me, Jamie?” she asked.

“I think it might be better if you go in by yourself, it shows confidence,” Jamie replied. “If Miss Wilshire asks to see me and James, then, of course, I'll come in.”

“Wish me luck,” said Eve as she stepped out of the car, opened the iron gate and walked up the long gravel path to the front door. Jamie had her fingers crossed for Eve as the door opened and she stepped inside. Half an hour passed, and Jamie took that as a good sign. If Miss Wilshire hadn't liked the look of her, surely she would have returned in the first five minutes.

The time stretched to forty minutes, during which time Jamie put James into his pushchair and walked him up and down in front of the house, as well as changing his nappy. Then the front door opened and Eve walked down the path wearing a broad smile.

“I think I've got the job, Jamie.” Mis Wilshire wants to meet James, and you of course. She said she was sorry to keep you so long, she didn't realise you were waiting out here.”

When Jamie walked through the front door of the house and saw the central passage which seemed to stretch for ever into the distance, she was very impressed. Some older houses look very run down, but this house had been kept in great condition. Mrs Westmore, who had opened the door, led them all to a pleasant sunny room towards the back of the house where Niss Wilshire was sitting in an armchair before a roaring fire, even though it was quite a warm day.

“Miss Brown, I'm pleased to meet you and please accept my apologies for keeping you waiting so long, It was only when I asked Eve how she travelled her that I realised you were outside. Please excuse me getting up, my rheumatism is playing up again; I'm not normally chairbound. So this is James, what a pleasant little chap he is, and I can see he has your eyes, Eve.”

Eve beamed. Miss Wilshire picked up a small bell and rang it, and Mrs Westmore appeared carrying a tray of tea things which she placed on a round table. She served everyone tea according to their preferences and offered some small teacakes. Jamie took one to be polite, and so did Eve.

“Mrs Westmore has already shown Eve around the house including the unit in which she will live with James,” sais Miss Wilshire. “It only remains for me to ask when she can start.”

Eve flushed. It seemed that up until that moment she was not totally sure that she had the job; now there was no doubt about it.”

“I can start as soon as you wish, Miss Wilshire,” she said. “Jamie and her friend Michaela have kindly accommodated James and me in their unit, but I'm sure they would like their own space again.”

Miss Wilshire smiled. “Mrs Westmore has indicated that she would like to leave at the weekend if that was convenient, but she would be happy to spend a couple of days showing you how everything works here, Eve.”

Eve looked at Jamie. “I hate to put you on the spot Jamie but would it be possible for you to look after James for a couple of days?”

“It would be my pleasure,” replied Jamie.

“Eve has told me all about you Jamie; I understand that you sing in a jazz club?” said Miss Wilshire.

“Yes, Miss Wilshire, it's the 'Blue Note' club in Soho,” said Jamie, wondering what Miss Wilshire's reaction would be.

“Really? I love jazz. When I was younger, my friends and I used to go to a number of jazz clubs in London. There was one, I can't quite remember the name, something like a tent?”

“That might be the 'Marquee Club'?” Jamie suggested.

“Yes, that's right. We had some wonderful times there, and at Ronnie Scott's too,” said Miss Wilshire.

“Well please accept an invitation to be my guest at the 'Blue Note Club' any time you'd like to attend,” said Jamie. “I sing with the house band, but we sometimes have very famous artists from Britain and overseas.”

“Thank you, my dear. I might just take you up on that,” said Miss Wilshire.

After conferring with Mrs Westmore, it was agreed that Eve would present herself for orientation on Thursday and Friday, and then move in on Saturday and take over the position. It was just as well that she was a quick learner.

As they drove back to Jamie and Michaela's flat, Eve began to cry. When Jamie looked at her with a worried expression she said “I'm sorry Jamie, but I'm so happy. You and Michaela are my guardian angels. A week ago I was so miserable that if it hadn't been for James, I might have stuck my head in the gas oven. Now I'm free of Tommy, I've got a new job earning more money than I could imagine, and somewhere to live as well! I can hardly believe it.”

“Well Eve, sometimes good things happen to good people,” said Jamie.

To be continued

Nrxt time: The best of times