"I have been made redundant from my boat building job" he explained "an old school friend suggested coming to Chester, he has a narrow boat moored here, it's a bit cramped, there's eight of us, five guys and three girls. Can't get in the bloody head..." Vera and Eileen who Tom had met in the bar of The Crown Inn listen to him. Eileen squeezed Vera's arm, a message to engage with Tom more. "We're staying at the Grosvenor, you can use our bathroom if you would like to, in fact were are just about to go back after we've finished these drinks and eat in the brasserie, why don't you join us, you look as a good meal wouldn't go amiss. It sounds like a bit of TLC wouldn't go amiss too."
Both the ladies he'd struck up a conversation with were Irish, both well dressed, seemed educated, well spoken and attractive in different ways, both used expensive perfume, both were pleasant and chatty. "I'm OK, I'm just need to be careful with my savings, I gave up my flat when I lost my job, so just being careful." He smiled weakly, not wishing to divulge his financial state. He was broke.
"We'll treat you to the dinner, on us, you're good company, it's good to talk to someone new and interesting, let's go."
They both finished the wine they had and we left the pub and walked the short distance to their hotel, where the uniformed concierge opened the massive door for them, greeting them with "good evening madam, good evening madam, good evening sir" and ushered them inside the spacious hotel reception area.
Eileen led the way, advised the brassiere head waiter of their booking, then told her there was now three eating. The head waiter showed us to a table, seated us and gave us menus for us to choose from. Vera ordered a bottle of Barolo, they all ordered fillet steaks with French fries and salad. Tom flinched at the prices on the menu.
The brassiere was a nice space, with a marble tiled floor and dark wood finish. Tom appreciated the high quality fitting out as he cast his eye around the room. Vera and Eileen appraised Tom as the wine was served. "Here's to us and new friendships" Vera proposed in her soft Irish accent, they clinked glasses, Tom was brought back to looking at his hosts.
"What's you plans then Tom," Eileen asked, have you got a job lined up, are you going to manage financially?" Tom looked into the room, avoiding Eileen's stare, "I am going to look on the building sites tomorrow, something will turn up, I'm not afraid of hard work, I can last about six weeks on my savings, but then?" he shrugged ...