Max followed her into the living room. Even with the light on it was dark, filled with chunky oak furniture. There were overgrown plants on every available surface. One had reached the ceiling, stooping over like an elderly man.

‘It would certainly brighten it up in here with a fresh lick of paint,’ Max said, calculating in his mind all the prep work that would be needed.

‘But I’d like to update it too, perhaps sell some of the furniture. I’m afraid my parents’ tastes were very old-fashioned.’

‘Everyone likes different styles, don’t they?’

‘And those old curtains have to go.’ She pointed to the faded, emerald-coloured material. ‘I’ve never liked them.’ She tried to open the door to the dining room. ‘Sorry, can’t get in here at the moment, it’s a bit of a dumping ground.’

Max craned his neck round to see in. He’d never seen anything like it, beautiful pieces of old furniture stacked up to the ceiling, probably all priceless antiques. ‘I like this dressing table,’ he said, running his hand over the polished veneer.

‘That old thing? Its legs don’t match its body, they were stuck on at least fifty years later, which means it’s not worth much at all.’

‘You know your stuff then.’

‘Picked it up from Dad. He ran his own antique business.’

‘Oh, I see.’

‘The whole house needs new carpets and curtains, maybe wallpaper on a few accent walls. Is that what they call it? What do you think?’

‘Sounds good. Whatever you want.’ He saluted her and they laughed.

The worn carpet on the stairs barely held in the tarnished brass poles and in the bathroom the chequered floor tiles clashed with the avocado green suite.

‘Not seen one of those for a while. Very seventies. Coming back into fashion though,’ Max said.

‘You are joking?’

‘Yeah!’ He laughed, and she smiled, shaking her head.

‘Can you do bathrooms?’

‘I’ve done a few.’

‘Good. I’d be willing to help, if you needed any.’

Max winked at her. ‘I’m always happy with a helping hand.’

They laughed and Maddy blushed. She pushed open a bedroom door. ‘I’m not in a hurry for the decorating to be finished so it would be perfect to fit around other jobs, if you want to take this on that is.’

Max followed her onto the landing.

‘This was my mum’s room.’ She opened the door keeping hold of the handle. The orange patterned curtains were drawn, giving the room a strange syrupy light. There was a faint smell of urine, but he wasn’t about to say so.

‘And this is my room. I’ve tried to keep it looking nice over the years, but like everything else, it’s in desperate need of a change.’