Robby gestured to the building and addressed Sophie. ‘So, what do you think?’
‘Same as before, I love it,’ Sophie answered with a beam.
‘Ready to get your sleeves rolled up?’ Robby joked. ‘There’s just a bit of work to be done and you did offer.’
Nina nudged Robby’s arm. ‘She has quite enough on her plate already.’
‘I intend to help just so that I can leave my lot and get some peace. In fact, when that top room is up and running, I will be coming for a sleepover. Alone.’
‘I thought it was your children who would be coming for a sleepover,’ Robby joked.
‘No, I am first in line. Mama needs some best friend time.’
Nina side-eyed, ‘Since when did you start calling yourself Mama?’
Sophie laughed. ‘I’m doing it to wind you up.’
‘Good. I can’t stand those Insta-huns with their Mama-this, Mama-that while they drink that stuff. What is it? Kombucha or something. Gross.’
‘You sound like a right old grump today, Neens.’
‘Do I?’
Sophie nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘I guess that’s because sometimes Iamone when I see all this rubbish on social media these days.’
‘Hmm.’ Sophie waved her hand around at the harbour and then back at the property. ‘Speaking of social media. This is going to be great for your reels. You can do so many amazing before and afters. They already love your decluttering ones.’
‘I know. I thought the same. I’m going to upload them daily and show the real hard work involved in getting this place shipshape.’
‘Sounds like good viewing. I’ll be watching with bated breath.’
‘Me too.’ Robby laughed. ‘I’ll also be watching… from my phone screen, not there doing it.’
Sophie shot back. ‘Funny that, I thought you’d already been earmarked for a lot of work. In fact, you’re labelled as free labour on the spreadsheet.’
‘Really. I think I’m busy for the next month,’ Robby joked. ‘Yes, that’s right, I have loads of stuff on. I think I’m away on some overseas jobs too.’
Sophie laughed and nodded. ‘You and me both.’
10
Nina, in jeans, a white shirt, and tennis shoes, stood next to Ella, the estate agent who was all dressed up in a fancy trouser suit and sky-high heels. Robby was to Nina’s left, and Ella had a hand-tied bouquet of flowers in her hand. All three of them were standing with the water behind them and the harbour property in front of them.
Ella handed over the flowers to Nina. ‘Congratulations. I hope you’re going to love it!’
‘Ooh, thank you so much!’ Nina replied with a beam. ‘Blimey, is this how you do property purchasing in Lovely Bay? You get flowers and the fancy treatment. Amazing. I’ll have to do it again.’
‘We do everything better in Lovely Bay.’ Ella chuckled. ‘You should have realised that by now. We simply don’t do things by halves. It’s how we roll.’
‘Yeah, true. I should have known.’ Nina agreed.
‘So, here we are,’ Robby said. ‘A new chapter begins.’
Ella smiled and looked up at the building. ‘Ready to get stuck in, our Robby?’
Robby blinked and shook his head. ‘I don’t think I have a lot of choice in the matter. I’m marked down for all sorts.’
