THE RETURN
One laptop. Two glasses of whiskey. Three minutes till show-time.
Ash and I sit on the sofa in my London flat, watching the auction screen with bated breath.
The catalogue of the new build lies open before us, filled with plans for a carefree life together in a gated community. Our dreams just a decent bid away.
‘Let’s go!’ Ash beams, lacing my fingers in his. ‘It’s happening exactly according to plan.’
I nod, a myriad of emotions coursing through me as the clock ticks down.
The auctioneer’s voice breaks the silence – ‘And we’re off! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the online property auction.’
Bidding starts low, and every digital click of a mouse builds the tension before us. The auctioneer reminds us that this is an opportunity to purchase a piece of iconic property in one of Ireland’s most desirable locations at a very attractive price. Ash squeezes my leg and pours us both a second whiskey, the first one not even touching the sides. We both know that our future happiness lies on this screen.
The auction begins with bids from around the world – Sydney, Chicago, Dubai, but none have matched the reserve. For a moment, everything seems to stop and there’s silence. Then suddenly, a flurry of activity: bids fly back and forth in the tens of thousands. How far will they go? The numbers turn green as the reserve is met, signalling one minute left until the highest bid is determined. I take a quick sip of whiskey before shutting my eyes tight – I don’t want to watch. The bell clangs out sharply: SOLD!
The overseas bidder’s price appears on the screen and we suddenly become motionless. The reserve exceeded beyond my wildest dreams. The bid is accepted. The Lake House is sold.
The Lake House is SOLD!
Ash jumps out of his seat, laughing and punching the air. ‘We did it! It’s a brand-new start, sweetheart!’
But instead of joining him in his enthusiasm, I find myself studying the photos of The Lake House. It’s gone. Just like that. Is this really what I wanted? Did I do the right thing by leaving The Lake House behind – the Kennedy family home; my legitimate family’s home? If only there had been a way to keep it while heading off in this new direction.
‘You okay?’ Ash inquires with tenderness, softening his joyous face.
‘I’m fine,’ I reply, plastering a grin across my lips. ‘Just feeling peculiar about it… everything happened so quickly… it was all over in no time.’
‘Yes, thank goodness – we deserved a bit of speed after all the pointless flat hunting we did! Anyway, we made it! It’s done!’
Ash heads to the fridge to open a bottle of champagne. ‘Hey, Daisy, what’s that line fromJerry Maguire?’
‘You complete me.’ He can be endearing in his own way. And I know he’s excited about the future we now have together, that this is a new start for us, and that bolsters me.
‘What?’ He comes back to the room with a chilled bottle and two glasses.
‘You complete me,’ I say again.
He shakes his head and laughs. ‘No, it’s SHOW ME THE MONEY!’
I feel my stomach drop as I hear Ash’s words. Is he kidding? My mind scrambles to think of something to say, but before I can utter a single syllable, my phone chimes. It’s Jonathan O’Connor.
‘That’ll be the confirmation call from Ireland,’ I tell him, pausing before I answer.
Ash flashes a thumbs up at me and fills a glass with champagne as he sends out an update to his family and friends.
I leave the room and step into the kitchen to take the call. ‘Hey, Jonathan. Everything good?’
His voice wavers, tension emphasising each word. ‘The auction is over, but… there’s a catch. The buyer wants to remove the non-eviction clause.’
My heart skips a beat. This was non-negotiable. ‘Absolutely not. The Lake House comes with the tenancy clause so Moya can stay, no matter what.
And then suddenly I’m saying, ‘Just reject the offer.’
‘Daisy? Are you okay?’ Jonathan asks.
‘Yes. Reject the offer. I’m taking The Lake House off the market.’
