‘It’s about repurposing her property,’ said Cressida.
‘What?’ said Helena, no longer bothering to sound polite. ‘I do wish you’d speak in plain English sometimes!’
‘That is English,’ said Ismene. She was looking confused now.
‘It is English, darling,’ said Gilly, ‘but the meaning isn’t exactly clear.’
‘What exactly do you mean by “repurposing”?’ said Helena. ‘Do you mean convert it into executive second homes?’
‘No, of course not!’ snapped Martin. ‘Get off your hobby horse, Hels.’
‘We would never suggest doing anything to your lovely home!’ said Cressida. ‘But you are sitting on a lot of very valuable real estate and if you sold it, you could help Helena buy somewhere to do her weaving and we could buy our new house and you could live with us!’
Helena suddenly felt sick. Surely Cressida wasn’t suggesting that her mother sold the family home, the house she had struggled so hard to keep after her divorce, so Martin and Cressida could go and live in a mansion? Keeping her rage under control made her sweat slightly. She helped herself to a glass of water. ‘I’m not sure Mum would like that,’ she said.
‘I was reading an article in the paper just the other day about how baby boomers are sitting on millions of pounds’ worth of property and their children are struggling to get on to the property ladder,’ said Cressida.
‘But you are on the property ladder,’ said Gilly.
‘And Mum helped you get there!’ said Helena.
Cressida gave her a withering look. ‘Five thousand isn’t exactly a deposit, Helena. Not these days.’
Helena saw the hurt flash across her mother’s face. Giving her children five thousand pounds at that particular time had been a real struggle. She’d had to give so much to her ex-husband to stop him forcing her to sell the family home there had been hardly anything left over. ‘It was worth a lot more then,’ Helena said. She’d only discovered afterwards how hard it had been for Gilly or she wouldn’t have accepted the money.
‘Anyway,’ said Cressida, looking a little uncomfortable. ‘We just wanted to share our plan with you, and offer you a home with us for your – older years.’
Gilly took a breath. ‘Had I been in my eighties or nineties I’d probably have been grateful,’ she said.
‘But we need the money now, Mum,’ said Martin, ‘not when you’re dead.’
‘Martin!’ Cressida snapped. ‘There’s no need to talk like that.’
Helena cleared her throat. She felt if she stayed any longer she was likely to say something that would cause a permanent family rift. ‘You’ve given Mum a lot to think about, but now I think perhaps I’d better get the poor old dear home.’ An exchanged glance told her that Gilly knew she was being sarcastic.
Gilly got to her feet. ‘Yes, I need to think about what you’ve said.’
Cressida stood up too, evidently happy to get her guests out of the house. ‘But don’t leave it too long. That to-die-for house won’t stay on the market forever!’
It was only by clamping her jaws together and murmuring her goodbyes through clenched teeth that Helena got out of there without being rude to anyone.
‘Would you believe it!’ she said, as soon as she and Gilly were in the car and had driven a few yards away from the house. ‘God! I know that woman is a viper but the cheek of it! Just suggesting you should sell your house so they can buy that stately home is iniquitous!’
‘You don’t think I should go for it, then?’ said Gilly.
Helena braked and pulled into the side of the road. ‘You are joking?’
‘Yes of course!’ said Gilly. ‘Now let’s get home and have something proper to eat.’
But after Helena had finally gone home, Gilly was thoughtful. Like Helena she was outraged at the suggestion that in her mid-fifties she was in need of sheltered accommodation at her son’s house, while giving up her own life to become a nanny – presumably without being paid. But she was the owner of quite a valuable property and while Martin and Cressida didn’t need to live in aseven-bedroomed mansion, Helena could certainly do with some money to buy a studio. Helena had spent the five thousand she’d received at the same time as Martin on a loom and other equipment. It would be wrong to dismiss the idea without giving it some thought. What she needed was someone she could discuss it with, someone with her interests at heart. Of course she wouldn’t go and live with Cressida and Martin but maybe it was time to downsize?
Chapter Five
It was still light when Helena dropped her home and Gilly had noticed that the signs outside the house were a little mud-spattered so she decided to go out and wash them, as well as tidying up a bit in the garden. First impressions were so important. Helena might tease her about being obsessed withFour in a Bedwith its critical bed and breakfast owners, staying in each other’s businesses and peeling back every layer of bedding and standing on chairs to find dirt on the chandelier, but attention to detail was very important. Besides, she wanted to think, and she thought better if physically occupied.
But half an hour later the light was seriously beginning to fade and Gilly was about to go inside when she heard a car pull up in the road behind her.
‘Excuse me!’ said a voice.
