‘They were OK people, but I just never know what to say to strangers,’ said Xander. He smiled. ‘Still, the food was great, Hattie!’
‘I can cook,’ she said with dignity. ‘But I don’t do it often. Or at least, not to that extent.’
‘Now, what can I do for you in return,’ Luke said. ‘All that cooking should have a proper reward.’
‘A cold beef sandwich a bit later would be pretty good,’ said Hattie.
‘I was thinking something a bit more than that.’ Luke’s expression was serious suddenly. ‘Please stay here while you’re house hunting.’
At that moment Hattie was very tempted but if he and April were developing a relationship, having her in his home would be very awkward. ‘I’m very grateful, but it’s not necessary. I’ll work something out. And don’t forget, tomorrow this house has to be turned back into a bachelor pad. All the pretty props will have to go back.’
‘I think I might negotiate with Rose and keep some of them,’ said Luke. ‘Those big squashy cushions are comfortable.’
‘Rose will be delighted.’ She yawned theatrically to change the subject. ‘I think I need a film.’
‘Just so you can go to sleep? You could just go to bed and have a proper nap,’ said Luke, but Hattie shook her head.
‘I’d sleep for too long if I did that. I just want something to doze in front of.’
While she adjusted cushions and made herself comfortable, she allowed herself to consider Luke’s offer of a home, just until she found her own house. She found she very much wanted to accept.
Hattie was supremely content, with a dog’s head on each leg. They had just settled down in front of something Xander recommended and drowsiness was overtaking her when Luke’s phone went. He looked at it and got up. As he left the room, he said, ‘Sorry, April, now is not a good time. Can I call you back?’
The words sent a jolt through Hattie and she closed her eyes tightly to stop the sudden tears escaping.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
There was a certain amount of morning chaos involved in getting Xander back to college. The traffic seemed bad but they got there on time and as Hattie watched him go through the door, chatting to people, she gave a sigh of satisfaction. He had so much more confidence now than when he first started.
She glanced at her phone. She had a house to show a client who wanted a stately home but could only afford a semi – albeit a very nice one. (She reminded Hattie rather of Mrs Conway.) In fact, they’d seen it together before and the client had rejected it for not being grand enough. But Hattie had shown her a couple of other properties since and felt that the client was ready to be a bit more realistic. The house could be made to look a lot grander, after all. Hattie would need to be firm.
Either Hattie was firm, or the client had come to terms with what she could afford, but this time, as they walked round the house, admiring the geometric Victorian tiles in the hallway, the dado rail and the cornicing, the client said, ‘You’re quite right, Hattie. It’s a charming house and I’d be mad not to snap it up. Can you try and buy it for me please?’
Hattie hugged her. Not only was she delighted that her client was going to end up in a house which was just right for her, but Hattie would have space to take on a new client, and so acquire a fee which would make her own house hunt a little easier.
Afterwards, she drove up on to the local common, where the views went across the Severn plain to the Welsh mountains. She was hoping it would give her comfort. She’d spent a lot of time recently appearing to be cheerful and positive, but inside, she felt she was crumbling. She had lost the house of her dreams and now, thanks to Clive, had no prospect of ever buying it.
Then there was Luke. She’d made such a mistake with him with her stubborn insistence he was just a friend. Now, as she looked at the familiar vista of distant hills, clumps of trees and the river beyond, she realised that she should have got out of the friends’ zone, as Carole had put it, long since. But it was too late. Now he was involved with April – who was a lovely woman; she couldn’t even hope that April would let him down and that they would break up. She’d managed to find love for her sister, for Fiona and Nick, and even for Rose, many years ago. But she’d let the very thing standing in front of her slip through her fingers. Tired, she felt tears very near the surface.
Later that afternoon, she had an appointment to view a house for herself which ticked all the boxes: all the dull boxes which were about as inspiring as a page full of sums. But she couldn’t go on staying with Luke; she had to make a plan and it was time to put sentiment and dreams aside and buy something sensible. And for now, she wanted to breathe calmly, until she felt more positive about it all. It might take some time.
She was interrupted from her self-hypnosis by the telephone. It was Fiona.
‘Hi, Fiona, this is a lovely surprise!’
Fiona laughed. ‘I’m so glad you’ve said that because what I’m going to tell you is a bit of a surprise. I’m pregnant!’
For half a second, Hattie felt a pang of envy for Fiona and her happy relationship. ‘Oh, that’s lovely news. How exciting.’
‘Dad isn’t absolutely delighted, and to be honest, it wasn’t planned, but me and Nick are thrilled and Mum is over the moon!’
Fiona’s joy was audible. ‘I bet. She will be the perfect grandmother, generous, spoiling and utterly supportive.’ Hattie couldn’t help but smile at this image, although felt a pang of regret that her own mother would never be like that.
‘I know! I’m so lucky to have her. So, to make everyone completely happy, we’re going to get married before the baby arrives.’
‘Nice,’ said Hattie, briefly wondering where all her party dresses had got to in her various recent moves.
‘And we’d really love it if you’d be our celebrant.’
