‘How annoying!’ said Suzie. ‘Have you any other savings?’
‘I could try and get a loan—’
Susie frowned. ‘Mortgage lenders don’t like loans as part of a deposit. They think you’d be over-reaching yourself.’
‘Once I’ve got the house I can get a lodger, maybe take on an extra job.’
Susie obviously didn’t approve of this idea. ‘I’ll have a good look and see what I can put together, but every penny you can add to that deposit figure is going to help your chances.’
‘But you might be able to help?’
Suzie made a face. ‘They don’t call me the Mortgage Queen for nothing.’
Hattie couldn’t help laughing. ‘I didn’t know they called you that.’
‘It’s a title I aspire to.’ Susie said primly and then smiled. ‘Don’t look so gloomy. I’m sure there’s something I can do.’
Rose had invited her to dinner, to ‘dilute the mother-in-law’. Hattie accepted gladly.
Rose’s mother-in-law seemed pleasant enough, but she sat in Rose’s gorgeous house, full of pattern and colour, wearing a beige skirt and cardigan as if she was in a strange land, one not of her choosing.
Hattie could see the lengths Rose was going to to make her comfortable and how her mother-in-law was refusing to enjoy the attention.
It wasn’t long before Rose whisked Hattie away on the pretence of showing her something in her garden, so Rose could unburden herself.
‘I try so hard to make her happy but nothing seems to work! And Sam just tuts at me all the time. He turns into a needy child when she’s around. Nothing I do is good enough!’
‘Oh, Rose! That’s awful! I’m so sorry. When does she go?’
‘Tomorrow. I’d have to kill her if she stayed any longer.’
‘Maybe you’re making her too welcome?’
Rose laughed. ‘Perhaps I am! Now, what’s going on with you?’
‘I’m not sure I’ve got time to tell you. Won’t your mother-in-law wonder where we are?’
‘Sam can look after her. I need to know about you!’
‘Clive has given me ten days to sort out my finances. If I do, he’ll sell the house to me. It won’t go on the open market.’
‘Imagine if you could actually buy Mary’s house – the dream!’ Rose squeezed her friend’s hand. ‘And the deposit? Can you get one together?’
‘That’s the problem. Probably not. I have some savings but not enough – and I gather getting a loan from the bank is not usually acceptable.’
Rose hesitated. ‘Have you told Luke about this?’
‘He doesn’t need to know. Besides, he’s miles away on a job. Why should I tell him? We’re just friends!’
‘Honey, I’m your friend. But you’re telling me,’ said Rose quietly.
Hattie took a few breaths. She was worried that if Luke knew she was short of money, he’d offer to lend it to her. ‘Cheaper than a bank loan!’ She could almost hear him say it. He might offer her his house to live in. But she didn’t want him to sort out her problems for her. She wanted to do it herself.
She smiled at Rose. ‘You’re different.’
Rose appeared to accept this and changed the subject. ‘So what do you think about my mother-in-law? Sweet old lady? Or a witch?’
Hattie laughed, relieved Rose wasn’t pressing her about her feelings for Luke. ‘She is quite hard work.’
