‘Ain’t that the truth! We’d better go back.’
‘I’ll try and engage her in conversation. What does she like?’
‘She doesn’t watch TV or read modern novels. How are you on classical music?’
Hattie came home from a long day to discover that the gas and electricity had been turned off. She stood in the kitchen, breathing deeply before testing the tap. She could manage without power but not without water. Luckily the tap still ran.
She went out to her car to find the box she thought of as ‘for emergency use only’. It included a camping kettle. She brought it in, hoping there was some gas in the cylinder.
She sat at the kitchen table with a couple of candles for light. This was mad behaviour from Clive, and could she trust him to do what he said? But if she got him the money, it would be worth it. She’d have her dream cottage and never have to speak to him again.
She moved one of the candles nearer, and found the calculator option on her phone. She was redoing her sums, hoping to get a different answer this time. She had a few days left until Clive’s deadline. Susie had found her a likely mortgage lender, but the problem was still the deposit. What with her savings, Premium Bonds, now cashed in, and a small pension from when she’d had a job as an estate agent, she was nearly there. But nearly wasn’t good enough, she knew.
When her phone rang, she nearly dropped it.
‘Oh, hi! Lennie!’ she said.
‘Hello. You sound a bit startled,’ said her sister.
‘I’m fine. I was just doing some calculations.’
‘Sorry to disturb you. I was just confirming that Xander can come back to you – just for the beginning of the term? It’s been so good to have him here, I think he likes Switzerland. He seems to get on with Tom really well…’
With everything else that had been going on, Hattie had totally lost track of Xander’s movements, and had never really grasped when the new term began. When had he gone to Switzerland? She’d thought he was fixed in Scotland for August. ‘So Tom’s been there?’ she said to cover her startlement.
‘The advantage of working in education,’ said Leonie. ‘Very long holidays.’ Her sister was obviously smiling when she said this, something that Hattie was very glad to hear.
Now Hattie laughed. ‘I’d love to have Xander back but I’m just not sure where I’ll be living.’ And whether it will have heat, light and cooking facilities, she added silently.
‘Oh? I thought you were in Mary’s house?’
‘I am, but Clive wants to sell it. I’m trying to buy it.’
‘What’s stopping you?’
‘The fact I’m short on the deposit and his ridiculous deadline is looming. Oh, Lennie! I want this house so badly!’
Her sister didn’t reply immediately. ‘How much are you short? Granny left us both money and I haven’t spent all mine.’
Hattie gave her the figures, and found herself telling Leonie all the things she’d thought of doing to get herself out of this mess. Leonie interrupted. ‘I’m not absolutely sure how long it will take for me to get the money into your account, but I assume if the money is in the ether, on its way to you, that will be enough? I can send you confirmation of the transfer request.’
Hattie was overcome. ‘Lennie! You can’t do that! I—’
Her sister interrupted her. ‘Think of all you’ve done for Xander! And anyway, you don’t need to be too grateful, it’s a loan—’
‘Which I’ll pay back as soon as possible.’
‘I’m sure you will.’
Hattie felt tears gather in her throat making it impossible to speak for a moment. She coughed. ‘Lennie, I can’t tell you what this means to me. It isn’t only that this is the house of my dreams, but having it will mean I’m not always camping in other people’s houses, wondering when I’ll have to move again.’ She sniffed, found a tissue in her sleeve and blew her nose. She looked around her; the building was old and in need of a lot of care, but it would be hers. She could make a life here.
‘Are you crying? No need for that! Go and make yourself a cup of tea.’
When the sisters had disconnected, Hattie’s tears had turned to laughter at her sister’s ever-practical reaction and then did as she was told. Luckily there was enough camping gas.
Clive arrived on the Tuesday morning, at least an hour earlier than they had arranged. Hattie found it very difficult to be civil to him, but grateful that she was dressed, at least.
‘You turned off the gas and electricity,’ she said, as he entered.
