‘I only really need two. I won’t have Xander by the time I’ve bought anything, I don’t suppose.’ She sighed. ‘I’m going to miss him. I used to love living alone, but now it just seems a bit pointless.’
Rose pursed her lips but didn’t speak. She didn’t need to. Hattie knew exactly what she wanted to say but she couldn’t talk about whatever was or wasn’t going onwith Luke at the moment. She had much more urgent things to worry about.
The next day, the day before Xander was due to join her, Hattie and Rose set off on a couple of viewings, set up at short notice. She had fitted in as many emails as she could, one of which involved Nick’s house that was now also going to be Fiona’s house. All was going well with it, and the slight glitch regarding a right of way was easy to sort. Now she was spending a bit of time on her own house hunt. Rose insisted on coming with her because, she said, she didn’t trust Hattie not to buy just anything in order to gain the independence she now desperately craved.
‘There’s nothing wrong with this house,’ said Hattie after she and Rose had gone over the little two-up two-down. It was modern, with practical plastic window frames, laminate floors and pale mauve paint. From a practical point of view it was fine, but it wasn’t making Hattie feel excited.
‘There’s nothing right with it, either,’ said Rose. ‘It has no character, faces the wrong way, it has a concrete yard instead of a garden and it’s miles away from your friends. By which I mean me.’
Hattie laughed. ‘OK, you’ve got me there. Let’s go to the next one. It’s quite a bit more expensive and it’s very near you.’
‘That’s why it’s more expensive,’ said Rose seriously. ‘Living near me puts houses at a premium.’
Hattie laughed, feeling a little cheered.
As she drove nearer to where Rose and Sam lived, she was aware that her gloom about losing Mary’s house did indeed risk luring her into buying the first thingshe could afford. She’d be appalled if any of her clients did that. Her new house might have to be small and affordable but it still had to be somewhere that made her happy. That meant plenty of light, morning and evening, a big enough garden for her pots of herbs and a deckchair, and room for a table in the kitchen. And before Mary’s house was sold, she was determined to liberate cuttings of all her herbs and maybe some of the plants as well. Then at least she’d have a bit of her dream home, even if it was only some rosemary and mint.
‘Well, it’s not really “you”, is it?’ said Rose as they pulled up for the second viewing.
Hattie didn’t speak. Even from the outside it was obvious it was no better than the first house. ‘No. If I bought this it would be like buying a dress because it fits and you can afford it. I can’t see the joy in living here. But we’d better go inside.’
‘To be brutally honest,’ said Rose, ‘I think even my home-making skills would struggle here, and even if we made it pretty, the second bedroom is too small for a home office.’
Hattie sighed deeply. ‘I think you’re right. Let’s go.’
‘Well, that’s a relief! I thought I was going to have to convince you. Come back to mine for a cup of tea?’
Hattie glanced down at her phone. ‘I’d better get back to Luke’s. I’m expecting Xander tomorrow and I need to make sure Luke’s cabin is ready for him.’
As she drove back to Luke’s she was aware that it felt a bit like she was going home. Once back, with a mug of tea to hand, she called her sister.
‘Oh! I was just about to call you!’ Leonie said, sounding a little startled. ‘Perhaps youhavegot some weird second sight or something.’
Hattie laughed gaily. ‘What were you going to call me about?’
‘To give you Xander’s train times for tomorrow. Can you meet him at the station? Why were you calling me?’
‘To ask about Xander. I’m still at Luke’s.’
‘But Luke won’t mind having him, will he?’ Leonie asked.
Hattie knew he wouldn’t but for some reason she had been putting off asking him. ‘No…’
‘I’ll ask him. Not fair to get you to ask Luke to do me favours.’
Before Hattie had a chance to respond, her sister had disconnected.
Hattie had just gone back on Rightmove, having widened both her search area and her budget, when Luke called her.
‘I’ve just had Leonie on asking about Xander staying for a bit. Of course it’s OK, but you know that.’
‘That’s very kind, Luke. I’m intending to get out of your hair as soon as possible—’
‘Please don’t! I’ve got a favour to ask you.’ He paused.
‘Anything, Luke. You’ve been so kind to me.’
‘Do you remember Jason and Carole from the dinner dance?’
