Florrie signed the handheld machine that Ash held in front of her before she took the letter then returned to the kitchen.
‘It was Ash. He had a letter that needed signing for and look how it’s addressed. “To whom it may concern”, yet the address is Rose Cottage.’
‘It looks very official. Who are W. Houston Property Developers? That’s the logo on the envelope.’
Florrie stared at the envelope. Her heart began to race.
Houston.
As in Tom Houston.
From online searches she’d done all those years ago she knew that the company was owned by his father, and given his course of study at uni, it had seemed inevitable that afterwards Tom would join the family business.
Was it possible that Tom had written her a letter after she brushed him off in the cemetery? Curious to see what he’d written, she ripped open the envelope, aware that Isla was watching her intently.
The first thing that Florrie noticed as she took out the letter from the envelope was the bold red writing stamped across the top of the letter: EVICTION NOTICE.
Her hands began to tremble and, as she read the letter, she experienced the feeling of blood draining away from her face. She was thankful she was sitting down as she suddenly felt light-headed, as though she could collapse at any moment. ‘I don’t believe this is happening.’
‘What is it?’ asked Isla, concerned.
‘An eviction notice.’
‘What do you mean, an eviction notice? Eviction from where?’
‘Here. Rose Cottage.’ Florrie’s eyes were fixed on the signature. The letter was signed by Thomas Houston, Managing Director of W. Houston Property Developers. Florrie could feel her pulse racing. The absolute cheek of the man. Not only had he turned up after all these years, he was also now evicting her! She shook her head in disbelief. She wished she’d had this information when she’d come face to face with Tom yesterday.
‘This has got to be a mistake. I don’t understand.’ Florrie passed the letter to Isla. ‘This letter is insinuating that Aunt Ada didn’t own Rose Cottage and she’s been renting it since she moved in with Uncle Ewart over sixty years ago.’
Isla looked as confused as Florrie felt. ‘Rented? Surely not?’ Once Isla had read the letter, she glanced back towards Florrie. ‘You’re right, that’s exactly what the letter is saying.’
Florrie exhaled. ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’
‘Definitely a shock to the system.’
‘All Great-Aunt Ada’s possessions have to be removed and the cottage left empty by the last day of the month.’ Florrie looked around the kitchen, which, just like every other room, was packed to the rafters with Ada’s possessions from the last sixty years. ‘I can’t do this. I don’twantto do this. Not only is it a mammoth task, but I’m also just not ready to sort through her life. I’m only just coming to terms with losing her!’ The tears in her eyes welled up and Florrie reached for a tissue from the box on the table. ‘If what’s in this letter is true, I’ve not only lost Great-Aunt Ada, I’ve also lost our home and the gardens, too.’
‘I’m so sorry, Florrie. I didn’t even know the house was rented. Who are W. Houston Property Developers? Have you never had any dealings with them before?’
Florrie tapped on the printed signature on the letter.
‘Yes, I have,’ she said tersely.
‘You look like you want to tell me something but you’re not quite sure.’ Isla held her gaze.
‘I know him. In fact, I had a run-in with him in the cemetery yesterday.’
Isla raised an eyebrow. ‘You never said.’
‘I wasn’t quite sure at first whether I was seeing things.’
‘How do you know him?’
‘Tom Houston is my … was my…’ Briefly, Florrie closed her eyes. ‘I spent two weeks at a private beach house with Tom the summer before my final year of university.’
‘You’re a dark horse! And why don’t I know anything about this?’ Isla teased.
‘Because he broke my heart and I was completely humiliated. I was hoping I’d never have to cross his path again.’
