Looking nervous, he said. ‘W. Houston Property Developers are intending to sell off the land and gardens attached to Rose Cottage and have applied to build a number of new houses on the plot. I never knew that cottage was rented, I always thought Ada owned it.’
Florrie stared at Flynn in disbelief. ‘Say that again.’
‘Surely you must be mistaken?’ chipped in Isla. ‘Where have you got that information from?’
‘I’m afraid I’m part of a property developer’s group and we keep each other updated with what’s happening in the area. A member of the group posted an article they’d spotted online.’
‘We’ve only just buried Ada. This is unbelievable!’ Florrie couldn’t keep the astonishment out of her voice. ‘What is wrong with these people?’ Frustrated, she pointed out of the window in the general direction of the cottage. ‘Ada nurtured that land fordecades. She grew flower after flower. That garden is idyllic. The perfect cottage garden, it’s beautiful and shouldn’t be demolished just to make money.’
The actions of W. Houston Property Developers felt so personal, so painful. ‘I’m not going to let this happen even if I have to get out there with placards and throw myself in front of the digger. Great-Aunt Ada would be crushed by this.’
‘Sometimes property businesses have no scruples. It’s all about making money and it doesn’t matter who they trample over. Have they not said anything to you at all?’ Flynn asked.
Florrie shook her head. She was still trying to get her head around what he’d just told them. ‘No wonder they wouldn’t divulge any information over the phone to me. Do you by any chance have the article? I’d like to see it.’
Flynn pulled out his phone from his pocket. He tapped the screen then passed it to Florrie. Isla looked over her shoulder. There was a photo of Rose Cottage and the article described how W. Houston Property Developers was hoping to convert the acres of land belonging to it into a number of new-build semi-detached houses.
‘This is heartbreaking. I actually want to cry,’ admitted Florrie, fanning her hand in front of her face. ‘Firstly, the eviction, then The Vintage Flower Van and now the land. Surely, we can object?’
‘You can appeal against the plans,’ reassured Flynn. ‘We all can. Sometimes direct action is the way to go and all the community would be behind you. We need to make everyone aware of this.’
‘They don’t waste time, do they? This article says that plans have already been submitted, which sounds to me as if this was ready to go and they were just waiting for Great-Aunt Ada to…’ Florrie swallowed and laid her hands on her chest.
Isla touched her arm. ‘Try not to get even more upset.’
‘“Rose Cottage has belonged to the Houston Family since the 1940s,”’ Florrie quoted from the article. ‘This makes it sound like they’ve always lived there. It’s just because tourism is thriving and people want to move to Heartcross – they see a chance to cash in by “offering a solution so new families can enjoy the Heartcross way of life”.’
‘They’ve put a good spin on it, I have to say,’ remarked Flynn.
‘And you’re right, we need to make everyone aware of this. The community will be up in arms when this gets around.’ The acrimony in Florrie’s voice was clear and she could feel the anger rising up inside her. ‘I’m not standing for it or allowing anyone to bulldoze Great-Aunt Ada’s hard work. She’s spent hundreds, if not thousands – maybe even tens of thousands! – of pounds over the years on flowers for that land, not to mention countless hours and days working the land with her bare hands. I want to speak to Houston’s. Those gardens should be opened up in memory of Great-Aunt Ada and everything she has achieved in this community. She was one in a million. Do you know since she started her business in The Vintage Flower Van, she’s provided flower arrangements for every funeral in this village free of charge? She always went out of her way to make everyone’s lives a little easier.’
‘I didn’t know that,’ said Flynn admiringly. ‘She truly was such a remarkable woman.’
‘Aunt Ada was the type of person you could aspire to be like, not like W. Houston Property Developers. To me that article highlights the fact that they’re driven by money, when it’s people, happiness and memories that count for a lot more. Call themselves an honourable family business? “We make all the difference.” Their tag line is ajoke.’
‘It is wrong,’ agreed Isla.
‘I know they’re entitled to do what they can with their own cottage but it feels like a stab in the heart so soon after we’ve buried Ada.’ Florrie took a breath. ‘I feel like I’m riding the fastest roller-coaster in the world. I don’t know which twist or turn is coming next.’
‘It’s yet another unexpected shock,’ added Isla as Florrie gave Flynn his phone back.
‘I wonder if Great-Aunt Ada ever tried to buy the cottage from them over the years? We’ll probably never know. Heartcross has become more and more popular, but to flatten the gardens, and destroy all the wildlife and all the birds nesting in the hedgerow… Decades of growing nature will be destroyed in an instant.’
‘I agree, it’s one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen. So much love went into it on a daily basis, and winning Flowers in Bloom for so many years shows just how outstanding the gardens are,’ said Isla supportively.
‘And now I need to ring them again. They’re taking The Vintage Flower Van.’ Florrie looked towards Flynn.
‘Surely not. That van is an iconic part of our community.’
‘Apparently, it came with the cottage.’
‘I’d have a chat with Jaydon at the solicitors, I’m sure he could draft a letter if needs be. In fact, he’s with me tomorrow. Why don’t you come over, take a look at the room that needs the flower displays and have a chat with him?’
Florrie nodded. ‘Thank you, I’ll do that. But I can’t afford any type of costly battle.’
‘If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Heartcross in the time I’ve been here, it’s that this community will not stand for any wrongdoing or unfairness. W. Houston Property Developers will have a fight on their hands if they say no to you keeping The Vintage Flower Van.’
‘Flynn is right. Depending how far you want to fight…’
