Spreading his hands, he went on. ‘I appreciate it sounds like hard work, but this manor has important history, and was built only a few years before 1800. The cottages were put up in the 1930s when the daughter of the family inherited and wanted homes for the staff to live in.’ He stopped, sensing he was losing them. ‘Anyway, it was a thriving community beforethe army requisitioned it during the Second World War. We need to rebuild the village together. And surely no one wants to live in a ghost town? Imagine the satisfaction of returning Little Beaubrook to its former glory, of people visiting. And did you know the happiest care home in England last resided here, before closing in the 1980s?’
‘Says who?’ Harley barked.
Albie blinked, holding onto his patience. ‘Says a newspaper article written at the time.’
‘Why was it considered the happiest care home?’ Kirsten asked, before Harley could butt in again.
‘There was much longer life expectancy and a reduced rate of heart disease,’ he supplied, before rushing on. ‘It was also a rehabilitation centre for veterans following the war and then a haven for unwed mothers in the sixties. In short, it has a history of helping people in need. So, living here, we should practise the art of kindness and help each other. Which means pulling together and agreeing how we go about the task of repairing the cottages.’
‘All sounds a bit happy-clappy to me,’ Tori muttered. ‘And besides, how do you know so much about this place if it’s been boarded up for the past forty years?’
‘T-the internet,’ he chanced, overlooking her mutinous attitude and hoping she simply needed time to come round. ‘Anyhow, I’ve always believed we shouldchoose kindness, every day. That we must decide to help others and make the world a better place. It was one of my late wife’s rules for living. They remind me of the things I can do to practise kindness.’
Face tightening, Tori bit. ‘Yeah, well, not everyone got the memo, did they?’ Drawing her knees up on the chair, she wrapped her arms around them.
As her harsh words echoed off the walls and high ceiling, a black hardback tumbled from one of the bookshelves, hitting the floor with a thump that made everyone flinch.
‘What the—?’ someone mumbled.
Albie cut them off. ‘Sorry, my fault, I must’ve left it in a precarious position after skimming it earlier.’ Blatant lie, but they weren’t to know. He paused, realising no one other than Kirsten was being positive. This was like trying to yank out wisdom teeth without anaesthetic. Time for a different approach. ‘It’s not just our contractual obligations, and kindness isn’t just the right thing to do morally. There are health benefits too.’
‘Like in the care home?’ Ariel, the Rubenesque brunette from the same-sex couple, raised her voice, expression intrigued.
‘Potentially. Has anyone ever heard of the Roseto effect?’ he asked, bemused by their blank faces.
‘What’s the Rzito effet?’ Kirsten’s daughter lisped around a gappy grin.
‘Well, Rosalie…’ Taking a deep breath and feeling the years pressing down on him, he prayed this would persuade them. ‘It concerns a town in Pennsylvania, America, where the rate of heart attacks in men aged over sixty-five was less than half the national average, and impressively, the overall death rate acrossallcauses was significantly lower than anywhere else in the country.’
A few eyebrows lifted, people leaning forward in their chairs. ‘After extensive research in the 1960s, scientists determined strong community and family bonds amongst the residents were causing a surge in oxytocin, protecting people’s hearts from disease. Oxytocin increases blood flow in the heart, softens and dilates the arteries, and reduces blood pressure.’ He paused for dramatic effect. ‘And they discovered the strong bonds were a direct result of the kindness and mutual support the Rosetansshowed one other.’ His voice softened, emotion rising in this throat as he glanced at Tori. ‘There is nothing happy-clappy about that. It’s science, pure and simple. Do your own research if you don’t believe me.’
‘Wow,’ Kirsten murmured. ‘A community who prolonged each other’s lives through kindness. That’s kind of beautiful.’
This time the quality of the silence was different, full of quiet wonder as the group absorbed what Albie had told them, along with Kirsten’s comment.
Harley looked sceptical and pulled out his phone, tapping on the screen and mumbling under his breath.
Tori’s expression was thoughtful, head tipping to one side as if listening to a symphony only she heard. Was she thinking of composing a story? He’d read some of her online articles from a Midlands paper, and they were brilliant. A bit sardonic, but also touching. Quite unique.
‘Isn’t that sort of cynical?’ she queried. ‘Like acts of kindness are done to gain something?’
Albie closed his eyes in despair. He didn’t have much time, and there was no way he could do this alone.Help me, Rose.
There was a quiet buzzing sound, and the lightbulbs in the sparkling chandelier overhead brightened by a few degrees. Opening his eyes as the library filled with a warmer glow, Albie hid his gratitude and blandly remarked, ‘Huh. These period properties do have their little quirks.’
As if prodded by an invisible hand, Ariel jumped to her feet, green eyes sparkling. ‘Well, I’m sold on this Roseto thing. If I can keep this beauty and youth for longer,’ she gestured to her face with a delicate twist of her fingers, ‘I’m in. Oh, Ariel, by the way.’
‘Like the Disney mermaid?’ Harley drawled, lifting his head from his phone.
‘No, like the prankish spirit from Shakespeare’s playThe Tempest.’
‘I don’t read much, but wasn’t that character male?’
‘Gender fluid, actually,’ Ariel smirked. ‘So, read more.’
‘All right, that’s enough.’ Her partner got up, sharp dark bob swinging around her shoulders. ‘I’m Gilly, and sorry, this all sounds very interesting but it’s taking too long. I’ve lots of unpacking, plus a new job starting Monday. And I don’t see how people with commitments can be expected to do cottage conversions within twelve months. It’s also going to cost a small fortune, even with the fund.’
The lone man in the second row raised his hand. ‘Sorry to interrupt, but the works muststartwithin a year, not be completed. Doing up these types of properties can be time-consuming though, especially after being empty for long periods, so we shouldn’t wait. We need to hire local workmen specialising in conservation. Listed Building Consent isn’t required because the cottages are only ninety years old, but we’ll want people used to working in older properties. Also, we could lump money together and get them to offer a discount through group tenders. It could work.’ Grinding to a halt, he added sheepishly, ‘I’m Theo, by the way. Architect by trade, just in case you couldn’t guess, but currently on a career break.’
