Chapter 9
As he opened the door the smell of damp hit Tobias immediately. Cobwebs hung from almost every crevice. He scrutinised the interior of the Gate House with a critical eye. Outside it was clear what work was to be done. The Cotswolds stone needed sandblasting, ridding the walls of the murky stains that defaced the original honey glow. The gardens needed landscaping, fencing mended and stained; the roof needed replacement tiles and the outhouse needed to be renovated into a double garage. All straightforward jobs that he could fix, no problem.
It was the inside that was the problem. This being a listed building, he was restricted to a certain degree, but even that wasn’t the issue. It was the memories it harboured that caused Tobias to stand still, take stock and for the thousandth time torture himself with what could have been. He and Carrie had been promised the Gate House for a wedding present. They had planned to live there after their marriage. Carrie had been ecstatic when Tobias’ parents had announced their intention to give them their own home on the estate. Together they had made plans for their love nest, and Tobias remembered Carrie going from room to room, deciding on the décor and furnishings. He had watched her, smiling, drinking in the sense of utter happiness she made him feel, deep down to his core.
He gulped and his eyes misted over. Cursing, he forced himself to get a grip.Pull yourself together, man, it’s been ten years.A whole decade since she had been cruelly snatched away that fateful night. Even now, Tobias just couldn’t comprehend how Carrie had vanished from his life, a life that should have been shared with her. Would they have had children by now? Probably. He allowed himself to picture Fox playing with his two little girls, piggybacks on the lawn, squealing with delight, his wife, Tatum, watching with laughter and adoration. Tobias physically doubled over, feeling like he’d been punched in the stomach. It was so unjust, brutally unfair; and it was never ending. Never had anyone come close to Carrie. True, he’d had plenty of girlfriends, rich, celebs, models, but they were just bed companions, playthings that helped pass the time. They weren’t soul mates he could open up to. Some had tried to delve inside that incredibly sharp and complex mind of his, but to no avail. He was a closed book. His eyes started to fill again. He would not cry. Hewould notcry. How could there be any tears left? Counselling had been suggested, but Tobias had refused. Nothing and nobody could mend him, of that he was convinced.
Now, with a big sigh and an iron will he forced himself to begin his list of renovations. All the wooden floors needed sanding down and varnishing, as did the doors. The skirting boards and architraves needed a fresh lick of paint. The kitchen needed ripping out and replacing with more modern, yet traditional units, alongside maybe an Aga to keep that country feel. The boot room he’d convert to a utility room. The main bathroom was actually quite quaint with its claw-foot bath and big brass taps, but he’d need to put in a shower, plus knock through into one of the bedrooms to create another en suite for the master bedroom. He made a list in a notebook and put it in his jacket pocket. Rubbing his hands together, he decided to light the wood burner in the lounge. A log basket holding dried wood and matches stood at the side. Soon the room was filled with warmth.
Tobias sat on the rug watching the amber flames flicker and dance. His thoughts gravitated back to the past like a magnet. This house held such happy memories. He chuckled to himself at the parties he and Fox had thrown here. Not just wild, crazy ones where endless young men drank themselves stupid on cocktails until the early dawn, playing strip poker with girls they’d coaxed back from the village, but intimate dinners with Carrie and close friends, sharing secrets and ambitions for the future. He watched the fire crackle a little more, then took out his notebook again and decided to draft an advert for the sale of the property to give to the estate manager. It wouldn’t take long with his good team of workers to complete the renovations. After several minutes he’d composed a rough draft.
Set on the edge of the Treweham Hall estate and surrounded by beautiful parkland, this grade II listed Gate House’s delights are traditional, comprising five bedrooms with mullion windows and open fires. The kitchen and bathroom boast modern restorations, along with the additional en suite to the master bedroom.
Price? Chewing his pen, he pondered. Probably around £850,000 to £900,000, considering the location and surrounding gardens. With the renovations he’d try his luck at £999,000 – just under a million. Previous experience as a property developer told him to aim high. More often than not there was someone who was prepared to pay the asking price.
His thoughts were interrupted by his mobile phone. ‘Aunt Celia’ glared up from the screen. This should be interesting, he smirked to himself. Celia was the polar opposite of her sister, Beatrice, being razor sharp, intuitive and extremely observant. She both shocked and entertained Tobias in equal amounts. Although demanding at times and frustrating to the limit, she was ceaseless fun and remained his favourite aunt.
‘Aunt Celia, how are you?’ he asked with mirth, knowing what was to follow.
‘Ruddy awful. Back’s playing up, the cat’s got the shits and your mother’s just told me you’ve cancelled our Caribbean cruise.’
‘We can’t afford it, Celia,’ he stated flatly.
‘So finally someone’s taking the finances in hand. Your father never did have any business acumen.’
With that he couldn’t argue, so he didn’t try.
‘Well, I’ve decided. I’ve had enough of it in this poky institute, and since you’ve cancelled my holiday I’m coming to visit.’ That ‘poky institute’ was in fact a top-class retirement community set in stunning grounds. Another expense. It was worth every penny keeping her there, under lock and key, as opposed to running riot in his home.
‘Splendid. Sebastian will be delighted.’ She actually scared the hell out of his younger brother.
‘Huh,’ she puffed into his ear. ‘I’ll let you know when.’ Then bang went the phone. Conversation apparently over. Shaking his head, Tobias got up and made his way back to the Hall, in desperate need of a large brandy.
