Cups and sorcerers
Thursday
It’s already Thursday and the week’s whooshed by because we had a chocolate evening Tuesday, and in between times we’ve been out in town with Joe. Then yesterday evening, Charlie insisted on getting his barbie out on the balcony, with the lame excuse that it was Joe’s last night, and we all hung out on the top floor at Seaspray Cottage. It just shows how fast things can change. This time last week I was rigid at the thought of the half-brother I didn’t know wandering around St Aidan. After five days of hanging out together, I’m thinking of him as the guy who makes us all laugh without trying when he puts on in his broad Norfolk accent, who balances biscuits on his nose then lets Diesel lick them off, who made a fire on the beach so we could toast marshmallows when we were looking for shooting stars. Who turned up at mine with an armful of red and yellow and purple tulips tied with a floppy blue satin bow, and one of Plum’s seaglass hearts to hang in the window to remind me of Laura.
Having spent time with him, knowing how much we both love Laura and hearing more about her has been lovely. I’m waving him off back to Norwich with an ache in my chest, looking forward to him coming back. He imports food, so he’s promised to bring us lots of delicious olives and cheeses and candied walnuts and chocolate when he comes back for the auction next Thursday. Knowing he’s a foodie made me so nervous I could hardly make yesterday’s puddings for shaking. But it turned out he loves Laura’s lemon meringue as much as I do. It’s as if another part of my past fell into place. But at the same time, he’s so much more than that.
After so many crowded parties it was funny to have only eight of us. All the mermaids came, plus Joe, and Charlie, who is so often here these days you’d think he was trying to get honorary merman status. Then because Joe is in the running for Siren House, Sophie got her mum round to babysit so Nate could come too to scope out the opposition. Apart from the briefest mention we mostly stayed off the subject of the auction, but when there’s a new family member in town after thirty years it pays to be open about stuff. Then Charlie invited George along too because considering he’s been getting up at the crackandeating croissants for England, all in the name of creating a work schedule for my flat, it seemed only fair to include him.
Sometimes it does seem like my life is a lot fuller of croissant flakes than other peoples’. As I’m accidentally in the office ten minutes ahead of any clients this morning I treated myself to some pastries to have with my first cup of coffee. I whizz through to George’s office to take him his nine o’clock coffee then I settle myself down at my desk to dunk. When the main door opens, I’m about to drop my croissant into the drawer in the interests of professional standards, but stop when I see it’s Charlie.
‘Back again so soon after brekkie?’ Realistically, he can only have left half an hour ago at the most.
For a second he looks at me like he doesn’t know what the hell I’m on about, then he twigs. ‘With the farm purchase on-going there’s lots to sign.’ He sniffs the air. ‘The coffee smells good this morning.’
‘There’s plenty in the pot if you’d you like some?’
His eyes light up. ‘Yes, please, don’t get up, I’ll help myself.’ He looks at his watch then makes a dash for the kitchen. ‘I’ve got five minutes before I’m in with George so I’ll drink it with you. What do I have to do for you to let me steal one of your croissants?’
As he comes back and slides onto a chair, I’m looking at my pile of three, considering. ‘If I absolutely can’t find a way to keep my flat will you buy it? Tell me that and I’ll let you have one.’ It comes out so fast I take myself by surprise, but I don’t want to waste the moment. What Laura wrote in her letter and getting to know Joe has made the flat even more important to me. But if I can’t make it work, and I put in all those conditions Charlie once mentioned, at least if he bought it maybe he’d let me come and stay sometimes.
He hesitates for a long time. ‘You’re putting me on the spot here, Clems, hasty decisions aren’t good business.’ What ever happened to Mr Infallible Hobson, favourite mantra,Every decision I make is intuitive and immediate?
It’s in my interest to work with him on this one. ‘Have a croissant while you decide, or even two?’ This is me getting my back up plan into place, so if I have to sell it can be as fast and painless as possible. As he takes the first and digs those perfect teeth straight into it like he hasn’t eaten yet this month, I can’t help commenting. ‘How come you’re so ravenous when you’ve been here stuffing your face since seven?’
For a second his eyes go wide, then they relax again. ‘You know me, always hungry.’
‘So how’s the Hawthorne Farm purchase going?’ I had every last detail from Sophie when she came to help on Tuesday evening, so I doubt he’s got anything to add.
If he’s surprised I’m talking like a pro, he doesn’t show it. ‘We’ve agreed the price, fast-tracked the searches, and we’re preparing the contracts so they’re ready to sign immediately if Nate and Sophie buy at the auction. That should guarantee them enough to bid way over the guide price so they’re in with a good chance. But if they don’t buy we won’t proceed and they get to keep the farm.’
This is what’s been bugging me. ‘That’s a win-win for Sophie, isn’t it? She sells if she needs to and gets to keep her house if she doesn’t. So, where’s the catch?’
Charlie rubs his jaw. ‘The skew in their favour is reflected in the price. But apart from that, there isn’t one.’
‘So why the hell do it? Why not force them to sell if you want their place so much? That’s what most people would do in your position.’ Sophie told me as much herself.
Charlie lets out a long breath. ‘I wouldn’t do this for many people but I’m doing it because they’re friends of yours. Whatever you might think, I care what they think of me.’
So, that’s what he’s up to. ‘So you’re proving you’re a nice guy, and not just an evil developer?’
He does another exasperated blow. ‘Not quite that.’
If he’s due in with George at nine, I’m going to have to push this. ‘So do you have an answer for me?’ This is where I could do with being like Dakota and having a teensy waist and a pink frill to make my chest look more noticeable.
As it is he’s looking nowhere near my boobs. In fact, he’s looking at the ceiling. ‘Thanks for giving me first refusal, I’ll get back to you in a couple of weeks. A month, tops. Although, for the record, you shouldn’t be selling.’
‘That’s it?’ I can’t help the shrill. It’s a long way from the speed fallback deal I was hoping for.
‘It’s the best I can do for now.’ As he gets up he’s looking distracted. When he reaches George’s door he hesitates and tilts his head. ‘I don’t suppose Nell ever mentions that date she had a couple of years ago up at the Harbourside?’
I give a gulp. ‘The time when she …?’
He butts in and saves me from the rest. ‘That’s the one.’
My eyes have to be popping out of my head. ‘That wasyou?’
He raises an eyebrow. ‘That would be telling.’ His eyes narrow. ‘So was there a reason she didn’t go for another?’
