Granny Viv let out a sigh. ‘I truly thought I had.’ She shook her head. ‘In all honesty, sweetheart, it happened during the summer and, like everything these days, or so it seems to me, it all happened rather fast. The farm was sold at auction. I must’ve mentioned that. No? Oh. Well anyway, it was purchased by an elderly couple and their son.’ Granny Viv gave a sudden laugh. ‘Listen to me. Who am I to be calling people elderly?’ She shook her head again. ‘Auctions, as you know, are a way to buy a property quickly and everything was done and dusted within four weeks. Planning was applied for and although that can take weeks, or months, or sometimes years, the new owners had made enquiries prior to the purchase, I believe. I understand the indications were good, so it was really just a formality. Old Farm had been empty for far too long and nobody wanted the farmhouse to sit there for any longer than was absolutely necessary and become completely derelict along with all those barns and outbuildings crumbling into the ground. No one opposed it and it sailed through. I met the owners at some event or other, I forget what it was, towards the end of last year, but by then I was so busy thinking about my upcomingBigbirthday that I didn’t give it another thought.’
‘Really?’ Kate doubted that. Granny Viv took a keen interest in everything that occurred in and around Bluewater Bay.
Granny Viv shrugged. ‘What more can I say?’ She beamed at Kate. ‘But isn’t it good to know that Old Farm is being refurbished? Rebuilt in places. And that new life will be breathed into the ancient farm. Granted, it won’t be a farm, but there will still be animals. A dog rescue centre is such a good cause. So much better than the alternative. Developers were eyeingthe place over the years but no one wanted some soulless housing estate springing up on the other side of High Hill. Good gracious, I’m feeling parched. Be a darling and make us some coffee, please, sweetheart.’
Kate knit her brows together. ‘Fine. I’ll make some toast while I’m there, and I’ll give Rufus his breakfast. Would you like anything other than coffee?’
‘No thank you.’
Kate was certain there must be more to this than her gran was saying, but she got to her feet and headed to the kitchen with Rufus right behind her.
The village was usually a hotbed of gossip and yet the grapevine had been oddly quiet and not one tongue had been wagging – or should that be tail in this case? Kate laughed to herself. Not even Trish, who owned the local pet shop, Paws for Life had mentioned it. Neither had Maud, the manageress of Bonnie’s Diner. She, like Granny Viv, usually knew everything there was to know in the village.
And then there was Shirley. She was the Reception Manager at The Cliff Surgery, Captain of the Ladies’ Darts Team at The White Lion pub, musical director of the Bluewater Bay Women’s Choir, one of the organisers of the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event, a member of the Best Christmas Home committee, and general, all-round busybody ‘extraordinaire’, so for her not to have said anything about it, seemed very strange to Kate.
She returned to the sitting room with a tray on which there was a pot of coffee, jug of milk, sugar bowl, two mugs, and a plate with toast and marmalade. She placed the tray on the coffee table and poured out the coffee, handing one mug to her gran before sitting where she had earlier, munching on her toast.
‘Thank you, sweetheart.’ Granny Viv took a sip of her drink and then drew her brows together. ‘Did you know that anyonecan open an animal rescue centre? Absolutely anyone. Well, probably not someone with a criminal record, but other than that, anyone at all.’
‘No,’ said Kate after she had swallowed a mouthful of toast. ‘Is that true?’
‘I believe so. Raff told me.’
‘Raff? When? Surely not at that event you mentioned? Why would he tell you that?’
Granny Viv looked as if she might be hiding something, but she threw Kate her sweetest smile – a definite sign that she was – and nonchalantly waved one hand in the air. ‘Who can recall when or where?’
‘Apparently not you. Or so you’d like me to believe. What else did this man, Raff, tell you? Or has your mind gone completely blank?’
Granny Viv smirked sarcastically. ‘You wait until you’re one hundred, and see how your memory does. And no. I can’t recall him telling me anything else.’ She gave Kate a thoughtful, but also a somewhat odd, look. ‘What did you think of him? I’m sure someone mentioned that he was formerly a teacher at one of those posh public schools. Isn’t it strange that they’re called ‘public schools’ when the majority of the public could never afford to send their kids to one?’
Kate narrowed her eyes. ‘If you’re suggesting that he and I have something in common, forget it.’ She was surprised by that news though. And yet, there was something about him that … No. She wasn’t going there. ‘As for being called public schools, that’s because they once were. Now, as you say, only the wealthy can afford them. Public, Private, Independent. They’re all fee-paying, and way out of most people’s reach. Mind you, so are universities these days. But don’t get me started on the Education System.’
‘God forbid. Oh, and I believe he’s single.’
‘Gran.’ Kate ground her teeth.
‘What? I’m only saying.’
‘I know exactly what you’re saying and the answer is no.’
‘Isn’t it curious that you met one another on Valentine’s Day of all days? Perhaps it’s a sign.’
‘It was a sign that I might need to leave Rufus’s ball behind in future when we walk on the beach.’
Kate met Granny Viv’s look of confusion and at the same moment, Rufus rejoined them, having finished his breakfast. He sprawled out on the rug just as he had last night.
Despite knowing full well that she would probably end up regretting it, Kate relayed the tale of the morning’s events.
Granny Viv’s astonishment was evident without the fact that she raised her voice. ‘No! He took off his shoes and socks and wadded into freezing water to rescue Rufus’s ball for you?’
‘No. He made that very clear. He did it for Rufus, not for me.’
‘Oh. Even so. What a hero!’
‘What a fool. He could still die from hypothermia. With any luck. Sorry. That was mean. And an exaggeration. But I behaved like a bumbling idiot and there is no way I’m going to have that man portrayed as a hero just for paddling in a few inches of sea water and retrieving a cheap old tennis ball.’
‘Freezing sea water, remember.’
