Chapter 27
‘One caramel latte, and one slice of lemon drizzle cake.’ Daisy put the tray on the table and beamed at Bethany. ‘Ooh, are those house brochures? Anything interesting?’
‘A few,’ Bethany admitted. She glanced around the café, noting it wasn’t particularly busy for once. ‘Have you got a few minutes? You could join me if you like.’
Daisy looked over at the counter. A young couple had just come up the stairs and were now loitering there, waiting for service.
‘I’ll just see to these two and then I’ll see what I can do,’ she promised, rushing off to greet her customers with a smile.
Ten minutes later she returned with a cup of tea and a slice of ginger cake. ‘Might as well make the most of the lull,’ she said, sitting down opposite Bethany. ‘So, are you house hunting then?’
‘I’ve been browsing.’ Bethany shuffled the papers she’d been perusing and settled back in her chair, latte in hand. ‘But I thought I’d also find out what sort of places were selling in Skimmerdale, what prices they reach, what buyers are looking for, that sort of thing.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Daisy said, biting into her ginger cake. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment then asked, ‘You don’t look too happy about it. I take it you’re disappointed with what you’ve found out?’
‘I had a chat with a couple of estate agents,’ Bethany said. ‘Basically, they were both of the opinion that, with a house the size of Whispering Willows, and with all that land in a prime location, it has the potential to make a decent price, but they did agree that more leisure companies and building firms might be interested in the land, given the poor state the house is in now. One told me it would probably be in my best interests to do no work to the place at all, just sell it as it is. They admitted the house might well be demolished. If the new owners could get planning permission for a new house or even a few houses the land could sell for a whole lot more. In fact, they suggested I might want to apply for planning permission myself. If it was already in place I’d be in a much stronger position.’
Daisy wrinkled her nose. ‘I can’t see that going down well with the people round here,’ she said. ‘Mind you, I take the agent’s point. Dad’s farm didn’t sell for as much as we’d hoped for. Granted, we’d already sold off some of the land, but even so. It was run-down, you see. Like Whispering Willows. We were lucky because we sold it to a family looking for a project.’
‘I don’t want Whispering Willows to be demolished though,’ Bethany said wistfully. ‘And I certainly don’t want it to become a housing estate.’ She sighed. ‘The other agent said there’s some demand for high-end equestrian properties in this area, if I wanted to market it that way.’
Daisy looked doubtful. ‘Is Whispering Willows high-end?’
Bethany broke off a piece of her lemon drizzle cake. ‘You’ve never been there, have you? Believe me, high-end is not how I’d describe it. It would take a huge amount of money to make it the sort of equestrian dream prospective buyers would be interested in.’
Daisy sipped her tea thoughtfully. ‘And are you prepared to spend that much?’
Bethany broke off a piece of her lemon drizzle cake and considered the matter. ‘I was, at first. For ages I’ve been talking about making improvements to the house and putting a new roof on the stables, but now…’ She gestured to the leaflets stacked up beside her plate. ‘These places are amazing, and the prices they’re going for are impressive. But their stables look nothing like the broken-down ones at my place. All of these have state of the art stabling and a manège and all sorts! I mean, listen to this.’
She picked up one of the leaflets and read, ‘Enclosed stableyard with twelve looseboxes, each with rubber matting and automatic drinkers. Separate block with tack room, feed room, and washroom with toilet, sink, and hot water.’
She shook her head. ‘Believe me, that does not describe the facilities at Whispering Willows. They even have sensor lights in the stableyard!’ She shook her head. ‘Oh, I don’t know!’
Daisy surveyed her thoughtfully. ‘Can’t say I blame you. That sounds like a really expensive project to me.’ She chewed another bit of ginger cake. ‘It would take time, too,’ she said at last. ‘And you want to leave here as soon as possible, don’t you?’
Bethany folded her arms defensively. ‘Yes. No. I mean—it’s complicated.’
‘Because of Clive?’
Bethany sighed. ‘I suppose that’s all round Tuppenny Bridge?’
‘Of course it is! What did you expect?’ Daisy laughed. ‘I’ve only been here five minutes, but I’ve already figured out there are no secrets in this place. Kat’s aunties are running a book on you both, did you know? Everyone’s waiting with bated breath to see what happens next. So things have hotted up with the sexy vet, eh?’
Bethany couldn’t hide the smile that spread across her face at the thought. ‘They have a bit,’ she admitted.
‘Only a bit?’
Bethany laughed. ‘Okay, they’ve hotted up a lot.’
‘That sounds more promising.’ Daisy wiped her fingers on a napkin. ‘So maybe you’re thinking of staying then? In which case, why are you looking at these brochures? Just do the house and stables as you want them, never mind what might suit the market best.’
‘It’s not that simple.’ Bethany massaged her temples, feeling the pressure. How had it come to this? When she’d arrived in Tuppenny Bridge she’d had one clear goal in mind. Empty the house and put Whispering Willows on the market. She’d had no idea that she’d have to take into consideration three horses, four donkeys, and six ponies, a bichon frise, a justifiably furious employee, and a vet she couldn’t help but fall in love with.
Now it was no longer just about what she wanted. She had to think of the futures of all those animals and people, too. The worst of it was, she couldn’t even make up her mind what it was she wanted these days. And it had just got even more complicated.
‘I had a visit yesterday,’ she said reluctantly. ‘A builder and a roofer came to look at the place. Thankfully, the house isn’t a problem. Structurally it’s sound. Just needs a few tiles replacing on the roof which I’m very grateful for, and some of the plaster needs replacing in the kitchen and hallway, which I’d already guessed. When I tapped the walls I could feel it had come away. It’s not a huge job, though. The stables, however, are a different matter.’
‘Oh. How bad?’
‘Let’s put it this way, they were of the opinion that it would be much cheaper to demolish the whole lot and build again from scratch.’
‘You’re joking?’
‘I wish I was.’ Bethany felt cold at the memory of the two men shaking their heads at her in sympathy.
‘Fact is,’ one of them had told her, ‘the spread on the roof over time has bowed the walls so far out—around eighteen inches in fact—that it’s likely the foundations have gone. They’d need re-doing and that’s far from cheap.’
‘What do you mean by “spread on the roof”?’ she’d asked, puzzled.
‘The rafters on the roof are inadequately supported,’ the other one explained. ‘So the ridge tiles on the top of the building push down, forcing the tops of the walls to bulge out. The door frames have come away from the walls, too, see?’
‘I see,’ she’d said anxiously. ‘And it’s an expensive thing to repair?’
‘To be honest, it would make more sense to knock it all down and start again. Apart from anything else it would be quicker, never mind cheaper. Of course, it’s up to you, but you asked for our advice, and that’s what we’re giving you.’
‘Right. Well, I appreciate that. Thank you. I’ll be in touch when I’ve given it some thought,’ she’d promised them, her heart sinking.
‘I guess it makes more sense to just leave things as they are then,’ Daisy said. ‘If I was putting my sensible hat on and pushing aside all emotions I’d say cut your losses and get Whispering Willows on the market.’
‘I know you’re right,’ Bethany admitted. ‘And there wouldn’t be any losses. I mean, it might not go for much in its present condition but then, it didn’t cost me a penny anyway. It’s all pure profit.’
‘So forget about doing it up or demolishing the stables. Just focus on buying a place for you to live in.’ Daisy watched her curiously. ‘And figuring out whereabouts it is you want to settle.’
‘But if a building company does buy Whispering Willows,’ Bethany said anxiously, ‘how would everyone react to that? Even if it becomes a holiday park or something, they’re not going to be happy. And anyway, I can’t just put it on the market. I have responsibilities to the animals in my care.’
‘Yes, of course you do.’ Daisy sighed. ‘Sounds like you’ve got a lot of thinking to do.’
‘Tell me about it.’
‘Hey, why don’t you come over to my flat on Saturday night?’ Daisy asked eagerly. ‘I haven’t had anyone round before and you could be my first guest. We could get fish and chips from Millican’s and put the world to rights. Might even figure out a plan of action for you.’
Bethany hesitated and Daisy slumped. ‘Sorry. Of course, you’ve probably got plans with Clive on Saturday night.’
‘Nothing definite,’ Bethany assured her. She smiled suddenly. ‘I’d love to. Fish and chips from Millican’s. Sounds like it could be just what I need. I’ll bring a bottle of wine, shall I?’
‘Perfect!’ Daisy beamed at her. ‘Oh, I’d better get back to work. Looks like I’ve got some new customers,’ she said, glancing over at the counter where no fewer than four people now hovered.
She got to her feet and Bethany hastily gathered her leaflets. ‘And I’ll get back to Whispering Willows. I’ve got an awful lot to think about now. See you on Saturday, Daisy.’
‘About six?’ Daisy called as she headed back behind the counter. ‘Looking forward to it. And don’t worry. We’ll figure something out between us.’
Bethany headed down the stairs thinking ruefully that it would take more than a portion of fish and chips and a chat with Daisy to sort this mess out. She honestly had no idea what to do for the best.