Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
She looked across at him; he was sitting at the desk, scrolling through the comments on the social media posts. He caught her eye and gave her a lopsided grin that made the guilt worse, but she pushed it aside. She needed to be practical. This wasn’t just about Daniel, it was about her future too.
‘Sold!’ he announced, his voice full of excitement. ‘Gerald the gorilla. We’ve got another hundred pounds coming our way.’
‘Gerald? You sold Gerald?’
Daniel’s grin faltered as he looked down at the screen again.
‘Yeah, well … Matilda said he’s been living rent-free in the wardrobe for years, so…
’ He leaned back on the chair and rubbed the back of his neck, clearly pleased with the sale, but Fern noticed something else creeping into his expression.
‘What’s wrong? You suddenly look … conflicted.’
Daniel let out a soft laugh, shaking his head.
‘I feel a little funny. I was excited at first, but now it feels like I’m evicting him.
He’s part of the family. I mean, the guy’s been hanging around this place for goodness knows how long, and here I am, shipping him off for a hundred quid.
’ He looked over at the old gorilla, now sitting awkwardly in the corner by the door, his glassy eyes staring back at them.
Fern smiled, watching the change in Daniel’s demeanour. He was trying to be practical, but the sentimental side of him was undeniable. It was endearing, really. ‘You’re going to miss him, aren’t you?’
‘Yeah,’ Daniel admitted with a soft chuckle. ‘A little. But a sale’s a sale.’ He glanced at her. ‘It’s a step in the right direction, isn’t it? We’re actually doing this, Fern.’
She nodded, feeling the twinge of guilt in the pit of her stomach. ‘Yeah, it is,’ she agreed. ‘I’m nipping out for half an hour. Will you be okay on your own?’
He glanced up. ‘Of course. Going somewhere fun?’ he asked. ‘I thought we could get some more items online.’ He picked up his guitar and strummed a note.
Fern hesitated. She didn’t want to tell him the real reason for her trip just yet.
‘Just a few errands to run and journalist calls to make. I won’t be long, and don’t you dare touch that lemon drizzle cake whilst I’m gone.
’ She grabbed her bag and stepped outside on to Anchor Way.
She discovered she didn’t have to walk far, because Edgar Carmichael’s office was next door.
Fern would have to time it just right so that Daniel didn’t spot her.
A faded sign hanging precariously from a rusty chain swayed over the duck-egg blue door that opened onto the stairwell leading up to Edgar’s office.
She made sure Daniel couldn’t see her open the door, and followed the smell of coffee to the top of the stairs.
She knocked and heard the scrape of a chair before the door swung open and she was greeted by a man in his late sixties dressed in a worn but neat suit, with salt-and-pepper hair that curled in an unruly way at the nape of his neck.
His pale blue eyes, sharp and discerning, were half hidden behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses.
‘Fern Talbot,’ she announced.
‘Matilda’s great-niece. I’ve been expecting you. Please come on in. It’s lovely to meet you,’ replied Edgar.
Fern stepped into the office and smiled, glancing around the room.
Shelves sagged under the weight of thick legal volumes and dusty files.
The large oak desk was the room’s centrepiece, its surface covered with papers, but still meticulously organised.
To the left of the desk, a small window allowed slivers of the afternoon light to seep in.
She shook his hand and took a seat across from him.
‘Thank you for seeing me at such short notice.’
‘Not at all,’ Edgar said, settling back in his chair. ‘She spoke about you on a number of occasions and was especially proud when she read your first article in Sound and Fury.’
‘She read my article?’
‘She did. She wanted to reach out many times, but she was afraid that it might cause complications with the family.’
‘I didn’t even know she existed.’
‘That’s what she thought. She was a remarkable woman. Kind-hearted. She had a way of making people feel wanted, at home. She loved that shop. It’s a real part of this island.’
Fern smiled despite the lump forming in her throat. ‘She certainly left an impression on everyone.’
‘That she did. Always had an eye for the unusual. So, what can I do for you?’
Fern hesitated, then took a breath. ‘I need to know my options. I’ve inherited No. 17 Curiosity Lane, but according to the books it’s not made any money for a long time … and then there’s Daniel.’
Edgar nodded knowingly. ‘Ah, Daniel. Yes, I had a feeling this might be the topic you wanted to discuss.’
He pulled a folder from a drawer and opened it, running a finger down the page. ‘Now, Matilda was very fond of him. She made arrangements to ensure he wouldn’t be left out in the cold. While the shop and property belong to you legally, Daniel has what we call “sitting tenant rights”.’
‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning you can’t simply evict him without due cause. He has a right to stay, and he has a legal agreement with Matilda, which complicates things. A property with a sitting tenant may be worth less on the open market because the buyer can’t move in immediately or charge market rent.’
Fern exhaled sharply. ‘I’ve not seen anything in writing.’
‘I have a copy of their agreement here. Matilda asked me to keep hold of it.’ He slid a piece of paper across the desk.
Fern picked it up and looked it over. ‘There’s no end date on this. How long is this valid for?’
‘If you turn to the second page you’ll see … it’s valid indefinitely.’
Fern raised her eyebrows. ‘You’re saying Daniel can legally stay for as long as he wants?’
‘He can. A private landlord can offer a contractual tenancy that lasts for the tenant’s lifetime. It just needs to be clearly stated in the agreement.’ He pointed to the place in the document. ‘It’s carefully drafted to avoid legal loopholes or unintended consequences.’
‘Why would Matilda do that?’
‘She was very fond of him and knew he had no one left in the world to look out for him, and she wanted to make sure he had a roof over his head.’
Fern was perplexed. Why hadn’t Matilda just left Daniel the shop and the business? Then she wouldn’t be in this predicament.
‘Am I able to just put it up for sale?’
Edgar tilted his head. ‘Not easily. If you were to sell, the new owner would have to honour Daniel’s tenancy unless he willingly agreed to leave.
You could always consider offering him a settlement to vacate, but knowing Daniel, I doubt he’d take it.
He’s not motivated by money and is very attached to the place. ’
‘So, I’m stuck with a shop I don’t want and a tenant who refuses to leave?’
Edgar smiled kindly. ‘I wouldn’t say stuck, Miss Talbot. You have options. You could try working with Daniel, see if there’s a middle ground. Maybe he could manage the shop for you. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll come to see No. 17 Curiosity Lane the way Matilda did.’
‘It seems I don’t have much choice.’
‘There’s always a choice,’ Edgar said gently. ‘But sometimes it’s not the one we expect. Is there anything else I can help you with today?’
She hesitated before shaking her head and standing. ‘Actually, can I ask you something?’
‘Of course.’
‘How long have you lived on the island?’
‘All my life. Why do you ask?’
‘Something out of the ordinary happened this morning. An antique wedding dress was left in a bin bag on the shop’s doorstep. There was a note attached, with just three words: Find the groom. I’m not sure what to do about it.’
Edgar’s brows lifted slightly. ‘That is cryptic. If anyone can help you, it’s Dorothy.
She lives in one of the rainbow cottages on Lighthouse Lane, the bright blue one.
She was the island’s seamstress for decades, made more wedding dresses than she could count.
She’s retired, but if she didn’t make the dress herself, she might still recognise who did and point you in the right direction. ’
‘I’ll try Dorothy, thank you.’
Fern stepped out of the office, not knowing quite how she felt. The shop wasn’t just bricks and mortar; it had a history, a stubborn tenant and now a mystery. The idea of selling it had seemed straightforward, but it was quickly becoming anything but.