Chapter 39
39
DEE
Saturday
Mid-morning on Saturday a message pinged in from Simon. He was auctioning Dee’s grandmother’s brooch today.
What’s the lowest offer you want me to accept?
She considered this. She had no idea what the brooch was worth, Simon said about ￡4,000, but she would be grateful for anything. She sent a text back.
What do you suggest?
I think we should set a reserve for ￡3,750.
I agree.
She was happy to leave it to Simon, he knew what he was doing and she trusted him.
Meanwhile, she wanted to tidy up a little. Edna had kept the house fairly clean, but things like curtains and windows were a lot for a woman of her age. She’d give it all a deep clean, as a thank you to Edna. She was sure the older woman would be delighted. She took off the cushion covers and put them in the washing machine, then took down the curtains and started cleaning the windows. She’d just finished doing the lounge windows when Simon phoned her to tell her that the brooch had sold to an online bidder for ￡5,750. She couldn’t believe it. That was a clear ￡5,000 profit, taking out Simon’s commission. That, and her wages, should see her through until the divorce settlement came through, especially as Edna was allowing her to live in the cottage for such a minimal rent. The financial pressure was off. ‘Thank you, Grandma,’ she whispered, sending a silent prayer to her late grandmother.
Another message pinged in. It was from Kenny asking if he could pop in and see her as there was something he wanted to talk about regarding the Artists’ Studios before they met up with the others tonight.
‘Of course, I’m in all afternoon,’ she replied.
‘Half an hour okay?’
‘Perfect.’
They’d sit out in the garden, she decided. It looked like June was going to be a warm month and already the temperature was well into the mid-twenties. She went upstairs to quickly freshen up and change out of the jeans and T-shirt she’d worn for cleaning, brush her hair and apply a bit of make-up. She glanced at her watch. She needed to get a move on, Kenny would be here any minute. She’d put a jug of home-made lemonade into the fridge this morning, she took some ice cubes out of the freezer and dropped them into the jug then took two clean glasses out of the cupboard. Right on cue, the doorbell rang.
‘No Toffee?’ she asked in surprise. Kenny usually took his beloved dog everywhere with him.
‘I thought I’d better leave him at home, I don’t want him upsetting Snowy.’ Kenny followed her inside. ‘He’s had a long walk this morning so he’s happy to stay and sleep.’
‘A wise decision, although they will have to get used to each other at some point as Edna kindly said I can stay here until my divorce is settled,’ Dee remarked as Snowy wandered in through the back door and curled up in his basket.
‘You’ve put in for the divorce?’ Kenny asked.
‘Yes, I saw the solicitor on Thursday.’ Dee picked up the jug of iced lemonade out of the fridge. ‘Shall we sit outside?’
‘Sure.’ Kenny picked up the two glasses and followed her out, they both settled down at the little table in the back garden. Dee filled the two glasses, handing one to Kenny then took a sip of her drink, letting the cold lemonade slide down her throat before replying more fully to his question. ‘The solicitor said the decree nisi will be through in a few weeks providing Nigel cooperates and doesn’t delay for time.’ She’d been surprised at that. ‘Hopefully we can then work out a fair financial settlement. I don’t expect that Nigel will be on his own for long.’
‘Does that bother you?’
‘Not at all. He wasn’t faithful when we were together so isn’t likely to be now we’ve split up, is he?’
‘You were right to leave him,’ Kenny said. ‘It will take you a bit of time to adjust, but you’ll make a new life for yourself, you’ll see.’
‘I’m sure I will. To be honest, I still can’t take it all in. I can’t believe that I’m living on my own after all these years.’
‘It takes time. It took me years to get over losing Margot. Although I guess a bereavement is different,’ Kenny said.
He was right, losing someone you love was surely much harder than a divorce, her divorce anyway. She and Nigel had grown apart. Babs and Geoff still loved each other, and it would be awful if they split up. Come to think of it, she hadn’t heard from Babs for a couple of days, she’d have to message her tonight and see how the house viewing trip went.
‘What was it you wanted to talk about?’ she asked, suddenly remembering his message.
‘I wanted your opinion. You might be able to look at things more objectively as an outsider – I mean as you don’t permanently live in the village,’ he added hastily. ‘A local businessman wants to invest in the Artists’ Studios. He said he wants to give back to the community.’
‘That’s very noble of him! And I don’t see any problem with that,’ Dee said. Unless it was the person rather than the money people would object to, she realised. ‘Who is he? Are you allowed to say?’
Kenny’s eyes met hers over the rim of his glass. He put it down on the table. ‘He wants me to keep it a secret.’
Dee frowned. ‘Why?’
‘If I tell you, will you promise not to breathe a word? It’s top secret so I need you to promise not to divulge it to the others yet.’
Dee considered this. She didn’t really like secrets but this was fantastic news for the Artists’ Studios and she wanted to find out more. She really did want to be involved, it was a cause she believed in, and she wanted to encourage the talented artists she’d seen at the garden party.
‘I promise,’ she said firmly.
‘He’s a property developer and at the moment is involved in a lot of backlash over a new development he’s planning.’
Dee tapped her fingers on the table as she considered this. ‘Do you think he’s doing this to improve his public image or because he genuinely wants to help?’
Kenny frowned. ‘I’ve no idea. Does it matter?’
‘It could be important. In my experience people who have something to gain will put in more of an effort than people who don’t.’
Kenny leaned back in his chair, a slow smile playing on his lips. ‘Good point. And I’m guessing that you are very apt at dealing with business people who have something to gain?’
Dee levelled her gaze at him. ‘I’ve been involved in a lot of fundraising. The people who have given the most generously tend to fall in a few groups.’ She counted them off on her fingers. ‘Those who want to avoid paying tax so will give to charity instead to improve their public image, those who are trying to sweeten people up so that they can avoid protests against something they are planning to do, and those who are genuinely altruistic and want to pay back to society or – in the case of a medical charity – have lost someone to the disease the charity represents.’
‘That certainly makes sense. I think our backer wants to get the community on board before he goes ahead with his next development.’
‘Have you any idea what he’s planning?’
Kenny looked guilty and suddenly she knew.
‘He’s in charge of the harbour development, isn’t he?’
Kenny’s face said it all.
‘Yes. He’s planning on building a deluxe shopping mall, with top class restaurants and shops, as it’s on the outskirts of the village it should bring a lot of trade into the village too and jobs for local people,’ Kenny explained.
‘And will wipe out the natural beauty, plus bring in thousands of extra holidaymakers, which will push up the house prices even more and drive out the locals.’
Kenny nodded. ‘True. Glenn is up in arms about it, as you know, and I doubt he will agree to us accepting the money. A couple of the others might not either, as a matter of principle.’
Dee quirked her eyebrow. ‘How do you feel about it?’ It would be interesting to see what take Kenny had on this.
‘To be honest, I don’t know what to do. We’ve been fighting this development for a while, but I think we’re onto a lost cause.’ He scratched his cheek. ‘The money the developer is offering to put into the Artists’ Studios is a large amount. It will allow us to finish the refurbishments and let out the studios at a reasonable price. But…’ He raised his eyes to hers and she could see the concern in them. ‘Are we selling out the village to make our dream come true?’
She could see his dilemma. ‘Are you going to tell the others?’
‘Eventually. I wanted to discuss it with you first, get your take on it. You’re level-headed and don’t have a personal interest like the rest of us, so might be able to see it all a bit more clearly.’
‘What’s this businessman’s name?’ Dee asked.
‘Gordon Frost,’ Kenny told her.
‘Gordon Frost.’ Dee repeated in disbelief.
Kenny’s eyebrows knitted together and stared at her. ‘Do you know him?’
‘I did. A long time ago,’ she replied, her mind going back to that last encounter. Fancy Gordon being behind the harbour development plan. He had moved away to Exeter years ago, after discovering that Nigel and Gordon’s wife, Lydia, had been having an affair. Gordon had said at the time that he and Lydia had a marriage in name only, and that he’d been more hurt by Nigel’s betrayal than Lydia’s.
Should she have left Nigel then? She had certainly considered it, she had been devastated when she’d learnt about Nigel and Lydia’s affair, but the children had still been at school and she had been loath to disrupt their lives. So eventually she had forgiven Nigel, choosing to believe that it was a mad moment of temptation and it would never happen again.
Only it had. Several times.
It was no use bothering about it now, what was done was done, as her mother used to say.
‘What do you think?’ Kenny asked.
Dee’s mind was still going over her last encounter with Gordon and how much to tell Kenny. Just be truthful, she decided. You’re not responsible for what Nigel did. And Gordon isn’t responsible for Lydia’s actions. They had all been good friends before then, and she knew that Gordon cared about people, about the environment.
‘Actually, Gordon’s one of the good guys, although, yes, he’s in business to make money.’ Slowly she told Kenny about how Gordon was a client of Nigel’s and they’d been good friends, often going out for dinner together, then Gordon had discovered that Lydia and Nigel had been having an affair. ‘He pulled his business, threatened to destroy Nigel financially but when he found out that I was staying with Nigel he backed down, said he wouldn’t put me through any more distress. He and Lydia split up and he moved away.’
She could see that Kenny was mulling this over. ‘Do you think that if Gordon knows you’re involved, he wouldn’t back the Artists’ Studios?’
‘I don’t see why. He was always a fair man, and none of it was my fault. Actually, what I wanted to suggest was that I come with you when you have your meeting with him.’
Kenny tilted his head to one side, waiting for her to continue.
‘Gordon was someone who cared about people, and gave a great deal of thought to things, including – as I remember Nigel complaining about – where he builds his developments. From what I know of him, I’d guess he’s convinced that this development is good for Port Telwyn, and that he is genuinely trying to help the community by donating money to the Artists’ Studios.’ She took a swig of lemonade. ‘I’m wondering if we tell him how hard local people like Glenn are finding it to stay here, because of the cost of housing, we could persuade him to make a section of the development affordable for the locals – either to rent or buy.’
Kenny digested this for a moment. ‘You reckon you could talk him into that?’
Dee considered this. It had been years since she’d seen Gordon, and she was sure that his business would have gone from strength to strength since then. ‘It’s worth a try.’
‘Okay, then let’s do it. He wants me to meet him on Thursday morning at ten thirty to discuss it. Are you free then?’
‘I’ll ask Andi if I can do the afternoon shift,’ she told him. It would be a squeeze, as she had an appointment with the solicitor at lunchtime, but she should be able to fit it all in and didn’t want to miss this meeting.
‘Great.’ Kenny finished his lemonade then stood up. ‘Well, I’d better be going. I’ll leave you to your spring cleaning.’
‘Thanks, see you later.’ Dee saw him to the door.
He turned at the doorway. ‘You’re full of surprises, Dee.’ Then he briefly kissed her on the cheek and was gone.
Dee stood on the doorstep for a moment, watching him walk down the hill, her hand on her cheek where he’d kissed it. Something stirred in her, something she hadn’t felt for a long time.