Chapter 42
42
DEE
Thursday
‘I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve brought someone else with me, she’s on the committee for the Port Telwyn Artists’ Studios too,’ Kenny said to Gordon as the receptionist showed them into his office.
The man behind the desk raised his head, then his eyes registered pleasant surprise. ‘Well, if it isn’t Dee Walton! How lovely to see you again!’ He stood up and walked around the desk to give her a hug. ‘How are you? Do you live down here now?’ He released her and looked into her eyes. ‘You look well.’
Gordon looked well, too, although he’d aged, and what little hair he used to have had gone. ‘Yes, I’m renting a cottage at the moment and am looking to buy.’
‘So you’ve finally left the cheating bastard then?’
‘Only recently, but, yes. I should have done it sooner.’ She shrugged.
‘I’m not going to argue with that. You deserve better.’ Nigel turned to Kenny and shook his hand. ‘Pleased to see you again, Kenny.’
‘Thanks for agreeing to meet us,’ Kenny replied.
‘A pleasure. Now sit down, both of you, and tell me what you wanted to talk about.’ Gordon returned to the other side of the desk and sat down, indicating for Kenny and Dee to take the two seats opposite. ‘Is it to discuss my offer of backing the Artists’ Studios?’
Dee nodded. ‘Yes, Kenny told me all about it. It’s a great idea but I wanted to ask if you’ve made provision in your development for accommodation for the locals.’
Gordon frowned. ‘What do you mean? This housing project will be of enormous benefit to Port Telwyn. It will really put it on the map, and make it a tourist attraction on par with St Ives or Newquay. Actually, I’ve been quite frustrated by the local response, given it will bring people into the area, providing jobs and accommodation.’ He folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. ‘And a condition for purchasing the apartments is that they are actually lived in. There will be a clause that they aren’t to be sublet as holiday homes.’
‘I noticed that, but a lot of locals won’t be able to afford that accommodation,’ Kenny pointed out. ‘And Port Telwyn is a small village, we don’t have the infrastructure to support an enormous build like this. We’ll need another school, doctors?—’
‘The council is on board so I’m sure they are aware it will have to provide more facilities. They’ve agreed that it’s a good idea, bringing job opportunities and income to the area, and without that the locals will have to leave to find work,’ Gordon told them.
‘The locals will have to leave anyway. The apartments are way out of their price range. Unless you provide some affordable housing for locals to buy or rent,’ Dee pointed out.
‘I’m running a business, Dee,’ Gordon reminded her. ‘I owe it to my shareholders to make a profit.’
‘A business that will benefit from looking out for local people. You can’t just come into an area like this, give a bit of cash for the artist project to sweeten the locals, and not think about their needs,’ Dee retorted.
She saw the surprise in Gordon’s eyes as he sat up a bit straighter.
‘Have you any idea how difficult it is for the local people to find somewhere they can afford to rent? They’re having to move out of an area they grew up in.’ She was on a roll now. ‘We have a friend with a young daughter, a local artist. He’s a widower and the landlord has recently increased his rent again .’ She knew that Gordon’s own daughter had been widowed at an early age, leaving her with two children, so she hoped he would have some sympathy here. ‘Plus, there’s all the inconvenience the locals are having to put up with while you build your development. The access road is often blocked with diggers and lorries, then there’s the noise and upheaval.’
‘Point taken.’ Gordon nodded. ‘It seems to me that you’ve thought a lot about this so what exactly have you decided I should do?’ Was that admiration she heard in his voice?
‘Well…’ she glanced at Kenny, wondering if she’s said too much but he was looking at her admiringly too. ‘We’ve had a look at some figures.’ They’d both spent hours planning this yesterday.
Gordon listened intently as Kenny took a folder out of his backpack and outlined their plan, suggesting that the area at the rear of the proposed development, nearer to the town, could be reserved for people who actually live locally or can prove that they come from this area.
‘Means tested of course so that they go to those who need it most,’ Dee added.
‘These are the sort of prices people can afford,’ Kenny handed him a piece of paper. ‘The buyers paying top price will have the sea views and the bigger apartments, of course. But you’re far more likely to get the locals behind you if you can cater for their needs too.’
Dee could see that Gordon was studying the figures. ‘It’s an interesting proposition. Give me a while to consider it and think over the numbers.’
‘Thank you.’ Dee breathed a sigh of relief.
‘I’m still happy to donate to the Artists’ Studios, that will be a gift. This,’ he pointed to the proposal, ‘will be a business decision. I’ll get my people onto it, see if we can make it work. I can’t promise to match these figures but I’m with you on the idea of providing for the locals.’ His gaze went from one to the other. ‘This friend of yours who has to leave his property soon… You say he’s an artist. Does he have another job?’
‘He’s a part-time bartender, he has a young daughter to look after, so can only work in the daytime,’ Kenny said.
Gordon nodded. ‘He needs something quickly then.’
Dee saw his point, affordable housing would be too late for Glenn. ‘He might be able to get something temporarily, in the meantime. And there are plenty of others like him,’ she said quickly.
Gordon stood up. ‘I promise you I’ll give it some thought.’ He stepped out from behind the desk, and shook Kenny’s hands. ‘I’ll be in touch.’ Then he gave Dee a hug. ‘Nice to see you again, Dee. Take care of yourself.’
As soon as they were outside, Kenny gave a whoop of joy. ‘That went really well. With Gordon’s input we can finish the Artists’ Studios and open them up.’ He hugged Dee. ‘And it’s all thanks to you!’
She laughed, more to cover the feelings that were sweeping through her at his embrace. ‘Of course it wasn’t, you played your part too.’
‘I can’t wait to tell the others. I’ll WhatsApp the group and see if they can meet up tonight. If you’re up for that?’
‘I’d love to.’ She felt like she was walking on air. They had the grant for the Artists’ Studios, and she really believed that Gordon would do his utmost to provide affordable housing. ‘Do you think Glenn will agree? He might think it’s a betrayal to accept money from Gordon. He’s been one of the biggest protesters about the development.’
‘I don’t know,’ Kenny said thoughtfully. ‘Fancy a drink?’ he asked as they neared the town.
‘Oh, I can’t. Sorry. I’ve an appointment with my solicitor and then back to the café. But I’ll see you in The Pirate’s Head tonight.’ She would have loved to be able to say yes. It had been such a positive morning and they had a lot to talk about, but she needed to get this divorce moving. Edna would be returning home soon.
The solicitor hadn’t heard back from Nigel’s solicitor yet but from what Dee told him about Nigel’s finances the solicitor was confident that she would get enough to afford a decent cottage for herself, and a regular bit of pension each month, too, which would keep the wolf from the door.
It had been a good day all round.
* * *
After work, Dee set off for the Slaters’ to take Betsy for a walk, stopping to have a cup of tea and a chat with them. Then went home for a shower before heading to The Pirate’s Head.
Kenny had waited for her before telling everyone the news, and it was greeted with claps and cries of ‘well done’ by everyone except Glenn. He was sat with a face like thunder, arms crossed. ‘Well, you come sailing down here, wave your magic wand and think you can put everything right. This bloke is only saying he’s thinking about it because he knows you. He’ll dangle you on a thread, then say he can’t afford to do it, you’ll see. Meanwhile, the protests will have lost their momentum, and the building work will carry on.’
‘Gordon has always been a man of his word. If he can do it, he will,’ Dee said.
‘He’s a businessman, he’s in it for the profit. He thinks he can buy us with a few grand to set up the Port Telwyn Artists’ Studios, but how does it help the rest of the villagers? Even if he does make some of the properties “affordable housing”, it won’t help people like me. I can only work part time, as I’ve got Sammi to look after, so there’s no way I can afford that rent.’
‘He’s got a point,’ Cath said.
Just then Kenny’s phone pinged. ‘It’s from Gordon,’ he said, surprised. There was a silence around the table as they all waited for Kenny to read the message.
‘He wants to know if Glenn might be interested in a caretaking job with a live-in two bedroomed flat. It’s on the ground floor with a garden and will be available in a couple of months, meanwhile there is a mobile unit he can live in. He said that he needs someone to look after the development, starting as soon as possible. And it’s a permanent position.’
A silence descended on the table and all eyes turned to Glenn, who was staring at Kenny, speechless.
‘Is he serious?’ he finally asked.
‘He’s asked me to tell you to contact him for a meeting ASAP,’ Kenny said. ‘I can pass you his number if you’re interested?’
Glenn seemed to be struggling to make a decision. Cath leaned over and patted his hand. ‘Don’t let pride get in your way, lovely. This development is going ahead with or without you. You might as well get a job and a roof over yours and Sammi’s heads out of it.’
Glenn swallowed, took a swig of his beer, clearly struggling to contain his emotions. His eyes were wet, Dee realised. He was fighting back tears. He must have been so worried about finding somewhere else for him and Sammi to live. Then he nodded. ‘Send me the number then, and I’ll see what he has to say.’