Chapter 44
44
She didn’t feel any sadness, only relief, as she drove back down to Cornwall. She was now rid of Nigel forever and free to live her own life. True, they would always have the connection of the children, Hallie and any other future grandchildren, but his decisions no longer influenced hers. He could play golf whenever he liked, go and have an affair with whoever he liked.
And so could she.
The thought sneaked into her mind, along with an image of Kenny. She was about to push it away but instead she let it stay there, linger for a moment. The car behind her sounded its horn, reminding her that the traffic lights had now changed to green, and she set off again. She couldn’t wait to get back down to Primrose Cottage and her Nigel-free life.
She’d messaged Kenny earlier and told him that she couldn’t make the meeting this evening but now she could, so when she arrived at the cottage she messaged again to tell him her plans had changed again.
He phoned her immediately. ‘Is everything okay? I got the impression that you had to go home urgently.’
‘I thought I did, but it turns out that it was a false alarm.’
‘I’m about to walk Toffee, fancy joining me and telling me all about it? Or not, whichever you prefer.’
A walk along the beach was just what she needed. ‘Sure. I can be there in fifteen minutes, if that’s okay?’
‘Perfect. I’ll wait by the harbour for you.’
Dee quickly changed into jeans, T-shirt and trainers then messaged Andi to tell her that she was back and would pick Snowy up in an hour or so.
When she reached the harbour, she saw Kenny standing in front of a newly erected board. It said:
Lyndon Developments, we build homes not houses
Kenny rubbed his chin. ‘Gordon isn’t too bad, after all. I get the impression he really does care.’
Dee looked around. It was wild, rugged and beautiful. She could see why Glenn and many others were against the development. But it was a lot of unused land, and people needed homes. It would be great if Gordon could provide some homes for the local people.
‘It will bring in a lot of money and jobs,’ she reminded him gently. ‘And it does look like a beautiful development. It will be a big attraction.’
Kenny shrugged. ‘I guess you can’t stop progress. Come on, let’s walk the Towans.’
Kenny took Toffee off the lead as soon as they were on the sand dunes and the lanky mongrel hurtled off barking and wagging his tail wildly. Betsy would enjoy it up here, too, Dee thought, she would have to bring her one day.
As they walked, they talked. Dee told Kenny all about Nigel’s latest trick and he was outraged on her behalf, saying it was a terrible stunt to pull. ‘I hope you get a fair divorce settlement from him, it doesn’t seem like you can trust him. He’ll probably pull every stunt in the book.’
‘He won’t, because I know a bit too much about his dodgy business practices, he won’t want his business partner knowing about them or his latest stunt. All I want is half the house and my possessions. The rest he can keep.’
‘You’re entitled to more than that, surely? What about a share of his pension, and he must have a bit of money in the bank.’
Dee gazed across the Towans down to the sea below. ‘My solicitor said the same, and if he can do that without too much hassle, then good. But I don’t want to fight for anything. Half the money from the sale of the house so that I can buy myself a new home will do me. I’ve got some savings myself and working at the café will tide me over for a bit.’ She turned to him. ‘I just want to be free to start my own life and leave Nigel to live his.’
Kenny nodded. ‘I understand.’
For a moment his gaze held hers, then he turned away to call Toffee to heel. The dog came immediately and Kenny stooped to attach his lead on his collar.
Dee watched him. ‘I’ll have to bring Betsy along next time and introduce her to Toffee.’
‘That’s a great idea.’ Kenny stood up and turned back to her, holding the lead carefully in his hand. ‘Time to get back, I think.’
They walked back in companionable silence, both deep in their thoughts. It was on the tip of Dee’s tongue to ask Kenny if anything was bothering him, but she held back. It seemed intrusive, he’d tell her if he wanted to share. Besides, she’d agreed to drop in and pick up Snowy from Andi.
Andi was about to close up as Dee walked in. Snowy was curled up on a chair.
‘Hello, Snowy.’ Dee sat down by the cat and he purred contentedly. ‘How’s he been?’ she asked.
‘Perfectly happy. I think he’s adopted this as his second home,’ Andi said. ‘The customers are all taken with him.’
‘The little traitor,’ Dee said with a smile. ‘Honestly, Snowy will miss all this attention when Edna comes home.’ She resolved to check on Edna’s progress as soon as she could.
Andi came over with two cups of coffee and a plate of biscuits, putting them down on the table where Dee was now sitting. ‘I thought you might need this,’ she said, sitting in the chair next to her.
‘Thank you, I do,’ Dee replied.
‘How did things go with Nigel?’ Andi asked.
‘It was a set up,’ Dee told her. Andi had become a good friend in the short time she’d known her and Dee felt very comfortable telling her what had happened with Nigel.
‘The toerag!’ Andi retorted. ‘How low can you get? I’m glad you saw through him.’
Dee rubbed her forehead with her fingers. She couldn’t believe how easily she’d been taken in, but also how devious Nigel had been. ‘Me too. I didn’t want to go back but I was so worried by what Annabel said I thought I should. And Nigel looked really awful when I turned up at the house so I could see why Annabel was taken in. I almost was.’
‘It’s an old trick, not shaving and wearing bigger clothes, I saw a programme about coercive control and apparently a lot of men do it, try to make their partners feel guilty so that they go back to them.’ Andi bit into a biscuit and chewed it before adding. ‘It’s a good job you took him that cup of coffee upstairs and overheard him.’ She leaned forward. ‘If I was you, I’d take him for every penny you can get. He doesn’t deserve to get away with how he’s treated you.’
‘Enough money to get myself a little cottage will do me,’ Dee said. ‘I can provide for myself.’ At least, she hoped she could. She had a good few years yet before she got her pension. Thank goodness Nigel had run her through the books as his secretary until he joined this new company a few years ago, so she had a pension coming. It had been a tax saving device for him and she’d never drawn a wage but to be fair she’d always had a card to their joint bank account and had been free to draw out what she wanted, until he recently stopped her card, that was.
‘I’ve meant to ask, have you heard how Edna’s getting on?’ Dee asked.
‘I have, and actually she wants you to phone her.’ There was glint of something in Andi’s eyes. ‘Phone her now if you like, I don’t mind.’
Something in her manner made Dee dial Edna’s number. Edna answered after a couple of rings, she sounded very sprightly. ‘Hello, dear, how’s Snowy being?’ she asked.
Dee filled her in. ‘And how are you? You sound much better.’
‘Oh, I am. It’s done me the world of good to stay with Mabel. We’re both rattling around alone in our houses and it’s been good for us both to have company. In fact—’ she paused. ‘I wanted to talk to you, dear, because we’ve decided that we’re going to live together permanently. I’m selling my cottage and going to move in with Mabel.’
‘You’re moving away from Port Telwyn?’ Dee asked in surprise. She knew that Edna had lived there most of her life.
‘I am. It’s a pretty village, dear, but that hill is a killer, and it’s a lonely life now. Martin rarely comes to see me, he’s so busy working. Mabel has a modern apartment overlooking the sea here in Brean, it’s so much easier to keep clean and there’s so much to do. I’m going to give her half the proceeds from the cottage so that it’s both our apartment, and some of the money to Martin, which will help him get on the housing ladder. That will keep him happy. Mabel is giving some of the money I pay for my share of the apartment to her children to make life easier for them now. It makes perfect sense to help our children when we’re alive, and they need it, rather than to make them wait for us to peg it. Although, we’re keeping a contingency fund for our old age, of course.’
Dee was really taken aback but she could see why Edna had made this decision. She must have been lonely, and was probably scared that she might fall or be taken ill again and not be discovered so quickly. ‘What about Snowy?’ she asked.
There was a pause. ‘I was wondering if you might be able to find a home for him? He’s a lovely cat, but I don’t think he will settle in Brean. I’m worried that he might run off.’
‘I can keep him if you want. I’m hoping to buy somewhere in Port Telwyn when my divorce is settled. I’d be happy to take Snowy with me,’ Dee told her.
‘That’s another reason I phoned you, dear. Why don’t you buy my home?’ Edna suggested. ‘That would be the perfect solution.’
If only. Edna’s cottage might be cluttered, and it needed a few repairs, but it was in a prime position and Dee was sure it would fetch at least ￡500,000. ‘It’s a lovely idea but I’m afraid your cottage will be worth far more than I can afford,’ she said.
‘Let’s get it valued and take it from there,’ Edna suggested. ‘If it was within your price range, would you be interested?’
‘Definitely,’ Dee told her.
‘Then I’ll contact an estate agent. It’s easier if I give them your name and contact number as you’re living there. If that’s okay?’
‘Of course. Thank you.’
Andi smiled as Edna finished the phone call. ‘She told me earlier that she really wants you to have the cottage, she’s so grateful to you and Babs for saving her life, and for looking after Snowy for her. She wants Snowy to stay in his own home.’
‘That’s very kind but I don’t want her to lose out financially,’ Dee said. ‘Primrose Cottage must be worth a fortune.’
‘It needs lots of work done on it,’ Andi reminded her. ‘That will be reflected in the price.’ She tilted her head to one side. ‘Would you be willing to do all that though? You’d probably have to clear it out too. Edna won’t have room in the apartment for all her things. She said that Mabel will bring her down in a couple of weeks so that she can take back what she wants. The rest I’m sure she’s hoping to leave.’
Dee thought about the quaint little cottage with its sea views. It’s smaller than what she was used to, and was rather dated, but she loved it. She would be so happy to live there and be part of this community. She could take her time clearing it out and modernising it; she was happy to settle for Edna’s furniture until she had time to replace it all. She didn’t want to get her hopes up though.
‘I wouldn’t mind at all, but let’s see,’ she said.
It would be wonderful to live in the pretty cottage, and with Snowy too. Could it be possible that running away had turned out to be running towards her future?