Chapter 46
46
Dee thought about her decision all evening. She walked all around the cottage, taking note of everything that needed to be done. It was a lot. Then again, it didn’t need to be done all at once. She could take her time, do it bit by bit, turn Primrose Cottage into the home she wanted.
Meanwhile, the apartment had everything she could wish for and would have a wonderful view, but apart from putting paintings on the wall and furnishing it, she couldn’t really give it a personal touch. There was the balcony and the sea view, but she wouldn’t be in the centre of the town. There was no pretty front garden and backyard to fill with colourful plant pots.
She was considering phoning Babs to talk it over, when a text pinged in from her. She opened it up and saw a photo of Babs standing proudly beside a large white camper van.
We’ve done it, we’ve bought a camper van!
Babs had messaged Dee a couple of weeks ago to say that they’d decided to buy a motor caravan to travel around the UK and Europe in.
Dee immediately phoned her. ‘It looks fantastic. When did you get it?’
‘Today! I can’t wait to show it to you. We’re going to come and spend a weekend down in Port Telwyn soon. There’s a caravan park on the outskirts. It will be so good to see you again.’
‘That would be wonderful!’ She couldn’t wait to see her friend again.
‘Now enough about me, what’s happening with you? I feel like we haven’t caught up for ages.’ It had actually been a couple of weeks since they’d had a chat, although they had sent each other little texts.
‘I was about to phone you actually. I wanted your advice…’
‘Fire away.’
Dee told Babs about Edna giving her first offer on Primrose Cottage, and Gordon offering her a cut-price apartment. She’d kept Babs in the picture about the goings on with the harbour development. ‘It’s all top secret for now,’ she said.
‘Wow, that’s brilliant. What are you going to do?’
‘I don’t know. The estate agent has valued the cottage and I can afford it – just. There’s a lot to do here though, it drastically needs modernising and the garden is like a jungle.’
‘That’s not a problem, me and Geoff will help you. You know he’s mad on gardening and DIY, and I’m up for a bit of painting. The main thing is, are you happy there?’
‘Yes I am. It’s so cosy. And I love living in the centre of Port Telwyn.’
‘Can you imagine yourself living in a posh new apartment overlooking the sea? It sounds amazing, but is it you? It would probably be Nigel’s ideal home. But is it yours? Listen to your heart, Dee. For once do what you want to do. Do what’s best for you.’
Which is more or less what Kenny had said. Both of her friends telling her to follow her heart. The trouble is, that wasn’t something Dee was used to doing. It felt strange to know that she could make her own decisions, live her life how she wanted.
Long after they’d finished talking, she sat in Edna’s armchair, thinking. Then she heard a miaow. Snowy had come home and was perched on the windowsill, demanding to be let in. She went to the back door and opened it. The little cat miaowed, brushed himself against her legs then sauntered in. Dee went outside and sat in the garden, listening to the murmurs of life in the little town.
Suddenly she knew what decision to make. She didn’t want a posh apartment. This little cottage was where her heart lay. She telephoned Edna immediately to let her know that she wanted to buy the cottage. Edna was over the moon. They both had wobbles in their voices by the time they’d finished talking.
Then she texted Kenny.
‘I think you’ve made the right decision. Come to The Pirate’s Head and let’s celebrate,’ he told her.
She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just gone nine o’clock. Why not?
Her friends were all waiting when she arrived, a bottle of fizz in the middle of the table. ‘We’re celebrating you and Glenn both having new homes,’ Andi told her.
Glenn actually smiled at her. ‘Sammi and I are temporarily moving into the mobile home on the development tomorrow. Sammi’s over the moon. Gordon has showed us the flat he’ll be renting to us, it’s brilliant and the garden is a decent size, and walking distance to the village and school. It will be ready in a few weeks. And I’ll be getting a full time wage. I can’t thank you and Kenny enough.’
Kenny and Dee exchanged a smile. ‘It was Dee’s idea, she was the one who talked Gordon around,’ Kenny said.
They all raised their glasses, now containing champagne. ‘To Dee.’
Dee felt her face flush. It was so good to feel accepted.
The talk then turned to the Artists’ Studios, which would be opening soon. There was going to be a grand opening ceremony and a local celebrity was coming to cut the ribbon.
Everything was working out perfectly.
‘Fancy a walk along the beach?’ Kenny asked as they left. ‘I think Toffee’s too restless to go to bed yet.’ He’d brought his beloved dog out with him.
Dee nodded. She didn’t feel like going home just yet, she didn’t want the evening to end. She felt so happy.
‘Maybe I’ll actually get myself a dog once the cottage is officially mine,’ she said. She really enjoyed walking Betsy. ‘I’m sure Snowy would soon get used to it, she’s very laid-back when people bring dogs into the café.’
‘They’re good company too,’ Kenny agreed. ‘I wouldn’t be without Toffee.’
They walked along the beach in the moonlight, then somehow Kenny’s hand found hers and she left it there, enjoying the feeling of her hand being held. Something she hadn’t experienced for a long time. Nigel had been demonstrative in the early years, but that had faded over time and it had been some years since they’d been intimate, never mind holding hands.
The crescent moon was shining over the glistening sea, its reflection floating in the still waters. ‘How beautiful it all looks,’ Dee murmured.
‘Like you, with the moonlight shining on your face,’ Kenny said softly. ‘I’m so glad we reconnected again, Dee, and that you’re going to stay down here.’
It was too dark to see his eyes, but she knew that they were looking into hers and her heart did a flutter. She didn’t, couldn’t possibly, have feelings for Kenny… Could she? Then his fingers were caressing her cheek, and his head was lowering towards hers, and before she knew it, they were kissing under the moonlight and Kenny had his arms wrapped around her and she didn’t want him to let her go.
‘I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time, but I was scared of getting too close to you in case you went back to Nigel or moved away again. It’s taken me a long time to fall for someone else.’ He paused, placed his finger under her chin and titled it upwards so he could look into her eyes. ‘This is where you let me down gently if you don’t feel the same way and I promise you there will be no hard feelings or awkwardness. We will carry on being friends and never mention it again, if that’s what you want.’
But it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him to kiss her, caress her. She longed to feel loved, desired again but her mouth wouldn’t say the words. She simply stood there, looking at him, trying to say what she felt with her eyes.
‘Do you want to come back to mine for a nightcap?’ His voice was thick, soft.
She wanted to, but should she? What if she went back with him and ended up in bed with him, then they both woke up in the morning and decided it was a mistake? Or one of them did.
Just do it, she told herself, seize life with both hands.
She stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed him. ‘I’d love to,’ she said when they both finally broke the kiss.