Chapter Five
When Xander had forty-five minutes to get to college, Hattie braved his room, armed with tea and toast. ‘Xander!’ she said to the shape lying in the bed. ‘I’ll take you to college but you have to be ready to leave in fifteen minutes. After that and you’ll have to walk. Here’s your breakfast.’
Her sister hadn’t warned her Xander might not get up and although she knew she shouldn’t, Hattie felt responsible for him getting to college for his first day.
It was like looking after Frank and Fearless, she realised.
To begin with, they had been just creatures to feed and clean up after, but very soon they had become creatures she cared about.
To her surprise and admiration, Xander was in the kitchen bang on time. His hair was wet and he’d brought down his plate and mug. ‘Thank you so much for breakfast, Aunt Hattie,’ he said. ‘Shall we go?’
‘Not so much of the aunt,’ said Hattie, to disguise the fact she was impressed and a little touched by her nephew. ‘But well done getting ready so quickly.’
‘I just slept through my phone alarm,’ he said. ‘Mum usually comes and shouts at me a few times and, eventually, I get up. She never brings me tea or anything.’
‘I’m not sure I could do shouting first thing in the morning,’ said Hattie, ‘but I’m making tea and toast anyway.’
‘Sweet.’
‘You are, Xander, darling!’ said Hattie and was rewarded with a smile which was almost concealed behind his teeth.
Having delivered her nephew to his place of education, Hattie looked at her phone and realised, if she was quick, she could call in on an old friend before meeting Nick, one of her most challenging clients, to show him yet another property he was unlikely to want to buy.
She never gave up on a client, but if she was ever going to, Nick could be the one.
For now, she headed out of town and up into the hills.
She loved her old friend dearly but she had to admit, the fact that Mary lived in Hattie’s dream home added to the joy of visiting her.
Her friend Mary was sitting in her chair next to the window looking into the garden.
At nearly ninety, she wasn’t very fit and did a lot of sitting.
But there was a range of bird feeders, all well filled, beneath the branches of a field maple for her to look at as she sat, and she was always cheerful when Hattie came to visit.
‘Hattie, darling! How lovely to see you!’
Hattie kissed Mary’s crumpled cheek, which felt and smelt like rose petals. ‘And you! As always, I’m on the run, but had time to pop in. Can I make you anything? Toast and honey?’
Mary had carers who made her breakfast but Hattie knew she wasn’t always hungry when they came and sometimes fancied a snack a bit later instead.
‘I’m fine,’ said Mary, ‘but I’d have a cup of tea if you want one for yourself.’
Hattie went to the kitchen and switched on the kettle.
This was probably her favourite room in the house.
It wasn’t huge but it had room for a table and six chairs, windows with wide sills where white-painted flower pots full of scarlet geraniums added cheer.
There was a long wooden work surface under which a bright curtain hid deep shelves.
There was a fridge, a four-burner cooker and double Belfast sinks.
On the wall next to the sinks was a plate rack.
Simple, but with everything one could need.
She made the tea quickly and settled herself next to her friend. ‘How have you been?’
‘You saw me last week, darling. Nothing much has changed.’
Hattie laughed. ‘I wondered if your great-nephew had done anything about that patch of damp in the kitchen. It’s getting worse. I could easily get Luke to come and sort it out for you.’
‘I know. And as I also know how busy Luke is, I am very grateful for your offer, but Clive says he has it in hand.’
Hattie sipped her tea so she didn’t accidentally express her feelings about Clive.
He was supposed to look after his great-aunt but Hattie didn’t think he did it very well.
In his turn, he resented Hattie for being close to Mary.
Once she had left him a note suggesting a bit of repair work on a gutter and he had taken deep offence.
As Clive held the purse strings, if Luke did do any remedial work, he wouldn’t get paid.
Hattie would try to pay him, but Luke wouldn’t permit it. So it was all a bit awkward.
‘I do think you have the best view in the Cotswolds,’ said Hattie, ‘and I speak as one who has quite a good view of my own.’
‘Except it’s not your own, is it, darling? How much longer are you there for?’
‘A few months.’ Hattie was deliberately vague. She didn’t want Mary to worry about her, something she was prone to doing.
‘You know I’d leave you this house if I could,’ Mary went on. ‘I’d love to give you some security.’
‘You can’t leave it outside the family, Mary, you know that.’
‘True,’ said Mary, ‘but I’ve realised there’s nothing to stop me leaving you a small legacy which would help you buy something, even if not this cottage.’
‘You don’t need to leave me anything,’ said Hattie, putting down her cup and getting up. ‘You’ve given me years of friendship and I hope you’ll give me many more.’
‘Not too many, darling. I’m getting on.’
Something in the way she said this made Hattie anxious. ‘But you feel OK? Nothing wrong really?’
‘Nothing specific. I just feel tired.’
‘Being nearly ninety will do that to you,’ said Hattie. ‘Now I’ve got to go. My next client is most exacting.’
‘Is that Nick?’
‘Yes, it is! I am so indiscreet, I shouldn’t have told you his name. Maybe “exacting” is unfair – he’s… discerning.’
‘Don’t worry about that. Being “discerning” is not a bad thing. Besides, I’m not going to tell anyone. I have no one to tell!’ Mary laughed, but it brought home to Hattie how few people Mary saw these days.
‘Are you sure you don’t fancy a nice care home?’ Hattie asked. ‘With company and more social life?’
‘I do actually, but Clive says they’re far too expensive.’
‘But—’ She didn’t want to state the obvious by saying if she sold her house it could fund a care home, certainly for a good few years.
‘Clive says it’s cheaper to get someone to pop in a couple of times a day.’
‘Yes, but there would be book clubs and handicrafts. You’d enjoy that.’
‘Well, I would, but I can’t go spending Clive’s inheritance, can I?’ Mary laughed to indicate she was joking, but Hattie knew she wasn’t.
Hattie nodded. ‘OK, well, we’ll revisit this conversation. I must go. Can’t keep my client waiting! I’ll be back to see you soon.’
As Hattie started her car she realised she would be a bit late but didn’t regret calling in on Mary. Currently her friend needed company more than she needed carers and more than Nick needed to view this house.
Hattie’s client Nick had found the property successfully and was wandering round the outside speculatively.
After a brief ‘Hello,’ he said, ‘It’s a bit big,’ as Hattie appeared.
‘It’s in budget and is a great investment. Let’s get inside.’
Hattie stayed in the kitchen, which was primitive and smelt slightly of drains.
Nick had definitely stated ‘no work’ on the form he had filled in for Hattie, but she was sure if the rest of the house was right, Nick would accept this compromise.
If he had any sense, of course. Hattie never assumed people would be sensible when it came to buying houses.
It was not only the biggest amount of money anyone was likely to spend, it was also the one which needed commitment from both head and heart.
Nick hadn’t shown much in the way of heart so far, so Hattie was hoping the investment angle would win him over on this one.
She could hear Nick’s footsteps overhead and knew he was in the bathroom. It was in the right place, but otherwise she feared he would find everything was wrong with it. He obviously didn’t linger in there for long.
She was just thinking what she would do to the kitchen if it was hers when she had another vision.
It was of Nick. He was in the kitchen of the house, although it now had a big island in it.
He was raising a glass to someone Hattie couldn’t see.
The expression in his eyes was of pure love.
On the island was a straw basket with a scarf spilling out of it and there was a pair of sunglasses.
When it faded, Hattie helped herself to some water and went to sit down in the old armchair next to the range.
Why was she seeing this? Was she really expected to help her most discriminating client find love? She closed her eyes.
‘Having a power nap?’ said Nick, jolting her from her thoughts.
‘I’m just testing out the fixtures and fittings. What do you think?’ she added.
He shrugged. ‘If you overlook that it’s absolutely not what I asked for, and it needs completely gutting, it’s a good house.’
Hattie lit up, she had not expected that. ‘So, what do you want to do? Shall I sort a second viewing with a builder?’
Nick nodded. ‘Why not?’ He smiled slightly and Hattie had a glimpse of how attractive he could be.
Although exhausted from her latest vision, Hattie was pleased as she locked up the house. It did have a lot of potential and if Nick found the person he was obviously going to fall in love with, they could be very happy here.