Chapter Thirty-Three
Hattie hadn’t intended to tell Mary quite how awful Clive had been but she found herself doing it anyway. Mary was appalled.
‘I can’t believe he turned off the gas and electricity,’ she said.
Hattie shrugged. ‘It was only for a short while. I mean, he probably won’t put it on again, but once I know the house is mine, I won’t care! Although I do hope I’ll be able to sort it all before Xander comes back.’
‘Darling, I am so sorry you’re having to buy it! I wanted to give it to you.’
‘But, Mary, if you’d left it to me in your will, like you’ve always said you wanted to, I wouldn’t have you!
’ She took hold of Mary’s hand. ‘I’d much rather keep you forever.
And my buying it means we’ll be able to get you moved to the home you really wanted.
Clive – or rather you – will have the money so you can go where you want.
Or you could come back and live with me!
There’d be plenty of money for alterations if they were needed. ’
Mary smiled and patted Hattie’s hand. ‘That is a lovely offer, and I’d certainly like to come and stay, but although my current home isn’t quite what I’d have chosen, the staff are very kind.
They are around all day and I… well, I feel safe here.
My room may be small, but it’s nicely cosy.
And I have lots of company.’ She pursed her lips.
‘Clive handled it all very badly, but it hasn’t ended up too bad. Apart from being so far away from you.’
‘If you’re sure. The offer is always there.’
Neither of them spoke for a few moments. Hattie felt very emotional and could see that Mary was too.
Then Hattie cleared her throat. ‘Well, once I’m settled in you can come and look round it and tut at the changes I’ve made.’
Mary laughed. ‘I shall look forward to it! Although I will be having words with Clive. He’s my nephew, not my jailor. In fact, I’m going to do that right now. You go and explore the gardens – such as they are!’
Hattie could see Mary had made up her mind, so she dutifully took herself outside.
Her first impressions were borne out – the gardens were definitely unloved.
After a few minutes she came back to find Mary looking rather cross, so made haste to distract her.
‘Now, have you thought where you’d like to go for lunch?
And maybe we can go round the supermarket afterwards.
You can go in one of those wheelchairs with a basket attached to the front. ’
‘Which would beat having to sit in the baby seat on the top,’ said Mary.
‘And as for lunch, there’s quite a nice hotel we can go to; one of the residents took her son the other day and had good things to say.
And lunch is on me. I am very aware of how much I’ve cost you recently.
Now come on! Before the smell of fish pie reaches us from the dining room. ’
Hattie and Mary ate lunch looking on to a very well-kept garden which made Mary ask about Hattie’s plans.
‘Have you had any ideas about what you might do in my old garden?’ she asked.
‘Well, not very much. It’s so well planted and I really love it as it is. But I would like to make the paths wider, and take out the steps where I can. I want to be able to wheel an old lady I know round it.’
‘Darling! I’d love that! Latterly, for a few years really, I hadn’t been able to get to the level at the top of the hill, where my bench is. I’d love to see that bit again.’
‘And so you shall.’ Hattie smiled.
‘And while I’ve got you softened up, I’m giving you this cheque. I gather people do still use them. It’s for the storage unit. I’ve been chatting to an old chap who’s in here – probably ten years younger than I am – and he was telling me how expensive they are.’
‘I didn’t think I’d told you that I’d rented one.’ Hattie thought hard but couldn’t remember doing it.
‘You didn’t tell me. I worked it out. Now,’ she went on briskly, obviously changing the subject, ‘let’s look at the puddings. It’ll make me uncomfortably full, but then I won’t need supper.’
‘That’s a very good point,’ said Hattie. ‘A raspberry tart with clotted cream seems positively sensible!’
After a delightfully long lunch and a shopping trip, Hattie delivered Mary back.
Having put all the little treats they had bought at the supermarket to hand, and had a cup of tea, she took her leave of her.
Before she set off for home, she checked her bank account.
Leonie’s money was there! She had her deposit.
The repairs Luke had made meant she was not worried about the lender’s valuation survey, especially as Clive was asking less than he could for the property.
Before the year was out she’d be living in the house of her dreams and she’d never have to speak to the odious Clive again.