Chapter 51
PHYLLIS
‘Good luck!’ Aurora said. ‘And don’t worry about Cobweb; she’ll be fine with me today.’ She paused. ‘Make sure it’s what you want, Phyllis. A mobile home might not meet your needs now.’
‘I will,’ Phyllis promised her. She’d been wondering that herself just lately but it was hard to let go of her dream.
The mobile home was on a site only about twenty minutes’ drive away. It was in good condition, although a bit smaller than she’d expected.
‘It’s a good price,’ the caravan owner said. ‘And a quiet campsite. You won’t get any trouble here.’
Phyllis would have jumped at this caravan before she’d moved into Nancy’s house.
But now it seemed small, not cosy as she’d always considered caravans to be.
Once more, she was wondering if she actually wanted to live in a caravan again.
She’d enjoyed living in her little mobile home before she moved in with Joyce, but was it still what she wanted?
And, she realised, she’d miss everyone. She’d got close to Nancy, Jackie and Slate.
They had become good friends. She thought about the apartments they were all buying in the same block, down by the river.
Nancy had been so excited when she’d returned yesterday, saying how lovely they were and that she had decided to buy one too.
‘The one next door to mine is still vacant too. And they’ve small garden terraces,’ she’d told Phyllis.
That would be perfect for Cobweb. Maybe she should take a look at them. Joyce’s jewellery would provide the deposit she needed. And her tea leaves had constantly shown her images of dogs – were they telling her she should move with her friends?
She talked it over with Aurora when she returned to the shop.
‘There’s no harm in looking, is there?’ Aurora asked.
‘And you’d be a lot cosier in a flat than a caravan, Phyllis, especially as you get older.
Plus, you wouldn’t have to worry about your caravan getting too old for the site. You don’t want to keep moving, do you?’
No, she didn’t. After work, she popped Cobweb into her basket and took a walk down to the river to see the apartments. It really did look a pleasant spot to live.
One side of the development was finished and people were living in them, but the other side was empty, awaiting final interior fittings and decoration.
There was a billboard outside stating the name of the development and a number to phone if you were interested in one of the apartments.
She phoned the number on the billboard and arranged an appointment for that afternoon, deciding not to mention it to any of the others.
She didn’t want to be influenced by their opinion; this had to be her decision.
And she had to take her time making it. She didn’t want to regret it.
When the site manager showed her the flat, however, she instantly felt at home.
It had a good aura, and the garden was perfect for sitting out and watching the boats go by on the river.
Cobweb would love it too. She could imagine herself living here and was tempted to say yes right away, but she stopped herself.
She should consult the leaves before she made her decision.
‘I’ll let you know tomorrow,’ she told the site manager.
‘Don’t wait too long – this will be gone soon,’ he warned her.
* * *
‘How was the caravan?’ Nancy asked when Phyllis returned home. ‘Did you decide to buy it?’
‘It was very nice but I’m not sure that a caravan is for me, after all. So I went to see the vacant apartment in the block you’re all moving into.’ She paused. ‘I liked it. It had a peaceful aura.’
They all exchanged surprised looks.
‘Are you going to take it?’ Nancy asked.
‘I think so. There’s just one thing I need to do first.’ She went over and boiled the kettle.
They all sat down and watched as Phyllis went through her usual tea-reading ritual. Then waited patiently as she peered into the leaves. To her delight she could see the unmistakable sign of a lucky clover.
‘I’m going to buy it,’ she announced. ‘I’ll message and tell the site manager now and pay the deposit tomorrow.’
‘Hooray, let’s open a bottle of fizz!’ Jackie said. ‘The Retro Rebels are staying together.’