Thirty-Two
Sally stood by the gate and waved as the two cars turned around and drove away.
‘She seems decent,’ Matt said, standing waving beside her.
Sally turned to him with a smile.
‘I think so. There’s something about her which feels real and genuine. I can’t wait for her to move in.’
‘I liked her suggestion for the additional room being added to her cottage. Are you okay with it?’
‘Absolutely. If she hadn’t already won me over by that point, she most certainly would have done so with that request.’
Sally thought back to the conversation half an hour earlier when she’d been showing Juliet where her live-in accommodation would be. She’d asked Matt to join them so he could answer any questions Juliet may have or address any requests she wanted to make in how she’d like the space to be set out. When Matt had shown her the plans, she’d been more than happy with them but had had one request – would it be possible to add another room next to her bedroom where she could keep any animals which required through-the-night care such as hand-rearing kittens or intensive care patients.
‘So, you don’t mind losing that storage space you planned to keep at the end of the block?’
‘Not in the slightest. It would only have ended up full of junk anyway – far better it be put to good use and a small ICU space is as good a use as any. Besides, it makes perfect sense. The last thing I want is my vet to leave because she’s having to traipse across the yard every four hours to check on patients. No, I wholeheartedly approve. Are you okay with the request to fence in the area between the corner of her cottage – which, I have to say, is by far a nicer name for her accommodation – and the barn so she can let her dog run about safely?’
‘Yes, that’s no problem at all. In fact, the second fire escape for the surgery will be going in at that end of the barn and will be in her garden so she can use it to access the surgery and, if she wants to let her dog have the freedom to run around, she’ll be in a position to keep an eye on it. I’ll ensure the fire exit gate and fencing is good and sturdy in case she has a dog who likes to jump up.’
‘She’s come up with some good suggestions today and I feel more than justified in fighting Nick to have her.’
‘He didn’t approve?’
‘He’s concerned her CV isn’t quite as thorough as another candidate we saw but I didn’t like him and as I’ll be paying the wages, the final call was mine.’
‘Well, if it helps in any way, I think it was a great call. I liked her too.’
Sally smiled again.
‘It shouldn’t make a difference but it does. I’m glad you like her and can see what I see.’
‘Talking about “seeing” things – I have a surprise for you.’
‘Oh, what?’
‘The last of the plastering was finished today. You can now see your flat AND the house!’
‘Noooooo! Seriously? I thought there would be another three weeks… that’s the timescale you gave me.’
‘I did but that was allowing for unexpected surprises that many houses like this can throw up, but this old girl played nicely and didn’t cause any unexpected hiccups. She needed some rewiring in areas where the mice had had a nibble and there were several areas where timbers had to be replaced and treated but, in the grand scheme of things, she’s been a bit of a dream to work with.’
‘Even the plumbing, which had you shaking your head when we first walked around?’
‘Apart from the new bathrooms we put in and your kitchen, her plumbing was in all the right places. It simply turned out to be a case of replacing the old pipes with new ones.’
‘Then, kind sir, if you don’t mind, I’d love to see the finished result.’
‘Let’s start at the front door. Also, bear in mind that much of the plaster is either still wet or in the process of drying so it does look quite dark. Once it’s all painted, however, it’ll be much brighter.’
‘How long is that likely to take?’
‘I want to give it a week to ten days – to be sure it’s completely dried out. This lovely warm weather is set to carry through into next week so our timing couldn’t have been better.’
‘Does that mean I’ll be on my own here next week?’
‘Hah! No chance! We’ll be getting to work on clearing out those old workshops so we can begin getting Juliet’s pad sorted for her. Then, once you’re out of the barn and properly ensconced in your new home, we can get to work on that. I’m afraid we’re here for some time to come – you don’t get rid of me that easily!’
‘It also means I’m stuck with Bob’s awful singing too!’
They both burst out laughing. Matt’s second-in-command liked to do more than “whistle while he worked” even though he had a singing voice that should never see the light of day.
‘It keeps him happy.’
‘I wish we could say the same for the rest of us!’ she replied although, inside, she was thrilled the workmen were still going to be around for a while. She’d grown accustomed to their presence and rather liked having them about. They were always cheery and smiling and seemed to fill the space with joy. As they made their way to the front of the house, she wondered if the old girl hadn’t put up much resistance to her makeover because she was happy that Sally was there. Or was that just fanciful thinking? Sally was inclined to think not because she couldn’t deny she’d felt connected to this glorious building from the first moment she’d set eyes on it.
‘Right, are you ready?’
Matt had his hand on the freshly sanded and varnished front door.
‘I sure am!’
Sally held her breath as Matt slowly pushed the door open. She couldn’t wait to see—
‘Oh!’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Err, the flooring?’
‘Ah! That’s only a protective covering. It’s all through the house at this time until the painting and decorating has been done. The last thing you want is big dollops of paint on your lovely, freshly restored floors. The decorators will also have special coverings on their shoes for added protection.’
‘I thought they would be done after the painting was finished.’
‘But then you’d be washing all the dust off your nice, new, clean walls.’
‘Hmmm, true. I guess I kind of always thought of working from the top to the bottom…’
‘It depends on what’s lying in wait at the bottom. If it’s something dusty and dirty, then you reschedule it.’
‘So, I see!’
Sally looked about her. Truth was, apart from the floor, the only alterations in the hallway had been blocking up the doorway further along where that room had been turned into the en suite bathroom and putting in doors to close off the corridor on either side of the grand staircase as these wouldn’t be required for public use.
She walked into the disabled room first and was delighted at how different it now looked with the new windows in place. She walked over for a closer look at the frames.
‘You know, even though these aren’t wooden, you’d be hard pushed to tell. They look great.’
Matt came to stand beside her.
‘They were definitely the best option, in my opinion. They won’t require painting, and should last a good fifteen to twenty years. Less work is always a result.’
‘Puts you out of a job though!’ She gave him a soft nudge in the side and his grin produced a warm sensation in her tummy.
‘By the time we’re finishing up here, I don’t think I’ll want to see the place again for fifteen to twenty years!’
‘Hah! Cheeky. Don’t be surprised if the house gets you back for that one.’
‘You know,’ he turned to look at her, ‘I love how you refer to the house as though it’s a living being. I often feel that way when I work on buildings which come with a past and it’s nice to meet someone who shares that.’
‘I wouldn’t normally be so inclined but… I don’t know… there’s been something about this place which touched me from the first moment I saw it… saw her! I believe it’s a “her”. A glamorous old lady who’s been woken from her slumber and is being all dressed up so she may dance once again.’
Matt stared at her but said nothing. The heat began to build in her cheeks and she pulled her gaze away from his.
‘I couldn’t have put it better myself,’ he finally replied. ‘Now come, you have much more to see.’
He took her hand and began walking her through all that had been done and what was still to be done once the decorators were finished. Much of what he said, however, went over her head as her eyes kept looking down at the hand holding hers. She knew the action had been an involuntary one, in his excitement to show her around, but that didn’t stop the warmth of his fingers wrapped around hers seeping up her arm, across her chest and down through her stomach. His touch felt nice… more than nice, in fact, so that when they reached her new kitchen – the one where she’d be cooking for her guests – and he released her hand to give her entry into it an arms-wide-open “ta-da”, she suddenly felt as though she’d been cast adrift. It took a couple of seconds for her brain to catch up with what he was showing her although, when it did, she couldn’t help but gasp loudly.
‘Oh…WOW! Just…WOW!’
She spun around, taking in how different the kitchen looked from that first day. When she’d brought Flora round for a look, it hadn’t yet been touched but now, with all her lovely, white, shiny units, marble tops, new tiles, and the much longed-for island unit, it looked stunning and she knew she was going to enjoy working in here.
Over in the fireplace area, the new, ten-ringed, double-oven, chrome gas range sparkled in the sunlight coming through the window. Sadly, the old range hadn’t been properly maintained and trying to bring it back to life hadn’t been a practical option. While Sally had been sad to let it go, deep down there was a spot of relief as she didn’t know how well she’d have gotten on with it.
‘You like it?’
‘I do, I do! It’s just so bright! And the tiles,’ she looked down at the terracotta tiles under her feet which had once been grimy and dirty but now looked brand new, ‘are fantastic. How on earth did you get them so clean?’
‘Ah, we have many tools at our disposal. It wasn’t so difficult.’
‘Well, I love it. You’ve done a great job. Thank you.’
‘No problem. Now, do you want to go down to your new apartment? It was the first area to be plastered which means it’s almost dry and that’ll be the starting point for the decorators so you can get moved in once they’re done.’
‘Lead the way, I can’t wait!’
Sally followed Matt out of the kitchen, along the corridor and through the two, new, glass and wood panelled fire doors on either side of the staircase. In this corridor, there were only two other doors – one leading outside at the far end and the other on her right-hand side. Matt opened this and they walked through into a small hallway. Directly in front of her was a wrought-iron spiral staircase with a matching banister. The two doors at the opposite end led into her bedroom and bathroom. She hadn’t seen either of these so was pleasantly surprised to find a set of French windows leading out onto the porch directly from the bedroom.
‘I don’t recall seeing these on Charlie’s plans.’
‘We put them in afterwards once we’d cleared all the greenery and saw how far back the porch extended. I’m going to put a trellis gate up just on the other side of the outside door to give you your own private sitting area and your own entrance to the house.’
‘Oh, thank you. That would be lovely.’
‘And now for downstairs.’
The lounge and kitchen area were less of a surprise although she hadn’t fully appreciated how bright and airy it would be when the old wooden barn doors had been replaced with floor-to-ceiling, wide, glass ones. The tall expanse of glass ran the length of the lounge area but came to a stop where the kitchen began. Here, the original stonework had been retained and a standard kitchen door fitted which would allow her direct access to the courtyard without having to navigate her way through the catio when it was put in.
‘Oh my! This is glorious!’
‘Hang on a minute, wait until you see this.’
Matt walked over and flicked a couple of switches.
Suddenly, all the glass turned from opaque to clear and she could see across the yard to the barn.
‘What on earth?’
‘Special glass so you can have privacy when the yard is in use during the day. When I put Herbert’s catio in place, that’ll reduce your exposure but there may still be a nosy client or two who’ll think nothing of wandering over the cobbles to try and peek in your windows!’
She laughed as she walked over to the kitchen area.
‘You think they’d do that?’
‘I’ve lived here for the best part of twenty-five years – I know they will!’
Sally came to a stop on the edge of her kitchen and her soul sang with joy as it couldn’t be more different from the one upstairs. The units in her B&B kitchen were all flat and shiny for practical reasons but down here she’d allowed her heart to lead the way. The dark, air-force blue, wooden units were beautifully set off against the pale lemon tiles on the wall behind them and the cream porcelain floor tiles which ran the length of the room.
‘You like?’
‘I do, very much.’
‘Have you decided on your lounge colours yet?’
‘Now that I’ve seen the room, I think I’ll stick with the pale lemon – after all, there’s only two walls – and look at dark blue furnishings. It’ll pull it all together nicely. I’ll need to grab Flora so we can go shopping. We thought we’d have more time.’
‘Well, if you like, I’m happy to join you both. I’ll bring the van along so you can take home whatever is immediately available.’
‘That would be a massive help! Are you sure you don’t mind?’
‘Not right now but I can’t promise to be in the same frame of mind when you’re both finished!’
Sally laughed. ‘I’ll try to make it as painless as possible. Let me call Flora and find out when she’s available.’
As she stepped outside to make her call, she stopped for a moment to ponder if the rapid beat of her heart was down to the excitement of seeing the house looking so good or the thought of spending even more time with Matt away from his workplace. While she waited for Flora to answer, Sally couldn’t help but suspect it was the latter.