Chapter Twelve
T urning, she watched as Zac came to a stop in front of her. She hadn’t jumped this time. Maybe she was getting used to him sneaking up on her all the time?
‘I’ve got your key and your quote.’ He handed her the key before sliding a piece of paper from the grip on his clipboard. ‘Ian said I could probably find you here, and I thought it best I come and explain my quote to you myself.’
‘Right.’ Tucking the key into the pocket of her jeans, she held her hand out for the quote.
With the sheet of paper flapping in the slight breeze, Zac glanced around before pointing up at the promenade. ‘Shall we take a seat and I can go through my estimations with you?’
Lynsey shrugged before making her way back across the sand and up the ramp. The benches were full of people enjoying the view or their lunch, or both, so she led the way to the seawall and lowered herself down, her legs hanging over the edge. Waiting until he was sitting next to her, she then turned and nodded towards the paper in his hand. ‘Can I see it now?’
‘Uhh, yes.’ He began to pass it across before pulling it back and laying it back against the clipboard. ‘There are just a couple of things I want to go over before I show it to you.’
‘Okay.’ This wasn’t going to be good news, was it? He was about to tell her that the cottage needed a new roof or was riddled with woodworm or worse, wasn’t he? She readied herself for the bad news. ‘Hit me with it.’
‘First off, I’ve already told you I won’t do mates’ rates. Yes, I’m new down here and I’m sure Ian has told you I’m starting my own business, but my work is worth paying good money for. I’m worth the amount I charge.’
‘Uh-huh.’ So, he was arrogant as well as downright accusatory then. ‘And as I’ve already told you, I don’t expect mates’ rates. I don’t know you. And after the way you’ve spoken to me and accused me of things I never even tried to do, I certainly don’t view you asa friend.’
‘Fair enough.’ He ran his fingers through his already ruffled hair. ‘I suppose I asked for that.’
‘You sure did.’ She nodded as she looked out to the ocean. She knew what he was about to tell her couldn’t be good or else he would have just handed her the quote rather than wanting to talk her through it and she knew her chance at staying on in Penworth Bay was minuscule but what else could she do but sit here and listen? ‘Are you going to tell me the damage, then?’
‘Er... yes.’ Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand against the paper. ‘There’s a lot that needs doing.’
Lynsey gave a small laugh. ‘You don’t exactly need to be a seasoned builder to work that bit out.’
‘No, no, you don’t.’ He shifted position on the wall. ‘I’ll just get on with it then, shall I?’
‘Please.’
‘Okay. To bring the cottage back to how it would have been prior to whoever began the refurbing work on it, obviously the plaster through the whole of the downstairs needs re-plastering, the ceiling fixed. And the kitchen, well, it could definitely do with being replaced, that’s for sure.’
Lynsey nodded. She had only briefly ventured into the kitchen, and only the sink and one cupboard unit remained standing; she assumed the previous owner had ripped out the rest during some half-hearted renovation. ‘And upstairs?’
‘Well, you’ve seen upstairs so...’
‘I haven’t, actually.’ Lynsey shook her head.
‘You own the cottage, though, right?’ Zac frowned, his forehead creasing.
‘Yep, I own the cottage.’
‘Then how can you not have seen upstairs?’ He scoffed.
Lynsey bit down on her bottom lip, willing herself not to say what she wanted. Instead, she looked out to the ocean, watching the waves roll gently onto the beach before being pulled back again, the rhythm helping her keep her cool. ‘I’ve not seen upstairs because I bought the cottage through an auction site and when you first came round yesterday to give me a quote, well, that was the first time I’d seen inside and, honestly, I was too shocked to take a look upstairs.’
‘You bought the cottage without looking inside?’ He widened his eyes as if the very concept was alien to him.
‘Yes! I made a mistake, I know that.’ Clasping her hands in her lap, she kept her eyes fixed on the ocean still. ‘I know that now, but there wasn’t really any other way. I couldn’t just travel six hours to view a property, and I had to buy through auction. I couldn’t afford not to.’
‘Okay.’ Zac shook his head. ‘I don’t need to know all the details to be able to work on it.’
‘I’ve not accepted your quote yet. I’ve not even seen it.’ She sighed. ‘Are you going to tell me what needs doing upstairs or not?’
‘Yes, of course. Right, upstairs isn’t quite as bad.’
‘I guess at least there’s no kitchen to replace upstairs.’ Lynsey glanced at him and grimaced.
‘True. But there is a bathroom which you’ll be pleased to know has been replaced.’
‘It has?’ She cleared her throat, embarrassed by how high-pitched her voice had become. ‘I mean, that’s great news.’
‘Yes, but again, the plaster has been taken off the walls. Partly taken off the walls, I might emphasise.’ He looked down at the notes on his quote. ‘But the floorboards look in good nick. Underneath all the debris from the walls, of course.’
‘Okay.’ Lynsey nodded. It wasn’t terrible news. Not half as bad as she had been expecting, anyway. ‘That sounds promising, then.’
‘I must caution you that you really do need to get the electrics checked professionally. Whoever began the renovations on your cottage most definitely wasn’t a professional, so any work they may have done to the electrics may not be up to scratch.’
‘That makes sense. I’ll get someone in.’ She might be able to stay here after all. If it basically just needed re-plastering and the kitchen replaced, it couldn’t cost that much. A lot, but not an inconceivable amount, surely? There was hope. She grinned as she watched two dogs chase a bright yellow tennis ball across the sand.
‘Here’s my quote.’ He passed the piece of paper across to her.
‘Thanks.’ Smiling, Lynsey took the paper and laid it on her lap. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she skimmed through all that the quote included until she got to the bottom of the page and the amount he was asking for. With her smile slipping, she blinked as she reread the total. ‘This much?’
‘That’s right. I’ve quoted fairly.’
‘But... I thought you said it wasn’t that bad?’
Pulling his pen from behind his ear again, he tucked it under the clip of the clipboard. ‘I said not as much work needed to be completed upstairs as downstairs.’
‘Right.’ Lynsey pinched the bridge of her nose. What had she been thinking? Why had she let her hopes rise without seeing the total he was asking for? There was no way she could afford this. She just didn’t have this amount left in her savings. She’d used most of what she’d got from the sale of her and Ross’ house on the cottage, only leaving a few thousand to keep her going whilst she looked for a job. Yes, she’d expected to have to pay out for a few bits and pieces which would inevitably need doing, but not this. Turning her head, she let her hair fall in front of her face before wiping her cheeks with the hem of her jumper, hoping he wouldn’t see how upset she was.
‘Sorry, I...’
‘No, it’s cool.’ She swallowed as a lump formed in her throat. ‘Do you mind if I have a bit of time to look over this?’
‘Of course. I’ll leave you with that. Let me know if you want me to get the work done.’ Standing up, he looked back down at her before turning and walking away.
Looking back at the quote, Lynsey was glad she hadn’t had time to grab any lunch. She didn’t think she’d have been able to keep it down if she had. Crumpling the quote in her hand, she looked up and down the beach. She supposed she just needed to come to terms with the fact this move had turned into a short holiday rather than a long-term dream.
The cheerful tone of her mobile rang from her pocket, and she pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was Nina. She couldn’t speak to her. Not now. She wasn’t ready to admit how wrong she’d got everything. She wasn’t ready to tell her she’d be coming back home with her tail between her legs.
Ending the call, she took a deep shuddering breath in and stood up. Her lunch break was over.