Chapter Seven
On Tuesday morning I took Cindy into the office with me.
Leslie, the boss, was very relaxed that way. He didn’t mind Cindy occasionally coming into work with me, especially if I had things to do in my lunch hour and didn’t have time to nip home to let her out.
Today I most definitely had something to do in my lunch hour and didn’t want to scrimp on time.
Thanks to Mr Garroway now well on his way to Dorset to be with family, the coast was clear to view the inside of Starlight Cottage in my lunchbreak.
‘Here,’ said Lisa, tossing me the key.
I snatched it up and, eyes shining, clasped it to my chest. Lisa caught my expression. She cleared her throat.
‘Tilly?’ she said cautiously.
‘Yeah?’
‘Look, there’s something you need to know.’
I gripped the key as a frisson of alarm rippled through me.
‘What? Oh, don’t tell me. Mr Garroway’s wife popped her clogs at Starlight Cottage and now her ghost haunts the place.’
‘Er, no, it’s–’
‘The property is off mains drainage and has a kaput cesspit that will cost a fortune to replace?’
‘Nothing like that, it’s--’
‘Omigod, don’t tell me, Albert Garroway has upped his price and I can no longer afford it.’
‘Will you stop,’ said Lisa in exasperation. ‘It was simply to say that if – when you return to the office – you decide you’re serious about buying it, don’t prevaricate.’
‘Why?’
But I already knew what she was going to say.
‘You have competition,’ she said, her mouth drooping. ‘Last night Leslie mailbombed the details of Starlight Cottage to prospective buyers. There’s already been a flurry of phone calls which has resulted in a viewing this evening. Apparently, the person was blown away by Leslie’s blurb and is very keen.’
‘What?’ I gasped. ‘Who is this person and what are their circumstances?’
‘Well, that’s just it.’ Lisa pulled a face. ‘It’s a chap called Milo Soren.’
‘Details,’ I said impatiently.
‘He’s divorced. Currently living in rented accommodation. No chain.’
‘Flaming Nora,’ I muttered. This wasn’t good. ‘Any family?’
Hopefully Milo Soren had a dozen kids that wouldn’t fit into a tiddly cottage, not forgetting that Starlight Croft was miles from the nearest school.
Lisa was now making see-saw motions with one hand.
‘Milo Soren has an adult son who is living with him temporarily. Therefore, our Mr Soren only needs two bedrooms.
‘Absolutely bleeding marvelous,’ I fumed. ‘Right. Understood. So, if I like it, there’s a need to act quickly.’
‘That’s it,’ she chirped. ‘Have you spoken to Robin yet about your change of heart and selling to him?’
‘No,’ I shook my head. ‘But I will.’ I pressed my fingers to my temples. This was not the time to get a migraine. I had as good a chance as Milo Soren of successfully buying Starlight Cottage. Oh, but wait.
‘Does this guy need a mortgage?’
Lisa gave me a bleak look.
‘He’s a cash buyer, Tilly. Apparently, he sold the marital home ages ago when his divorce was finalised. He immediately banked his half of the spoils. Also, the mortgage on the marital home was paid off years ago.’ Lisa gave me a moment to digest that. ‘In other words, Milo Soren is sitting pretty. Don’t waste a second.’
‘On it,’ I said, fishing in my handbag for Cindy’s lead. ‘Come on, girl. We have things to do. Places to go. A house to see.’ Cindy leapt to her feet. ‘There is one thing,’ I said, pausing for a moment. My expression instantly gave me away.
‘I have an inkling what you’re about to say.’ Lisa gave me a stern look. ‘You know it’s more than my job is worth.’
‘Okay,’ I said grimly. ‘In which case, I’ll do it.’
A quick phone call to Mr Soren. A few brief words delivered with fake sympathy.
‘Hello, Mr Soren, or can I call you Milo? Home and Hearth here. Yes, fab thanks. You? Jolly good. I was just giving you a quick call with an update. Unfortunately, we need to cancel this evening’s viewing. You see, Starlight Cottage has gone under offer. I know. Quite incredible. What’s that? Offer more money? Ah, I don’t think you’ll be able to match this prospective buyer’s offer. Well, I shouldn’t divulge such information but… yes… yes… I understand you want to be in with a fighting chance so… can you exceed an offer of ten squillion pounds? I thought not. Well, quite. However, we’ve since been instructed on a very nice property in Cheyne Walk. Let me send over the details…’
‘Tilly,’ said Lisa mutinously. ‘Don’t do it. Leslie loves you to bits, but a quick sale is all. Apart from anything else, you need to sort out your divorce and the financials before being able to start the conveyancing process.’
‘All right, all right,’ I huffed.
‘One thing at a time, eh?’ she said gently. ‘Go and look inside the property first. After all, you might hate it.’
‘I won’t,’ I sulked.
‘And then’ – Lisa was not to be distracted – ‘talk to Robin. Let him make you a revised offer on the marital home and then you can go from there. You never know, Mr Garroway might be sympathetic to your circumstances and tell Milo Soren to sod off.’
‘Yes,’ I said, although we both knew that scenario was highly unlikely.
I gripped the key to Starlight Cottage tightly, then headed out of the office with Cindy at my heels.