“Sure. Where is it?”
“Crescent Head. It’s an older place and I’d like to get the kitchen and bathroom done so that it’s more appealing to the market.”
“Well, I can certainly take a look.”
“The only problem is, I’m only here for the afternoon. I live in Newcastle and I won’t be up again for a while. Can you do it at short notice?” Greg groaned inside. He had a lot to do this afternoon and he was working in Kempsey so it would take time to drive back and forth. But he couldn’t afford to knock back work.
“It’ll be tight, but I think I can squeeze it in,” he said. Dave was grateful.
“Thanks, man. You’re the first person who's said yes to me.” Well, that was a hopeful sign that he might get the job. They arranged a time to meet at the property and Greg doubled his pace. It was the only way he could fit it in.
When he arrived at the house high up on the hill, Dave was waiting for him. At first glance, it was nothing special. It was old and shabby and tired. But when Dave showed him through to the kitchen, he was immediately drawn to the stunning views of the coastline. The rear of the house faced north and a narrow deck looked out over the endless swells rolling in on the white sandy strip that faded from view. It was captivating and Greg could see its potential. He listened to what Dave had in mind, taking notes so that he could quote on it later. Then he walked all around the house, assessing its soundness. Although old and shabby, it had good bones. Most of what it needed would be cosmetic. A thought began to grow in his mind and it loomed larger and larger.
“I need this done as quickly as possible,” Dave was saying. “I’m moving overseas for work and I don’t want to keep it. I want to tie up all the loose ends before I go.” Greg’s thought had to have a voice.
“How much do you think you’ll want for it when it’s done?” Dave named his price and Greg knew he might be able to do it. He'd been saving hard for years. He tried to keep the excitement out of his voice.
“What if we were to forget about the renovations and you knock the cost of those off the price? It would get it out of the way quickly for you.”
Greg gave him a rough estimate of the cost of the refurbishment. Dave looked interested.
“Can I think about it overnight?” he asked.
“Sure. I’ll head to the bank tomorrow to see if I can manage it and I’ll call you tomorrow night to see where we are up to with it.” They shook hands and Greg whistled as he walked to the car. He could imagine living in that house and looking at that view every day. He knew he would be happy there.
Would Madison like it? The thought popped into his head, uninvited. Since her return to Sydney two months ago, they had taken things slowly. He called her often but they had only seen each other once. He was starting to miss her more and more and wished that they could be together more often. Like it or not, he’d completely fallen for her but he didn’t want to scare her off by rushing things. He forced himself to be patient and proceed at a pace that she was comfortable with. Work was a good distraction and he forced himself to focus on matters at hand.
Three months later, Greg picked up the phone to call Madison. She answered right away and they chatted for a few minutes, catching up on each other’s daily lives. Then Greg got to the point of the call.
“I didn’t just call you to tell you that I miss you, you know.” His playful tone of voice belied the serious matter on his mind. “ I actually have a surprise I want you to see. Would you be able to come up this weekend?”
“Um, well, OK,” she said.
It had been a few weeks since he had been down to visit. It must be time to see each other again.
“Don’t book accommodation. I have something else in mind.” Now she was curious.
“I won’t beg you to tell me about it even though I want to. I’m not great with surprises.”
Given her cautious nature, he’d expected her response.
“I think you’ll like what I have in mind.”
Chapter 10
Madison was glad when she pulled up outside Greg’s parents’ house late on Friday afternoon. It was good to be out of the car after the long drive. She hurried down the path with eager footsteps. The door opened before she got there and Greg ran out and swept her up in a bear hug that knocked her off her feet.
“It’s so good to see you again!” he exclaimed, kissing her on the lips before twirling her around. She laughed at his boisterous enthusiasm.
“I wasn’t quite expecting that you would literally sweep me off my feet,” she giggled. He put her down but didn’t let go just yet.
“Are you ready for the surprise?”
“I just spent five hours wondering about it. Show me and put me out of my misery.” He let her go and took her hand. They walked over to his car and he opened the door for her.
“Thank you,” she said. She always appreciated gentlemanly manners. It was something he loved about her. He got in and turned to drive up the big hill. The narrow streets were shrouded in trees and shrubs, offering privacy to the residents, but beyond them were glimpses of the ocean. She wondered what they were doing but forced herself not to ask.
Finally, Greg pulled into a secluded driveway surrounded by overhanging trees. They stopped in front of an old double brick garage. They got out and stood looking at the twin doors.
“What do you think?” he asked. “Are you impressed?” She gave him a puzzled look.
“This is the surprise?” she asked. “You mean I drove for five hours to stand in front of someone’s old garage and look impressed?”
“Aren’t you?”
“Yes, Smarty Pants! I’m impressed that you think this is funny!” she retorted. “You’re a terrible tease, Greg Lockyer.”
“Me? Never!” he feigned innocence. “Well, since you aren’t impressed, I guess we’d better move on.”
He took her hand and they stepped onto the path that led away from the garage. It ducked under a row of trees and arrived at the front porch of an old brick house that matched the garage. It looked sad and tired. Greg got keys out of his pocket and opened the door.
“I’ve been working here,” he said.
“Well, that explains how you have keys,” she replied.
“Come with me.”
He led her through the front living room to the kitchen and dining area.
“I know you love to look at views of the ocean, so I thought you might like this.”
They stepped onto the deck and she caught her breath. The ocean was impossibly blue with a white ribbon of sand that stretched in a graceful curve all the way to Hat Head. Tiny dots rode the waves on their surfboards.
“This is lovely, Greg. Thank you for showing me. I really like it.”
“Well, no one is living here at the moment, so I have the owner’s permission for you to stay here for the weekend. It’s a bit basic but you should find everything you need here.”
“Oh Greg, what a lovely surprise! Thank you so much!” She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a squeeze. “You know what makes me happy.”
He held her close and stroked her hair.
“We can spend time here without being under my parents’ feet all weekend.”
His parents’ house was small and she usually stayed in a cabin in the caravan park. The cost added up and she was grateful for Greg’s thoughtfulness.
“Want to see the rest of the house?”
“Let’s go!”
He led the way inside. Two of the three bedrooms were empty. The third had a single bed, neatly made up, along with a desk and a built-in wardrobe. Everything was old and shabby but it would be quite fine for the weekend. He led her to the bathroom.
“This is where I’ve been working,” he said. “It hadn’t been updated since the 1970s. It was still usable but definitely needed replacing. You’re going to be the first person to christen the new one!”
“This is beautiful, Greg. You’ve done
an amazing job.”
She looked around at the fresh white tiles and the quality fixtures and fittings.
“The owner should certainly be happy with your work. I will enjoy staying here and having the honour of using this lovely bathroom first.”
The weekend passed in a happy blur. The night before she had to go home, Greg had a suggestion.
“You up for an adventure in the morning?” he asked as they snuggled up on the old sofa in the front room after dinner.
“Sure.”
“Really? You don’t mind getting up early?”
“Oh. I didn’t know you meant at the crack of dawn.”
“Actually, I do. I thought we could go for a walk on the beach and watch the sunrise.”
“Well, that might be worth getting up early for. I haven’t been for an early morning walk for ages.”
“I’ll come and pick you up so we get there in plenty of time to see the sun come up.”
Madison was waiting when Greg knocked on the door of the old house, dressed in jeans and a jacket against the predawn chill. They made their way up the path to the car in silence, not wanting to disturb the neighbours. As they got to the beach, a rim of crimson appeared above the eastern horizon. They walked onto the sand without speaking, appreciating the special moment. They walked a few hundred metres up the beach and then Greg stopped.
“Let’s just watch for a while,” he said as the clouds on the horizon took on fiery outlines. They stood still for a few minutes as the light grew stronger.
Then Greg stepped in front of Madison and dropped to one knee, looking up at her.
“Madison, I love you with all my heart,” he said, his voice shaking. “Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”
She gasped and he wondered if she were about to say no. Finally, she found her voice.
“Yes! Yes! I will!” she exclaimed. He laughed in relief but didn’t move.
“Will you also do me the honour of moving into the house on the hill with me once we are married?”
“You mean … the one I’m staying in?”
“Yes. I’m the owner, as of a month ago. That’s why it was so easy to get permission for you to stay there!” He chuckled at the prank he’d played on her.
“Yes. Yes, please! Oh, Greg, I love that house with its views of the ocean!” She fell down on her knees to hug him. “How could so much happen in a single moment!” she exclaimed. “I’m so happy I don’t know what to do next!” He laughed.
“I have an idea,” he murmured, pulling her close. She closed her eyes as his lips found hers and knew at that moment that this was what she wanted, every day for the rest of her life.
Author Bio
Kaitlynn Clarkson is a modern-day warrior woman. She is equally at home addressing courtrooms and kings. She champions the causes of truth, justice and trombone-playing. Her children are perfect little angels who never argue or complain about whose turn it is to do the dishes and her husband dotes on her every whim. She can quell an uprising with a single look. Of course, when she steps away from her keyboard, everything changes.
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Meet Me at Crescent Head Page 5
