by Karen Klyne
“The offer is the asking price but with conditions.”
Phil threw the blanket off and sat up straight. “Tell me more?”
“They want you to take the house off the market right away. If you agree, they’ll put a deposit down to secure it.”
Phil chewed a nail. Typical. Hardly any genuine interest and then on the morning of the auction, it all happened. It wasn’t really what she wanted to hear today. “I agree.”
“Great. I’ll let them know. The deposit won’t be made until after the weekend though.”
“That’s fine. Thanks, Clive.” She hung up and sat for a while, pondering. She should be over the moon, but instead she had mixed feelings. Now she’d have to make the decision. Would she stay or would she leave? Perhaps this was the omen she’d been waiting for.
No time to think about it now. She had to prepare for the auction.
She arrived at the village hall car park at midday. There were already a few cars outside. Obviously, they wanted a front seat view. She took her briefcase and walked around the side of the building. The side door was open. She entered and went into a small office she’d been allocated. It wasn’t long before she heard the hustle and bustle of people arriving. Chairs scraped across the floor and the hall filled with laughter and animated chatter.
Five minutes before the start of the auction, she gathered her papers together, marched along the corridor, and made an entrance into the hall. There was total silence, apart from the click, click, click of her high heels. She passed Alan at his usual desk and next to him sat Enid and William. She gave them a big wink and a smile. No Kim this time. She took her position behind the podium, placed her papers on top, then poured herself a large glass of water. She took a long drink and topped it up.
She glanced at her watch. Thirteen hundred hours precisely. She looked up and addressed her audience. “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the auction of Farrell and Young.” Would this be the last time she’d ever utter those words? The answer was in the lap of the gods. They seemed to take her pause as an opportunity to natter amongst themselves, so Phil playfully banged her gavel. “Silence in court!” There was lots of laughter. “You’re particularly noisy this afternoon. Must be the money burning a hole in your pockets. I’ll take that as a hint to get on with the show.”
She cleared her throat. “First up is lot number one which is a delightful bungalow in Mead Court, Cauthwell. Ideal retirement property. It won’t be long before I’ll be buying something like this, the way Alan Farrell works me.” Everyone stared Alan’s way before the laughter erupted. Alan blushed and threw her a little wave. “Right. So, who’s going to start me at one hundred and sixty thousand pounds. Don’t be shy now.” Someone raised a hand and the bidding was away. She continued with lots two to six.
She paused and took a drink of water. “Sadly, ladies and gentlemen, we are coming to the end of our auction. However, the remaining property is definitely the star of the show, and we have an abundance of interested parties, in the room, on the telephone, and via the internet. Not at all surprising. On sale is the house and land referred to as Gil’s Edge, Mideaton Lane, Cauthwell.” She looked across at Enid and William and smiled. They looked as nervous as a pair of squirrels on a motorway, and they seemed to be holding on to each other for dear life.
Phil rubbed her hands together. “Right. Who will start me at one million pounds?” There were gasps in the room. Perhaps some people weren’t aware of the prime land Gil’s Edge was sitting on. But certainly the developers were. “Good. I have an offer of one million pounds.” The bidding continued until one of the internet bidders offered one million four hundred thousand. “I’m now pleased to confirm that there will be a sale. To those unfamiliar, that means the reserve has been met.”
The room buzzed. The bids continued. Phil looked across at Enid and William, and both had their heads down. She imagined they daren’t watch anymore. She didn’t have to push for bids, they were flying in. The latest exceeded their valuation and stood at one million six hundred thousand. There were a few more and then Carole, who was handling the internet bidders, raised her hand.
“I have a bid of one million seven hundred and fifty thousand.”
There were gasps. People glanced around with their eyes bulging. Phil stared around the room, left, straight ahead, right, telephone bidders, internet bidders. “Any further bids?” She waited. “Going once, going twice,” she paused momentarily. The gavel came down. “Sold for one million seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds.” She looked across at Enid and William and blew them a kiss.
“Please note, buyers and sellers. All solicitors are seated on the right and will relish taking your deposits. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for attending our auction today. A note for your diary, our next auction is Saturday the sixth of July. I hope to see you all then. Have a wonderful weekend but don’t do anything I’d do.” All she’d be doing was crying into her drink, but hell, she had a reputation to uphold, right?
Phil’s head was spinning, and she wanted to escape. She knew she had duties to perform, and she desperately wanted to see Enid and William to congratulate them. On the way over she was side-tracked with handshakes and compliments, but eventually she weaved her way through the crowds. They were still sitting there looking completely dumbfounded. When they saw her, they got up and hugged her. Phil took their hands and squeezed them. “I’m guessing that’s enough to take you around the world?”
Enid pressed a hand to her chest. “That was marvellous.”
“You were marvellous,” William said. “We wish you were coming with us.”
“I’d willingly sail away into the sunset, even on a surfboard if I could.”
Enid took her hand. “Everything will be fine.”
What was it with older people? They were always so optimistic.
“We’ll be having a small party in the Pheasant before we set sail. You’d better come.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She’d miss it for the universe if she could. The Pheasant was the last place she wanted to go.
Alan joined them. He congratulated Phil and then whisked Enid and William away to sign some papers.
She excused herself from the gathering and left through the double doors. She collapsed onto the bench. It was like déjà vu. It seemed such a long time ago, and yet like yesterday when she’d watched Kim do the same. Unfortunately, it wasn’t going to be the same happy occasion. She pulled the collar up on her jacket. The sun was shining, but it was bloody freezing. She rested her elbows on her knees and put her face in her hands. She’d never felt so empty in all her life.
Phil felt a hand on each shoulder. She flinched. The hands were warm and light, and she assumed they belonged to Carole. She didn’t turn around. Someone massaged her shoulders. It felt good.
“I’ve done something really crazy.”
Kim. She shot up straight and looked over her shoulder.
Their eyes met. Phil wasn’t sure if Kim was here to punch her or hug her. She prayed it would be the latter.
Kim moved and sat on the bench beside her. “How about we go for lunch?”
Phil closed her eyes tightly. Was this a dream? “You really want to have lunch with me…after what I’ve done?”
“Yes. I’ve had time to think, and we have a lot of talking to do.”
Tears filled Phil’s eyes. “Absolutely. You have no idea what this means to me.”
Kim nodded, and Phil got up and followed Kim to her car. Kim drove in silence through the country lanes until they arrived at a pub.
Phil smiled slightly, remembering words said what seemed like ages ago. “This is a new one on me. Does it really exist, or is it a mirage?”
“It’s definitely real. I discovered it a while back. Somebody once brought me here when I was feeling low.”
They walked into the pub, and Kim pointed to a table. “You go and sit there, and I’ll order.”
Phil felt numb. It was
surreal, as if she was reliving something from the past. She couldn’t imagine what Kim was going to say. Was there any chance that she’d forgive her? Seeing her again was like seeing the sun after a month of rain.
Kim returned with a tray. She placed two mugs of coffee and two brandy glasses on the table. “I ordered the same as last time. Hope that’s okay?”
Phil reached for the brandy glass and nodded. A young waitress brought their sandwiches over and put them on the table. They both took a drink from their glasses before putting them down on the table.
Kim ran a hand through her hair. “I’m sure you thought I was over-reacting when you took me to the Chase but––”
“No.” Phil raised her hand. “I was totally in the wrong. I know that now. Everything you said that day was true. I was being me, floating through life without giving a damn about anyone else.” She reached over and took Kim’s hand. “You’re so different, Kim. I care about you, and I want you in my life.”
Kim squeezed her hand. “I made some mistakes too, and I’m sorry if I accused you of being unethical. I wasn’t really listening by the time you mentioned buying the house, and by then I didn’t want to hear any explanations.”
Phil leaned in. “It hurt a little. But I used that to justify my other actions. I was in the wrong. God, Kim. I’m so glad you’re here, but what made you come?”
“I went to Paris to see my mum. I told her everything, and we talked it over. When I started talking about you, about us, I knew what I’d be missing if I threw it all away, and I couldn’t imagine not being with you. I cleared the other matter up with Alan. It didn’t take long for him to find out what really happened, and I’m sorry I didn’t let you explain.” Kim laughed. “And then I had a visit from Enid and William.”
“What?”
“God, Phil. You’re so lucky to have friends like them. Enid felt dreadful. She was breaking a confidence, and yet she couldn’t sit by and watch us fall apart. I had a good talk with Enid and William, and then with Alan and Jan. They made me see some things. Like, whenever things go wrong, I run. And I need to stop doing that. It isn’t fair, and it doesn’t help matters. So I’ve got some things to work on too. I hope you’ll give me the chance.”
Phil rubbed the back of her neck. “I can’t believe this.” Just when she’d given up, when life seemed more like a prison sentence than total freedom, she’d been given a reprieve. When Kim squeezed her hand she looked up.
“When you were sitting on the bench, I said I’d done something really crazy.”
“I thought coming back was it?”
Kim winced slightly. “I was scared stiff you were going to up and go without a word. I kept checking to see if the Chase had sold, and then I got panicky. I’m afraid I was the person who made you the offer, and for extra insurance I said I wanted you to take it off the market, and I’d put down a deposit. I just didn’t want you to leave.”
Phil gave a slight moan and let her head fall onto the back of her seat. She let out a huge breath before she began to laugh. “You’ve done that all for me after what I’ve done? Does that mean you’ll forgive me? I swear, I’d eat shit if it’d prove to you how much I love you.” There it was. She’d said that love word, and she meant it. It was the first time it had ever passed her lips, and she had no desire to take it back.
Kim jerked back in her seat, her eyes wide. “The thing is, love is deeper than just saying the words. It’s about trust. It’s about communication.”
“I know that now. I want to change. I’m going to change. You’re the most important person in my life. We’ll make it work.”
Kim stared into Phil’s eyes. “And I promise to listen, to not blow up and take off every time we have a disagreement. We have to give it a try. We’re good together.” She laughed. “We’re like apple pie and custard.”
Phil grinned. “My favourite dessert.” She put her elbows on the table and leaned on them. “So, what about the Chase? Do you think you’ll ever be able to spend time there?”
“There’s lots of memories. Good and bad. I lost my mum there in a way, and I lost my dad there. I guess we’ll have to take it one day at a time.”
Phil had an unexpected release of all her tension. Kim had given her a second chance. Why would she throw away the love of her life? She’d made mistakes, but she damn well wouldn’t make them again. Now it was in Kim’s hands. Kim pushed her chair back. She must have seen the worried look on Phil’s face. She walked around to Phil and took her hand.
“I love you, Phil.”
“I love you too, more than I’ve shown you, and I’ll never make that mistake again. Let’s go home. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
They walked out hand in hand, the future a sure thing, no matter where they lived. Their homes were with each other.
Table of Contents
TitlePage
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
