‘Oh. Right.’
‘I mean, there’s nothing wrong with walking,per se.’There’s a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. ‘It can be a great way to get toknow someone.’
Smiling, I nod. ‘I agree. But a drink...that would be lovely.’
‘Great!’ He glances over my shoulder and waves at someone,and when I turn, salesman Mark is walking briskly towards me.
‘I’m not buying today,’ I warn Mark with an apologetic smileas he emerges. ‘Just browsing.’
I turn to Doug to say I’ll text him later.
But he’s already gone.
Bemused, I stare along the road, watching him jump in hiscar and drive away without even a backward glance. Was it something I said? He certainlyleft in a hurry. I suppose he could just be in a rush to get to his meetingwith the client.
But doubts are starting to plague me again.
Am I stupid to think I can trust Doug?
*****
Roughly twelve minutes later, I’m the proud owner of agleaming red Porsche 911...
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Running five minutes late, I arrive flushed andapologetic for my meeting with the estate agent. ‘I was looking at a car –well, buying it, actually.’
‘Oh, lovely,’ smiles Lois, rising from her seat andshrugging on her blue suit jacket. ‘How exciting.’
I nod. ‘I collect it next week. I can’t wait.’
‘It’s out with the old and in with the new for you rightnow.’ She smiles, picking up a file. ‘Rose Quartz Cottage. It’s such a lovelyproperty, this one. And an unusual name.’
‘That’s partly what drew me to it, to be honest.’
‘Are you moving from far away?’
‘Er, no, I live in Buntingford at the moment,’ I tell her alittle cagily, as we walk to her car. ‘I... just fancied afresh start in a new place.’ Carrie’s voice is in my ear, telling me it’sprobably best not to mention the lottery win.
‘A move to the country. How lovely.’ Unlocking the car, shesmiles across at me. ‘Well, I’m sure you’re going toloveRose QuartzCottage.’
‘Great.’ I get in and buckle up, a feeling of nervousexcitement growing inside at the thought of seeing the cottage in the flesh atlast, instead of peering at it on my laptop screen.
Am I completely crazy contemplating this move?
Perhaps I am. It was a very spontaneous decision, phoning upabout renting the cottage, even for me. But I can always check the place outand then tell Lois I need time to think about it.
I don’t need to sign on the dotted line today.
We drive out to the cottage along tree-lined, sun-dappledlanes and through open countryside, past farms with cows and sheep grazing inthe fields – a perfect rural idyll – and as we motor along, I can almost feelthe knots in my shoulders starting to loosen. I’ve already ditched my old phoneand now have a brand new number, meaning the horrible silent phone calls havestopped. And if I were to move out here, my escape would be complete. Aprilwould never track me down.
Living out in the middle of the countryside, I won’t have tobe looking over my shoulder all the time, fearing reprisals. I’ll be able torelax at last... maybe take up gardening...grow my own vegetables, even.
We drive through the tiny hamlet of Cowslip Hollow, whichseems to consist of three cottages and an old red telephone box, and my heartstarts to beat a little faster. These cottages are the nearest houses to RoseQuartz Cottage, although our destination is still a mile or so away, accordingto Lois. I drink in the gorgeous leafy surroundings, wondering what it’ll belike living miles from anyone else. I suppose it might take a bit of gettingused to. But I’m sure it’ll be fine.
No more noisy neighbours. And April will never find me!
‘And this is it,’ Lois announces as she turns into a littlelane that’s even narrower than the one we’ve been travelling along. ‘It’s aprivate road so there’s the odd pothole,’ she apologises, as we bump our wayalong. ‘But apart from that, the cottage is perfect.’ She smiles across at me.‘Well, I think so, anyway. It’s my very favourite of all our rental propertiesand you’re only the second person to view it.’
