Simone was talking on her mobile. She acknowledged Phil, pointed to the phone, and walked out of the front door. Phil stepped through the open patio doors. The garden was mostly set to lawns, and in the centre was the apple tree, the one the woman had embraced. It seemed like any regular tree, but maybe it held memories for her. Where was she? Had she left? She wanted to meet her. She saw a movement at the bottom of the garden and slowly made her way down. She coughed, and the woman turned around. Phil spoke quietly, not wishing to alarm her. “Hello there, I’m sorry to disturb you. Is it okay if I walk around the garden?”
The woman seemed to freeze to the spot, and her shoulders looked rigid. Her brow furrowed, but then she glanced at the clipboard Phil was holding.
“Are you from Farrells? I thought Alan would be coming.”
Phil stepped forward and offered her hand. “I’m Philippa Young, Alan’s business partner.”
She shook it. “Oh. I didn’t know Alan had a partner. I’m Kim Besson. I’m sorry. I’m not usually that rude. I was just a bit shocked.”
She quickly covered her puffy blue eyes with a pair of sunglasses and ran her hand through her short hair, as though trying to tidy it. Phil smiled. “I’m sorry I startled you. Unfortunately, Alan had a little accident.”
Kim jerked back and put a hand to her mouth. “God, is he all right?”
“Yes, not too bad. Possibly a broken leg.”
“How?”
“Um…he collided with a rabbit. The rabbit came off better.”
A small smile played on Kim’s face, and almost seemed to turn to a grin. Phil found herself staring. That smile almost made Phil sigh with contentment. If she laughed Phil was sure she’d laugh with her. If she wept, the world would want to comfort her. Just like Phil had. Such beautiful hair too, a rich-reddish brown colour like mahogany. It seemed to adorn her porcelain-like skin. She pulled herself back into the moment, reached into her top pocket for a pen and began to scribble something indecipherable, just so she didn’t look foolish.
Much as she’d liked to stay, she couldn’t think of a good enough reason to prolong her visit. She’d come and take some pictures another time. Kim seemed too heartbroken to have a dry conversation about business options right now. “I’ve intruded long enough, and I can see the gardens look great, so I’ll leave you in peace. I’m sure Alan will call you, and then perhaps we can get together and discuss the property in more detail. Unless you’d like to do it now?”
Kim shook her head. “Would you mind if we leave it for another day? I’m sorry, I just can’t take anything in at the moment.”
“Not at all.” She’d be more than happy to see Kim another time. She offered her hand again, wanting to feel the warmth of Kim’s skin on hers. Kim responded, and a pleasurable tingling sensation shot up Phil’s arm.
She walked up the garden and couldn’t resist turning around. Kim gave a small wave, and she returned it. She went back through the patio door, and on her way out she pulled the front door shut. Simone was leaning against the wall, still talking on her mobile. Phil waved and blew her a kiss. She blew a kiss back, and her face turned a deep crimson. Phil laughed. She must stop doing these childish things.
On Monday morning she rang Alan, and he answered immediately, as if he’d been waiting anxiously.
“Hi, Philippa. Did everything go all right?”
“Of course. Everything went fine. I met Kim briefly, but she was too distressed to discuss anything. I said we could meet another time. How are you, though?”
“That blasted rabbit did a good job. Broken in two places. It’s so depressing. I’m relying on you, Philippa. You’ll have to run the show for a while until I get my head around the situation. And until these pain meds aren’t necessary.”
Damaged your head too? “No problem. As regards the Chase, I’ve given it some thought. It’s a lovely house, but it needs a lot of money spending on the interior. I’ve come up with a guide price of two-hundred and fifty thousand. I think it’ll fetch more, but that’s a starting point.”
“Whatever you think. Would you mind handling it?”
“Of course I don’t mind.” As if. Working with Kim, even from a distance, would be a pleasure.
“Kim’s staying with Jan and Dave Wilkes at The Pheasant. I’m sure she wants to sell with us, so you should get an agreement signed. Tell her the guide price, and how we go about it, as with the viewings, etcetera. Don’t forget to tell her the merits of selling by auction compared to selling privately, given her circumstances.”
Phil gave a mock yawn. “Earth to Alan. I’ve done this before, you know.” She’d cut him some slack, as she was sure he was well medicated.
“Sorry. I’m certain you’re mindful to all of this, and I’m beginning to ramble. Must be the tramadol. I’m not used to pills and potions.” He sighed. “Oh dear, I’m sorry to drop this in your lap.”
“Listen, darling, I love a challenge. Isn’t that why you seduced me to this land of milk and honey?”
Alan didn’t reply immediately. She was sure he’d detected the irony in her voice.
“Thank you, my dear.”
When Phil arrived at the office, Carole and Abby, her assistant, both shot up off their chairs with anxious expressions. News travelled fast in Cauthwell, particularly bad news.
Carole toyed with a piece of hair which had escaped her ponytail. “You’re not going to desert us, are you?”
Phil spread her arms wide. “Of course not. I’m Alan’s partner. Why would I?”
“Well, you’ve taken so much on recently. And now, there’ll be so much more to do.”
Phil smiled. “Look, ladies, it won’t be easy, but we’ll cope. You continue running the show, and I’ll just assist you.” They seemed to relax a little. “I’m sure in a couple of days, Alan will be back running the office, as much as he ever did, and I’ll do the valuations. Apart from the conventional property sales, we’ll also have to do viewings of the houses up for auction, because I don’t think Alan’s going to be mobile for quite a while.”
Carole squared her shoulders. “Of course, we’ll back you a hundred percent.”
No more gallivanting for me. She closed the door to her office, along with the one to her personal life.
Chapter Two
Kim closed her eyes, emotions weighing her down. A year had passed, and now she had to face reality and sell the family home. Her dad’s friend, Alan, had advised her to wait until the housing market picked up and now considered it a good time to sell. However, being in the house was another matter, and she’d relived all the pain. Then the woman had arrived and caught her off guard. Instead of Alan she’d met Philippa, a lady who looked like she’d stepped off the front page of Vogue. An estate agent? She’d never seen one like her before, and she certainly didn’t look like someone Alan would choose as a partner. Maybe in his dreams, and she doubted if he had those dreams anymore.
Now she was about to meet her again. She’d decided to clean herself up a bit and put on some decent clothes. And for God’s sake, brush your hair. After doing some minimal ablutions, she glanced in the mirror before going downstairs. Better.