Page 49 of The Runaway Wives

‘It is, but I was thinking somewhere not so far from the village. And not so high up,’ Babs said. ‘We’re getting older now, you know. This house will be difficult for us to manage.’

Santiago sighed again. ‘I will see what I can do,senora.’

After saying goodbye to a beaming Miguel, who thrust a carrier bag of lemons in their hands – ‘You take, fresh from my trees’ – Santiago set off again along the bumpy mountain track. By the time they reached the next house Babs felt like she’d been on a fairground ride.

‘This house is only ten minutes’ drive to the village,’ Santiago said as he opened the door for her again.

More iron gates, this time they opened automatically as they approached and Santiago drove through, the gates closing behind them. The sprawling house – white with a terracotta roof – looked modern, as if it was recently built, and was surrounded by olive trees.

Now this is a bit more promising, Babs thought.

‘This is a new house, but it isn’t quite finished,’ Santiago told them as he took a set of keys out of his pocket and opened the front door. ‘Unfortunately the owners split up and went back to Sweden. They’ve left me to sell the house.’

He led them into a huge room which was completely bare apart from a few wires hanging out of the wall. ‘This is the kitchen.’

‘It’s massive!’ Geoff exclaimed.

‘What are those wires?’ Babs asked, eyeing them suspiciously.

‘For the cooker and other… appliances,senora.’

The lounge was huge, too, with wide picture windows which Geoff was already gazing out of. There was no rail on the stairs and the bedrooms had no doors. Santiago led them to a huge bathroom, empty apart from a claw-footed bath along one side, which again hadn’t been fitted.

It was like a shell, Babs thought. No kitchen, no bathroom, nothing.

Geoff was excitedly deciding what he would put here, and there, declaring how wonderful it would be to design the interior of the house however they wanted. Babs was speechless.

‘Come and see the pool. Imagine yourself swimming in this, or gliding across the surface on a lilo,’ Santiago said.

He led the way out the back, down some steps, around the corner and there in front of them was a huge pool, full of clear blue water. It looked cool, tempting. For a moment Babs imagined swimming in it. She walked along the side to the end, intending to walk further down the garden when Santiago gasped and pulled her back. ‘Careful,senora,the fencing, it is not finished yet.’

As he pulled Babs back she gazed down in horror at the sheer drop down the mountain. If she’d gone a few steps further… She shuddered.

Geoff had joined them now. ‘Wow!’ he gasped.

‘It’s a view…’ Santiago paused again to try and think of the English translation to what he wanted to say. ‘A view to die for!’ he said triumphantly.

‘That’s what I’m scared of!’ Babs said faintly.

33

DEE

Monday

Dee arrived bright and early at Moira’s Café on Monday morning, ready for work. Andi’s face broke into a bright smile when she saw her. ‘I’m so glad that you’ve agreed to do this, it’s so much more comfortable to work with someone you know and get on with, isn’t it?’

Dee felt flattered at Andi’s remarks, she was pleased to be working with her too. ‘I’m pleased that you asked me, it’s good to feel useful, plus I could do with the extra income now I’m divorcing Nigel,’ she said.

‘Well, I’m very glad to have the help,’ Andi told her.

It didn’t take Andi long to show Dee the ropes and by the time the first customers came through the door Dee was serving them confidently.

Halfway through the morning, Snowy turned up. Almost as if he’d been looking for Dee. ‘I don’t believe it, the cheeky rascal,’ Dee said as Snowy curled up on one of the cosy chairs in the window. ‘Sorry, I’ll shoo him out.’

‘No, let him be, he isn’t doing any harm. He must be missing poor Edna and now you’re living in her cottage he’s latched himself to you. He’ll probably go away as we get busier.’

Dee went over and stroked the cat. ‘Did you hear that? You can stay until we get busy.’ Snowy purred contentedly.

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