Page 70 of The Runaway Wives

What would the others make of Gordon’s offer? Would they resent it?

‘Look, I don’t want to pressure you, if you don’t want to talk about it, but if there is something on your mind and you’d like to offload, I promise you that it won’t go any further.’

Dee bit her lip. She really would like a second opinion and she trusted Kenny. ‘Gordon asked me to keep it between ourselves but I really would like someone to talk to.’ She told Kenny about the offer of the apartment, and the repayment clause. ‘It’s a fantastic offer, and the apartments are beautiful…’

‘Do I sense a “but”?’

‘Edna is also selling up and staying with her sister in Brean. She’s offered me first refusal on her cottage.’

Kenny thrust his hands in his pockets and whistled. ‘Wow, two home offers!’

‘I know! And now I don’t know what to decide. The apartment will be ready in a few weeks. And Edna said that even if I don’t want to buy the cottage, I can stay there until it’s sold.’ She shook her head. ‘I really don’t know what to do.’

Kenny turned and looked over at the sea. She followed his gaze and they both stood there thinking for a while. Then Kenny turned back to her. ‘Dee, you have no one to answer to but yourself, so my advice is to choose whatever will make you most happy. Which home would you be happiest to wake up in, or snuggle up in on winter evenings? Which one does your heart lie in?’

46

Dee thought about her decision all evening. She walked all around the cottage, taking note of everything that needed to be done. It was a lot. Then again, it didn’t need to be done all at once. She could take her time, do it bit by bit, turn Primrose Cottage into the home she wanted.

Meanwhile, the apartment had everything she could wish for and would have a wonderful view, but apart from putting paintings on the wall and furnishing it, she couldn’t really give it a personal touch. There was the balcony and the sea view, but she wouldn’t be in the centre of the town. There was no pretty front garden and backyard to fill with colourful plant pots.

She was considering phoning Babs to talk it over, when a text pinged in from her. She opened it up and saw a photo of Babs standing proudly beside a large white camper van.

We’ve done it, we’ve bought a camper van!

Babs had messaged Dee a couple of weeks ago to say that they’d decided to buy a motor caravan to travel around the UK and Europe in.

Dee immediately phoned her. ‘It looks fantastic. When did you get it?’

‘Today! I can’t wait to show it to you. We’re going to come and spend a weekend down in Port Telwyn soon. There’s a caravan park on the outskirts. It will be so good to see you again.’

‘That would be wonderful!’ She couldn’t wait to see her friend again.

‘Now enough about me, what’s happening with you? I feel like we haven’t caught up for ages.’ It had actually been a couple of weeks since they’d had a chat, although they had sent each other little texts.

‘I was about to phone you actually. I wanted your advice…’

‘Fire away.’

Dee told Babs about Edna giving her first offer on Primrose Cottage, and Gordon offering her a cut-price apartment. She’d kept Babs in the picture about the goings on with the harbour development. ‘It’s all top secret for now,’ she said.

‘Wow, that’s brilliant. What are you going to do?’

‘I don’t know. The estate agent has valued the cottage and I can afford it – just. There’s a lot to do here though, it drastically needs modernising and the garden is like a jungle.’

‘That’s not a problem, me and Geoff will help you. You know he’s mad on gardening and DIY, and I’m up for a bit of painting. The main thing is, are you happy there?’

‘Yes I am. It’s so cosy. And I love living in the centre of Port Telwyn.’

‘Can you imagine yourself living in a posh new apartment overlooking the sea? It sounds amazing, but is it you? It would probably be Nigel’s ideal home. But is it yours? Listen to your heart, Dee. For once do what you want to do. Do what’s best for you.’

Which is more or less what Kenny had said. Both of her friends telling her to follow her heart. The trouble is, that wasn’t something Dee was used to doing. It felt strange to know that she could make her own decisions, live her life how she wanted.

Long after they’d finished talking, she sat in Edna’s armchair, thinking. Then she heard a miaow. Snowy had come home and was perched on the windowsill, demanding to be let in. She went to the back door and opened it. The little cat miaowed, brushed himself against her legs then sauntered in. Dee went outside and sat in the garden, listening to the murmurs of life in the little town.

Suddenly she knew what decision to make. She didn’t want a posh apartment. This little cottage was where her heart lay. She telephoned Edna immediately to let her know that she wanted to buy the cottage. Edna was over the moon. They both had wobbles in their voices by the time they’d finished talking.

Then she texted Kenny.

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