Page 82 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘I’m not seeing anything but you clearly already have a tonne of ideas.’
‘I do!’ I said, those ideas now bubbling excitedly around in my head.
‘So get it then.’
‘I don’t really need a dressing table anywhere.’
‘So get it, do it up and sell it.’
‘Sell it?’
‘Yep. I’ve seen what you can do, and people are looking to this sort of thing much more now. Pieces that have history and an individuality rather than those that come in a flat-pack with a lot of pieces.’
‘That’s true.’ He had me tempted.
‘Come on.’ He took my hand and began walking towards the proprietor of the stall.
‘Gabe!’ I said, laughing. ‘This is mad. I have plenty to do in the house already.’
He stopped. ‘OK, look at it this way. That’s work. This—’ he pointed back to the piece ‘—is something you enjoy, right?’
‘It is.’
‘So it’s a hobby. You need a hobby. Hobbies are good for you. And if you find you’re not enjoying them any longer, you can just stop.’
I felt the smile on my face and Gabe grinned.
‘You can try and hide it all you like but you’re loving it! And we’re totally getting this piece.’ He raised a hand in greeting to the owner who ambled over, a ruddy-faced man with a warm smile on his face.
‘How can I help you?’ he asked, and the negotiation began.
* * *
Opening the car door, I let Bryan out and he promptly raced around to the back of the house for a tinkle and to survey his dominion and make sure nothing had changed since this morning. Gabe and I left at a more leisurely pace.
‘Do you need me to take you to the car hire place?’
He waved my suggestion away. ‘Nah, I’ll just get the bus back to the village.’
‘That bus only runs once an hour on Sundays. And after all you’ve done for me today, if you think I’m going to let you take the bus anyway, you’re sadly mistaken.’
‘Would I be in line for another rugby tackle?’ He laughed.
I pulled a face but he saw the smile. ‘How are they?’
Gabe removed the sunglasses for the first time all day, and I put my hand up to my mouth.
‘Can you see?’
‘They do seem to be closing a little a now, which is awkward.’
‘How long have they been like that?’
‘Literally just started.’
‘Right. Well, let’s get this car sorted and then you can rest.’
‘I’m fine, Hols. I don’t need to rest.’
