Page 42 of A Second Chance in Seabury
She stared at it. Had she just managed to summon Gareth just by thinking about him? If so, she really didn’t want to talk to him. Then again, it could be David…
The thought brought a smile back to her face. Perhaps he was back from the bees and had decided to take her up on her offer of a cup of tea after all.
Hannah practically lunged for the receiver.
‘Hello?’
‘Hannah? It’s Grace again.’
The estate agent.Hannah felt her little bubble of excitement go pop.
‘Is this a good time?’
Hannah shrugged. Grace sounded excited… but perhaps that was simply her default setting. ‘Sure. What’s up?’
‘Well… I’ve got some exciting news.’
Hannah frowned. ‘Go on?’
‘I happened to have some very good clients on my books,’ said Grace, sounding smug. ‘People who are happy to wait for just the right property.’
‘O-kay?’ said Hannah, wishing the girl would get on with it.
Now that she’d surfaced from her accidental design marathon, she realised that she was desperate for the loo. If this was a sales call to get her to sign up for some kind of platinum package when it came to selling the house, it was going to have to wait.
‘I always make sure my private list hears about properties that are coming up before they’ve even hit the market,’ said Grace.
Hannah’s frown deepened. For some reason, she didn’t like where this was heading.
‘I’ve got a couple who want your house,’ said Grace, clearly reaching the reason she was practically vibrating with excitement.
‘Well… that’s… great?’ Hannah hedged, feeling like she wanted to say the exact opposite for some reason. ‘But, I explained the situation here, didn’t I? I can’t legally even begin the process until I’ve been here for two weeks.’
‘Yes,’ said Grace, ‘but the thing about this couple is that they’re willing to enter into a presale agreement with you. They’re happy to wait until your two weeks are up, of course, but it would mean that your house never actually goes on the open market. They’re willing to make itmorethan worth your while.’
‘Erm. Right.’ Hannah shook her head, feeling a bit like she’d slipped into some kind of alternate reality. ‘When you say worth my while…?’
Grace rattled off a number that was more than three times the price Hannah would even dream of listing the house for.
‘Say that again?!’ she gasped.
Grace repeated the number, enunciating every digit.
Hannah felt sick.
‘And you won’t have to go through all the photos and usual nonsense,’ said Grace. ‘Pass go, collect two hundred pounds. Or in this case, pass two weeks and collect?—’
‘A shit ton more than two hundred pounds,’ said Hannah, shaking her head.
‘Well, quite!’
‘Can I think about it?’
‘Well… I mean… sure?’ said Grace. Her confusion was evident. ‘If you really need to? I’ll give you a call in the morning.’
Hannah took a deep breath. She was being daft—the right decision was obvious. There wasn’t any point in waiting.
‘Wait! Grace, are you still there?’
