… and there, I see, set in the trees, tumble down and dilapidated, is an old house. Shutters hang from rusty hinges. The roof is showing daylight, and a tree grows out from the inside, reaching for the sky through a broken window. It is a sad remnant of the building it has been.
But it has been, in the past, utterly beautiful.
“It goes with the hotel,” says Michael. “The owners think it needs to be demolished. I don’t agree. Neither does James…” He swings around to my Master, inviting agreement.
“It does need a lot of work,” says my Master. “But yes, I agree, it’s worth saving.”
Hands in his pockets, Michael stands up straight, looking at me. “What do you think?”
“What do I think? Of what? You doing a renovation? Yes, fine, if it’s what you want to do… I’d not realised it was your kind of thing….”
My Master shakes his head, sucking in his cheeks. “You can lead a horse to water….”
Michael looks exasperated. “Charlotte, would you like to live here? For this to be our home?”
Home?
“I’ve never had a.…. home…”
He takes me at the waist, pulling me in, his chin resting on my head. “You can have one now. Would you like this to be it?”
Would I like it?
Oh, my God. Yes!
“Michael, I don’t know what to say…”
“’Yes’ or ‘No’ would be a good start…”
“Yes. Oh God. Yes!”
“Good. That’s decided then. I’ll put in the offer to the owners. Wait here. I’ll be back”
He strides off, leaving me with my Master. He smiles, takes my hand and kisses it. “Happy?”
word. Ecstatic
wreck. “Don’t get too carried away. It won’t be fit to live
“Can we go inside?”
the roof’s gone. Most of the joists are rotten, and woodworm has had most of the floors. It really will need to be rebuilt from the ground
is interrupted by Michael’s return.
them the offer?” asks my
there’s cash on the table,
“There’s a surprise. I don’t think you have much competition though.
“Michael? Master?”
to
‘our’ home, you mean… the three of
hands on my waist and kisses the top of my head. “The three of
somewhere to live. I won’t have the City
“You won’t?”
my old contract. Now I’m a director, I’m supposed to
I say, staring at
a finger, his expression concerned. “What’s wrong? You look
a pity to lose the mirrored room, isn’t it.?”
he says, raising a finger. “I’m glad you mentioned that. The mirrored room will rise from the ashes. In fact, I’d already drawn
*****
evening before I
going to miss this
the grey sea tumbles surf over the sands. Clouds loom, threatening the first
daresay Richard will be happy enough to let us use it again
the winds, occasionally diving
you like to do this evening?” asks my
stay here, to just enjoy being with you
there, adjusting the volume. A melody, haunting, lyrical and
me,” he
I’d love
“But...?”
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