Second Chances at Samphire Bay (Samphire Bay Village #1)

Chapter 32

Waiting for Bunty’s arrival, Jack and Robin exchanged grins – they were about to show her round the cottage and were keen to see her reaction. Although they knew the renovation was done to a high spec, they hoped the choice of decor met Bunty’s high standards. Both Jack and Robin still found it hard to picture her living in the cottage, it being such a contrast to what she’d always been familiar with. This characterful, flintstone cottage was very pretty, but so small and humble compared to the huge art deco house. Not to mention having been born and raised in the home; inevitably she must have a very strong attachment to the place, and those kinds of emotional bonds were hard to break…

‘I just hope Bunty knows what she’s doing,’ said Jack with unease.

‘So do I,’ replied Robin. ‘I doubt her house will sit on the market too long.’

It seemed so strange to see the imposing house up for sale in glossy brochures and on the internet. He’d got to hand it to her estate agents though, they were absolutely pulling out all the stops. The idea of an open day was genius.

‘Maybe that’s something for us to think about in future,’ Jack remarked, reading his mind.

‘Why, what are you planning on restoring next?’ asked Robin half laughing. He doubted they would ever be working on something of such calibre as Bunty’s house.

‘You never know Rob, think big,’ Jack answered, ever mindful of expanding their business.

Jasmine had viewed the finished cottage the day before and was most impressed.

Bunty was going to love it; she knew for a fact. Then she wondered to herself if Perry might come along to the viewing. How would he feel having lived in there previously? He’d certainly see a difference. She remembered when she’d come to view both cottages for the first time, with their rotten window frames, peeling wallpaper, grotty kitchens, mouldy bathrooms and the pervasive smell of damp. The transformation was incredible and the value of the cottages must have soared, even when taking into consideration what had been spent on the renovation work.

This prompted Jasmine to think about the profound turn of events over such a short amount of time. Bunty hadn’t known at the time of selling them that she would in fact be buying one back. And Jasmine hadn’t known at the time of viewing how she would meet Robin and form such a good friendship with Bunty. It was funny how life had a habit of working out. Such remarks had been bandied about when losing Tom and she had dismissed them with scorn. She only prayed everything would work out for Bunty with Perry. Things were certainly looking promising so far, according to all the feedback she was getting.

Bunty had had her in stitches when impersonating the estate agent.

‘I’m Anthony Armstrong-James,’ she’d mimicked in a snooty voice, with her nose in the air.

Jasmine too, had thought the open day a fantastic idea.

‘Can I come and pretend I’m interested?’ she’d asked eagerly, wanting to share the experience and see the house in all its glory.

‘Of course, darling, the more the merrier,’ Bunty said, keen to get a full house.

As Bunty’s Morris Minor pulled up outside the cottage, Robin and Jack went out to meet her. They were taken aback when they saw she wasn’t alone.

‘Hello, boys, this is Perry,’ she said. ‘Perry, meet Robin and Jack.’

All three shook hands before making their way inside.

Looking round the kitchen, Perry couldn’t help but be astonished. He’d hardly recognised the place. The only thing that hadn’t changed was the view from the window.

‘Well, you’ve done a fabulous job, lads,’ he said as his eyes took it all in.

‘You approve then?’ smiled Robin.

Perry nodded. ‘I do, it looks so much bigger with the adjoining wall knocked through.’

‘Doesn’t it?’ agreed Bunty.

‘Wait till you see upstairs,’ Jack chipped in, impatient to show it off.

With pride, Robin and Jack opened the bedroom doors to reveal freshly varnished floors and smooth white walls. They each had the original cast iron fireplaces restored.

‘Can they be lit?’ asked Bunty in delight.

‘Yes, they’re in working order,’ Jack told her. ‘And the chimneys have all been swept,’ he went on, pleased at seeing her face light up.

‘Very romantic,’ muttered Robin, who couldn’t resist the mischievous remark. This earned him a nudge from Jack, who was at pains to create the best impression. Luckily it had gone unnoticed by Bunty, but was that a sly smirk from Perry? The old fox!

Perry blinked in disbelief at the transformation of the attic.

‘This is incredible,’ he exclaimed in awe. His eyes scanned the corners, and Robin saw a frown flicker across his face.

‘There were two trunks left behind,’ he said, turning to Perry. ‘I’ve kept one of them, if you’d like it back.’

‘They had the photographs in it,’ Bunty supplied.

Perry gave a knowing smile and shook his head.

‘You keep the trunk, Robin,’ he replied. ‘It belongs to the past.’ Facing Bunty, he continued, ‘It’s the future that matters.’

Once the viewing had completed, in true Bunty style she asked outright, ‘So, boys, what are we looking at, price wise?’ Her eyes swept from one to the other in expectation.

This was where Robin began to feel uncomfortable, but thankfully Jack took the initiative.

‘We want you to get it valued Bunty.’

‘Why?’ she frowned.

‘Because we’d feel better if an outsider gave their opinion.’

‘Plus, we’d reduce it by the same amount you did for us,’ Robin added.

‘There’s no need to do that, boys,’ replied Bunty shaking her head.

‘Yes there is,’ Robin and Jack replied in unison.

Perry looked on with esteem, pleased that these lads were doing the decent thing by Bunty. Seeing that she was about to argue, he put an arm round her.

‘One good turn deserves another, sweetheart,’ he appeased in that soothing voice of his. Bunty turned a shade of pink, making Jack and Robin exchange a grin. Something told them they’d be seeing a lot more of Perry.