The House that Florence Left (Portuguese Paradise #4)

Chapter 10

Bella waved at the builder as he got into his car. Will had recommended him as ‘a good and reliable guy. He’ll give an honest opinion. Honestly.’

Bella had been quite worried about hearing his honest opinion about repainting the outside of the house and outhouse, given the tuts and sharp intakes of breath he’d been emitting as he walked round inspecting the property.

He sat on one of the patio chairs and Bella handed him a glass of lemonade. He checked his pad and moved his fingers down what he’d written, muttering to himself.

‘I knew Flo,’ he said eventually, looking up. ‘So, I’m not going to beat around the bush...’

Bella steeled herself, her heart beating a little faster.

‘You may as well just give it a good clean and get new tiles made to put where the other ones were. You can get larger azulejos made that are bigger than the old ones and they’ll cover up the damage to the wall.’

‘Oh.’ Bella sighed, relieved. ‘I thought it was going to be worse than that.’

‘No.’ He allowed himself a smile. ‘I painted it all a year before Flo passed away and, if I say so myself, I did a very good job.’

Bella looked at the empty spaces where the tiles had been. ‘Can you recommend anywhere I can get new ones made, or can I just buy some from a shop?’

‘You can buy some from a shop ready-made, virtually anywhere.’ He slowly touched the wall and ran his hand down it. ‘But if you want it to be in keeping with what your aunt left, you can go to Silves to the man who made the originals. There’s a bit of a story to them I think.’

‘Oh, what’s that?’

He checked his watch. ‘I can’t remember. But it’s a good one. I’ll text you the name of the shop. Got to be off.’ He handed her back the empty glass. ‘Nice to meet you. Do you need any help with that swimming pool? If you do, let me know.’

‘I’m not sure whether it’s worth doing anything to it at the moment. I’m selling up.’

‘I heard you couldn’t get rid of it for six months.’ He walked over to his van.

‘No. I’ve got to make it better too. I suppose a nice swimming pool would count towards that.’ Bella attempted to calculate the potential cost and time it would take.

‘Come high summer, you’ll be glad of it. Starting your day with a lovely cool swim.’

Bella remembered her family running out on their first day at Auntie Flo’s house and jumping in the pool, screaming. She could feel the cold water around her and the warmth of the sun as she’d floated back to the surface.

‘Can you send me a quote?’ she asked. ‘I can’t commit yet, but the more information I have, the better.’

‘Of course. Nice to meet you, Bella.’

‘Nice to meet you too.’

He got into his car and started the engine, and Bella snapped photos of the old tiles so she could take them to the shop in Silves.

* * *

Deidre bounded up the track, followed by Elena and Will, who was using a walking stick. ‘Hello, lovely.’ She knelt down and fussed the dog, then walked towards the others as they were making slow progress. ‘You’re up quite early today.’

‘I’m trying to get him interested in birdwatching.’ Elena held up her binoculars. ‘He’s not quite ready for dancing yet, with his knees in the state they are.’

‘I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for dancing, Elena.’ He kissed her on the cheek, and she giggled quietly. ‘But I’ll give it a try if it keeps you happy.’

‘Is there a rare bird here again? I had a visit from some birdwatchers a few weeks ago.’ Bella laughed. ‘Early in the morning. Very early.’

‘No, no.’ Elena shook her head. ‘We’re giving Deidre a run before I take Will over towards Cape St Vincent. We’re having a day out. There’s lots to see.’

‘It’ll be good to get out of the house. I’ve been going mad the past week or so being cooped up.’

Elena squeezed his hand. ‘To the wide-open spaces of the west we go.’

Deidre stopped dancing around the cats and ran back over to them. ‘Do you want me to keep her for today so she’s not on her own?’ Bella asked. ‘I’ve got to do some clearing up before all the estate agents arrive tomorrow to do their valuations, so the company would be nice.’

‘Are you sure?’ Will looked relieved. ‘I don’t like leaving her for too long. She’s not used to it.’

‘Of course I’m sure. Shall I bribe her with a doggy treat?’ Bella began to walk into the house. ‘Quick... I’ll distract her while you go.’

‘Treats!’ she shouted at the dog, who followed her inside, as did the cats, getting in on the action too.

As she got the packet out of the cupboard Bella looked at the animals staring expectantly at her, who only one month ago she had never met and now couldn’t imagine being without.

She stopped, confused. ‘No, no, no!’ she told herself firmly. ‘I’m temporary. No attachments.’

She opened her laptop and attempted to focus on her spreadsheet to remind herself what she was there to do. The ‘ Miscellaneous ’ section was very long, so she closed it, took a bin bag out of the cupboard and went round the back of the house to make a start on sweeping up the mountain of dead leaves and vegetation that had amassed over the past year.

* * *

Later that day Bella allowed herself a trip into town, reasoning that buying some tiles from a shop and sticking them on the wall would be an easy fix and stop her feeling like she was falling down a rabbit hole of things to do and facts to find out.

Deidre followed her obediently as they made their way along the street, then sat at her feet when she treated herself to a tall glass of iced tea at a café, where she sat for a while watching people amble past until another dog began to bark nearby.

Bella paid for the drink and undid Deidre’s lead from the chair, taking her to a shop opposite, where she browsed the shelves for azulejos that looked similar to the ones that had fallen off the house. Holding up a vibrant blue, white and yellow tile that was almost perfect, she looked at it, then the photograph of the originals, then it, then the photograph of the originals until they merged into one. She put it down and turned around.

Hugo was carrying an empty box out of the café. ‘ Olá! ’ He waved, then walked over towards her. He’d shaved, Bella noticed, wondering if he was more or less attractive without the stubble, then realised she was doing the same to him as she was doing to the tiles.

‘I’m trying to buy replacement tiles to put on the house. Apparently it’s cheaper and easier than getting the walls repaired and repainted. But—’ she sighed ‘—I can’t find anything right.’

‘That’s because you need to get them replaced authentically, by the man who made the originals.’

‘The builder did suggest that. He said there was a story behind them.’

‘Yes there is. But also, the house deserves them.’ He leaned in closer. ‘And they don’t cost that much, you know.’

Deidre pulled on the lead. ‘I’ve got to go. Where is this place?’

‘In Silves. Have you been?’

‘No. I’d like to go, but I start work next week and haven’t got time for a day out.’

‘I have to go for a meeting there soon. I will let you know when and if it works for you I can give you a lift there. But not back, I’ll then need to go on for some family business in Monchique.’

‘That’s very kind. Thank you.’

‘I’ve just got to go into the shop here.’ He pointed at the same one Bella had popped into with Jorge. ‘I’ve got to buy a present for a cousin’s daughter. They also do tiles if you want to look.’

‘I may as well, just as a comparison.’ Deidre was already following Hugo, so she didn’t really have any choice.

He was standing in front of the toy stork that Bella had spoken to when she was waiting for Jorge.

‘ Olá ,’ he said. ‘ Como está? ’ The stork moved its head and replied slowly. Hugo laughed. ‘She will love this.’

‘She will love this,’ said the stork after a moment.

Bella grinned. ‘My name is Bella.’

‘My name is Bella,’ replied the stork.

‘This is such a silly shop. I love it.’ Hugo grinned, picking up a box with a stork painted on the side. ‘This is definitely the one.’

‘The one,’ said the stork.

The clockwork crab bumped into Bella’s foot, then careered off again, and Deidre followed it.

‘Time to go. I’m not sure what’ll happen if this dog manages to catch that toy.’ Bella smiled at Hugo.

‘I mean it about the lift to Silves.’ He walked towards the cash desk. ‘ Adeus. Até a próxima. ’

‘ Até a próxima. Bye.’ Bella managed to pull a reluctant Deidre out of the shop and walked towards the river.

She felt a satisfying calmness. She had one fewer tiny thing to think about.

She checked her calendar on the phone. That afternoon was earmarked for going through the knick-knacks in the chest of drawers in the living room, and then hiding all the others in the house in cupboards before the estate agents came the following day. She added ‘ walk the dog ’ to the list, then scrolled through to the following day. It started with yoga — 8.30 a.m., then the first estate agent visit was at ten thirty, with the last at four.

‘Progress,’ she said to the dog. ‘Excellent.’

* * *

Switching off the ambient rainforest soundtrack that kept resetting itself throughout the night now, Bella woke before the alarm, pinpricks of light dotting the floor towards the bed. Rolling over, she smiled at the two cats who were sitting quietly, staring at her.

‘Hungry?’ She climbed out of bed and opened the shutters, then stepped onto the balcony. The storks were already awake, preening their feathers as a flock of birds swooped out towards the mountains behind them. Trying to put a name to the sound of the sea, she said a few words out loud. ‘Roaring... No, sometimes it’s roars — today it’s not. Lapping... No, sounds like a lake. Today it’s calm and—’

The alarm on her phone began to buzz.

‘Maybe,’ she said to the cats, ‘I’ll just call it the sound of the sea. Right.’ She walked back inside. ‘It’s a big day today, so I have to start it properly. Food anyone?’

She padded down the stairs, followed by the cats, who were by now chattering, emitting squeaks, chirps and the occasional meow, then got ready for her visit to the House on the Hill. She drove there with the windows down, the breeze in her hair, grateful for feeling in control finally after all these weeks.

Elena was hurrying down the steps of the House on the Hill when she arrived, dressed for work and smiling widely.

Bella locked her car. ‘How was Cape St Vincent?’

‘Cape St Vincent?’ Elena looked confused.

‘Yes. I didn’t have time to ask Will yesterday when he collected Deidre. Looked like it did him good.’

‘Oh, yes, um, no.’ Elena got into her car. ‘We didn’t actually make it that far to be honest.’

‘Oh, well, anywhere nice? I don’t know the area, so you could say anywhere!’ She laughed.

‘We got as far as Burgau, then had to turn back as he’d left his wallet at home. And then, well...’ Elena closed the door and rolled down the window. ‘We didn’t really leave the house.’ She rolled the window up, started the car and drove out of the car park, leaving Bella feeling she’d been given a bit too much information.

As she walked up the steps, ‘Loving You’ by Minnie Riperton was blasting through the speakers and Ignacio was walking across the hall.

‘I’ve told you to hide the remote control.’ Minnie was in the office, laughing.

‘I have my lessons planned and the music is a part of it. She is being very disruptive and she has hidden the remote. Again.’

Minnie saw Bella walk past and ran in front of her. ‘Who is it? I know it’s a man, isn’t it? She won’t tell me. Well, she is telling me through the medium of music. She is deliberately winding me up!’

‘Who are you talking about?’ Bella tried to go into the yoga room.

‘It’s Will, isn’t it?’ Minnie was smiling now. ‘She won’t tell me because he’s a bit of a nomad, hippie, alternative culture kind of man and she thinks I won’t approve.’

‘I think you should ask her.’ Bella held up her yoga mat assertively.

‘Stop harassing our students, Auntie Min.’ Layla was walking down the stairs. ‘I’ve got the spare remote here, Ignacio.’ She handed it to him and he turned the music off.

‘There. Now.’ He followed Bella into the yoga room. ‘Is it Will? I think it is. He’s a lovely fellow. Much more reliable than he used to be, apparently. Always a different woman on the scene for a while.’ He turned the music on again. ‘Bill Withers, ‘Lovely Day’,’ he whispered. ‘That’s how I wanted your entrance to start.’

‘That’s very atmospheric.’ Bella unrolled her mat. ‘And I’m sure Elena is happy. She seems like a sensible woman. I mean, she’s an accountant.’

She thought she heard Ignacio snort under his breath, so lay down on her mat and began to stretch.

* * *

Bella sat at the laptop after the last estate agent had gone, inputting their verbal valuations for selling and letting with TBC on all of them until she’d got it all in writing.

A small pile of leaflets was next to her, ready to be read through so she could also input relevant facts. She’d put some music on in the background, the cats were sprawled on the table next to her, and she was enjoying herself putting everything in order. But as she typed she began to wonder if she was collecting a little too much information. Although, usually, she could never have too much information. Her working life was all about collecting information and making recommendations, after all.

Sitting back after an hour or so, she looked at the tabs she’d added on the spreadsheet. Then she revisited the ‘ Miscellaneous ’ section. The cats were on it, the storks were on it, the land was on it with a question about vegetables, and the outhouse was on it. She closed the tab, got up and poured herself a glass of wine, feeling confused, then sat down and opened another document. That one was for her parents and their house, with details on money spent on therapy and counselling for her father over the years, small adaptations to the house, and money paid into the bank account she’d set up to save for the future in case her father’s condition became even worse. She had also written a miscellaneous section on that. She opened it. It said: My parents love their house. It is their sanctuary and their protection. They never want to leave. They may have to one day.

She closed the tab, then made herself feel worse by opening the file of information that had been gathered from the date of her father’s car accident to now, which she had subtly and incrementally taken over from her mother as she became an adult. She stared at the date — 8 February — then scrolled to the email folder entitled ‘ Flo’s house correspondence ’ and opened the letter from the Portuguese solicitors informing her that she had inherited her great-aunt’s house. She stared at the date. 8 February. It was the same date, just twenty-three years apart.

‘My mother would say that was a sign,’ Bella said to Yin and Yang. ‘I say it’s just a coincidence.’ She took another sip of wine and calculated the number of months before the accident that the family had been in Flo’s house — six months. Bella was eight when she was in the Nest first, and nine when her father hadn’t returned home from work on a dark, cold February evening. She turned the music up to try to drown out the memory of the phone ringing at 7.30 p.m. and how in what seemed like an instant, her mother’s face had changed for ever.

She suddenly felt very sick.

A knock at the door made her jump. ‘It’s me. Hugo.’ He was outside shouting. ‘Can you hear me? The music is very loud.’

Bella turned off the song — Maroon 5’s ‘Must Get Out’ — and opened the door.

He was standing on the patio, smiling nervously. ‘I was passing and thought instead of ringing you I would stop by and tell you I’m going to Silves tomorrow if you would like a lift. Your buzzer at your gate still isn’t working.’

‘Oh.’ Bella was trying to force herself back from the past.

‘Are you OK? You look a bit pale. I thought it was easier than sending a message. The signal is a bit random out here.’

‘Ah. Oh. Yes.’

One of the storks flew down from its nest and began to strut gracefully behind the outbuilding.

‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I’ve been knee deep in estate agents today and I appear to have got a bit overwhelmed.’ She stood aside. ‘Do you want to come in for a moment?’

Hugo’s face lit up. Bella’s heart flip-flopped, and she turned away quickly, hoping that whatever emotion that had caused that wouldn’t be reflected in her expression.

‘I have wine.’ She picked up the bottle.

‘Thank you. But not today. I have to go to an open event at a local school to talk about environmental matters. A company will be there who may be interested in getting on board with sponsorship for the charity.’ He looked around the room. ‘Coming over here over the past few weeks again has sort of reminded me what I wanted to do. It’s full of Flo’s positive energy. You seem to have brought it back. So I made a few phone calls and this is the result.’

‘That sounds very exciting.’

The cats jumped off the table and purred around Hugo’s feet.

‘Well, they are pleased to see you.’ That wasn’t quite what she’d meant. ‘I mean, I don’t mean I’m not pleased to see you. Um, that doesn’t sound right either.’

Hugo smiled again. ‘I think you’ve had a lot of information today. Maybe you have brain overload.’

‘But my job is to collect information, interpret it and write reports recommending a range of possible actions.’ She sighed. ‘You can never have too much information, can you?’

‘May I make an observation?’ He picked up Yin or Yang and stroked their head absent-mindedly. ‘When you write reports you have a timescale and a specific question?’

‘Yes.’ Bella tried not to look at his dark, chocolate-coloured eyes.

‘Whereas with a place like this that you have inherited you can ask many, many, many questions and keep asking more and more. And of course, there is the emotional connection.’

‘I haven’t got an emotional connection to the house.’

‘It is your great-aunt Flo’s house. Even I have an emotional connection to it.’

The cat jumped out of his arms and onto the floor.

‘Have you managed to do any tangible things? Get rid of things, for example?’

‘A few. But I keep getting distracted. It’s difficult getting rid of knick-knacks when they are so lovely. So then I need to find somewhere to take them. And then I’ve got to find the best place — a second-hand shop, a charity, an auction...’

‘I think you have spreadsheet fatigue.’

Bella shook her head, smiling. ‘I’ve never heard of that before.’

‘It’s a fairly new phenomenon. It’s brought on by instant access to laptops and an internet connection that allows the sufferer to research absolutely everything within seconds, gaining access to information they never knew they needed and don’t know what to do with.’

‘Ah... yes.’ Bella felt the need for another glass of wine. ‘On this occasion there is a lot to think about. Although at least I’ve got rid of the option to sell the land and house to a developer.’

‘You have?’ Hugo looked relieved. ‘That’s good news. I wasn’t sure. I had two men come to the café earlier trying to persuade me that selling my land was a good idea. Again. They implied that you were very keen to do so yourself.’

‘I’m not. I ruled it out. They were talking about knocking down the trees and, well—’

‘So, no emotional connection then?’

Bella laughed. ‘I believe that, rationally speaking, not doing that is the best option.’

Hugo took his car key out of his pocket. ‘I’d best be off. Maybe if you got the new tiles ordered that would make you feel better. Doing something tangible. Then putting them on the wall, that would be another tangible thing. And you could tick them both off your spreadsheet list of things to do?’ He smiled again.

‘I think that is a good idea.’ Bella could feel her stress ebb away a smidgen. ‘I’ve got to start work again next week and I think that maybe that is making me a bit tense too.’

‘Of course. You are only human.’

‘Nah.’ Bella laughed. ‘Career machine, me.’

Hugo shook his head. ‘No one is a machine. Right. I will meet you at the end of your track at nine thirty tomorrow morning. Até logo. See you later.’

He closed the door behind him and Bella shut the laptop. He was right — she needed to give herself a rest. ‘No more information for tonight, chaps,’ she told the cats. ‘Fancy a treat?’

She went to the kitchen and gave them some nibbles, then took her glass of wine onto the patio and sat for a while, listening to the sea and the breeze and the birds.