The House that Florence Left (Portuguese Paradise #4)

Chapter 11

Hugo waved as he pulled the car up next to Bella at the end of the track. ‘ Olá! Bom dia! ’ He rolled down the window. ‘Your lift to Silves is here!’

‘ Bom dia. ’ Bella got in the car next to him. ‘ Como está? ’

‘Ah, excellent. Portuguese phrases so early in the morning! Tudo bem, obrigado . That’s “all good, thanks”.’

‘Yes.’ Bella nodded. ‘I know that. But I’ve run out of greetings in Portuguese now, so are you OK with English?’

He laughed. ‘Of course.’

‘How did your event go last night?’ She did up her seat belt and he drove up the lane.

‘Very well, thank you. I spoke to some people. One or two sounded very interested. I handed out my card.’ He pulled out onto the main road towards Silves. ‘I can show you the stork hotel if you like?’

‘The what? There’s a hotel for storks?’ Bella laughed. ‘A building? A sanctuary?’

‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘That’s what we call it. It’s just on the other side of Odiáxere. Keep looking to the right after the Cactus restaurant.’

‘I didn’t realise storks were so prevalent here.’ Bella gazed out of the window at the low, colourful buildings of the village, passers-by ambling slowly along its cobbled streets in the morning sun.

‘For protected birds there are a lot of them, yes. Are you OK if I put some music on?’

‘Go ahead.’ Bella resisted the urge to touch his arm as he pushed his hand through his wavy black hair. ‘Surprise me.’

‘Oh.’ He grinned. ‘I was just going to put the radio on. So it will be pot luck.’ He raised his hand dramatically. ‘Are you ready for whatever this will be?’

Bella nodded. ‘Of course. I love a surprise.’

He pressed a button on the dashboard with a flourish halfway through ‘Daylight’ by Harry Styles.

‘Oh, this is a win then.’ Bella leaned back. ‘This reminds me of summer.’

‘You’re in the right place for that.’ Hugo pointed to the right. ‘Keep looking . . . keep looking . . . keep . . . LOOK!’

Bella peered out of the window. All she could see was a field. ‘I’m not... Oh... oh!’ Tree stumps were dotted along the grass as far as the eye could see, and standing on every one of them were storks. ‘Oh.’ Her eyes widened. ‘I—’

‘It’s quite a sight, isn’t it?’ Hugo switched on the indicator. ‘But brief as I have to take this other road.’

‘Is that a natural phenomenon or has someone cut all their trees down for the storks?’

‘A bit of both I think.’ They turned northwards. ‘But you’ll see more as we go, on the tall chimney stacks along the road, and supermarket signs. They live on the sign above The Pingo Doce near the marina too.’

‘I’ll have to look next time.’ Bella leaned back. ‘This means my two storks are nothing to get excited about.’

‘Well, yes they are.’

‘I’ve only got two. And maybe some chicks coming soon. This field has about fifty.’

‘They are special because they have chosen to live with you.’

Bella laughed. ‘It’s because I am near trees for twigs and insects and other things I’d rather not know about.’

She could feel Hugo’s eyes on her. She carried on staring out of the window.

‘You may have a point. But I prefer to look on the more magical side of things.’

‘Ahhhh, magic.’ Bella sighed. ‘Where would that go on my spreadsheet?’

He laughed. ‘You haven’t been here long enough — yet.’

‘Mmmmm.’

‘Mmmmm.’ Hugo moved the dial on the radio. ‘Pot luck and what shall we find? Maybe a song about spreadsheets.’

Bella giggled.

‘“Me and You and a Spreadsheet named Boo”, “Spreadsheets Too Tight to Mention”, “It’s a Kind of Spreadsheet”.’

‘I’m afraid you are quite bad at this.’

‘I’m offended.’ He turned the volume on. ‘And I give up.’

‘One Day Like This’ poured out of the speakers.

‘But I’d say as this is pot luck we’ve struck gold,’ he went on. ‘This song feels like a film to me.’

‘When I hear it, I imagine myself opening the windows in the morning and waving at everyone as they go past.’

‘You can wave at people if you want now. Although — there are not many people, no pavements.’

‘No.’

‘No.’

‘I’m sorry I can’t give you a lift back.’ Hugo turned left again. ‘I have to go to Monchique after I’ve been to the Camara for another business meeting.’

‘It’s all right. I’m happy to get a taxi back. It’s kind of you to give me a lift.’

‘I’m glad of the company. Now, shall we play music station lottery again?’ He pressed the button on the dashboard. ‘Ahh, bossa nova.’ Hugo moved his shoulders. ‘If I could dance I would. But I have to drive.’

‘Are we there yet?’ Bella asked, deadpan. ‘Are we nearly there yet? Please are we there yet?’

‘Shall we just listen to the music and you can enjoy the view?’ Hugo glanced at her.

‘No dancing?’

‘No dancing.’

Bella leaned back in the seat. ‘OK. But we won’t be long will we? I’ve got to clear out one of the bedrooms when I get back.’

* * *

Hugo parked the car next to the river and opened the door. ‘I’ll show you where the tile shop is. It’s just past the council building.’

Bella picked up her bag and got out. A wave of heat wrapped itself around her as though she was standing in front of a fan heater. ‘Wow. It’s not even midday.’

‘There’s plenty of shade on the way up.’ Hugo locked the car and began to walk.

Bella paused for a moment. Bright white buildings with red-tiled roofs hugged the hill, huddling together as they snaked towards the summit. ‘It looks like a kind of wedding cake.’ She got her phone out of her bag and took a photograph so she could send it to her parents.

‘I’ve never heard it described like that before.’ Hugo waited for her at the zebra crossing. ‘Follow me.’

They made their way along the quiet, narrow cobbled streets, slowly climbing upwards until they came to a square flanked by lush green trees casting a canopy of shade away from the glare of the sun. ‘There’s the Camara — the town hall.’ Hugo pointed at an imposing building in front of them.

Bella spun slowly around. ‘It’s so quiet,’ she whispered. ‘I thought where I’m living is quiet, but compared to this it’s a real cacophony, what with the sea and the birds and... why is it so quiet here?’

‘I’ve never really thought about it.’ Hugo closed his eyes for a moment. ‘Yes—’ he opened them ‘—you’re right. It’s silent. That sea and those birds really are very noisy after all.’ He smiled at Bella. ‘You’re not sure if I’m joking or not, are you?’

‘No . . .’

He pointed to a gap between two buildings. ‘The tile place is just here.’ He guided her down another narrow lane and stopped outside a shop window decorated with vibrantly patterned azulejos.

‘How gorgeous.’ Bella peered inside. ‘I’m sure I can get what I need here. But it looks a bit dark.’

Hugo tried to open the door. ‘Oh. Ah. This note on the window says there’s someone here from eleven thirty until 1 p.m. today. And then from three till seven.’

‘I’ll come back, it’s fine. I’ve not got much time. I’ve got too much to do to hang around. Starting work next week again. But I’m here now.’ She was talking very quickly, and she tried to slow herself down again. ‘But—’ she took a breath ‘—Yes. I am here now. I’ll look at the castle. Can you point me in the right direction?’

Hugo shook his head kindly. ‘Would you like me to come over and help you with some clearing out before you start work? I’m sure once you’ve tackled the outbuilding, you will get a tremendous amount of satisfaction. And—’ Bella wasn’t sure if he winked at her or not ‘—you can tick it off your spreadsheet, and perhaps enjoy some of the delights the Algarve has to offer without feeling you need to use a stopwatch.’

‘Are you sure? That would help a lot. That particular building feels like it has some kind of radioactive glow around it that’s stopping me going in. I’m sure it’s not really radioactive. I think it’s probably the spiders, geckos and potentially maybe cockroaches.’

‘I’ll check my diary and message you with the date I can do it.’

‘Thank you.’

He smiled and began to walk back towards the Camara. ‘So, it’s just here to the right and carry on up the hill.’

‘That easy?’ Bella followed him.

‘Yes, just up. Keep going up. But remember—’ he looked at the clock on the municipal building ‘—it’s ten thirty now — make sure you’re back in time for the shop to open or at least before it closes for lunch or you’ll waste your day. I mean it’s not a waste, but given you’ve got to add clearing out another room to the “done” section of your spreadsheet...’

‘I wish I’d never told you that.’ Bella walked away. ‘Thank you for the lift. Don’t be late for your appointment.’

He smiled. ‘ Até a próxima . Until the next time.’ He waved and climbed the steps to the Camara.

Bella took the bottle of water out of her bag and walked slowly along the winding streets to the top of the hill. There was a small queue outside the castle walls at the ticket office. After she paid, she was greeted by a riot of purple blossom hanging from the jacaranda trees.

Climbing the steps to the top of the castle walls, she took in the view of the hills in the distance and the sea to the south, the river meandering its way through the valley towards Portim?o. Bella followed the gaze of a couple and their little boy, who were filming something below the castle walls. A stork was feeding its young in a nest on a chimney on one of the houses, and on the rooftop behind it another stork was guarding its chicks in its own nest. In the sky another stork swooped towards another nest on another building.

The little boy shrieked happily, pointing at more storks on more nests, and Bella giggled with him, lifted by his excitement. That was me , she thought. That was me watching the storks on the roof with Aunt Flo. So many years ago.

Is that what it felt like? Enjoying the moment?

She glanced at the boy again, pulling his father’s hand and waving at the birds. And she wanted to, too. So she did, waving at them with the little boy, while his parents laughed.

The family moved on, but Bella stayed where she was, mesmerised by the birds flying to and fro from the rooftops to the distant woodlands and meadows and back, set on feeding their young. Looking after their babies. Somewhere at the back of her mind a memory tried to force its way to the front, so she breathed slowly to shut it down.

Her phone buzzed in her bag and brought her back to the present. She took it out, absent-mindedly. It was a reminder for a regular work meeting that she had forgotten. Telling herself that this time next week she would be in attendance, albeit remotely, Bella noticed the time. It was five past twelve.

‘Oh, bloody hell. Where’s the time gone?’ She shoved the phone away and hurried down the steps, out of the calm oasis of the castle and onto the cobbled streets, following the signs to the Camara. She tried to work out what had happened, given that she had arrived at eleven and it was now twelve. Had she been staring at birds all that time?

The art of the amble , whispered her inner voice.

Bella ignored it and opened the door of the tile shop, which tinkled as she stepped inside.

‘ Bom dia! ’ an elderly man with thinning grey hair stood behind a counter.

‘ Bom dia .’ Bella took her phone out in case she needed to attempt to translate what she wanted to say into Portuguese. ‘ Fala inglês ?’

‘Yes, I do speak English.’ The man smiled. ‘How can I help you?’

‘I have to get some decorative tiles replaced that were on the front of my aunt’s house. Apparently it’s cheaper to do that than get the whole thing replastered or whatever it’s called.’

‘Do you have a design in mind?’

‘Ah, actually. I’ve photographs of the tiles. They fell off the wall and broke but I’ve put them together like a jigsaw really so you can see.’

She opened the photographs and showed them to him.

‘Ah. Dona Florence?’ He shook his head. ‘So sad to have lost her.’

‘I’m her great-niece. Bella.’ She smiled at him. ‘She left me the house.’

‘The Nest is yours? How marvellous. What a wonderful, unique place.’

‘Yes, yes it is. I need to get it back up to scratch. It was empty for a while.’

‘These were very special designs. Done by Francisco Lopes for her when she first moved in. They were involved for a while.’

‘Oh?’ Bella’s heart raced a little. ‘I have no idea of her personal life. It’s nice to know a bit.’

‘His family lived next door. His great-nephew Hugo owns the place now, doesn’t he?’

‘Hugo? He lives next door, yes. He didn’t mention his uncle had painted the tiles.’

‘There is bad blood, I think, so maybe that’s why he hasn’t told you. It was very sad. It didn’t work out. I think Francisco wanted to move in and develop the land around the house. It was very desirable even then. But she wouldn’t let him. It was not a pleasant break-up. He is a very rich man now. Builds high-end houses.’ He shook his head sadly. ‘He was a talented artist and designer.’ He pointed at the photographs of the tiles. ‘You can see it here.’

Bella studied the photographs. ‘Maybe I should get new designs if these were from something sad?’

‘She kept them on the wall? They only fell off after she died?’

Bella nodded.

‘Well, maybe she wanted them there to remind her of the happy times she had with him. He was very angry — she rejected him apparently.’ The man took a ledger from a shelf behind him. ‘Greed, I suppose. Maybe it got the better of him.’

The door opened and another customer walked in.

‘If you leave me your details I can ring you with an estimate?’

‘Thank you.’ Bella handed him her card. ‘Don’t worry about the estimate. I’m happy to go ahead.’ Hundreds of questions careered around her mind. She glanced at the person standing behind her and decided the questions would have to wait. ‘Thank you for your help. Obrigada. Adeus. ’

‘You’re welcome. I will be in touch.’ He read the card. ‘Bella Creswell. I hope you are enjoying Portugal.’

The town clock chimed in the distance and Bella remembered the time.

‘Yes, I am.’ She opened the door. ‘A bit too much actually,’ she muttered, walking down the hill to find a taxi.

Her phone rang in her bag and she took it out. ‘Hello, Lil. Is everything OK?’

‘How’s Portugal?’ She sounded like she was in a lift.

‘It’s lovely. Although I keep getting distracted and can’t keep to my timetable. It’s very strange and not like me at all. How’s England?’

‘It’s all fine. All good. Very Englandy. Very May. We’ve had hail, rain, wind and now it’s twenty-five degrees and sunny. And it’s only just lunchtime.’

‘Ah, a lot of weather... Is everything all right?’

‘Yes of course. Look.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I know we’re not supposed to contact you about work stuff until you’re back at work but some changes are in the offing and I thought you needed to know so it’s not a surprise.’

‘Changes? I haven’t even been gone for a month.’

‘It has been quick. Changes in the department. New manager coming in, talks of a takeover.’

‘So Marnie Dubois has left?’

‘Moved to another department this morning.’

‘But she was the one who made sure I could work part-time. I hope it sticks.’

‘It’s all been agreed with HR, so yes. And they allowed you to do that because you’re so very, very excellent at your job.’

Bella found herself standing next to a taxi rank.

‘I’d better go,’ Lil said. ‘Nothing to worry about. I know how much you value information.’

Bella climbed into the taxi. ‘Yes, you’re right. I do.’

‘Speak next week in a work capacity then.’

‘Thanks, Lil.’

‘Bye.’ Lil rang off and Bella rubbed her temple. Unsettling news from work was the last thing she needed at the moment.

‘Where to?’ asked the taxi driver.

‘Lagos, se faz favor. ’ Bella showed him the address on the phone.

As she leaned back, she wondered why Hugo hadn’t mentioned his uncle and the tiles to her, and more importantly, his relationship with Flo.