and the stalks of dead ragwort that would have to be dealt with.
‘God almighty. Will you look at the state of that?’
Abi followed her sister’s gaze as they passed through the orchard. ‘You mean the greenhouse?’
‘You’re going to pull it down, I hope!’
Abi’s mouth fell open in horror. ‘I’m going to restore it.’
‘You’re kidding!’
‘It’s an original Victorian lean-to. It’s beautiful.’
‘It’s an eyesore.’
‘Well, it’s missing some of its glass and is a little battered, but it’s going to be absolutely glorious once it’s all fixed up. Just like the house.’
Ellen shook her head as if Abi’s plans were a personal affront to her.
‘Girls!’ Ellen called. ‘Don’t go near those brambles! Honestly, Abi – it’s a terrible mess.’
Abi did her best to hold her tongue. Could her sister really not see the beauty in the place?
After the girls had burned off some of their energy, they returned to the village.
‘You do like it, don’t you?’ Abi asked as Ellen got into the cars.
‘Of course I do. I’m just surprised, that’s all,’ Ellen said. ‘It’s all so big! I didn’t know that’s what you wanted.’
‘I didn’t know either until I saw a photo of it,’ Abi said as she pulled out into the road for the journey back to Brighton. ‘It was like it was speaking to me.’
‘Houses don’t speak!’ Bethanne said from the backseat.
‘I know! But it seemed to speak to me,’ Abi said with a laugh. ‘I remember looking at the photos of it online and it felt as if a part of me was already living there. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I knew I had to try and make it mine, but then I didn’t make the winning bid at the auction. The price rose and rose and – well – you met the winner today.’
‘So how come he sold half to you?’ Ellen asked.
Abi told her the story as they headed towards the main road.
‘You mean, he’s redundant and you haven’t got a job, and you’re taking on this money pit?’ Ellen sucked in her breath. ‘Forgive me, but this sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.’
Abi couldn’t help smiling at that because, to her, the word disaster was the very last she’d choose to describe the situation she now found herself in.
Reaching Ellen’s, they all got out of the car and, once inside, Ellen made tea and put some biscuits on a plate for everyone.
‘Listen, Abi,’ Ellen said as the girls grabbed a couple of biscuits each and left the kitchen, ‘I’m really pleased that you’re going to be closer. Heaven only knows I could use your help with the girls every so often, but it’s good what you’re doing.’
‘You think so?’
‘Yes. It’s good you’re taking some time for yourself. But don’t overlook a bit of romance, will you?’
‘Ellen!’
‘I mean it! When was the last time you went out on a date? Was it that Italian bloke?’
Abi quickly finished her tea and got up.
‘You’re going?’
Abi crossed the room and kissed Ellen’s cheek. ‘Better hit the road before rush hour.’
‘But it’s Saturday!’ Ellen called after her as she ran into the hallway.
‘Even more important,’ Abi said, making her escape through the front door.
‘Abi!’
‘I’ll call you soon.’ Abi got into her car and waved a hand from behind the safety of a closed window, blowing kisses to her nieces who were waving from the living room window.
She would have liked to have stayed longer, maybe joining them for tea and spending some more time with Bethanne and Rosie, but it was a relief to get away from her sister’s probing questions. Heaven only knew that Abi didn’t need reminding of her past relationships and she certainly wasn’t going to think about them now. All those awful dates she’d been on over the last few years. All the embarrassing set-ups through work, through mutual friends, and all the dead-end relationships that had started so well and then just fizzled. Perhaps it was her fault. Perhaps she just wasn’t meant to be with somebody. Not everybody was, were they? And Abi had always been married to her art. That was enough for her. She was fulfilled in herself and she certainly didn’t need a man to make her feel complete.
So she drove home, back to her London flat where she lived on her own but never felt lonely. Pouring herself a glass of wine, she sat in the armchair which she’d placed by the window overlooking the river. She pulled out the sketchbook that she’d taken to Sussex on the