Page 94 of Changing Spaces

“Surely they could get more for it,” Ava said. “The cat can’t lower the price that much?”

“The cat doesn’t lower it at all. But the school wants to sell it quickly. They would also like the new owner to offload the furnishings on their behalf. I also know that it needs underpinning and a full rewire. Do you want to look inside or is this an unpleasant Halloween surprise?” I knew the answer without having to ask the question. This property, with its history and furnishings, was the type of house she’d dreamed of.

“I’ll have a look, seeing as we’re here,” she said, heading in.

I’d already looked round, so rather than appreciating the original tiled floor in the hallway and the solid wooden doors, I watched Ava. She combed through the house as if she was exploring the Egyptian pyramids, finding treasures all over the place. The kitchen was a 1960’s installation, the bathroom a monstrosity but apparently Ava had seen worse.

“The sellers want to honour Ena’s wishes and not sell it to a developer. The covenant forbids it being converted into flats. What are your thoughts?” I said, although I could pretty much tell what they were.

“This would be an amazing master suite,” she said, completely ignoring my question. “I’d take the divide down between the two rooms. Have a bed over there and a free standing bath by that window…” She carried on, oblivious to me smiling at her.

“Ava,” I said as she continued. “Ava. We do need to get back to the party. We can come back in the morning when it’s light. I’ve got the keys all weekend.”

Bringing her now was probably a bad idea, but I really wanted her to see it as soon as possible. We had two other viewings set up for the weekend and I knew that neither would be right.

“How soon can we sign everything?” she said. “We have a mortgage in principle agreed already for more than we need. And obviously there’s no chain. I could start to get the furniture cleared and look properly at her belongings on Tuesday as one of my clients has cancelled…”

“Ava. Do you want this house?”

She shut up and looked at me, the one dim lightbulb highlighting her pretty face.

“Do you?”

“Yes. But I want you to want it as much.”

“It ticks every box,” she said. “Driveway. Garden. Near to Claire and Max. Period features. And it’s a project. We wanted a project.” Her voice was soft and quiet.

I nodded and then felt the full force of her as she jumped at me, almost knocking me off balance.

“Aves,” I said, catching her while trying to balance on my good leg. “I get you’re enthusiastic and everything, but I’d like to be able to walk out of here…”

“This is going to beourhome?”

Her enthusiasm forouralmost knocked me over again. “Ours,” I said.

Then our mouths met and I was lost again in this woman who had completely changed the space in which I lived.

“We should go back to the party before the kids go to bed,” Ava said. “Or let them know we’re not coming back and just christen this place.”

I laughed, my hands still holding her against me. “Let’s go tell them the news. And tell Seph he is not moving in with us this time.”

Ava laughed and held on to my hand as we walked into the next part of our lives.

The End