Page 64 of The Runaway Wives

Geoff’s gaze rested on Dee, she looked so alive, then over to Kenny. ‘He looks a bit more than a friend.’

‘I think so too. Dee knew him and his wife a long time ago, but he’s a widower now.’

Geoff gave her hand a squeeze. ‘Well good luck to her. She deserves to find happiness after how Nigel’s treated her.’

‘She does,’ Bab agreed. ‘Let’s go and tell her our news. She’ll be thrilled for us.’

42

DEE

Thursday

‘I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve brought someone else with me, she’s on the committee for the Port Telwyn Artists’ Studios too,’ Kenny said to Gordon as the receptionist showed them into his office.

The man behind the desk raised his head, then his eyes registered pleasant surprise. ‘Well, if it isn’t Dee Walton! How lovely to see you again!’ He stood up and walked around the desk to give her a hug. ‘How are you? Do you live down here now?’ He released her and looked into her eyes. ‘You look well.’

Gordon looked well, too, although he’d aged, and what little hair he used to have had gone. ‘Yes, I’m renting a cottage at the moment and am looking to buy.’

‘So you’ve finally left the cheating bastard then?’

‘Only recently, but, yes. I should have done it sooner.’ She shrugged.

‘I’m not going to argue with that. You deserve better.’ Nigel turned to Kenny and shook his hand. ‘Pleased to see you again, Kenny.’

‘Thanks for agreeing to meet us,’ Kenny replied.

‘A pleasure. Now sit down, both of you, and tell me what you wanted to talk about.’ Gordon returned to the other side of the desk and sat down, indicating for Kenny and Dee to take the two seats opposite. ‘Is it to discuss my offer of backing the Artists’ Studios?’

Dee nodded. ‘Yes, Kenny told me all about it. It’s a great idea but I wanted to ask if you’ve made provision in your development for accommodation for the locals.’

Gordon frowned. ‘What do you mean? This housing project will be of enormous benefit to Port Telwyn. It will really put it on the map, and make it a tourist attraction on par with St Ives or Newquay. Actually, I’ve been quite frustrated by the local response, given it will bring people into the area, providing jobs and accommodation.’ He folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. ‘And a condition for purchasing the apartments is that they are actually lived in. There will be a clause that they aren’t to be sublet as holiday homes.’

‘I noticed that, but a lot of locals won’t be able to afford that accommodation,’ Kenny pointed out. ‘And Port Telwyn is a small village, we don’t have the infrastructure to support an enormous build like this. We’ll need another school, doctors?—’

‘The council is on board so I’m sure they are aware it will have to provide more facilities. They’ve agreed that it’s a good idea, bringing job opportunities and income to the area, and without that the locals will have to leave to find work,’ Gordon told them.

‘The locals will have to leave anyway. The apartments are way out of their price range. Unless you provide some affordable housing for locals to buy or rent,’ Dee pointed out.

‘I’m running a business, Dee,’ Gordon reminded her. ‘I owe it to my shareholders to make a profit.’

‘A business that will benefit from looking out for local people. You can’t just come into an area like this, give a bit of cash for the artist project to sweeten the locals, and not think about their needs,’ Dee retorted.

She saw the surprise in Gordon’s eyes as he sat up a bit straighter.

‘Have you any idea how difficult it is for the local people to find somewhere they can afford to rent? They’re having to move out of an area they grew up in.’ She was on a roll now. ‘We have a friend with a young daughter, a local artist. He’s a widower and the landlord has recently increased his rentagain.’ She knew that Gordon’s own daughter had been widowed at an early age, leaving her with two children, so she hoped he would have some sympathy here. ‘Plus, there’s all the inconvenience the locals are having to put up with while you build your development. The access road is often blocked with diggers and lorries, then there’s the noise and upheaval.’

‘Point taken.’ Gordon nodded. ‘It seems to me that you’ve thought a lot about this so what exactly have you decided I should do?’ Was that admiration she heard in his voice?

‘Well…’ she glanced at Kenny, wondering if she’s said too much but he was looking at her admiringly too. ‘We’ve had a look at some figures.’ They’d both spent hours planning this yesterday.

Gordon listened intently as Kenny took a folder out of his backpack and outlined their plan, suggesting that the area at the rear of the proposed development, nearer to the town, could be reserved for people who actually live locally or can prove that they come from this area.

‘Means tested of course so that they go to those who need it most,’ Dee added.

‘These are the sort of prices people can afford,’ Kenny handed him a piece of paper. ‘The buyers paying top price will have the sea views and the bigger apartments, of course. But you’re far more likely to get the locals behind you if you can cater for their needs too.’

Dee could see that Gordon was studying the figures. ‘It’s an interesting proposition. Give me a while to consider it and think over the numbers.’

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