Page 46 of Coming Home to Roseford Villas
‘I get that,’ Leo replied, baffled as to why Bryan was insisting on repeating the details they’d been through.
‘Good.’ Bryan paused again. ‘But we can help you to take over this place, if you’re sure that’s what you really, really want.’
Leo’s ‘What?’ shot out of his mouth before he could stop it. ‘I’m sorry, Uncle Bryan, but what do you mean?’
Bryan gave a brief smile. ‘I’ve been doing some research of my own, and your aunt and I can act as guarantors for you. If you’re absolutely sure that you are the right fit for a business like this?’
Leo’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. ‘You’d do that for me?’ he asked, eventually.
‘We would. And when you’re solvent enough, and the mortgage company are agreeable, we can quietly remove ourselves from the agreement, and Roseford Villas will be entirely yours. What do you reckon?’
Leo’s knees gave a dangerous wobble, and he had to grab the table for support. ‘Are you quite, quite sure, Uncle Bryan? I mean, it’s a hell of a commitment.’
‘Why?’ Bryan shot back. ‘Are you planning on running out on us? I thought you were up for the challenge.’
‘Oh, I am, I am,’ Leo said quickly, trying to get his head around just what was happening in this kitchen. ‘It’s just… why would you take the risk?’
Bryan looked at him for a long moment. ‘We never had kids of our own,’ he said, rather gruffly. ‘And you and your sister and brother staying here in the summer when you were younger…well, it kind of gave us the experience of having our own children, without the years of financial agony.’ He smiled briefly. ‘We want to do this for you, Leo, and if you can keep a room for us on the odd occasion when we might like to come and visit, then that’s all to the good.’
‘I will,’ Leo said, swallowing hard to fight down the lump in his own throat. ‘Shall I, er, shall I ring the broker back? See what they say?’
‘I would, lad,’ Bryan replied. ‘Before I change my mind. Not that your Aunt Vi would let me now, of course!’
‘A Yorkshireman’s word is his bond,’ Aunt Vi teased, smiling. ‘Now, get that phone call made, Leo, let’s make it official.’
Leo looked at his aunt and uncle, and before Uncle Bryan could scuttle back out of the kitchen door, Leo had reached out and given him a hug. ‘Thank you,’ he said quietly. ‘Thank you both, so much.’
‘Ah, get on with you, you soppy sod!’ Bryan replied, but he clapped Leo on the back before he released him. ‘Now, get on that phone.’
54
After that, things seemed to move very quickly. Over the next week or so, Leo’s application for a business mortgage went in, with Bryan and Vi as guarantors. The purchase of their property in Spain, along with the sale of Roseford Villas, left them in a good financial position to act, and Leo was amazed, even with his background in contract law, how quickly the wheels started turning. He went back to London at the end of the week feeling so much lighter, and as if he’d finally started the rest of his life.
Of course, there was still the job in London to think about. He wasn’t quite sure when the purchase of Roseford Villas would be complete, and in the meantime he had to keep working, as well as working out when to hand in his notice. Fortunately, the fact that he now had a credible exit from London life boosted his mood, and he put in a lot of hours, ensuring that whoever took over from him would find the job in good order.
By mid-December, the exchange and completion dates had been set. Aunt Vi and Uncle Bryan were staying on until early spring, as their place in Spain wouldn’t be ready before then, and Leo was glad: they’d be able to show him how to do the things he hadn’t experienced during the quieter months, such as theaccounts, and liaising with suppliers, ready for him to take over when they left.
‘Well, we’re sorry to see you go,’ Andrew Palmer said, as he took Leo out for a goodbye drink. ‘But I could see your heart was never really in it. Better to get out now than be signed off with stress further down the line.’
Leo raised his pint in acknowledgement of Andrew’s words. ‘I appreciate your magnanimity, under the circumstances,’ he replied. ‘I mean, I never intended to walk out after three months. I really thought I’d be here for the long haul when I took the job, you know.’
Andrew looked at him sympathetically. ‘I know you did. You’ve never seemed the type to take a job just because you had to. Maybe I’ll break my die-hard vow to avoid the countryside and bring the wife down to this B&B of yours once you’re fully up and running. I’d like to see the place that’s managed to drag you away from a decent career!’
‘I’d like to see you there.’ Leo grinned. ‘And I’ll make sure there’s a bottle or two of good wine in, so you don’t feel you’re too far into the social badlands!’
They shook hands at the end of the night, and as Leo wended his way back to the flat, he felt an enormous sense of relief. It hadn’t worked here in London, and although he’d known that from the start, he still couldn’t quite believe how thingshadsorted themselves out. Corinne had once teased him that he’d led a charmed life, and, until the past couple of years, he’d been inclined to agree. Perhaps things were finally getting back on track for him.
The next morning, he packed up his flat for the last time and handed the keys back to the letting agent. He’d rented a car to drive back to Somerset, and this time he intended to stay there.
The traffic was heavy that night, and by the time Leo had made it to the motorway junction nearest Roseford, he feltknackered. At least this was the last time he’d be making this trip for a long while. As he pulled into the drive of Roseford Villas, and grabbed his overnight bag out of the boot, he decided the rest of his stuff could wait until morning. He’d been living out of holdalls and suitcases for so long that one more night wouldn’t matter.
Aunt Vi greeted him on the doorstep, but, eschewing any dinner, he decided just to head up to bed. The relief at being here, as he pushed the door open to the room he’d called his own since the first time he’d moved here, was almost tangible in the air.
As Leo was wearily unpacking his bag, there was a quiet knock at the door.
‘Come in,’ he called.
Aunt Vi pushed the door open and smiled. ‘I’m so glad you’re here, Leo. I worried about you doing that long drive. I can now let your mum know you made it OK, since I doubt you’ve texted her.’
