Page 5 of Seashells at The Summer Hotel Lovely Bay
Once they were in the garden, they removed the hanging baskets from the back of the hotel and stood looking up at the back of the property.
Nancy made a funny face and shook her head to the left and right in confusion. ‘Still can’t believe nobody has bought this. It’s so pretty out the back here. What a setting, eh? If only I had a few spare bob in my back pocket.’
‘I know. I was thinking the same earlier.’ Nina agreed. ‘So many people have looked at it, too.’
‘Why do you think it hasn’t sold?’
Nina contemplated for a second. ‘It’s purely and simply down to finances, if you ask me. It’s a lot of money. It’s justtooexpensive, in my humble opinion, and it’s a funny part of town in a way. Unless you’ve got a lot of money to potentially gamble, you could be up the creek without a paddle. What do I know, though? I’m no property expert.’
‘Yeah, I see what you mean,’ Nancy agreed. ‘It’s a lot of money to sink into an old place.’
‘I just think the right person hasn't come along yet. The fact that it can’t be developed has thrown off so many people according to Ella, so there’s that, too.’
‘It must be that. I suppose if you could knock it down or turn it into luxury flats, then it would be a whole different ball game.’
‘Of course, it would. Look at the view…’ Nina said as she turned around and pointed down in the direction of the River Lovely. ‘If developers could shove a load of flats on here, they’d be fighting over it.’
‘Yeah, you’d think people would be queuing up to live here.’
Nina looked back at the hotel again. ‘As I said, the price is way too high. I suppose Jill's just sitting, waiting, and holding tight. It’s going to make money anyway in the long run, right?’
‘Yeah, I suppose so. It’s not as if it costs her anything.’ Nancy rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, to win the lottery, come into some money or inherit something like this. One can dream.’
Nina nodded. ‘That would be nice. Who wouldn’t want to win the lottery?’
‘Some people reckon it makes you unhappy. Let me just tell you I am not one of those people. It’s my game plan and how I intend to make my millions. Gambling on a ticket every week. One day, Neens. One nice day.’
‘Yeah, you and me both.’
A few minutes later, they secured the greenhouse as best they could, put the bolt over the shed door, and stood by the weather vane in the middle of the lawn, peering down in the direction of the river.
‘So, what else has been happening with you? Anything exciting to report?’ Nancy asked.
‘Not a lot. I don’t need excitement in my life, Nance. What about you?’
‘Same, just working, really. We need a night out soon.’
Nina nodded. ‘Yes, we definitely do. We could go to the pub with Sophie and have a good old chinwag.’
‘That would be great. Let’s lock it in. What’s going on on your side of town?’
‘Storm prepping mostly! Chowder deliveries will be happening…’
Nancy shook her head. ‘Oh, I wish I was at your end of town. I miss out on the chowder deliveries from you. I’ve heard they’re so good, too.’
Nina raised her eyebrows. ‘You’ve had loads of them!’
‘No, I haven’t. I always miss out these days.’
‘I’ll bring you a special delivery to the station. Or I’ll save you some, put it in the freezer.’
‘Excellent. You really need to start your own speakeasy, you know. Your chowder has become that good – almost as if you were brought up on the stuff. True blue Lovely I’d call you, ha!’
Nina nodded and chuckled. ‘I don’t know if I need to take that on or not.’
‘Imagine the ground floor of your place as a speakeasy. It’s the perfect location for it. I don’t know why we haven’t thought about it before. Then you’d get to go to all the other places for free.’
‘Hmm.’
