Page 41 of A December to Remember
“I don’t know where it’s going myself yet. Probably nowhere; there are a lot of things against us.”
“Like?” asked Star.
“My age. His age. My precarious living situation...”
“Wait, what? What’s precarious about your living situation?” Star asked, flicking the last teabag into a pot and handing out the steaming mugs. She’d had a feeling something was going on but couldn’t pin it down.
Maggie seemed to deliberate and then said, “I might as well tell you. But the kids don’t know yet, so keep it under your hats.”
“Um, do I need to leave?” Duncan called in, embarrassed. “I don’t want to intrude on a private matter.”
“It’s fine, Duncan. Everyone will know soon enough. I’m being evicted.”
“What!” Star and Simone said at once. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. The landlord is converting the building into a boutique hotel. I’ve got until January the thirty-first to vacate.”
“Fuck!” said Star.
“Ditto that,” added Simone. “How long have you known?”
“Since September.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Star held her hand out to Maggie, who took it.
“I was hoping I could turn things around. I’ve had meetings with a solicitor and with the Citizens Advice Bureau. And obviously I’ve tried to reason with the landlord. None of it did any good. He’s not breaking any laws. I had my final eviction notice the other day.”
“But you’ve lived here on and off for nearly thirty years. You took the tenancy over from your mum! Doesn’t being a long-standing, rent-paying tenant count for anything anymore?” asked Simone.
“I guess the building is worth more with paying guests in it than a tenant. TheObserverdid one of their ‘Ten Prettiest Villages to Visit’ pieces awhile back, and Rowan Thorp was one of them; there’s money to be made.”
“Maggie, you have to tell the kids,” said Star. “At least Patrick.”
“I know, I know. It’s just hard. I didn’t want to worry them about something that might not happen. And then as I realized I didn’t have a legal leg to stand on, their granddad died. I couldn’t tell them then, could I? ‘Hey, guys, guess what? Granddad’s dead and we’re homeless!’ And now it’s nearly Christmas. I want them to have a carefree Christmas in their home, without worrying that it’ll be their last.”
Star nodded. “I get it. I do. I just hope it doesn’t come back to bite you in the arse.”
Maggie rubbed her eyes. “You and me both.”
“What will you do?” asked Simone.
“Well, I was hoping you both wouldn’t mind if we moved in here, just for a little while, while I get myself sorted. It would mean putting off selling the place for a bit. Although I supposewe could put it on the market while I’m living here; there’s no guarantee it would sell immediately anyway...”
“Take as much time as you need,” said Star, and Simone nodded emphatically.
“To tell you the truth, I could use a bit more time to get my head around selling it,” added Simone. “I know it’s the sensible thing to do, but now I’m here again...”
“I totally get it,” said Star, relieved that it wasn’t only her who felt an attachment to the place.
From a practical perspective it was simply a building with some land and woods attached, a potential pot of gold that they all badly needed a piece of. But standing here together, ensconced in their familial history and shared memories, it was hard for the sisters to stay detached.
“I’ll share Dad’s bedroom with Verity, and you can stay in our old room. Patrick will be back at university by then, and hopefully by the next time he comes home I’ll have something sorted.”
“It’ll be lovely to live together, even just for a little while,” said Star.
“What about Joe?” asked Simone.
“What about him?”
