Page 193 of The Pearl Sister
He did, and I nearly gave him a serious black eye.
‘That’s twenty per cent less than I paid for it!’
‘Sadly, Miss D’Aplièse, the property market is a law unto itself. It relies on sentiment, which, unlike waterside apartments, is in short supply at the moment. It will come back, of course, as it always does in London. If I were you and didn’t need the money, I’d hedge my bets and rent it out.’
We then discussed how much I could rent it out for, which actually, to someone like me, was enough money to keep me in ’roo dinners for years and years. He said his agency would handle everything, so we signed some forms and shook hands. I gave him a spare key and just as I was showing him out, my mobile rang.
‘Sia?’ I said breathlessly.
‘We’re here.’
‘Where’s “here”?’
‘Sitting outside Linda Potter’s house. She’s in.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Orlando knocked on her door, and when she opened it, he announced himself as the local Conservative candidate for the area. I said that the Monster Raving Loony Party might be more applicable . . .’
Howls of laughter ensued down the line. When the two of them had recovered, Star continued. ‘Anyway, I took over from Orlando and introduced myself as his secretary and her face lit up. She told me that she was “once a private secretary to a very important man”.’
‘Oh,’ I said. ‘Was that significant?’
‘Hang on, Cee, let me tell you the rest. I then asked her if she was retired. She nodded and said yes. “Put out to grass before my time,” were her words. Orlando and I think she was got rid of.’
‘Maybe it was just her time to retire?’
‘We reckon she’s not even fifty yet.’
‘Oh,’ I repeated. ‘What do you think I should do?’
‘Come and see her. I can collect you from Ashford station tomorrow, as long as it’s not after three thirty, because that’s when I pick up Rory from school.’
‘You mean you’ll be my wing gunner?’
‘That’s what sisters are for, aren’t they?’
‘Yeah. Thanks, Sia. Bye.’
I started packing up my stuff in the apartment halfheartedly, and as the afternoon wore on, I began to feel that really bad sensation of being alone. Star had her people now, and so did I, except mine were on the other side of the world. I slumped down on the sofa, feeling really low. Then, as if by magic, my mobile rang.
‘Hello?’
After a long crackly pause, a familiar voice said, ‘Cee? It’s me, Chrissie.’
‘Hi! How are you?’ I said.
‘Great, I’m just great. Your grandpa sends his love.’
‘Send my love back. How’s things?’
‘Good, good. I just wanted you to be the first – or, in fact, the second person to know, as I told your grandpa – I just got offered the job at the gallery!’
Chrissie gave a squeal of joy, which made me smile.
‘That’s brilliant news!’
‘I know! Isn’t it? The money’s pathetic, of course, but your sweet grandpa has said I can stay with him until I save up some moolah for my own place. Not joking, Cee, he’s my new BFF, but we both really miss you.’
