“Oh yes” Ben enquired “So what magical qualities did it possess?”
“Well, you see, the bridge” Katie pointed “at the far side was the magical land of ’far far away’ - if you could get past the troll under the bridge. Over there,” she pointed to the shelter in front of the little row of antique shops “is the castle where the princess grew up, but she had to cross the green with all its swamps and dragons and then cross the bridge to reach her Prince Charming.” Katie felt herself blushing at her childhood fantasies.
“So was he there when you made it?” Ben asked gently
“Oh, not really - well not how I thought he’d be anyway” Katie sighed and Ben looked at her thoughtfully, wondering who had brought such a sad look into her expressive brown eyes.
“And what about you?” Katie asked, shaking herself out of her reverie, “what did it all look like for you?”
“Oh that’s easy” Ben laughed, “this was the American Plains - Injuns lived over the bridge and we had to fight them. We weren’t very PC at nine!” he added. Katie laughed and they passed on into the Rose & Crown at the side of the common. The pub was decorated like a typical village hostelry, exposed wooden beams, gleaming brasses around the central hearth, which even had a real fire merrily burning and popping away. The slightly orange glow from the various lamps and wall lighters added to the welcoming warm feeling as Ben and Katie entered. Ben pointed to an empty table in one of the bay windows overlooking the green and Katie sat down as Ben walked over to the bar. In no time a cheery man appeared behind the bar as if he had been waiting there for Ben to arrive, business looked a bit thin, so he probably had been Ben reflected wryly.
“Hello Ben,” the deep gravelly Yorkshire accent assailed Ben “how are you, young man? I haven’t seen you in here for a while. Is it a special occasion?” he added with a wink and a knowing look across at Katie making herself comfortable on the red velour window seat. Ben ignored the innuendo and ordered a white wine for Katie and a coke for himself. Andy, the landlord gave him another knowing smile as he gave Ben his change,
“Have a nice evening!”
“Get lost Andy” Ben replied, finally rising to the bait. Andy disappeared back into the black hole he had appeared out of, still chuckling to himself, getting under anyone’s skin was an added bonus for him. Of course he never tried it when Lily, his wife, was about then he kept up the jovial landlord image, benignly looking after his flock of customers.
Ben returned to the window seat “So what did you say to him to have him roaring” Katie enquired.
“Well, actually I told him you weren’t my girlfriend - he found that hugely entertaining” Ben told her
“Oh” Katie didn’t know how to reply to that and they both sank into quiet reflection as they surveyed the common through the slightly flaky and slightly condensated bay window. Ben felt fidgety, why had he said that, it had only made them both uncomfortable - he decided not to examine why. And they had been having such a laugh before. He hated these silences, he never felt comfortable in them, he thrashed around in his head for an opening gambit, just as a drowning man thrashes around for anything to hold onto, but the more he sifted through his head the less he could think of to say, it either sounded contrived or rude, or worse - both! Just as he felt the waters closing over above his head he spied a life raft
“So why wasn’t the prince so charming in the end?” he asked. Katie jumped out of her solitary thoughts with a start.
“Sorry?”
“You said, when you were the princess that the prince came to rescue you - but that it wasn’t worth the bother or something like that.”
“Oh you know” Katie tried to laugh it off “Prince Charming, all talk, no substance. Shiny hair, empty brain - never like the story.”
“What happened? How did your prince become charmless?” Ben persisted and he watched as Katie fought with herself as to whether to share the story of her humiliation or to bat on with the faux humour and keep the conversation light
“It’s not a pretty story” she answered eventually “I don’t come out of it very well either.”
“Hey - we’ve all made mistakes” Ben replied sympathetically,
“Oh and talking about them cleanses the soul, cleans the slate - helps me to ’move on’” Katie said, not a little sarcastically.
“Well possibly” Ben replied “but I was thinking it might just give me a good laugh” he paused, then smiled and Katie smiled back. So she told him, the whole sorry tale about Marcus and their unhappy demise.
“So” Katie concluded “did it give you a laugh”
“Well, it’s not exactly a jaw breaker, no - but at least I understand why you’re back in Laxley Heath. A bit of respite from a cruel world.”
“Yes that, and the broken hip and mild concussion!”
“Well that was just-Ummm- ‘convenient’” Ben plucked the word out carefully.
“I wouldn’t let Mo hear you call it that” Katie laughed “she thinks it’s anything but convenient.”
“But she’s still glad you’re around - she missed you a lot.” Katie was just about to enquire how Ben knew Mo missed her granddaughter when he stood up to greet someone who had just entered the pub.
“Stew, Stew mate over here” An extremely tall, almost lanky, and angular man strode over to them
“Ben, hi, how are you?” They shook hands and Ben introduced Stewart to Katie.
“My cue to leave I think. I know you have business to discuss.” Katie stood up as she spoke.
“There’s no need really” Ben answered, “it’s nothing covert - is it?” he asked Stew, realising he didn’t actually know what it was about.
“No, nothing covert - just a possible opportunity” Stew confirmed
“Well as intriguing as that may be, I’ve just seen Tamsin appear with her yoga class - so I’ll make myself scarce and go learn a few chants or possibly a few new positions.” Katie coloured immediately the words were out, double entendres and risqué talk were not her thing. She scuttled over to the bar where Tamsin’s crowd soon welcomed her and to her relief were actually discussing last night’s reality TV show to which she was able to add plenty to the conversation, having sat through every episode. Ben and Stewart both gamely resisted the urge to laugh at Katie’s less than graceful exit and turned to the business in hand.
“So Stew - what’s on the table?” Ben set the ball rolling.
“Well then” Stew continued “I might have the perfect job for you.” Ben felt his stomach tighten, BW needed a break, maybe at last they were going to get one.
“Go on then” Ben prompted
“Well it’s a renovation, but it’s two rows of derelict terraced housing, going for a song because they’re at the wrong end of the town, but I happen to know that a lot of the derelict commercial buildings around them are going to be pulled down and a new commercial and residential cosmopolitan precinct built with bars, cafes and apartments, which should make twenty newly renovated town houses in an up and coming area extremely desirable. But the plans for the precinct are going to be released at the end of next month so we’ve only got a window of about four weeks before everybody will see the potential and the price could double.” Stew could barely contain his excitement.
“So you want to be a part of this?” Ben asked
“Yes, 10% plus design for free.”
“Okay, tell me a bit more about it, I can’t think of the area you mean in Rawlinston.” Ben pondered.
“Ah well, that’s the point. It’s not in Rawlinston.” Stew announced
“Where is it?” Ben took the bait.
“Southampton” Stew produced it like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
“Southampton” Ben repeated incredulously, “could it be any further away. We don’t have anybody in Southampton.” Ben could see the dream which had been so promising slipping through his fingers.
“But that’s the beauty - you don’t need to” Stew answered, “if you send d
own a few of your best workers who could live on the site during the week, pick up the rest from the pool down there and then supervise it yourself.”
“Me!” Ben was incredulous.
“Yes - if you worked on it full time you could have it done in six months and the property’s all sold within a year. Plus you’d keep full control of the project.” Stew was very persuasive.
“And you think it’s do-able?” Ben was starting to hope
“Look, absolutely it’s do-able - if you want it. But like I said we’ve only got a short time frame.”
Ben sat back and exhaled, in his stomach he could feel the butterflies of excitement starting to fly. This could be just the project they were looking for, but Southampton, it was a shame it had to be so far away.
“Stew, thanks, give me a couple of days to talk to John and Charlie and I’ll get back to you.”
“It’s a great chance Ben. I wouldn’t let it go if I were you. First step to your first million!” he joked.
Ben laughed “First step to my first thousand will do me - or even to paying off the overdraft.” They shook hands with an arrangement for Stew to email Ben all the details so he could bring it to the BW team. Feeling the need for a small celebration he tried to catch Katie’s eye to see if she wanted another drink. Tamsin’s friend Rita nudged Katie as they sat talking about the lotus position; at least that was the last position they had been talking about when Katie had actually been listening, they had soon moved off reality TV and onto their shared love of yoga. It seemed to Katie that yoga was definitely a participation sport. Rita nudged her again
“Don’t look now but I think someone wants your attention?” Rita giggled
Katie looked up to see Ben gesturing did she want a drink - Oh God, yes and a large one! Seeing her chance to escape any more talk about mantras she made her excuses and headed to the bar.
“Another one?” Ben asked
“Oh please, yes - remind me never to take up yoga, it is possibly the most boring conversation piece ever.” Katie rolled her eyes and grabbed the large glass of Chardonnay that Andy had just plonked in front of her, taking a large slurp she smiled,
“Ah, now that’s much better” she sighed
“So not to your taste then?” Ben raised an enquiring eyebrow as he nodded Tamsin’s crowd.
“No, not really. I mean they seem very nice people - with all that meditating and communing with nature they really ought to be - but they take it so seriously! So how did your meeting go?”
“Actually I think it went very well. Stew had a good proposition for BW. It needs more looking into, but it could be a goer.” Ben’s eyes lit up as he talked about the project and the possibilities that it could open up for BW. It seemed that an extra light had been turned on inside and the shower of blue from his now quite remarkable eyes would have drawn ships into port if Ben had been taking a stroll along a cliff. For the first time Katie noticed that Ben was a man as well as the good mate he was turning out to be.
“Sorry” Ben interrupted her musings “you look a bit glazed - I get a bit carried away about work.”
“No no” Katie protested “Actually I think it’s two large glasses of Chardonnay on a basically empty stomach. I’ve hardly had a drink since I’ve been at Mo’s house. I think my tolerance levels have dropped.” Katie giggled. Ben looked across at her and for a moment he thought he was ten again, looking at Katie Collins from the next seat with a desire to get her attention no matter what. Okay, he thought, we’re back to pulling pigtails, now just grow up and behave like an adult.
“So let’s get you something to eat” he offered “I’m starving and Lucy’s probably eating Poppy by now. Or worse she might have tried to cook something!”
“She can’t be that bad surely?” Katie laughed. Ben told Katie about the ’kitchen’ incident over the last weekend, “it was only a small fire - but definitely a fire.” he finished. Katie picked up her bag, looking a little concerned
“Perhaps we should be getting back - we can call for something on the way. Do you know any numbers?” Laughing Ben followed Katie out of the pub and called up a number on his mobile.
“How does Indian sound? The Kaghan Valley delivers to Laxley too.” Ben offered.
“Oh yes” Katie replied “I haven’t had a good bhuna for ages.” Ben rang the number and ordered a set meal for four to be delivered to Tolpuddle House, including a chicken bhuna. Snapping his phone shut he caught up to Katie who had hastened up the road now that a fine drizzle was hanging in the air and clinging to her coat and hair, defying it not to go frizzy. They arrived back at Tolpuddle House in half the time it had taken them to get to the pub. Just as Katie was opening the door into the flat Lucy came flying down the stairs screeching to Ben.
“Ben, Ben, we don’t have to go just yet do we? I’m polishing up a stone and Poppy says she’ll set it in a pendant for me. Honestly Ben it’s beautiful, you can see about seven different colours in it depending which light it’s in, it’s called a quarter or something. What is it again?” she said to Poppy who had appeared behind her at the top of the stairs.
“Quartz” Poppy supplied
“Yes a quartz” Lucy repeated “so we don’t have to go straight away do we?” Ben couldn’t help but smile at Lucy’s enthusiasm, he could hardly reconcile it with the sullen and moody teenager hanging around his flat only two days ago when he had banned an outing to the beauticians on the parade for a third ear piercing.
“Well, actually, titch, no we don’t, we’ve ordered an Indian it’ll be here in about twenty minutes, so you’ve got a bit longer. Why don’t you join us?” he shouted up to Poppy “I’ve ordered plenty and it’s the least I can do after you’ve been babysitting Luce.” He threw a sidelong glance at Lucy and was gratified to see her rise to the bait. “Only joking sis - you’re far too big to babysit - so what do you say Poppy?” Poppy accepted in double-quick time, after all she was a student and they never turned down the offer of a free meal unless there were serious strings attached. Half an hour later all four of them were happily ensconced around Katie’s huge pine kitchen table with an assortment of foil containers, cardboard lids and polystyrene pots scattered between them. Lucy was still clutching her new pendant in one hand and kept running a finger over the smooth polished surface. Ben marvelled at the animation in her face as she told him about the process and all about Poppy’s project, he realised he didn’t see her happy very often. In fact, he reflected ruefully, he didn’t really see Lucy enough full stop. He made a mental resolution that once she was back at Mum’s he would make more of an effort to see her (and Mum) more regularly and invite her round more too. But he reflected she would have to go back to Mum’s shortly what with all the jobs at BW and the investigation work required for the Southampton project and the investment in the company he really didn’t have a lot of time to spend with Lucy now and he couldn’t afford to lose out on the opportunities, he’d ring Mum in the morning and sort out when she’d be back to pick up Lucy. Looking at his watch he realised it was nearly nine thirty and time to get Lucy back home for school in the morning, although he himself was loathe to leave the cosy atmosphere. Ben had to admit it had been a really enjoyable and relaxing evening, stretching out like a cat awakening in front of the fire he gave a stifled yawn and told Lucy to grab her stuff as they had to make a move. Ben and Lucy thanked Katie and Poppy for the evening and reluctantly walked out into the chilly damp night.
CHAPTER 9
The following morning after packing a still excited Lucy off to school still wearing her new pendant despite Ben’s best efforts to tell her the teachers would probably confiscate it, Ben sat down at his desk at home and wrote himself a quick list of the tasks he needed to do in the day. He always liked to do this as he found it immensely satisfying to keep putting a line through items as he completed them. The list was relatively short;
1) Ring Mum
2) Ring solicitor (re: investments)
3) Do a search on the Southampton
project
4) Tie up any other possible projects
5) Put some budget figures together for Friday’s meeting
Ben looked up - nothing too difficult on today’s list but he needed to sort out item one to give him a chance at getting the rest done. Ben looked at his watch, it was a quarter to eight, there was no point phoning Mum yet, even if they were an hour in front in Spain it was still far too early to ring his mother who would not emerge from bed for at least another couple of hours. Ben decided to head for the office and ring her from there. After catching up with John and Charlie they had added another three possible projects for the business, including the Southampton one, and he now had the details he needed to put some budget figures together but first he had to tackle his mother. Picking up the phone he tapped in the number for his mother’s mobile and waited, after about six rings someone answered with a very languid “Hello”
“Hi Mum, it’s Ben”
“Oh Ben hi, why are you ringing?” not a promising start Ben thought as she sounded genuinely puzzled.
“I just need to know what time you’ll be home on Friday so I can drop Lucy off. I’ve got a lot of work visits I need to do and I can’t arrange them until Lucy’s back home - and by the way you really could’ve rung me to ask about Lucy staying” Ben admonished
“Well” Trudy Chapman bristled “I didn’t think having your sister to stay would be such a problem to you.”
“It’s not a problem Mum,” Ben sighed “I could’ve done with some notice - just to arrange things. I love Lucy and most of the time she’s good fun to have around.”
“Yes you see dear. I knew you wouldn’t mind really and what with my nerves playing up dreadfully I really had to get away. I needed peace and tranquility to rediscover my inner core.”
“Oh God” Ben groaned inwardly, she’d obviously discovered another guru to follow and Trudy continued right on cue
A Change for the Better? Page 8