The House Read online

  One thing led to another, and Rose ended up taking Fin home. The sex was pretty decent, and they’d done it again a few times before deciding they were much better off as friends. Now, Fin considered Rose her very best friend. She’d stuck by Fin even at her most twattish and was godmother to both kids.

  “Love the hair.” Fin stood and kissed Rose on the cheek.

  “Thank you.” Rose gave a little curtsy before sitting down and pulling a pint towards her. She had the tiniest hands and Fin was always reminded of a toddler when Rose held a pint glass. “How’s Sadie?”

  “She’s okay, thanks. A bit better. She wants to sell the house.”

  “I don’t blame her. That prick knows where it is. How are you? And don’t give me your usual bullshit. How are you really?”

  How was she? Rose was the only one who ever asked. Everybody wanted to know about Sadie, and of course that was right and normal. She’d been through hell and Fin felt selfish when the little voice inside whined, But what about me? True, she hadn’t been through the attack and couldn’t even imagine how terrible it must have been—she still had to batten down the rage when she thought about it. But she was also the one who shook Sadie awake at night when she was having a nightmare and held her while she sobbed. She was the one who had to make up a story to the kids about why they were living with Granny and Grandad and why Mummy’s face was black and blue. And make up more stories about why she wasn’t herself lately.

  So sometimes, yeah, she did want to be asked how she was doing, because the attack hadn’t left her untouched either. “I think if I have to live with Treven for another week, I’m going to blow my brains out. Or his. I’m not sure.”

  Rose brayed with laughter. A few people turned around to stare at them. She had a horrendous laugh which also, somehow, made you want to laugh along with her. “I only met him once, and I can see why you’d want to kill him. He’s number six my top ten list of bastards.”

  “I thought whatshisname, that plumber you were shagging, was number six.”

  “I’ve bumped him down. It’s been four years, Fin. Holding on to negative shit isn’t good for you,” she said sagely. Rose went on a self-awareness course she got half price through Groupon the previous month.

  “Says the woman with the top ten list of bastards.” Fin smiled and shook her head. “How are you, anyway? I see you’ve dyed your hair.”

  “I’m great. It’s called Passion Pink. And it’s making quite a difference to my love life already.”

  “Do tell.”

  “I finally managed to bag the dog walker woman.”

  Fin clapped enthusiastically. “Well played. Does this mean you can stop pretending to be a jogger now?”

  “Yes, thank God. Getting up at six every Wednesday was killing me.”

  “Have you slept with her yet?” Fin asked.

  Rose eyed her sceptically. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You haven’t answered my question. I asked how you were.” Rose leaned forward and raised her eyebrows.

  Fin shifted and looked away. “I told you already. I hate living with Treven.”

  “Fin, you’re starting to piss me off.”

  “Okay, fine. Fine.” Fin held up her hands in surrender. “I’m okay. Some days I still want to find the fucker who hurt her and rip his head off—every day, really. It’s hard to lie to the kids as well. Especially Liam—Lucy’s still too young to really question me.”

  “Liam’s smart. He sees a lot.”

  “I know. I catch him watching sometimes, trying to work out what we aren’t telling him. I hate lying, but Sadie doesn’t want him to know. He already has nightmares. On a happier note, Sadie wants me to sell the house.”

  “Why’s that a happy note?” Rose downed the last of her pint. Fin was still only halfway through hers.

  “She wants to do the country move. Told me to start looking for somewhere.”

  Rose narrowed her eyes. “Is she doing this because of what happened? I mean, what if she wakes up in a year and realizes the move was a massive mistake?”

  Fin shrugged. “Then I guess we move back. I did ask her if she was sure.”

  “And? What did she say?”

  “She wants to move to the country. What am I supposed to do? Refuse?”

  “Maybe wait a while? It’s only been three weeks since she was, you know, attacked. Why don’t you hang on a bit longer?”

  “I can’t stay there, Rose. I’m serious, I can’t stand Treven. I think he hates me, and I know I hate him. It isn’t good for the kids or Sadie. The atmosphere is terrible. If Sadie didn’t need me, I’d have moved back to the house until it sold.”

  “Yeah, okay, I get that. You can always stay with me—all of you.”

  “You live in a studio flat, Rose.”

  Rose looked indignant. “It has a mezzanine level.”

  “How would the dog walker feel about you sharing your flat with a family of four?”

  “We stay at her place. It’s nicer.”

  “Thanks, mate, I do appreciate the offer but I think I’ll just find us somewhere to rent until the house sells and we buy somewhere else.”

  Rose nodded. “Offer’s always open.”

  “Thanks. So, tell me more about the dog walker.”

  Rose laughed. “Let’s get another drink and I’ll fill you in.”

  * * *

  Sadie held out her glass and Rachel poured her some more wine. They were sitting in her parents’ conservatory. She and Rachel Moses met at university and dated for a couple of months. Like Fin, Rachel was tall and pale with short blond hair. The similarity ended there, though. Rachel was ice with a sharp tongue that could cut you off at the knees. Sadie had been on the end of it a few times when they were lovers. The relationship hadn’t worked out, but the friendship had, and Sadie was grateful for it now because, apart from Fin, Rachel was the most loyal person she knew.

  “Are you absolutely sure about this move?” Rachel asked for the third time. Sometimes, she could be like Sadie’s father, asking the same question until she got the answer she wanted.

  “Yes, Rachel. I won’t go back to the house, and Fin always wanted to move out of London—”

  “Which is fine for her. She can sew up sofas wherever, I imagine.” Rachel waved her hand dismissively. “You’re a barrister, for God’s sake.”

  “I can do that in places other than London as well,” Sadie replied, ignoring the jibe at Fin.

  “It’s not the same and you know it.”

  “Don’t be a snob, Rachel.” Sadie sipped her wine and noted it was her favourite. Rachel always bought her favourite.

  “I’m not. Well, okay, maybe I am. I’m selfish and I want you to stay here.”

  Sadie laughed. “I’m not going to the moon. We’ll be an hour at most outside of London.”

  “In the country.” Rachel raised one eyebrow.

  “It’s not even the country, Rachel. It has the Central Line. It’s a twenty-minute drive from North London.”

  Rachel pursed her lips. “It’s not the same.”

  Sadie sighed. How could she explain this to her? “After Lance Sherry attacked me, when I realized I might never see my kids or Fin again, I did a lot of thinking. I work ridiculous hours, and I hardly get to see them as it is. At weekends, I’m sitting at the kitchen table with a pile of paperwork, and they’re off to the zoo or the park. I get home after they’ve gone to bed most nights. For the first time, I don’t have anything to do except think. I don’t know if I want to be a barrister any more. It was always my dad’s dream, anyway, not mine.”

  “You didn’t want to be a barrister?” Rachel asked, looking at Sadie like she’d grown a second head.

  “I don’t know what I wanted to be. I didn’t get the chance to find out.”

  “So you’re going to bum around the countryside contemplating your navel? What will you live on?” Rachel asked sceptically.

 
Sadie knew the conversation would go like this. She was using it as a practice run for her father.

  “You don’t need to worry about that, Rachel. You won’t be the one having to support me.”

  “No, Fin will. On a pittance,” she shot back.

  “That’s enough.” Sadie was sick of people running Fin down. “She doesn’t earn a pittance, and even if she did, it’s got bloody nothing to do with you.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Rachel leaned forward and put her hand on Sadie’s knee. “That was out of order. I shouldn’t have said it.”

  “No, you shouldn’t.”

  “I’m worried about you, Sadie. You were horribly attacked, and now you’re telling me you’re jacking in your job and moving to the countryside. It’s a lot to take in.”

  Sadie sighed. It was a lot to take in. She hadn’t even told Fin about her job yet. She hadn’t really thought about money either. They had some savings, and Fin did earn enough to tide them over for a while, contrary to what her father and Rachel thought. After that, though? What would they do? What would she do? She still didn’t know.

  “Whatever you decide, Sadie, I’m here for you. Despite the fact I can be a selfish arsehole, I do love you.”

  Sadie smiled. “I know. And you aren’t an arsehole. Often.”

  Rachel grinned. “Thanks. If you need money—”

  “Thank you, but no.”

  “But I—”

  “No, Rachel. We’re fine. We can manage.”

  Rachel nodded, though she looked like she wanted to say more. Sadie wouldn’t take money from her, or her father. For the first time, she and Fin would be doing what they wanted to do, what was best for their family, and they didn’t need anybody else’s help.

  Chapter Six

  One month later

  Fin checked the price on the property details again. The estate agent had emailed them over that morning and Fin couldn’t believe the house was in their price range. She’d called their office to make sure it wasn’t a misprint and booked an appointment that afternoon to view it.

  There must be something wrong with it, she thought, while she waited at the end of the lane as the agent had instructed her. Fin judged the house to be about ten minutes from the tube station by car. It had five bedrooms, backed onto farmland, and had its own outbuilding complete with electricity and running water. The previous owners were in the middle of renovating it when they’d had to return to France in a hurry because of a family emergency. It seemed unlikely they would be able to come back, so they’d put the house on the market and priced it low for a quick sale.

  Even so, it was well below market value for this area, and Fin couldn’t understand why. They could have put it on for fifty thousand more, and it still would have been cheap. Life had taught her you didn’t get anything for nothing and there was always a catch. She’d probably get inside and see there was subsidence or a horrendous damp problem. It didn’t look that way in the photos, but pictures could be touched up.

  The agent arrived bang on twelve thirty and pulled up alongside her car. She rolled down the window. “Fin?”

  “Yeah. Gemma?”

  “That’s me. Hop in and I’ll drive us up there. It’s tricky to find. Your car will be fine there.”

  Fin got in the car and Gemma started up the lane at a snail’s pace. She glanced sheepishly over at Fin. “I’ve been here twice and still miss the turn every time.”

  Fin smiled. “Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but what’s wrong with this place?”

  For a moment, Gemma looked alarmed, then glanced over at Fin with her estate agent’s smile firmly in place. “Everyone asks that. It’s a great house, I promise. The owners hadn’t gotten around to completely modernizing it, but it’s structurally sound. They really need a quick sale.”

  “Because of a family emergency.”

  Gemma’s smile faltered again. “Right.”

  “Right.” Fin sighed and turned to look out the window. Gemma wasn’t going to give her any more than that. Besides, she’d see what the problem was for herself in a minute.

  Gemma didn’t miss the turn this time, and before long they were parked outside a beautiful Victorian house. The front garden was overgrown, and litter and weeds covered the gravel drive, but none of that detracted from the house.

  “It still retains most of the original features—the stained glass around the door, and another gorgeous stained glass window as you go up the stairs.”

  Fin followed Gemma inside the house, and it was just as lovely as the outside. Patterned tiles lined the hallway—again, original—and the architraves, plaster ceiling roses, and cornices all remained. As they walked around the ground floor, Fin saw the previous owners had finished most of the work down here. There was a large kitchen with a working fire and two big reception rooms and a utility room. A conservatory at the back opened onto the garden, which was a complete wilderness at the moment. Fin couldn’t help imagining them all out here in the summer, a barbecue on the go and a tree house for the kids to mess about in. She smiled.

  Upstairs was a little shabbier. It still had the original features, but the hall carpet was mouldy and lining paper was peeling off the walls. There were a lot of water stains on the ceiling.

  “Looks like the roof’s knackered.” Fin pointed to a particularly big stain in the front bedroom.

  “It may need some attention,” Gemma conceded.

  The bathrooms were pretty awful seventies jobs and would need to be replaced at some point, but they seemed fairly functional for now. Why anyone had ever thought an avocado coloured suite was trendy was beyond Fin.

  It was the loft bedroom which did it for Fin. The owners hadn’t spared much expense up here. There were new carpets and a walk-in cupboard—a dressing room according to Gemma—and the attached bathroom had a roll-top bath and something Gemma called a rainforest shower. As far as Fin could see, it just meant there were two showerheads instead of one. Sadie would probably like it, though.

  “What do you think?”

  They were back in the kitchen, and Fin was desperately trying not to show how much she wanted the house. “I have a few concerns, but it looks good.”

  Gemma smiled as if she knew Fin was full of shit. “We’ve already had a lot of interest, so I don’t think it’s going to be around for long.”

  “Right,” Fin replied. She looked up at the wall and frowned. That’s weird. “There is one thing. I’ve noticed some slightly odd features. The house is structurally sound, isn’t it?”

  “I believe so. What sort of things?” Gemma asked.

  “In some of the rooms, there’s vents on the internal walls. Or that door in the second bedroom that doesn’t have an internal handle.”

  “Well, it’s an old house, you know. Lots of quirks, bits fall off. It’s probably been remodelled over the years—it was built in 1886, you know.”

  “I suppose,” Fin agreed. But why would you have a door opening onto a wall? Unless it led somewhere originally. Maybe she’d get hold of the original blueprints and see what work had been done. If they got the house, that was. Sadie still needed to see it. “I’d like to bring my wife for a look if that’s okay?”

  “Of course. Let’s go back to the car and book in a time.”

  Fin followed Gemma outside. She took one last look at the house and knew she wanted it. Even though it needed further renovation, there was something about it that spoke to her. She felt like she’d come home.

  * * *

  “Is this normal?” Sadie whispered, standing beside Fin as they stood waiting in the lane near the house.

  “What? Waiting here or viewing it with another couple?” Fin whispered back.

  “Well, both.”

  Fin grinned. “Apparently it’s hard to find, and about the other”—she nodded over at the couple standing by their brand new BMW—“I don’t know.”

  The truth was, as soon as Fin saw them—Grant and Bev—her heart sank. It was true you couldn’t always j
udge a book by its cover, but they looked minted—rich. They could probably outbid her and Sadie all day long. What made it worse was she didn’t like them. Grant’s beady little eyes kept raking over Sadie, and Bev was looking at them as if they were aliens. Fin doubted she’d ever seen real-life lesbians before. Grant, on the other hand, was probably imagining all the lesbian porn he’d ever watched, with Sadie in the starring role.

  Fin was relieved when Gemma pulled up. “Hi, everyone. Fin, did you and Sadie want to follow me up in your car? Grant and Beth can come with me.” She favoured them with what was probably her best smile.

  Fin nodded. So Gemma thought Grant and Bev were the most likely couple to get the house too. She sighed.

  Fin studied Sadie’s face as they walked round the house, trying to guess what she was thinking. It felt a bit like introducing your new girlfriend to your best friend and praying they would like each other. Gemma pretty much left them to their own devices, telling them Fin had been here before so just to look around and let her know if they had any questions.

  “Well? What do you think?” Fin couldn’t contain herself any longer. They had been all the way around, and she couldn’t tell what Sadie was thinking.

  “You really love it, don’t you?” Sadie smiled.

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “Yes, darling. You’re like Lucy with a new unicorn toy.”

  “Christ, I’m not that manic, am I?”

  Sadie laughed. “Almost.”

  “What do you think, though? Do you like it?”

  “Umm…yes.”

  “You don’t sound sure. You’re doing that thing where you furrow your brow.”

  “I do like it. I mean, it needs work upstairs, but it’s a good size. The location is excellent, and the price is so low for what it is.”

  “But?”

  “I’m not sure. I don’t know. Maybe I’m still getting used to the idea of moving out of London.”

  Fin studied her. Sadie did seem much better this last week. She’d been out to the shops alone a few times, and the panic attacks weren’t coming as frequently. She wasn’t all the way back to her old self. Sometimes Fin wondered if she ever would be. She’d changed since the attack, which was probably normal, and in some ways it was positive change. She’d told Fin she wasn’t sure about being a barrister any more, that it had always been her father’s dream and she’d just gone along with it.