Someone Else's Dream by Janet Pywell

Author:Janet Pywell [Janet Pywell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Janet Pywell
Published: 2021-11-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Eva points at the long oak table. ‘It’s the one thing I insisted on keeping from my marriage. James may have left me but the dining table brings us together as a family. That was the one thing I wouldn’t let him take away from me.’

She continues my tour of her home as if I’m about to buy her property.

‘And leading off the kitchen, at the back of the house, we have the conservatory that overlooks the tropical garden. Tropical because it is overgrown and hasn’t been touched since we moved in,’ she jokes.

‘Wow, you’re right about that. That’s a job and a half.’

We stand at the back door.

‘My heart isn’t in it – even with a flower shop. Nick mowed the grass a few times but …I have no inclination to venture outside to look after it or to cut back the overhanging trees.’

‘If I get time, I’ll clear it for you. The patio at the café looks so much better.’

In the conservatory there are two comfortable sofas and several racks of magazines. She waves her arm like a tour guide, in the appropriate direction. ‘And off to the right side of the kitchen is access to the garage, commonly the dumping ground for all the crates that we haven’t yet unpacked from our move.’

She opens the door to the garage to prove her point and a gust of cold wind blows up my skirt. I hold it down and she pulls the door closed.

‘Oh, I nearly forgot, the washing machine and dryer are here.’

‘How long have you been living here?’

‘Almost two years. It’s been difficult, as you know, realising that I’m alone and I would have to make my own decisions, pay my own bills and look after my kids. I like the skylights in the kitchen, they add more light.’

We stand and gaze up at the sloping roof that had been an extension added by the previous owners. ‘It makes the grey worktops seem lighter. It could have looked very dark in here.’

She runs her hand across the shining six-ringed hob and looks approvingly at the double oven, and in the lounge she pauses to look at the two overlarge leather sofas.

‘They had been lost in my last house but now they’re hard to navigate around. It was a matter of principle to keep them but there isn’t much space in here.’

There’s a flat screen television in the far corner and an artificial but pretty fireplace.

‘The carpet was left behind by the last occupants,’ she says as we walk upstairs. ‘I’d like to change it. Now, this is Emma’s room and I’ve sorted it out the best I can, leaving you space for clothes in the wardrobe and chest of drawers.’

There’s a double bed with an animal print duvet pushed against the wall. It looks so cosy and comfortable, and I bite my bottom lip so my tears don’t overflow.

Eva will never know how grateful I am.

‘This is your bathroom. It’s not ensuite. Emma normally shares with Nick who has the converted loft.

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