Swansea Summer by Catrin Collier

Author:Catrin Collier
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781909840652
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Joe opened the French windows of the morning room and stepped out on to the terrace. The stone Victorian planters were bright with masses of red and white tulips and the red, white and pink buds on the rhododendrons and azaleas that filled the shrubberies bordering the garden were coming into bloom. The lawns had been cut, dressed and spiked ready for summer. His grandmother’s orders? Or had the gardener continued to work to the best of his capabilities in the hope that the new owner would keep him on?

He looked down at the beach and imagined walking there with Lily, and later their children. Throwing balls for the children and sticks for the dog. The floppy-eared golden retriever he had always wanted and his mother had never allow him to have …

‘Congratulations, Joseph.’

He turned to see Esme standing behind him. ‘That seems to be an inappropriate word to use on the day of grandmother’s funeral.’

‘Even when she’s made you a very wealthy young man?’ She picked a few wrinkled brown leaves from the ivy that climbed past the French windows to the first-floor balcony. ‘You’ll be needing a housekeeper. I could stay on, supervise a daily and look after the place for you.’

‘Mr Thomas advised me to lease it until I’m ready to live here myself.’

‘Lease this house!’ She couldn’t have been more shocked if he’d suggested burning it down.

‘On a renewable contract. He explained that I could reclaim it at three months’ notice whenever I wish. He has a tenant in mind.’

‘And when this tenant wrecks the furniture, ruins the decor …’

‘I intend to change it when I finally move in,’ he cut her short. ‘Until then, leasing it out will give me an income to cover the overheads and pay for any repairs that need doing.’

‘It’s easy to see who you’ve been talking to. You even sound like Richard Thomas.’

‘He is our family solicitor.’

‘And like him, all you see when you look at this house is an “investment” property to be milked for even more money for your overflowing coffers.’

Joe looked out over the bay to the glittering sea. ‘It means a lot more than that and I’d like to live here one day but not as it is. It’s decorated to grandmother’s taste, not mine.’

‘It’s full of things, mine, your grandparents’ …’

‘Take whatever you like.’

She froze as realisation dawned. ‘When is this tenant moving in?’

‘As soon as it can be arranged. I’ve told Mr Thomas to go ahead.’

‘And where am I supposed to go?’ Her eyes blazed furiously.

He recalled what Richard Thomas had told him about his grandmother ensuring his mother was well provided for. ‘You have the divorce settlement and the monthly allowance Dad … John Griffiths has made you.’

‘You consider that enough? After you’ve just been left my mother’s entire estate?’

‘Mr Thomas …’

‘To hell with bloody Richard Thomas.’

He moved away from her, hitting his back against the balustrade. It was the first time he had heard her swear. Then he saw her sway and realised she had been drinking.

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