‘Well even so, you’ve done an amazing job. This is well deserved.’
When Marty took the cheque, he said, ‘You’ve only signed it. You’ve forgotten to fill it in.’
‘I haven’t.’ He glanced around the garden while Marty attempted to hand back the blank cheque. ‘I bet you’d like one of your own – a garden.’
‘Yeah. I was hoping to move in with my mate in his two-bed rental. It had a little garden. But then his girlfriend said she didn’t want me there.’
Jake nodded. ‘That’s not what I meant. I’m talking about your own garden. Yourownhouse.’
‘Are you talking about me buying a house?’ Marty laughed. ‘Yeah – like that’s going to happen. Have you seen the cost of houses around here?’ His eyes flickered to Jake’s handsome house. ‘There’s a two-bedroomed house on that new development outside of town,’ added Marty. ‘They’re nice houses. Really nice. I do some gardening work for people who’ve moved into their new homes.’
‘Why don’t you buy one, then?’
Marty shook his head, his eyes roving to Jake’s grand old house, which had so many bedrooms that Marty had lost count. ‘Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t think you get it.’
‘I do get it, Marty. That’s what the signed blank cheque is for. Go buy one tomorrow.’
Marty stared at him intently. ‘Are you saying I can buy one of those houses?’
‘Yes. One with a nice garden.’
‘Are you insane?’
Jake wasn’t surprised by his reaction.
‘Oh, this is some kind of joke, isn’t it?’ said Marty.
‘No, and no.’
Marty shook his head. ‘I … I can’t just go handing them a cheque for that money.’
‘Why not?’ Jake opened his wallet, and gave Marty one of his old business cards. God knew why he still kept them. ‘If the sales people have got a problem, they just phone me. I’ll wire them the money, if they want.’
‘I … I can’t accept this.’
‘You can. Another opportunity like this won’t come along.’
Marty stared at the blank cheque with tears in his eyes. ‘Why would you do this for me?’
Jake looked around the stunning gardens of The Lake House. ‘Because I know you love what you do, and you’re good at it, and you bring so much pleasure for people through your gardening and landscaping. The thing is, it’s undervalued, like a lot of jobs. You’ll end up, down the line, doing something you despise to earn enough money to find a place to live.’
Marty stared at him.
Jake continued, ‘I’m doing something I love – teaching. But it would never afford me a house if it wasn’t for the money from the Ross Corporation.’ Marty would never be like Derrick, studying law, aiming for the boardroom, but his skills were no less important. Why shouldn’t Marty have a little bit of what he had given Derrick?
‘If it makes you happy, tell me how much a house would cost, and I’ll write the cheque out.’
‘I … I don’t know. The sales person offered me a brochurewhen I came to mow the lawn of the show home, but I didn’t see the point. I think it’s because I said how amazing the show home is. The show home has got a lovely garden, the best on the development. That’s not exactly a surprise, though, seeing as it is on the biggest plot.’
‘The show home,’ mused Jake. ‘Are you in any rush to move?’
‘I do want my own place, but I love it at Lark Lodge. Gayle, her mum, Nick, and Robyn and David who used to live there, they’re all like family. And of course, there’s Olive.’
‘Yes, indeed.’ Jake smiled. ‘I’m sure they’ll all remain like family when you move out.’ ‘Now, this show home. Presumably you can buy it?’
‘Oh, yeah. You can’t move into it until the estate is completely finished. Won’t be long now. It’s next door to the loveliest couple – Rose and George.’
Jake grinned. He got out his mobile phone.
