I hesitate. She’s right, but for whatever reason, they don’t hold the same appeal any more. ‘Change can be what we need sometimes. Come on. I want to show you the terrace.’
Taking the path that leads up to the front of the house, I show her around the side. ‘I’m thinking a table and chairs at one end, maybe an outdoor sofa at the other.’ I gesture towards the garden. ‘Tell me you don’t love this.’
Blinking her eyes, Robin gazes out across the garden. ‘This all belongs to the house?’
‘All one and a half acres,’ I say proudly. ‘But there’s too much work here – you know me. I don’t have a clue about gardens. I’ll probably get a contractor in to do some hard landscaping.’
‘It might be easier to manage. Seems a shame, though. At some point, someone must have gone to a lot of trouble with it.’
A thought comes to me. ‘Or I could develop it and eventually sell it.’ It’s what I’ve been doing for years, after all.
‘I wouldn’t build on it.’ Robin’s still gazing across the garden. ‘I would make it beautiful again.’
‘I’ll think about it.’ Only just realising the amount of work I’d be taking on, I’m not in a hurry to make a decision – nor do I relish the thought of living on a building site. ‘I just have this feeling I can’t explain: it’s what I need,’ I say quietly.
* * *
What I also like about this house is that in spite of the sea views appearing distant, once I’ve bought it I discover it’s only a ten-minute drive to the nearest beach. But before I go exploring, I have my stuff to move in – not a huge amount for a thirty-something man. I’ve been at Robin’s far too long, and I’m looking forward to putting my stamp on this place.
Having perused local furniture shops, in the end I decide to keep it simple – my main purchase being a huge, comfy sofa that I buy second-hand for next to nothing. Then after trawling upcycling sites, I find a retro kitchen table and matching chairs. What I do splash out on is the bed, my theory being that when you spend a large part of your life horizontal in one, you might as well do it in comfort.
Of course, the walls are still bare. I also need some bookshelves, as well as a desk. Catching myself, I frown. In the past, the idea of books on shelves would have felt like unnecessary clutter. But in a house like this, everything is different somehow.
I’ll start scouring second-hand shops, and seeing what else I can find. But all in all, it isn’t looking bad this first evening, confirmed when Robin and Max make an impromptu visit.
‘We have fish and chips – and beer.’ Max drops the bags on the kitchen table.
‘Smells amazing.’ Suddenly I realise how hungry I am.
‘I’ve brought you a couple of throws – I haven’t used them in ages so I figured you may as well have them.’ Robin passes them to me.
‘Thanks.’ Homely touches are really not my forte – apart from the surfboard leaned up against the wall in an empty corner, if you could consider that as such.
‘This is really nice.’ Glancing around, Robin looks slightly puzzled. ‘And kind of surprising, if I’m honest. What happened to minimalism? I mean, you have stuff.’
‘Only a very little.’ Opening three of the beers, I pass them one each. ‘Would you like a tour?’ I lead them through to the sitting room.
‘What a fireplace!’ Max sounds envious as he follows me in.
‘Good, isn’t it? I’m going to stack logs either side of the wood burner. This…’ I open the door into a large cupboard, ‘is my study – or will be.’ Going upstairs, I show them into my bedroom, where I’ve already made up the bed in faded green linen, before showing them the second bedroom, then the bathroom.
‘This is a cool place, mate. I really like it.’ Max looks impressed.
I nod. ‘Me, too. It’s weird, though.’ I frown slightly. ‘I haven’t even been here an entire day yet, but already it feels like home.’
It’s been a long day and back downstairs, I’m ready for fish and chips. Opening more beers and taking it all outside, I proudly show off the garden table and chairs that were delivered this afternoon.
‘Would you like some cushions?’ Robin sits down. ‘I have some I don’t need. I’ll drop them in to you.’
‘All donations welcome.’ I raise my beer bottle. ‘Cheers. And thanks, little sister – for putting up with me for so long.’
‘You’re always welcome.’ Robin picks up a fork. ‘It is funny, though. I honestly saw you buying one of those modern apartments in Padstow. But now you’re here… It kind of suits you.’
‘It feels right.’ And it does, in a way I can’t explain. ‘I definitely want to change the garden, though.’
‘I’d help you if I could.’ Max sounds apologetic.
‘Hey, no worries. I know you would.’ He’s still healing from an accident, which has left him scarred in more ways than one. ‘But gardening or not, you’re welcome here, any time. Both of you.’
