Nell tossed and turned all night, until she finally drifted off to sleep somewhere around 5.30a.m., only to be woken by the alarm clock an hour later. She stretched out her arm to shut off the constant beeping, then snuggled back down under the duvet. She was exhausted.
She lay there for a second, thinking about the day ahead – auction day –, and hopefully the start of the rest of her life. She had no idea how it was all going to pan out, but there were a couple of things she knew for certain: by the end of the day she was either going to be the new proud owner of the Old Picture House or she wasn’t, and soon Guy would be on his way back to Ireland. Bea and Gilly had to work in the deli today, but Nathan had offered to be by her side, every step of the way …
She reached for the bedside lamp and switched it on, the light dazzling her eyes for a split second before she stood up and stumbled towards the kitchen still half asleep. After grabbing a quick cuppa, Nell sat down at the table and opened the brochure and browsed through the properties that were being auctioned off today – the Old Picture House was lot number five. She glanced across at the figures that Guy had prepared – she knew her financial limits and needed to make sure she didn’t carried away. She lay down the paperwork on the table and reached across to the photograph of her and Ollie. She traced his face with her finger, ‘Wish me luck,’ she murmured.
Hearing a gentle rap on the door, she looked up to see her mum standing on the deck of the ‘Nollie’ and by the look on her face, Nell knew she certainly had something on her mind.
‘You look as bad as me. What’s up?’ asked Nell, unlocking the door and standing to one side as her mum came on board.
‘Why, what’s up with you?’ quizzed Gilly, automatically filling the kettle up with water.
Nell sighed, ‘Me and Guy, it’s over before it began.’
Gilly’s eyes widened, ‘Why, what’s happened?’
‘He forgot to mention he had a wife … oh and he found out yesterday she’s also pregnant.’
‘What?’ exclaimed Gilly, alarmed.
‘Apparently they’d separated, but it appears they had a drunken one-night stand just before he came here, and hey presto, she’s pregnant.’
‘Oh Nell, I’m so sorry,’ Nell felt her mum’s reassuring touch as she squeezed her hand.
‘Not as sorry as me. He’s going back to Ireland in the next couple of days or so.’ Nell could feel the emotion rising inside, her breath caught in her throat, ‘He’s doing the right thing, he’ll make an amazing father.’ Her eyes blurred as the words left her mouth. ‘Anyway, I’m trying not to think about it. Today I want to concentrate of winning that Old Picture House for me and for Ollie.’
‘That’s why I’m here.’
‘Why?’ Nell asked, making her mum a cup of tea and sliding it in front of her. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘Please don’t do this,’ said Gilly. ‘Don’t go to the auction.’ Once the words were out there was no taking that back.
For a second no one said a thing and the air felt tense.
‘Why wouldn’t I go to the auction?’ Nell narrowed her eyes at her mum. ‘Why are you so against me doing this?’
Gilly’s face turned white and she dropped her gaze to the ground, ‘I just have a feeling it’s not the right thing to do.’
‘Based on?’ Nell asked, feeling a little annoyed.
‘Please just trust me on this one,’ Gilly’s face was flushed and her tone was borderline manic. ‘It’s a waste of Ollie’s money. He wouldn’t want you to put yourself in that position.’
‘Whoa! Stop there! That’s a low blow. I’ve worked out my finances and I think I would know more than you what Ollie would or wouldn’t want me to do.’
Gilly’s face looked defeated.
‘So unless you’re going to give me a valid reason …’
Gilly looked as if she was going to say something, but clamped her mouth shut.
Determined not to lose her temper, Nell said calmly, ‘Mum, this is silly, it’s my money. I’m a big girl and it’s most definitely not something to fall out over,’ as she leaned across and grasped her mum’s hand. ‘I know you’re only worried about me, but honestly there’s no need.’
Gilly just nodded.
Hearing another rap on the door, they both looked up to see Bea smiling back at them.
Nell gestured for her to come in.
‘Have I interrupted something?’ asked Bea, detecting a somewhat chilly atmosphere.
Nell left it to Gilly to rescue the situation, ‘No, not at all. I’m just off. I’ll see you in work in an hour.’ She stood up and walked towards the door.
‘Aren’t you going to wish me luck?’ shouted Nell after her, but she was already walking down the jetty.
‘What was all that about?’ Bea asked.
‘Honestly I’ve no idea. For whatever reason, she’s acting all weird and doesn’t want me to go to the auction today.’
‘Why?’ Bea asked puzzled.
‘Your guess is as good as mine,’ Nell answered, not having a clue why her mum was so against it. ‘I simply have no idea.’
‘Strange, that’s not like Gilly, usually she’s very supportive,’ replied Bea, shrugging her shoulders, ‘She hasn’t said anything to me.’
‘Me neither, except Ollie wouldn’t want me to do this,’ she raised her eyebrows, ‘but I know Ollie would support me in this.’
‘And how are you feeling, after everything?’
‘All over the place. Sad that it didn’t work out with Guy, but excited that I may win the auction.’
‘Nathan will pick you up just before 8a.m. Don’t be nervous.’
‘I’ll try my hardest.’
‘Right, I’d best get back to baking and make sure you text me when you know one way or the other.’
‘I will, I promise.’
‘And good luck. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be!’
A while later Nell walked along the wharf towards the main road. She waved at Ed, who was pottering about inside the yard and Sam was at his heels, but Guy was nowhere to be seen. She waited by the roadside and spotted Nathan’s blue BMW driving towards her. He pulled over and she climbed inside, clutching her bag, which contained all the paperwork for today.
Once inside the car Nell let out a sigh.
‘That’s a big sigh.’
‘Yes, I think the nerves are kicking in now.’
Nell focused on the road ahead. She hadn’t been to a house auction before and didn’t know what to expect.
‘Bea told me about Guy.’ Nathan gave Nell a quick sidelong glance as he changed gear. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Me too,’ Nell said, still staring at the road ahead.
They drove in silence for a couple of minutes before Nell spoke, ‘How’s Bea doing after Dot’s death? She hasn’t really mentioned it.’
‘She hasn’t spoken to me much about it either. I think it’s had a massive effect on her but she’s keeping it all bottled up.’
‘Has she seen or heard from Fern again.’
Nathan kept his eyes on the road but shook his head. ‘No, thankfully, and I’m hoping it stays that way. The less stress she has in her life the better, especially with the baby.’
The road into town was already busy and they began to crawl towards the town centre. Nell glanced out of the side window of the car, ‘Whoa! Look at that crowd of people already gathering outside the auction room.’
‘There’s a fair few here, but, remember, there are an awful lot of properties up for auction today. They aren’t all going to be there for the Old Picture House.’
‘Yes you’re right. I’m just beginning to feel the nerves. Look, I’m shaking,’ said Nell, holding up her wobbly hand.
‘Don’t be nervous, just go with the flow,’ said Nathan, manoeuvring the car into an empty space a stone’s throw away from the auction house. As they climbed out of the car there seemed to be a frenzy of people.
Nell heard her name being hollered from the other side of the street. She turned round to see Lloyd standing on the other side of the road, dressed in his usual flamboyant style, waving his cane in her direction. Nell smiled as they crossed the road towards him.
‘Good morning, Lloyd, what are you doing here?’ asked Nell as they began to walk along the pavement together.
‘Just some early morning banking. And yourself?’
‘I’m here for the auction, for the Old Picture House.’ She held up her crossed fingers and smiled.
‘I hope you win and beat all those pesky developers. It’ll be good for the marina.’
‘Thanks, I’ll let you know.’
‘You make sure you do.’
He saluted and ambled up the road, tapping his cane as he walked.
‘He’s quite something, looks like a right character.’
‘He does, doesn’t he? Come on, let’s get inside.’
‘Are you ready to do this?’ asked Nathan, ‘I’m feeling nervous for you!’
Nell stood still and fumbled inside her coat pocket, grabbing a coin, ‘Let’s ask Ollie, ‘Best of three … Heads!’ she called flipping the coin in the air and catching it.
‘Heads.’
‘Heads.’
‘Heads.’
Nathan grinned, ‘You and your coin! But it looks like he’s on your side!’
They joined the back of the queue and filed into the auction room, which was already packed to the rafters.
There were clumps of people huddled together flicking through folders and comparing notes, and the noise was deafening. The place seemed to be dominated by men. In fact as Nell scanned the room she only saw another couple of females and one of those was the estate agent who had accompanied her and Guy on the viewing of the Old Picture House.
‘The noise, it’s so loud, is this normal?’ Nell enquired with concern, following Nathan through the crowd of people.
‘Yes, once the auction starts you’ll be able to hear a pin drop,’ Nathan answered. The room was laid out with rows and rows of chairs and they managed to grab two spare seats near the front.
‘Oh God, my heart is actually racing. It feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest at any minute,’ said Nell, fidgeting in her seat.
‘Just relax, take some deep breaths,’ ordered Nathan, looking over towards the podium, where the auctioneer was standing skimming through the brochure.
‘Not long to go now, he’s getting ready.’
There was a buzz of excitement in the room as the auctioneer blew into the microphone and just like Nathan had said, the whole room fell silent.
Immediately, everyone sat down in their chair.
‘Jeez,’ Nell whispered. ‘I feel like I’ve gone deaf.’
‘I told you!’
Nell gazed towards the front of the room. The auctioneer introduced the first lot and began to spout words so fast that Nell couldn’t keep up. Everyone’s head synchronised between the bidders and the auctioneer. Hands were raised, heads were nodding and then the entire room turned towards the front, ‘Going once, going twice … sold.’ The hammer thudded and within a matter of seconds the first lot was sold.
‘That was quick,’ Nell muttered, amazed.
‘Soon be your turn,’ Nathan whispered.
The two of them watched while the next three lots passed. One didn’t reach the reserve price but the other two went way beyond.
‘What if the Old Picture House goes way beyond my budget, too?’
‘You can’t speculate but any second now we are about to find out,’ replied Nathan, squeezing her arm. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Ready as I’ll ever be. Oh God.’
Nell spun her head around the room and then spotted a colourful figure standing right at the back of the room … Lloyd.
He tipped his head and waved his cane in the air.
Nell smiled nervously back at him.
‘What’s he doing here?’
‘Probably intrigued to see if you win. Here we go,’ Nathan chimed.
Nell listened intently as the auctioneer’s voice bellowed out the details.
Nell clutched the edge of her chair and kept her eyes firmly on the auctioneer.
‘Lot number five, The Old Picture House, Little Rock Marina.’
Nell took a deep breath. Thoughts of her mum suddenly flashed through her mind, ‘Don’t do this, Nell, you’ll have bitten off more than you can chew.’ This was the first time she’d doubted herself. But Nell didn’t have time to dwell on it any longer because immediately the reserve was met due to the internet bids. The tension ricocheted through the room and Nell had never felt tension like it.
Within seconds a hand was raised at the side of Nell.
‘When do I bid?’ She whispered to Nathan – her heart was pounding.
‘Not yet, hold off, you don’t want to show your hand too early. We don’t want to push the price up if we don’t need to. I’ll tell you when.’
She nodded.
‘Bid here at the front,’ the auctioneer pointed straight at Nell.
Nathan’s eyes widened, ‘I told you to hang fire,’ he said, amused, seeing the shock written all over Nell’s face.
Nell could have kicked herself, ‘I was answering you,’ she whispered.
Nathan gave a hearty laugh, ‘Keep your head still. Take note. Do not move until I say.’
Nell was outbid from a gentleman at the back of the room and then by someone else to the side. When she swung round to have a look, that’s when she noticed him standing next to Lloyd. Her heart hammered against her chest even harder, if that was at all possible, as Guy smiled back at her. He’d come to support her in his own way. As much as he’d made a mess of things, he was still rooting for her. She gave him a nod of appreciation and he smiled back. She turned back towards the auctioneer.
‘Any advance on £65,000?’ The auctioneer looked towards the man at the back of the room, who shook his head.
‘Any more bids, any more bids.’ The rapid combination of numbers took Nell by surprise.
‘Going once …’
‘It’s still within budget. Now!’ ordered Nathan.
Catapulting her arm in the arm, ‘I’m going to have a heart attack in a minute,’ she uttered under her breath.
The auctioneer shifted his gaze back towards Nell.
‘Lady at the front here.’
Nell nodded and was now the highest bidder.
‘It’s in the bag,’ Nathan said, ‘It’s better than the horse racing, this is.’
The auctioneer’s head swivelled around the room, ‘Last shout out for the Old Picture House, Little Rock Marina, going once, he lifted his hammer, going twice …’
Nell squealed and clapped her hands together.
‘New bidder at the back of the room. The auctioneer pointed.’
‘What?’ exclaimed Nell.
The pair of them spun around.
‘Who’s bid?’
Nell snagged the eye of a woman standing at the back of the room and met the stony-faced stare from Kate. Her stomach churned.
‘What’s she doing here?’ Nell hissed towards Nathan.
Who is she?’
‘Guy’s wife, she’s a property developer.’
Nell locked eyes with Kate, who gave her a smug smile.
‘She’s going to have more funds than me.’ Nell could feel the anger rising inside her.
‘Keep bidding,’ Nathan encouraged, ‘but do not go over your budget.’
‘Any more takers?’ The auctioneer bellowed. In a manic flurry Nell thrust her arm in the air and her bid was noted.
Kate nodded towards the auctioneer with a haughty look on her face.
They were now in direct competition.
Nell had never been more determined in her life. Her hand was firmly in the air.
She turned round and stared at Kate, then noticed Guy swiftly weaving towards her through the crowd, but Kate didn’t take her eyes off Nell and raised her arm again.
Within a couple of seconds he was at Kate’s side and Nell could see a heated discussion going on between them.
Guy could have kicked himself for leaving the property details on the table, and was furious that Kate had dared to show up today. How did she think this was going to help their relationship?
‘What the hell are you doing here?’ he hissed.
‘Bidding on a property, that’s what us property developers usually do,’ she uttered sarcastically.
‘Don’t do this,’ ordered Guy, thinking of Nell, who’d put so much preparation into making this happen.
‘But Guy, this one has so much potential.’
‘Going once …’
‘Don’t you dare,’ ordered Guy furiously, before grabbing her elbow and escorting her out of the building.
‘What do you think you are doing?’ she spat, her lips were pursed.
He rolled his eyes and let go of her arm as a couple walked past them staring.
He lowered his voice, ‘Never mind me. For God’s sake, what the hell do you think you are doing? You know I was looking at this property for a friend.’
‘Not just any friend, it seems. She doesn’t look the sort to me who’d want to build houses. I could easily throw up a couple of apartments on that plot and make a quick profit.’
‘And that’s exactly what she doesn’t want to happen.’
Kate tilted her head to one side, ‘Romantic notions never made profit,’ she said, giving a self-deprecating laugh then rubbing her elbow with a hurt expression on her face.
‘Oh please, stop the drama, I didn’t grab you that hard,’ claimed Guy, as he noticed people beginning to file out the back of the auction house. ‘Just go back to the hotel, will you.’
Kate opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it. His eyes blazed at her as he watched her turn and storm off up the market place. He didn’t follow but spun round as he recognised the excited chatter behind him.
Lloyd was congratulating Nell, and Nathan was standing by her side, beaming like a Cheshire cat.
‘You will be the making of that place,’ he touched her arm. ‘I have every faith.’
‘Please come to the opening night … even though it will be a while off yet.’
Lloyd nodded his appreciation before crossing over the road and disappearing amongst the crowd of shoppers.
‘Does this mean you won?’ asked Guy nervously.
Nell grinned and the relief was written all over her face. ‘I’m so pleased for you, Nell, you deserve this,’ Guy went to hug her but then held back. He didn’t want to make this any harder than it already was.
Nell sensed his hesitation, ‘Come here, give me a hug and thank you for everything, looking over my plans, talking me through the finances.’ Her heart began to beat in double time and every nerve in her body tingled as she inhaled his aroma for one last time.
‘Take care, Guy, and be happy.’
He forced a smile but the sadness in his eyes told a different story. ‘You too, Nell. Take care.’
Nell and Nathan watched Guy walk through the square until he disappeared.
‘You alright?’ Nathan asked tentatively.
‘Yes, even though I thought it was all over, thanks to Kate, until Guy escorted her out of the room.’
‘Well, don’t worry about that now – onwards and upwards.’ He leaned towards her and picked her up and spun her around like a little child, ‘Ollie would be so proud of you and even prouder when that old place is up and running again.’
‘Yes, he would be and I can’t wait to get started! Eek! I’m actually the proud owner of the Old Picture House. Pinch me, Nathan, I can’t quite believe it.’
Nathan pinched her arm.
‘Ouch! I didn’t mean it!’ she laughed.
‘You need to go back in and fill in the legal stuff, tell them your solicitor’s details and all that stuff.’
‘That shouldn’t take too long – and, to celebrate, how about I treat you to lunch at the deli?’
‘Sounds like an excellent plan, especially if it includes seeing my beautiful wife – then I am always up for that.’
‘I can’t wait to spill the news!’ grinned Nell, linking her arms with his, ‘and I think we both deserve no less than a whole bottle of champers!’