Anna almost growled with frustration. ‘You know I can’t do that.’
‘Or find a rich man.’
Anna kicked a stone at the mere thought. ‘I don’t attract rich men. Rich men want useless trophy wives who’ll agree with everything they say.’
Mike laughed. ‘Not much chance of that with you. In which case, I think you’re looking at another house, Anna.’
Anna shook her head in denial and disbelief. ‘But it’s all going through. I’ve chosen the curtains…’
Mike shrugged. ‘Hang them in your next house,’ he advised, ‘but you have to give this one a miss. It’s a bundle of trouble.’
Anna closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Did nothing in her life ever go right any more?
‘It isn’t exactly that simple, is it? I sold my flat two weeks ago, Mike, on the strength of moving into this place. I’ve been lodging with the McKennas while I’ve been waiting for the sale to go through.’
And much as she loved their place, it wasn’t the same as having somewhere of her own.
‘And they’re away for the summer so they’ll be glad to have you in their house for the duration.’
‘It was just temporary.’ She ran her fingers through her dark hair in a gesture of frustration. ‘Just a couple of weeks to tide me over.’
Anna looked at the little cottage that had been part of her dreams.
Subsidence.
For a moment she let the wild, romantic side of her that she rarely acknowledged enjoy a wonderful dream about somehow finding the money and moving in, despite the subsidence. Then the practical side took over. As it always did.
‘OK.’ Her voice was weary and resigned. ‘So I’ll tell the solicitors that it’s all off. And I’ll start house-hunting again. In the meantime, I’ll have to find a place to rent.’
Damn, damn and double damn. With David away and her workload already ridiculously heavy, she didn’t have time for house-hunting. And anyway, she didn’t want any old house. She wanted this one. She’d coveted it for years.
‘In the summer?’ Mike snapped his briefcase shut and gave her a rueful smile. ‘Forget it, love. No chance. Why not just stay on at the McKennas’?’
Because she wanted her own home.
And because Sam was there.
Anna bit her lip.
‘I’ll find a place to rent.’ She lifted her chin in a gesture of pure determination that had Mike sighing.
Anyone who had known Anna Riggs as a child recognised that look, and it wasn’t to be messed with.
‘OK, well, good luck. And call me when you find your next place. I don’t want you ripped off.’
Anna gave him a wan smile. ‘Thanks, Mike. I think.’
It wasn’t his fault he’d had to give her bad news and she knew he had her best interests at heart.
That was another benefit of living in a small community, she mused as she watched Mike walk back up the path towards his car. People looked out for each other. Cared. There was no way that would happen in a city. Where was the goodwill among strangers?
Acknowledging that all the goodwill in the world was unlikely to find her a place to rent at the peak of the tourist season, Anna carried her bags back to her car, made her last call and drove up the coast road to the McKennas’.
Their spectacular house sat on a curve in the bay, just steps from the beach. It was the best property for miles around and it had been the McKennas’ home for ever. Usually
she loved coming here. Just walking up the path and breathing in the sea air was enough to put her in a good mood.
Not today.