His name was Luke Palm and in fact he lived in London. Anne had got in touch with him on a friend’s recommendation. He had come to Tunbridge Wells immediately and driven out to the woods. The property market was not exactly booming. As an estate agent, he would take what was going, even if it meant he had to go a good distance. Now in Anne’s kitchen, looking around, it was obvious how impressed he was. He had probably not expected to find the old house decorated in such a beautiful and cosy way. Anne felt an almost childish pride, a deep joy, as she always did when guests toured her house for the first time and showed their astonishment. She and Sean had achieved a lot. People valued their ideas, the hard work they had put into the house and their dedication. The recognition did her good. She just wished that Sean could have been there to bask in the glory too. ‘But I have to say,’ he continued, ‘you’ve turned it into a gem of a place!’ ‘It was my husband’s dream to buy and refurbish the house,’ Anne said.
