Page 131 of Nineteen Letters

I was torn. There was a huge part of me that wanted to work in my home town, but that meant I would have to leave you behind. You still had one more year of study to go.

“That’s great. I’m proud of how well you’re doing. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finding a job.”

“How’s the shop going, Pop?” I asked as he placed a cup of coffee down in front of me before taking a seat.

He runs his fingers over his chin before he speaks. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. The council has rezoned the area as R4.”

“Oh, really? High-density residential.”

“I’ve already been approached by a few developers.”

“And what do you think? Are you interested in selling?”

Personally, I thought he’d given enough of his life to that store, but I knew I would support him if he decided not to sell.

“At first, I wasn’t interested, but the more I think about it, the more I’ve warmed to the idea. Mario’s already decided to sell the mechanic shop next door, and thegarage across the road put a For Sale sign up a few days ago. Besides, I’ve got a lot more competition now, since that Bunnings went up in town.”

“What kind of money are you looking at? Have they made you an offer?”

He watched me take a sip of my coffee before he replied. “That’s the thing, they’ve offered me one-point-five million.”

I inhaled so sharply my coffee went down the wrong pipe and made me cough so heavily it sprayed all over the table—and on my father.

“Dollars?” I asked when I finally caught my breath.

He chuckled as he wiped the coffee from his face. “I know. I think I’d be stupid not to consider it. That’s more money than I could earn in a lifetime.”

“If it’s something you want to do, you know I’ll support you all the way. That kind of money could set you up for life.”

“It could set us both up. I’d like to give half to you.”

My eyes widen in disbelief. “No, Pop. It’s your money, you earned it. I’ll be out in the workforce soon. I can forge my own living.”

He had that determined look in his eyes when he replied. It was a look I knew well. “My mind’s made up, son. I’m going to call the developers in the morning.”

The tenth of September 2012. My father was a stubborn man. No amount of protest from me could stop him from doing what he wanted. Once he paid off the loan on the house, and the business, he walked away with eight hundred thousand dollars, half of which he gave to me. It still didn’t sit well with me, but he insisted.

I kept this from you, but not because I didn’t want you to know about the money. I had big plans for it, and I wanted to surprise you.

We’d again been home visiting this weekend, and I had no classes that Monday, so when you headed back to uni on Sunday night, I stayed behind. I told you I was helping my dad move the last of his things out of the store. It was a lie. We’d finished doing that the previous day.

Instead, my father and I went house hunting. Beachside house hunting, to be precise. It was your dreamto live by the ocean, and I was determined to see that happen. Or at the very least, die trying.

The first few beachfront properties the real estate agent showed us were well out of my price range. I was a student, and although I had a huge chunk of the deposit, I only had a part-time job. Even with your father being the bank manager, I knew there was no chance of me getting finance.

The agent and my father tried to talk me into looking at property away from the ocean, but I was insistent. I didn’t want the beach to be five minutes away, or something glimpsed in the distance. I wanted it to be smack bang in your face. A place where you could step out of your back door and be on the sand.

By the end of the day, I was feeling disillusioned. I headed back to my father’s place to pack up my things. It appeared my surprise for you would have to wait.

As I loaded my backpack into the car and shook my father’s hand, my phone rang in my pocket. I’d expected to see your name on the screen, but it was the real estate agent.

“I think I’ve found your beachside property. The house is small, more like a shack, but the location is perfect andin your price range … it’s exactly what you were looking for.”

“When can I come and look at it?” I asked in an excited voice.

“The property is vacant, so right now, if you like.”

My pulse was racing as I jotted down the address. As soon as she mentioned the house was situated at number nineteen, in my heart I knew it was a sign … it was destined to become ours.