Page 15 of The Widow’s Irish Secret (Magnolia Manor #4)

When Tricia arrived at the cottage the following morning, she saw a blue van parked outside. A man with thinning grey hair sat in the driver’s seat drinking from a water bottle. He got out as soon as he spotted Tricia and walked towards her, holding out his hand.

‘Tricia? I’m Ted. Nice to meet you.’

Tricia smiled at the man and shook his hand.

‘Hi, Ted. Thanks for being so punctual.’ He had brown eyes, a big nose and his beard was close-cropped, showing a dimple in his left cheek when he smiled.

Of medium height with a slight pot belly and broad shoulders, he was not the best-looking man she had ever met but his charm made up for the lack of looks.

He was dressed in a tweed blazer that had seen better days over a navy polo shirt and baggy jeans. She liked him immediately.

‘Happy to be here on such a nice morning,’ he said. Then he rubbed his hands together. ‘So let’s take a look at this cutie, then. I mean the house, not you,’ he added.

Tricia had to laugh. ‘That’s what I thought. I haven’t been called cutie since I was seven.’

‘I wonder why,’ Ted said before he walked to the front door and opened it. ‘Mind if I step inside?’

‘Of course not.’ Tricia followed him to the door. ‘Let’s go through everything.’

‘Perfect.’ Ted fished a notebook and a pen out of his pocket as he went into the house. ‘I’m ready. Being old fashioned I’ll write everything into my little book here.’

They started in the living room and Tricia told him what Dominic had said were the most urgent jobs. ‘Rewiring, dry lining, heaters to be installed and perhaps also repair of some of the floors.’

Ted bounced on the planks. ‘This floor seems solid. I like the wide planks and the grain. Old and very nice. Polish them a bit more and they will look very nice.’ Then he went over to the far side of the room and put his hand on the wall.

‘Cold,’ he said. ‘Dry lining a must in here. All over the house, I should think, or the cost of heating will go through the ceiling.’

Standing by the fireplace, Tricia nodded. ‘Yes, that’s what I think too.’

‘Good.’ Ted slipped on a pair of reading glasses and scribbled something into his notebook. ‘What’s next?’

‘The kitchen,’ Tricia said and led the way down the corridor and opened the door to the kitchen.

Ted followed her in and looked around. ‘Nice room. But the floor could do with a new lino. I’d need to lift it up to see what’s underneath but I suspect some old flagstones that might need to be replaced with some kind of tiling.

I’ll take a look when I start the job.’ He peered at her over his reading glasses. ‘If you decide to hire me, of course.’

‘That depends on your fee and what schedule we can agree on,’ Tricia replied, although she knew he would be her best bet. Dominic was so busy and Ted seemed to be keen to take on the job.

‘Oh, I’m as cheap as chips,’ Ted said cheerfully. ‘I only take on jobs when I like the vibe of the house. And I do like it here. This house has a very warm feel to it, don’t you think? A kind of soul, if that doesn’t sound too cheesy.’

‘Not at all,’ Tricia said, happy he shared her feelings about the house. ‘I know what you mean and I feel it too. The cottage needs a little love and attention and it will be a real home to me.’

Ted looked at her for a moment. ‘Yes, I think you’re right. You and the house are a good fit.’

Tricia smiled. ‘That’s nice to hear. So, there’s just the bedroom and box room and then there’s the attic room but I’ll leave that alone for now.’

‘Okay.’

They inspected the bedroom and box room and then they went upstairs to have a quick look at the attic room.

‘It would make a lovely bedroom,’ he said, looking out the window.

‘Nice view of the sea from here. I can see all the way down to the pier and a bit towards Dingle town.’ He turned to Tricia, who was standing in the middle of the room. ‘What’s going on out there in the bay?’

‘What do you mean?’ Tricia asked, moving closer.

‘There’s a boat out there and someone seems to be getting into the water in diving gear.’

‘What? Where?’ Tricia looked out the window as Ted shifted to the side.

‘Out there. That boat that looks like a fishing boat,’ Ted said, pointing.

Tricia looked out over the bay and then she saw what Ted meant.

A small boat was sitting at anchor just off the raft she had swum to last week.

Not the rib she had seen, but a real boat.

There were rings on the water where the diver had disappeared under the surface.

‘I see what you mean,’ she mumbled. ‘I saw a rib with a diving suit and oxygen tank pulled up on the shore the other day. I wonder what’s going on? ’

‘Is that bit of water within Magnolia Manor property?’ Ted asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Tricia said, puzzled. ‘I must ask Sylvia.’

‘Mrs Fleury? She probably knows what’s going on. Nothing escapes her eagle eye,’ Ted said with an amused smile. ‘Formidable woman.’

‘She certainly is,’ Tricia said as she backed away from the window. ‘I couldn’t see clearly what they were doing on that boat, but I’ll bring my binoculars next time.’

‘Probably just some kind of marine survey,’ Ted suggested.

‘Could be,’ Tricia said, despite her niggling feeling that it was something a lot more than that.

‘So this room could be made nice eventually,’ Ted continued.

‘But as you said, it can wait.’ He looked at his notes for a while, muttering to himself.

Then he looked at Tricia. ‘So… All things considered, I think I can do the lot, except the wiring. I don’t do electricity, you see.

Plumbing, yes, because then you’ll only get wet if things go wrong.

But I leave electricity to the experts. Don’t worry, I know someone who can do it for a reasonable price.

’ He put his glasses on his head. ‘He’ll also install the new immersion tank and wire that. ’

‘Sounds great,’ Tricia said. ‘So… when can you start?’

‘I haven’t given you my quote yet,’ Ted said, grinning. ‘But I doubt if anyone can undercut it.’

‘I suspect you’re right,’ Tricia cut in. ‘So I’d like to confirm that you’re hired.’

Ted brightened. ‘Are you sure now? I mean, you might like to consider other options.’

‘I don’t have any other options. So you can start making plans.

’ She knew instinctively that this man, who looked to be around her age, would do his very best to turn her cottage into a comfortable home.

He was kind and understanding and seemed to love the house.

He was also someone she knew she’d get on with.

She had felt at ease in his company and there had been no undertones or mansplaining from him at all.

With him there would be mutual respect which was important as she would be working alongside him painting and decorating.

Ted looked a little surprised. ‘Oh? I got the job? I am to work on this little gem?’ He held out his hand and grabbed hers in a warm handshake. ‘Thank you, Tricia, for trusting me. You won’t be sorry.’

‘I know I won’t,’ Tricia said. ‘But I do hope you have someone to help you. It’s a lot of work for one person.’

‘Especially one who’s a little long in the tooth,’ he suggested with a grin. ‘But don’t worry. I have two strapping lads to help me. College students who do this kind of thing instead of going to the gym.’

‘What a good idea,’ Tricia said. ‘I like that. They get fit and earn money doing it.’

‘Nothing makes you fitter than building work,’ Ted agreed. He looked across the room to the old wardrobe. ‘Interesting piece. Very old, I’d say. You could oil it and it will come up really well. Great for storage. Maybe you could move it down to the bedroom when it’s been polished up a little?’

‘Great idea,’ Tricia said, taking a closer look at the wardrobe. It was indeed a very nice piece of furniture, made of oak with a beautiful carving of flowers on the front. ‘That’ll be one of my jobs when I redecorate.’

Ted moved towards the stairs. ‘Well, this was a real pleasure, Tricia. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in. I’ll send you a text with my quote just so you have it and then I’ll get started early next week, if that suits you?’

‘The sooner the better,’ Tricia said as she followed him down the stairs.

They walked out of the house together into sunshine.

The air was full of the scent of wild flowers, birdsong and the humming of bees.

Ted stopped in the little front garden. ‘You should leave this the way it is,’ he said.

‘It’s like a meadow and all the wild flowers are great for attracting bees. Just clear the path to the front door.’

‘Good idea,’ Tricia agreed. ‘The back garden needs a little trimming, though. I plan to have a herb garden and I should really prune the apple tree.’

‘Ah well, no rush, is there?’ he said. ‘The house first, I think.’

‘You’re right.’ They walked together to his van. ‘Is Ted short for Edward?’ Tricia asked.

He laughed. ‘No, my real name is Taidgh. But my non-Irish clients couldn’t pronounce it and called me Ted and that stuck.’ He opened the door to the van. ‘Well, it’s been a real pleasure, Tricia. I’ll be in touch.’

They said goodbye and Ted drove off while Tricia slowly walked back to the cottage, going over their conversation in her mind.

She felt happy with what they had decided and looked forward to next week when the work would start.

She knew that staying in the cottage while it was being restored wouldn’t be ideal but she saw no other solution.

She didn’t want to stay with Vi and Jack any longer than a few days.

They needed privacy and quiet during the time before their wedding.

They didn’t need a mother-in-law butting in on their discussions, which she was sure would happen if she stayed.

She had the habit of giving advice to her daughters whether they wanted it or not.