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.two.
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The woman was, in Donna's opinion, much too skinny. And not like a model, all wispy and delicate. No, one only had to glance at the woman's practical attire and no-nonsense expression to know she was the sort that went for a jog every morning, weekends included. Probably stuck to a healthy diet of salads and shakes, and never ate chocolates.
Still, she was the best applicant Donna had seen so far. If the woman's cleanliness were anywhere near as strict as her supposed diet, there wouldn't be any trouble on that front. And besides, money was money. Lottery winnings in the bank or not, it never hurt to have another steady source of income.
"Of course, I don't have a job yet," Ms. Pevensie added, hands folded neatly in front of her on the table as though she were at a ladies' prayer meeting. "I have been out of the country travelling. But I do have enough for my first two month's rent, which should be long enough to find a position. Temping, at the least."
"I used to be a temp," Donna said somewhat proudly. "Best temp in Chiswick. Nothing wrong with that. Where were you travelling?"
"All over," Ms. Pevensie said vaguely.
Well, there was a story that Donna wouldn't mind learning, but she didn't pry. Not yet. "I'll have to talk to my husband," she said instead, "But I'll give you a call by tomorrow."
-X-
"I don't know how you managed to find this woman," Donna told Wilf later that night, "But I think I finally have someone to rent the basement flat."
"Who?" Wilf asked. He was wrapped up in his stargazing again, not really paying attention to Donna's chattering.
"This Susan Pevensie. Two months rent up front, she said. And she seems neat and orderly."
Wilf pulled away from his telescope to blink at his granddaughter. "Ah, yes, Susan. Lovely girl."
Donna was already wrapped up in considering everything she'd have to do to prepare for her tenant. "Wash the sheets, I suppose. And give everything a wipe-down. I'll get Shaun to check that we didn't leave anything old in the fridge down there - wouldn't that be an embarrassment?" She let out a laugh, before remembering something else. "Oh, I still need to tell Shaun."
"Better get on that, sweetheart," Wilf said fondly, and turned back to the stars.
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When Susan Pevensie arrived at the house, she had one bag slung over her shoulder, a hatbox in the other hand, and nothing more. "I travel light," she said when Donna asked, and requested to be shown to her suite.
"Getting the rest shipped here later?" Donna asked as she fit the key into the lock. She worried a little that the key might stick, but Shaun had done his job of checking all the locks. The door swung open and Donna flipped the light on, and led her new tenant down the stairs.
"Actually, I don't have anything more," Susan replied. She set her bag down on the little table in the designated kitchen space and pulled off her gloves one finger at a time.
"Left the keepsakes with your family?"
Susan turned away to look over the room. "Something like that."
Donna reminded herself of Shaun's warning: that the point of having a tenant was not for gossip. Still, there had to be something she could glean from the enigmatic Ms. Pevensie. "What did you do before travelling?"
But Susan had moved away, purposefully not hearing the question. Donna sighed and shelved the questions for later. She led the tour around the flat, showing off the bedroom and toilet, and apologizing for the lack of microwave. "There's one upstairs that you're welcome to use," she added, "But I'd expect you'll just want to buy your own."
But Susan assured her that she'd be fine without one. Probably thought microwaves went against her health-conscious diet and exercise plan, Donna thought derisively. But she smiled and kept talking and tried to find a way to ask about Susan's travels. She wasn't successful.
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