Still holding her tight, he asked her "Have you had a nice day so far, Harry?"
"Very nice, James. Thank you very much. It's been quite special. You'll live to see another day", she chuckled.
"Glad to hear that. Keep that in mind." He suddenly looked nervous and really hoped she wouldn't have his head. They kept walking past the village green and over a bridge. It was a really beautiful place with the little stream, the peaceful surroundings, the birds happily singing away. She wished she could just bottle up the feeling of peace and serenity.
"There we are", he looked up in front of him, walking through some wooden gates. At the end of a small drive stood a stunning cottage with white roses climbing over the front door. The garden looked a bit overgrown and the house could do with a lick of paint but still, it was an incredible sight.
"Where are we? Do you know the people who live here? It's private Dempsey. We're going to get into trouble", noted a rather puzzled Makepeace.
"Oh yes, I know the owner. What do you think of this house?" asked Dempsey, not daring to look at her, his eyes set on the house.
"Oh, the house is gorgeous for sure. Anyway, I don't quite understand what we're doing here Dempsey. Are we meeting someone here?"
Dempsey took Harry by the hand and pulled her along with him towards the house and he stopped in front of the front door.
He had a set of keys in his hands, turned towards his partner, rather unsure and simply stated "I'm the owner of that house, Harry. I bought it."
With eyes big like saucers, she stared at him like he had grown two heads "you're what?"
"I own this house Harry….since yesterday morning.", he was watching her face for any reaction. All he could see was complete incredulity.
"You are telling me that you bought a cottage with white climbing roses in a small Kent village. You."
"Yes"
She kept looking around her eyes wide, looking at him like he was a puzzle to solve.
Her legs could barely hold her as the shock was intense. She was holding onto him thinking that he had lost his mind.
"Let's go inside Harry and you can sit down. I'll explain everything.", seeing that she had turned pale and wobbly looking around in a sort of daze.
They entered the house and he pushed her towards the kitchen where he sat her at an old farmhouse style table. He fetched her a cup of water and said "drink it, Harry. You look shocked !"
"You bought a cottage. A massive cottage. In the middle of nowhere. Miles from London. You bought a cottage. But why?" and then the penny dropped and she stood up suddenly looking at him with her hands on her mouth, "You've met someone and you're getting married? Oh my god, that's it. She's pregnant?"
"What? Harry! No! Of course not! How on Earth did you get to this conclusion? Jeez! Come on, just sit down and let me explain everything from the start.", he grabbed her hand to force her to sit down and to calm down but didn't let go as he explained everything to her.
"OK, when I lived in New York, I owned a flat. I had renovated it and when I left I rented it to my cousin and his wife who have now moved out because they're expecting. The price of real estate in New York has gone up by a lot so it was a shrewd investment. I sold the flat a couple of months ago." she nodded, understanding suddenly where the money came from.
"You see after Simone came, I realised that I didn't want to go back to New York, that it was my past. My future is here, Harry, and I would like to put roots here. I'm serious about staying here and since I came with you to Windfield Hall, I realised I really loved the British countryside. So it's my chance to grab an opportunity. This house needs some work and I'll do the work in my spare time bit by bit. That's all there is to it. So, no, I'm not getting married. What a ludicrous idea. Harry, I haven't been with anyone for over a year! Do you really think I would bring you here to ask your opinion about a house meant for another woman? Do you really have such a low opinion of me, Harry?"
"I'm sorry James, I didn't want to sound rude or to upset you by saying that. But you have to admit you've thrown a rather big curveball here. I never, EVER, imagined you living in a quaint little cottage. I mean look at this place. It's huge. It's meant for a family. It screams for children running around the garden and up and down the stairs."
"It does, doesn't it?", his eyes on her smiling, "Come on, I'll give you the grand tour. I brought you here because I wanted your opinion, Harry. I need someone's opinion to turn this place around. And you have excellent taste. I love your flat in London, so homely. That's the feeling I want here. I trust you."
"Wow, I'm touched. I really am but how is this going to work, Dempsey? I mean, do you plan on living here eventually? It's a hell of a commute. Sorry, I'm still trying to get my head around the practicalities of it all."
"Not immediately, no. It depends on several unknown factors", looking at her with a weird uncertain frown, "So for the time being I'll do the work and take it slow. But, lately, I've been thinking that I might not want to spend the rest of my life in undercover operations, risking my life every day. Eventually, I'd like to settle down, yes."
"Eventually, you'd like to settle down?! You, James Dempsey, the man with a habit of running away from responsibilities. I'm absolutely gobsmacked! I never thought I'd hear you say that one day. Where's my partner and what have you done to him?" and she couldn't help but giggle uncontrollably. "I'm sure I'm going to wake up from this dream. I can't quite believe it. Oh my god. James Dempsey wants to settle down and has bought a cottage in deep, dark Kent . Blimey, wow!"
"Yeah, put this way, it sounds nuts", he admitted scratching his neck.
"Nooo, you think?" and they both fell down laughing.
"Oh god. Dempsey, you were right, life is certainly never boring with you. OK show me around Dempsey manor then!"
"So you have the kitchen here with a rather big dining table. At the back, you have a sort of utility area and through here, the pièce de résistance, the living area". As he opened a set of French doors, Harry stood absolutely stunned by the view from the very large room. "Oh my god, the view Dempsey! That's….WOW! You have to make this a feature. Imagine a roaring fire in that gorgeous fireplace, sitting in comfy sofas, reading a story to your children or chilling with a glass of wine, with this view surrounding you. In the summer, all-around by-fold doors all opened, the children playing outside, some light soft music in the background. I can completely see it", Harry was getting excited describing the family scene to her partner and friend, "Can't you see it? And look here, you could make the kitchen open plan if you wanted, I'm sure you could knock down this wall. Oh, James, that place is amazing, it has so much potential. Come on, let's go see the garden." She was like a kid in a sweet shop, she was running everywhere, amazed by everything and James just looked at her, tongue-tied, wondering if she realised that she was describing his dream life, but a life he wanted to live with her. He wanted those children to be Harry's. He realised here and there that he had to make it work somehow, she had to realise that she was the one he wanted in that house.
He smiled at her, following her around, watching her like a hawk. And then she stopped in front of the small stream at the bottom of the garden. "That is so beautiful Dempsey. You're so lucky.", she sighed, "you found a piece of paradise right here, James."
"That was a big sigh, you OK princess?", he couldn't help but put his arms around her waist as he arrived behind her, holding her tight, something he had wanted to do all day. She leaned back on him, closing her eyes for a second, feeling his warm breath on her neck, imagining that he really was hers to hug. "Yes, I'm fine. I really hope you'll be happy here James. She'll be a lucky woman." And then she walked back to the house, feeling deflated.
"Harry…",.catching her hand," you know there's no one in my life, right?"
"I know there isn't one now but there will be one day. I suppose we can't stay partners forever and one day we'll just split and leave different lives. I just didn't realise you already had a foot out of the door, that's all. It comes as a bit of a shock. But I'll get used to the idea eventually. Show me upstairs?"
Dempsey stood dumbfounded wondering how wrong she got everything. He wanted her part of this project. He had to convince her to join forces. She was about to shut down and put her walls back up and there was no way he was letting that happen.