CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The coffee machine's aren't hard to find but the lack of what I'm looking for is distinctly annoying, eventually I decide the easiest thing to do is going to be to buy 2 machines and have them side by side on the bench. Donna looks like I'm crazy when I ask Al to go get a cart from by the door.

When she returns I put the two boxes holding the coffee machines boxes that I've picked up into the cart and lead the way towards the other smaller appliances that I'm going to need. Picking out a toaster, a griddle and a big hot plate I look over my shoulder at Donna. "Anything you need while we're here?"

Donna looks over at me, "Huh?"

"Do you need to replace any of your appliances? I mean I know you have to replace them all but do you want to start now or come and do them all at once when the house is almost finished?"

A light dawns in her eyes, "I didn't think you'd be doing all that shit as well. It's enough that you're pretty much paying for a new house I wasn't expecting you to pay for appliances and that stuff as well."

I contemplate the selection of woks before adding one to the cart as well and turning to Donna pausing in the middle of the aisle. "It's my fault that your shit got ruined, and it's not like you can make an insurance claim on any of it so I have no problems paying for the replacement of everything. I'll refurnish your whole house if you want me to."

Donna violently shakes her head, "No!" She pulls me down to the end of the aisle so we're well out of the ear shot of anyone and we can see in all directions around us. "It's not your fault that your ex was a fucken psycho. You're right, I can't make an insurance claim on the house without some questions that could be hard to answer, but that doesn't matter. Opie will have a heart attack if you try and pay for everything. It's hard enough on him that you're doing the remodel/rebuild."

I nod, "Would it be better if I talked to him, maybe shed some light on the freedom of my funds?"

Donna shrugs, "I'm not sure, what about we wait till the designs come back and go from there?"

I nod as Al calls my name, "Sarah, your phone's ringing."

I walk back to the cart and retrieve my phone from the bottom of my bag just as it stops ringing, sighing I mutter "That bastard Murphy must die." A few seconds later the phone tingles to let me know that a message has been left so I slowly walk towards the decorating section to pick out some more paint charts and have a look at the counter tops while I listen to the message.

"Hi Miss Hale. This is Tania calling from Insurance Direct. Can you please ring the office when you get this? Thanks."

The call log on my phone helps me with the number and I push 'Dial' as we turn to the part that has the counter top materials, colours and prices. My eyes automatically drift to a black and white marble patterned granite but the answering of my phone calls pulls my attention.

"Insurance Direct Madeline speaking, how can I help?" The voice that comes down the phone is bright and happy.

"Hi, I just missed a call from Tania, is she available?" I say, slowly walking through the display kitchens.

"Sure, I'll just put you through; can I give her your name?"

"It's Sarah Hale."

I'm stuck listening to awful hold music before its cut off with another voice, "Miss Hale?"

"Speaking, and please call me Sarah."

"Okay, Sarah. We've just received all the information to finish your insurance claim if you have a second to talk."

"Sure." I lean against one of the walls and wait while I hear the tapping of a keyboard.

"We received the disk and the USB with the video footage that you sent us which helped a lot with the conflicting statements from yourself and Miss Knowles." Tania sound slightly shocked and I wonder if she's seen the footage until she continues. "It was very helpful that we saw her face in her car after she tried to claim that you'd done it yourself with her car."

I swear softly. "Sorry."

"No need to apologise, the damage to your vehicle was quiet substantial. You're very lucky you weren't in it. The assessor came back and advised that it would be a complete write off. He's noted all the additional things that were listed separately on the policy and the values of them match what you gave us when you insured the car."

"Okay, so what happens now?" I ask, watching Donna and Al where they are down looking at the bathroom section.

"We process the payment of the full insurance value and close the claim. Miss Knowles' insurance company has been notified of the value that's being paid out."

"And this won't have an effect on my future insurance?"

Tania laughs softly, "No, not at all. We have all the proof that it was a malicious attack on your property so there will be no negative marks on your history."

"Thank you, that's great."

"Sarah, didn't you want to know the amount?"

I laugh, "Forgot about that. So, what do I have to go shopping with?"

"The value that we've covered, including all the modifications means that the payout will be 54,750. It will be processed when I hang up the phone and should be paid out within 24 hours." Tania stutters ever so slightly over the amount.

I nod, completely forgetting that Tania can't see me and thank her again before hanging up the phone.

Al and Donna come back over to me as I tuck the phone back into my bag. "Who was that?" Donna asks as they get closer.

"Insurance company. Claim was approved, payout will happen tonight."

Al asks "So, did you get what you paid for it?"

I nod "I got the 49 that the car cost and the extra 5 that I spent on it."

Donna's head shoots in my direction, "55 thousand dollars? On a car?"

I nod, "Yes and it was the cheap one."

"What the fuck did the other one cost?" She sounds shocked.

"Umm, my Nitro cost me almost 50, the paint job was almost 10 with all the airbrushing and that doesn't count the sounds, the rims, tyres."

Donna shakes her head, "You know I really would like to slap you now."

"Why?" I ask, stepping backwards.

"You spent over 100 thousand dollars on cars!"

Al chuckles, "Could have been worse, she looked at a car that would have cost her that for it alone, and she was still insistent on getting the Challenger."

Donna shakes her head again, "You are insane."

I throw my arm over her shoulder, "No, not insane. I much prefer the term extravagant."

Donna giggles and shoves me sideways. "Well then Miss extravagant have you picked the counter tops?"

I nod, "I want those ones." I point at the granite I had been looking at while I was on the phone and with that small motion one of the sales men comes over and asks if we need any help.