Changing Venues
Part 2
By the time Geoff drove Robin to the train, the search was well underway. They had viewed some flats, both with estate agents and by themselves. Nothing had quite suited, but Geoff was amazed how similar their tastes were. Flats with little natural light were dismissed the moment they stepped through the doors. Those with too much work to do met the same fate. Neither of them was particularly handy, and the thought of Jamie using power tools froze Geoff's blood.
From where he was leaning, Geoff watched Robin's progress at the WH Smith's across the way, selecting and paying for the magazine and chocolates he had decided he needed for the train. Tucking them in his rucksack, he began making his way across the busy station.
"You look very Early Christian Martyr," Geoff informed him as Robin walked up.
"Well, they didn't have…" Robin began and then Geoff's words registered. "What?"
"Grim," Geoff explained. "St. Robin being led to the provinces."
"Oh!" Robin nodded, and then shook his head. "No, I'm all right."
"Worried?" Geoff asked, steering him around a group of tourists to the platform. A guard stood by the entrance, allowing passengers to board the waiting train.
"A little. I've never visited Drew and Kate without Tris."
"Well, if it's too terrible, call and I'll meet your train."
"Thank you."
"Otherwise, I'll meet you here on Friday afternoon. Now, do you have everything? Where's your ticket?"
"I'm set, Geoff."
"I know." Geoff gave him a quick hug. "Try to have some fun, all right?"
"That's exactly what Tris said on Sunday."
"Great minds, eh?"
"See you on Friday, then," Robin replied, slinging his rucksack over his shoulder and taking the suitcase from Geoff. "Tell Jamie to call me if you find something."
"I doubt we will before you get home."
"I wouldn't be so sure. You both know what you want, so it shouldn't be long at all."
"From your lips to God's ear," Geoff told him.
"Just one of the benefits of being an Early Christian Martyr," Robin informed him. With a quick smile, he hurried off to the train, leaving Geoff to digest his last comment.
"Tris is definitely a bad influence on that lad," he said aloud as he pulled out the keys for said bad influence's car. "Definitely."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"It's a turret," Jamie pronounced as they walked through the doorway of the third flat they had seen that day. "An absolute turret."
Geoff frowned as he surveyed the low-ceilinged room with its north facing windows. Empty of furniture and in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint, it was definitely grim but... "A turret?"
Jamie had already turned toward the door. "You know, starving artists, unhappy housemaids."
"I think you mean a garret, Jame. And we're going to look at it before you dismiss it out of hand."
"There's no light! It's a beautiful day outside, but there's no sign of it in here. It's also damp, and it smells."
"Well, the building manager said it's been empty for a few months so I doubt it's been aired." Before Jamie could reply, Geoff held up his hand. "Give it a chance."
Jamie frowned and shoved his hands into his pockets, his posture all but screaming, 'I will, but this is a waste of time.'
Geoff bit his cheek, realised he had done that more than once in the last two hours, and that it was starting to hurt. "Look, there's just the bedroom and the bath to go. Two minutes and we're done. Didn't we agree we'd be thorough?"
"But I'm hungry."
"Then let's move along." Taking Jamie's elbow, Geoff marched him along to the equally grim bedroom. The slope of the ceiling rendered half the room unusable, and the single window also faced north with a less than charming view of the building next door.
"The en suite," Jamie commented, pushing the door open.
The windowless room was smaller than Geoff's tiny bathroom at home. The ceiling shared the same slope as the bedroom, and he doubted he could brush his teeth without smashing his head on the single light fixture.
"How much are they asking for this?"
Jamie handed him the webpage he had printed out.
"Are they joking? We've seen nicer flats for less."
"Certainly explains why it hasn't sold," Jamie offered as they walked out and Geoff locked the door behind them. "It'd be nice to have the top floor to ourselves, but that…" He shuddered.
"I'm on the top floor now," Geoff reminded him. "It has its advantages, yes; but this is two floors higher and there isn't a lift."
"And it's awful," Jamie supplied.
"We'll keep looking," Geoff told him after leaving the key with the building's manager. "We have time for a talk before we meet the estate agent you called yesterday."
"But I'm —"
"Hungry. Yes, I understood that the first three times you said it." Geoff unlocked Tristan's car and looked at Jamie over its roof. "I think we should skip lunch in favour of a discussion about your behaviour. You've been impossible today."
"But none of the places we've looked at are right for us, Geoff! It's very frustrating."
"As I'm well aware," Geoff assured him. "Your attitude, though, hasn't helped."
"Why should we waste time looking at them when we both know they're crap?" Jamie demanded.
Geoff gestured for him to get into the car. "Because," he said, buckling his seat belt, "there might be something we do like about them."
"But —"
"Hold on, I haven't finished. I'm not saying that we'll buy something we don't like. If we see a detail or a feature we both like, we'll add it to our list of wants." He started the car and glanced at the side mirror before looking at Jamie. "Right?"
"But that last one was a complete waste of time!"
"Tell me what was wrong with it."
"It was dark and damp."
"What else?"
"'What else?'" Jamie thought for a moment. "The ceilings! The ceilings were low to begin with, but with the slope, we'd lose space. And the en suite was tiny. Not nearly enough room for two of us."
"And…?"
"There was too much wrong with it, Geoff. We would've had to redo the whole thing just to make it liveable."
"So what are we taking away with us?"
Jamie's face lit up with comprehension, and he ticked the points off on his fingers. "We want light (which we already knew), good ceiling height, and a decent size bath."
"You see? Not such a waste of time after all."
"I'm sorry I rushed," Jamie mumbled. "I'm just worried someone will find our flat before we do."
"Darling, if they do, then it won't be ours, will it? We can't see everything first."
Jamie grinned. "But we can try!"
Geoff rolled his eyes. "Why do I forget how competitive you are?"
"Because you love me?" Jamie asked, leaning across to kiss Geoff.
"That could be it. Now we've half an hour. Where do you want to go?"
Jamie thought. "There's a cafe a few blocks from here. It's usually packed, but at this hour on a weekday, it may be slow and the food is good."
Geoff eased the car into traffic. "All right, give me directions as we go."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tristan checked his watch: five o'clock on the dot. He had just enough time to ring Robin before he was collected for yet another dinner party. Picking up the telephone, he referred to the numbers he had scribbled down and began the lengthy process of dialling an international call. On the second ring, his father answered.
"Dad, it's Tris."
"How's the trip?"
"Fantastic. I think I've met everyone who works for the company and at least half the town. There's a dinner at Max and Gail's tonight, so I'll meet anyone I've missed."
"Sounds as though they're killing the fatted calf for you."
"I'd forgotten how social the two of them are. I don't think I've had more than fifteen minutes to myself since Sunday. I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight."
His father laughed. "You can sleep on the flight home."
"I'm planning on it."
"Look, Robin's right here so I'm going to hand him the phone. We'll talk when you get back. I'm glad it's going so well for you, Tris. It's about time you had a new challenge."
"And this would definitely be it, Dad."
"We'll keep our fingers crossed."
"Talk to you s —"
"Tris? I thought you'd ring after midnight."
"I'm back earlier than I thought I'd be, darling. We played golf this afternoon."
"Golf? You don't play golf."
Tristan settled himself in the wing chair beside the desk. "And I think I proved it."
"Oh," Robin sympathised, "was anyone hurt?"
"Very funny. Luckily no one in my foursome was terribly keen either, so we just enjoyed the afternoon."
"Is everyone nice?"
"Very nice. And they're excited about having a London office and exporting their line."
"Have you talked about…" Tristan could see Robin's hand gesture as clearly as if they were in the same room.
"Tomorrow we'll hash out the details. Max is introducing me as their Director of European Operations so that's promising."
"I don't think he would if you weren't going to be."
Tristan smiled at the convoluted sentence structure. "Now, what have you been up to with Mum and Dad?"
Robin's voice dropped to a whisper. "They're very busy, aren't they? We've been on the go since they picked me up from the train yesterday." He lowered his voice further. "And Kate feeds me all the time. I think I've had at least five meals today. I'm beginning to feel like a hobbit."
"You're about the right height," Tristan teased.
"Hey! I'm much too tall!"
"Maybe it's the furry feet."
"Tris, if you think you're safe because there's an ocean between us right now…"
"I'll pay the piper when I get home," Tristan agreed.
"Oh, tomorrow Drew is taking me to a winery!"
"A winery in Cornwall," Tristan repeated slowly. "Darling, I think Dad's having you on."
"No, he's not. I've checked, they have a website and everything. I've forgotten the name, but I thought I'd buy a bottle to bring home."
Tristan smiled. "Don't forget, Robbie, you're taking the train back."
"I have enough room for a single bottle, Tris," Robin insisted. "We'll celebrate your new job with it."
"I thought you'd take me out to dinner!" Tristan teased.
"And I thought we might have an evening in — just the two of us, a bottle of wine…"
"Oh, I think you might have something there."
"I miss you," Robin confessed. "I'm having a good time, but I miss you."
"I miss you, too," Tristan replied. "I want you to come with me next time."
After a pause, Robin mumbled, "We'll talk about it."
"Max and Gail wanted you to come this time, you know."
"I know."
"We'll talk about it," Tristan said after another pause. "Have you heard from Jamie?"
"Not yet. I know they had appointments set up, but Jamie wasn't going to call unless they found something."
"Well, fingers crossed." Tristan glanced at the clock. "Darling, I have to go. The car should be here to pick me up."
"I see you at home on Friday, then."
Tristan smiled at the wistful voice. "I love you, Robbie."
"Love you, too."
Setting the phone into its cradle, Tristan gave himself a quick once-over in the mirror opposite before grabbing his jacket and hurrying out of his room. The next time he came here, he promised himself, he would talk Robin into coming with him. Having an ocean between them was simply unacceptable.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As he parked the car, Geoff glanced at his watch. "We're ten minutes late. We could have walked faster than the traffic was moving."
Jamie unbuckled his seat belt and reached for the door handle. "If we're lucky, the estate agent will be late as well."
"It never works like that, does it?" Geoff asked as they jogged to the entrance. "She'll have been waiting half an hour."
Jamie looked around the empty lobby. "I don't see anyone," he whispered. His eyes went to the view beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Oh…"
Geoff followed his gaze, and they stood admiring the Thames sparkling with late afternoon sunshine. "Look, there's a walk along the river."
The entry door behind them opened, and they both turned as keys clattered to the tile floor. A middle-aged woman tried without success to juggle folders and a large handbag as she bent to retrieve them.
"Thank you," she said as they came to help. "I'm a disaster today, and I'm late for an appointment!"
"We were late as well," Jamie told her, handing over a neat stack of folders. "It must be the day for it."
Geoff gave her the keys. "We may be your appointment if you're Irene."
She smiled and offered her hand. "Irene Drumm. And you're… "
"Geoff Saunders."
Jamie handed her the mobile he had chased across the floor. "I'm Jamie Talbot. We spoke on the phone."
"Have you been waiting long?" Irene asked, pointing them towards the lift.
"No, we just arrived," Geoff assured her as she used a key to call it.
"I have two flats to show you," she began after pushing the button for the fourth floor. "The one you rang about, of course, but another one was just listed, and I thought you might like to look at that one if you have the time."
"That'd be brilliant," Jamie told her, and Geoff watched as Jamie proceeded to charm her. Before the doors of the lift opened, they had learned that Irene had just become a grandmother for the second time; that her husband worked at a large brokerage firm Geoff had never heard of; and that she had become an estate agent after years of being a homemaker.
"And what do you do?" Irene asked as she unlocked the door to the flat.
"I dance with the Royal Ballet," Jamie said as he followed her in, "and Geoff's an A&E nurse."
Irene blinked. "The Royal Ballet?"
Geoff smiled. Everyone always had the same reaction.
As they stepped into the entry, Geoff realised that the flat faced away from the river. Swallowing a bit of disappointment, he followed Irene down the hall. They had seen the floor plans and a few pictures online, but this was better than they had hoped. A cloakroom for guests, a bedroom with fitted wardrobes along one wall, and -
"Geoff, come look!" Jamie called. "This is fantastic!"
Easily two and a half times the size of his own, the en suite gleamed with white tile walls and floors. The bath was large enough to soak in and featured a shower as well.
"I'd never get you out of there," he teased as Jamie climbed in to check the fit.
"This would be wonderful. I could soak, and you could bring me glasses of wine. I don't have a bath now," Jamie explained to Irene, climbing out. "Geoff does, but it's very small."
The kitchen was next. Larger than Geoff's and more complete than Jamie's, it featured a large window over the sink which let natural light into the space.
"Big enough for the two of you?" Irene asked.
"More than big enough," Geoff agreed.
Jamie swung the door shut. "I like being able to close it off, don't you?"
Geoff nodded as he inspected refrigerator and the dishwasher.
"There is a laundry room on every floor," Irene told them. "Not as convenient as having one in the flat, but you won't have far to go."
"And more convenient than what we have now," Geoff said as he open and closed the cupboards.
"Now, the lounge," Irene said, herding them gently out of the kitchen. "Quite lovely with this wood floor."
"Oh, we don't face the river, do we?" Jamie asked.
"No, unfortunately not," Irene replied.
"The view isn't terrible, though," Geoff said, moving to stand beside Jamie. "There's not a building ten feet away, and it overlooks the gardens."
"Yes, well, I was hoping," Jamie murmured.
"Is it terribly important to you?" Geoff asked as Irene moved away.
"No," Jamie sighed. "More of a 'wouldn't it be nice'."
"I'm disappointed, too. I think it's a wonderful flat, though."
Jamie brightened. "I like it. I like the light and the space and —"
"The bath?"
"Definitely the bath, but the rest of it, too."
"Would you like to see the other flat?" Irene asked as they joined her.
"Why not?" Geoff agreed. "We do like this one, though."
"It is special, isn't it?" Leading them out to the hallway, Irene made short work of closing up the flat. "There is a very low turnover rate for this building, and I think you can see why. Everything is well built and maintained."
Stepping into the lift, Irene pressed the button for the ground floor. "This second flat is one floor below the lobby." She shook her head as Geoff frowned. "Now, give it a chance! I think you may be pleasantly surprised. The owner has been transferred out of the country, and he has priced it to sell quickly."
When they stepped off the lift, Irene led them down a hallway with doors only on one side. Following her to the last one, Jamie shot Geoff a look clearly questioning why they were bothering. Geoff shrugged slightly.
"Why don't we start at the other end this time?" Irene asked as she led them through the flat to the lounge and gestured to the windows. "What do you think?"
Geoff stared at the view of the river they had admired from the lobby.
"There's a garden!" Jamie shouted as he moved toward the glass doors. "Our own garden, Geoff!"
Geoff followed him out, and they walked to the end to lean on the railing. Eight feet below them was the walk Geoff had noticed from the lobby windows. On its far side, the Thames lapped at the embankment.
Jamie grabbed his arm. "This is brilliant!"
Geoff grinned at his enthusiasm. "Let's look at the rest of it, all right?"
"But a garden, Geoff! And the river!"
"I know, darling, but let's take a breath and calm down."
The tour of the flat was quick. The layout was the same, and the fixtures mirrored the ones they had liked in the first flat. The added bonus was that every window faced south. They would have the light they craved all day long.
"The building also features a gymnasium and pool, in addition to the communal gardens," Irene told them. "Now, do you have any questions?"
Geoff shook his head as Jamie asked, "Have many other people been in to see it?"
"No, you're the first people I've shown it to."
"I think we should take some time and think about this," Geoff told his partner.
"But, Geoff —"
"I know, Jame," Geoff interrupted, "but I think we need to talk this through."
"I always suggest taking a walk through the neighbourhood," Irene added. "Get a feel for the area. It helps knowing where the shops and the tube station are."
Jamie sighed and then nodded. "I guess."
Irene took out business cards and handed one to each of them. "All my phone numbers are on there. Call me anytime. Now before we go, is there anything you'd like to see again, either here or in the other flat?"
"No, I think we're all set," Geoff said. "Thank you for meeting us this afternoon."
"It was a pleasure to meet you both." Irene shook hands with them both. "I hope to hear from you soon."
As soon as they reached the lobby, Jamie rushed back to the windows. "Can you believe this?" he demanded when Geoff joined him. "Two flats in the same building! I was beginning to worry."
"I like them both," Geoff agreed. He caught the look Jamie gave him. "All right, truth be told, I love the one with the river view."
"It has everything we want." Jamie frowned. "Oh, I wanted to ask Irene for any printouts she had for it. I have them for upstairs, but I wanted to compare them."
"Why don't you see if you can catch her?"
Jamie dashed out, looking both ways down the street. By the time Geoff caught up with him, he was shaking his head.
"I don't see her."
"What about an internet café, then?" He started across the street with Jamie two steps behind. "There were some shops and things this way, weren't there?"
They found a café in the next block, and Jamie made short work of printing out the pages he wanted. Geoff bought them each a coffee and returned to find Jamie doing a careful comparison.
"The price is still in our range," he reported as Geoff dropped into the chair opposite. "Higher than the fourth floor flat, but it does have more space when you add in the garden."
"Would we use it enough, though?" Geoff asked.
"I think we would," Jamie replied. "If we had chairs and a table, we could eat dinner there on nights like this. It would be nice to have an outdoor space."
"Having the gym and the pool in the building would save money," Geoff allowed. "No more membership fees."
"I liked the bedroom more, too. The wardrobe doors weren't mirrored."
"What? You don't want to look at yourself every spare minute you have?"
Jamie grinned. "No, that's why I have you."
Geoff gave him a quick kiss. "So, should we ring Irene right now or have dinner first?"
"I think we should ring first. I don't want anyone else to get it, do you?"
"No. This one feels right, doesn't it?"
"I felt it when we got there. Something about the building."
Geoff pulled his mobile from his belt. "Here."
Jamie looked surprised. "I thought you'd do it."
"Sweetheart, you're our financial wizard, and you've done most of the work. You deserve to do it. Plus," Geoff said, handing over the mobile, "you're the charming one."
"Well, I am that," Jamie agreed, pulling out Irene's business card and punching in the numbers.
Geoff watched his partner as Jamie told Irene they wanted to buy the ground-floor (he refused to think of it as 'basement') flat. He answered a few questions, and then rang off with a promise they would stop by her office later that evening to sign the offer.
"Now we should have a good dinner to celebrate," Geoff said as they walked back to the car. "Where would you like to go?"
Jamie frowned. "We have to be careful with our money now. Nothing too grand."
"You're always careful with your money — and with mine, come to that. I think we can afford a decent last meal."
"We could take Irene's advice and explore. See what we find."
Geoff nodded. "I'm up for it. I want to find the tube station as well. You said Tower Hill wasn't far, didn't you?"
Jamie glanced up at the street signs. "This way, I think."
Without waiting for Geoff, he started through the people hurrying home. Geoff caught up with him after half a block and took his hand.
"Slow down! I'm too old for an all-out sprint."
Jamie snorted but did as Geoff requested. "It should only take me half an hour to get home. Isn't that fantastic?"
Geoff smiled. Everything was 'fantastic' tonight. The flat, the river, wherever they had dinner and whatever they ate — all of it. They had found the perfect flat, and he was as excited as Jamie to start their life together.
"I should call Robbie, don't you think? Or should I wait until we know it's ours?"
"It's up to you," Geoff answered as they dodged a young woman walking three large dogs.
"I think I'll wait. By the time he comes home, we'll know."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tristan stepped into the front hall of his parents' home and dropped his bag at the foot of the stairs. "Hullo?" he called into the quiet.
"In the kitchen, Tris!" Kate called, and he followed the passage back. "I thought you'd never get here. I've kept an eye out all afternoon."
"I decided to take a nap before I started. I didn't sleep much on the plane." He bent to kiss her cheek as she continued carving a cold roast. "Where's Robbie?"
"Having tea with Grand. Your dad is stopping for him when he finishes at the college. They should be here soon."
"Tea with Grand?" Tristan asked.
"She rang yesterday to invite him."
Tris filled a glass with water and drained it in three long swallows. "How has the week been?"
"Lovely. We've thoroughly enjoyed having him with us."
"When I rang, he said you were stuffing him with food."
"At the risk of repeating myself, one of you must learn to cook properly. It may be all well and good for you, but that boy is too thin."
"Mum —"
"I'm not joking, Tris. There are loads of cookery classes in London. You could take it together."
Tristan mentally conceded her the point. "I'll look into it, all right?"
"I already have." Kate pointed to a folder on the table. "You're absolutely right about the internet being a wonderful place to do research."
Groaning, Tristan picked up the folder and leafed through the pages. All types of cuisine, all levels of classes. Taking one with Robin was certainly more tempting than doing it on his own.
"So other than feeding Robin, what have you been up to?"
"We cleared away most of the vines and cut back the shrubs in the garden. It's too late in the year to do any planting so we'll leave that for spring." Kate wiped her hands on a tea towel. "You haven't eaten, have you?"
"No, not yet."
"Good. I've made a salad to go with the meat, and there's cheese and bread. I don't think Robin will be much interested in eating."
Tristan filled two of the wineglasses Kate took from a cupboard and handed one to his mother. "Not if Mrs. Nevins has anything to say about it."
They heard the sound of a car on the drive an instant before Robin's voice rang out in the hall.
"Tris?"
"Here, darling!"
The sound of footsteps in the hall and Robin appeared in the doorway. Dropping an armload of packages on the table, he launched himself into Tristan's waiting arms. "What are you doing here?"
"I finished yesterday and flew home last night. I thought we might spend the weekend here."
Robin looked perplexed. "But Jenny gave me a packet of sandwiches for the trip home tomorrow."
"Jenny?" Tristan asked.
"She said the sandwiches they sell on trains are muck." He looked at Tristan then Kate. "She's right, you know."
"Jenny Nevins?" Tristan asked again.
Robin looked at him, frowning slightly as he tried to decipher what Tristan was asking him. "Yes, Jenny Nevins," he agreed. "Grand's Jenny."
"Oh my," Kate murmured.
"Have I done something wrong?" Robin asked.
"No, of course, you haven't. I've never heard anyone but Grand and Dad call her Jenny," Tristan told him.
"But she said I should. When we were doing the washing up, I called her 'Mrs. Nevins', and she said, 'Jenny to you, my lad.'" He looked from Tristan to Kate. "Wasn't that right?"
Kate put a hand on his arm. "Of course it was, dear. You just surprised us. I've only ever called her 'Mrs. Nevins' in all the time I've been married."
When Robin's frown did not ease, Tristan asked, "Did she make her currant scones?"
Robin sighed in remembrance. "She made everything. I haven't any room left for dinner."
"It's all right, dear," Kate told him, pouring a glass of wine for Drew as he joined them.
Drew kissed his wife and hugged Tristan before taking a sip. "Have I missed the announcement?" he asked.
Tristan grinned. "No, I was waiting for you, Dad." He looked at the expectant faces. "They offered me the job —" A chorus of cheers met his words and he held his hand up for quiet. " — with a generous increase in salary and excellent benefits. Acceptance is, of course, contingent upon discussions with my partner." He saluted Robin with his glass.
Robin gaped at him. "You didn't say yes?"
"I said it all looked wonderful, but I had to talk to you before I agreed to anything." He pulled Robin into his arms. "I have everything with me, darling. We'll sit down and go through it. I told Max I would call him on Monday morning with my answer. All right?"
Robin nodded, but his frown lingered.
"It's fine, Robbie. Max and Gail understand."
"I wish I did," Robin mumbled. "You've waited months for this."
"And they've been looking for someone for over a year," Tristan explained. "Three days more aren't going to change their minds."
"Especially now that they've found the right person for the job," Drew added. "I think we should celebrate."
"Well, there is a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator," Kate pointed out. "You boys go into the lounge. We'll be in a minute."
The telephone rang as Tristan passed it, and he scooped it up with an apologetic shrug to his parents. "Hello?"
"Tris, what are you doing there?" Jamie demanded.
"I flew home last night and came down to surprise Robbie. Didn't Geoff tell you?"
"No, he didn't," Jamie huffed. "Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded of someone on his end. "I can keep a secret! It's not as if I'd ring Robin and tell him — No, I wouldn't!"
"Jamie, did you want to speak to Robin?" Tristan asked gently.
"Yes please, if he's available. No, I'm not speaking to you now, Geoff!"
"Robbie, it's Jamie," Tristan said, handing him the phone.
"Hello? No, I didn't know. That's why it was a surprise." He shook his head at Tristan who leaned against the wall opposite. "We'll be back on Sunday. Why?" His face lit up. "You did? Where is it?" He held his hand over the mouthpiece. "They found a flat. It's in Wapping, overlooking the river."
"Brilliant!"
Robin nodded as he continued listening to Jamie. "Do you have pictures? Oh, it is? Send me the link." He rolled his eyes. "Of course they have internet! All right, I'll talk to you then." He hung up the phone. "He rang off so he could be stroppy with Geoff."
"He didn't like not being in on your surprise," Tristan said as they sat down on the couch together.
"But he can't keep a secret," Robin replied. "He's never been able to."
"So tell me about the flat!"
"He's sending the link with all the information, but he says it's fantastic. Wood floors, lots of light, an incredible view of the Thames, and a garden. Their offer was accepted this morning." Robin frowned. "How far is Wapping, Tris?"
Tristan wrapped his arms around Robin. "Forty minutes on the tube, I think. Less by car. An easy trip."
"Are you sure, or are you trying to stop me from worrying?"
"Yes."
Robin smiled and kissed him. "Good."
Heralded by the pop of a cork, Kate appeared carrying a tray of glasses with Drew two steps behind with the champagne. He filled the flutes and handed one to each of them.
"Shall I propose the toast?" he asked.
"May I?" Robin asked hesitantly. He lifted his glass and turned to Tristan. "Tris, we're so happy that you've found a new position with a company you like and with people who appreciate how talented you are." He turned toward Drew and Kate. "Thank you for this wonderful week. I've enjoyed every moment I've spent with you, and I don't think you know how much I appreciate all the love you've given me." He raised his glass a little higher. "And to Jamie and Geoff as they start their life together. I hope they're as happy as Tris and I are."
Tristan dropped a kiss on his lips as they touched glasses. "Then they'll be very happy indeed. Cheers, darling."
Jamie and Geoff
From where he was leaning, Geoff watched Robin's progress at the WH Smith's across the way, selecting and paying for the magazine and chocolates he had decided he needed for the train. Tucking them in his rucksack, he began making his way across the busy station.
"You look very Early Christian Martyr," Geoff informed him as Robin walked up.
"Well, they didn't have…" Robin began and then Geoff's words registered. "What?"
"Grim," Geoff explained. "St. Robin being led to the provinces."
"Oh!" Robin nodded, and then shook his head. "No, I'm all right."
"Worried?" Geoff asked, steering him around a group of tourists to the platform. A guard stood by the entrance, allowing passengers to board the waiting train.
"A little. I've never visited Drew and Kate without Tris."
"Well, if it's too terrible, call and I'll meet your train."
"Thank you."
"Otherwise, I'll meet you here on Friday afternoon. Now, do you have everything? Where's your ticket?"
"I'm set, Geoff."
"I know." Geoff gave him a quick hug. "Try to have some fun, all right?"
"That's exactly what Tris said on Sunday."
"Great minds, eh?"
"See you on Friday, then," Robin replied, slinging his rucksack over his shoulder and taking the suitcase from Geoff. "Tell Jamie to call me if you find something."
"I doubt we will before you get home."
"I wouldn't be so sure. You both know what you want, so it shouldn't be long at all."
"From your lips to God's ear," Geoff told him.
"Just one of the benefits of being an Early Christian Martyr," Robin informed him. With a quick smile, he hurried off to the train, leaving Geoff to digest his last comment.
"Tris is definitely a bad influence on that lad," he said aloud as he pulled out the keys for said bad influence's car. "Definitely."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"It's a turret," Jamie pronounced as they walked through the doorway of the third flat they had seen that day. "An absolute turret."
Geoff frowned as he surveyed the low-ceilinged room with its north facing windows. Empty of furniture and in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint, it was definitely grim but... "A turret?"
Jamie had already turned toward the door. "You know, starving artists, unhappy housemaids."
"I think you mean a garret, Jame. And we're going to look at it before you dismiss it out of hand."
"There's no light! It's a beautiful day outside, but there's no sign of it in here. It's also damp, and it smells."
"Well, the building manager said it's been empty for a few months so I doubt it's been aired." Before Jamie could reply, Geoff held up his hand. "Give it a chance."
Jamie frowned and shoved his hands into his pockets, his posture all but screaming, 'I will, but this is a waste of time.'
Geoff bit his cheek, realised he had done that more than once in the last two hours, and that it was starting to hurt. "Look, there's just the bedroom and the bath to go. Two minutes and we're done. Didn't we agree we'd be thorough?"
"But I'm hungry."
"Then let's move along." Taking Jamie's elbow, Geoff marched him along to the equally grim bedroom. The slope of the ceiling rendered half the room unusable, and the single window also faced north with a less than charming view of the building next door.
"The en suite," Jamie commented, pushing the door open.
The windowless room was smaller than Geoff's tiny bathroom at home. The ceiling shared the same slope as the bedroom, and he doubted he could brush his teeth without smashing his head on the single light fixture.
"How much are they asking for this?"
Jamie handed him the webpage he had printed out.
"Are they joking? We've seen nicer flats for less."
"Certainly explains why it hasn't sold," Jamie offered as they walked out and Geoff locked the door behind them. "It'd be nice to have the top floor to ourselves, but that…" He shuddered.
"I'm on the top floor now," Geoff reminded him. "It has its advantages, yes; but this is two floors higher and there isn't a lift."
"And it's awful," Jamie supplied.
"We'll keep looking," Geoff told him after leaving the key with the building's manager. "We have time for a talk before we meet the estate agent you called yesterday."
"But I'm —"
"Hungry. Yes, I understood that the first three times you said it." Geoff unlocked Tristan's car and looked at Jamie over its roof. "I think we should skip lunch in favour of a discussion about your behaviour. You've been impossible today."
"But none of the places we've looked at are right for us, Geoff! It's very frustrating."
"As I'm well aware," Geoff assured him. "Your attitude, though, hasn't helped."
"Why should we waste time looking at them when we both know they're crap?" Jamie demanded.
Geoff gestured for him to get into the car. "Because," he said, buckling his seat belt, "there might be something we do like about them."
"But —"
"Hold on, I haven't finished. I'm not saying that we'll buy something we don't like. If we see a detail or a feature we both like, we'll add it to our list of wants." He started the car and glanced at the side mirror before looking at Jamie. "Right?"
"But that last one was a complete waste of time!"
"Tell me what was wrong with it."
"It was dark and damp."
"What else?"
"'What else?'" Jamie thought for a moment. "The ceilings! The ceilings were low to begin with, but with the slope, we'd lose space. And the en suite was tiny. Not nearly enough room for two of us."
"And…?"
"There was too much wrong with it, Geoff. We would've had to redo the whole thing just to make it liveable."
"So what are we taking away with us?"
Jamie's face lit up with comprehension, and he ticked the points off on his fingers. "We want light (which we already knew), good ceiling height, and a decent size bath."
"You see? Not such a waste of time after all."
"I'm sorry I rushed," Jamie mumbled. "I'm just worried someone will find our flat before we do."
"Darling, if they do, then it won't be ours, will it? We can't see everything first."
Jamie grinned. "But we can try!"
Geoff rolled his eyes. "Why do I forget how competitive you are?"
"Because you love me?" Jamie asked, leaning across to kiss Geoff.
"That could be it. Now we've half an hour. Where do you want to go?"
Jamie thought. "There's a cafe a few blocks from here. It's usually packed, but at this hour on a weekday, it may be slow and the food is good."
Geoff eased the car into traffic. "All right, give me directions as we go."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tristan checked his watch: five o'clock on the dot. He had just enough time to ring Robin before he was collected for yet another dinner party. Picking up the telephone, he referred to the numbers he had scribbled down and began the lengthy process of dialling an international call. On the second ring, his father answered.
"Dad, it's Tris."
"How's the trip?"
"Fantastic. I think I've met everyone who works for the company and at least half the town. There's a dinner at Max and Gail's tonight, so I'll meet anyone I've missed."
"Sounds as though they're killing the fatted calf for you."
"I'd forgotten how social the two of them are. I don't think I've had more than fifteen minutes to myself since Sunday. I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight."
His father laughed. "You can sleep on the flight home."
"I'm planning on it."
"Look, Robin's right here so I'm going to hand him the phone. We'll talk when you get back. I'm glad it's going so well for you, Tris. It's about time you had a new challenge."
"And this would definitely be it, Dad."
"We'll keep our fingers crossed."
"Talk to you s —"
"Tris? I thought you'd ring after midnight."
"I'm back earlier than I thought I'd be, darling. We played golf this afternoon."
"Golf? You don't play golf."
Tristan settled himself in the wing chair beside the desk. "And I think I proved it."
"Oh," Robin sympathised, "was anyone hurt?"
"Very funny. Luckily no one in my foursome was terribly keen either, so we just enjoyed the afternoon."
"Is everyone nice?"
"Very nice. And they're excited about having a London office and exporting their line."
"Have you talked about…" Tristan could see Robin's hand gesture as clearly as if they were in the same room.
"Tomorrow we'll hash out the details. Max is introducing me as their Director of European Operations so that's promising."
"I don't think he would if you weren't going to be."
Tristan smiled at the convoluted sentence structure. "Now, what have you been up to with Mum and Dad?"
Robin's voice dropped to a whisper. "They're very busy, aren't they? We've been on the go since they picked me up from the train yesterday." He lowered his voice further. "And Kate feeds me all the time. I think I've had at least five meals today. I'm beginning to feel like a hobbit."
"You're about the right height," Tristan teased.
"Hey! I'm much too tall!"
"Maybe it's the furry feet."
"Tris, if you think you're safe because there's an ocean between us right now…"
"I'll pay the piper when I get home," Tristan agreed.
"Oh, tomorrow Drew is taking me to a winery!"
"A winery in Cornwall," Tristan repeated slowly. "Darling, I think Dad's having you on."
"No, he's not. I've checked, they have a website and everything. I've forgotten the name, but I thought I'd buy a bottle to bring home."
Tristan smiled. "Don't forget, Robbie, you're taking the train back."
"I have enough room for a single bottle, Tris," Robin insisted. "We'll celebrate your new job with it."
"I thought you'd take me out to dinner!" Tristan teased.
"And I thought we might have an evening in — just the two of us, a bottle of wine…"
"Oh, I think you might have something there."
"I miss you," Robin confessed. "I'm having a good time, but I miss you."
"I miss you, too," Tristan replied. "I want you to come with me next time."
After a pause, Robin mumbled, "We'll talk about it."
"Max and Gail wanted you to come this time, you know."
"I know."
"We'll talk about it," Tristan said after another pause. "Have you heard from Jamie?"
"Not yet. I know they had appointments set up, but Jamie wasn't going to call unless they found something."
"Well, fingers crossed." Tristan glanced at the clock. "Darling, I have to go. The car should be here to pick me up."
"I see you at home on Friday, then."
Tristan smiled at the wistful voice. "I love you, Robbie."
"Love you, too."
Setting the phone into its cradle, Tristan gave himself a quick once-over in the mirror opposite before grabbing his jacket and hurrying out of his room. The next time he came here, he promised himself, he would talk Robin into coming with him. Having an ocean between them was simply unacceptable.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As he parked the car, Geoff glanced at his watch. "We're ten minutes late. We could have walked faster than the traffic was moving."
Jamie unbuckled his seat belt and reached for the door handle. "If we're lucky, the estate agent will be late as well."
"It never works like that, does it?" Geoff asked as they jogged to the entrance. "She'll have been waiting half an hour."
Jamie looked around the empty lobby. "I don't see anyone," he whispered. His eyes went to the view beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Oh…"
Geoff followed his gaze, and they stood admiring the Thames sparkling with late afternoon sunshine. "Look, there's a walk along the river."
The entry door behind them opened, and they both turned as keys clattered to the tile floor. A middle-aged woman tried without success to juggle folders and a large handbag as she bent to retrieve them.
"Thank you," she said as they came to help. "I'm a disaster today, and I'm late for an appointment!"
"We were late as well," Jamie told her, handing over a neat stack of folders. "It must be the day for it."
Geoff gave her the keys. "We may be your appointment if you're Irene."
She smiled and offered her hand. "Irene Drumm. And you're… "
"Geoff Saunders."
Jamie handed her the mobile he had chased across the floor. "I'm Jamie Talbot. We spoke on the phone."
"Have you been waiting long?" Irene asked, pointing them towards the lift.
"No, we just arrived," Geoff assured her as she used a key to call it.
"I have two flats to show you," she began after pushing the button for the fourth floor. "The one you rang about, of course, but another one was just listed, and I thought you might like to look at that one if you have the time."
"That'd be brilliant," Jamie told her, and Geoff watched as Jamie proceeded to charm her. Before the doors of the lift opened, they had learned that Irene had just become a grandmother for the second time; that her husband worked at a large brokerage firm Geoff had never heard of; and that she had become an estate agent after years of being a homemaker.
"And what do you do?" Irene asked as she unlocked the door to the flat.
"I dance with the Royal Ballet," Jamie said as he followed her in, "and Geoff's an A&E nurse."
Irene blinked. "The Royal Ballet?"
Geoff smiled. Everyone always had the same reaction.
As they stepped into the entry, Geoff realised that the flat faced away from the river. Swallowing a bit of disappointment, he followed Irene down the hall. They had seen the floor plans and a few pictures online, but this was better than they had hoped. A cloakroom for guests, a bedroom with fitted wardrobes along one wall, and -
"Geoff, come look!" Jamie called. "This is fantastic!"
Easily two and a half times the size of his own, the en suite gleamed with white tile walls and floors. The bath was large enough to soak in and featured a shower as well.
"I'd never get you out of there," he teased as Jamie climbed in to check the fit.
"This would be wonderful. I could soak, and you could bring me glasses of wine. I don't have a bath now," Jamie explained to Irene, climbing out. "Geoff does, but it's very small."
The kitchen was next. Larger than Geoff's and more complete than Jamie's, it featured a large window over the sink which let natural light into the space.
"Big enough for the two of you?" Irene asked.
"More than big enough," Geoff agreed.
Jamie swung the door shut. "I like being able to close it off, don't you?"
Geoff nodded as he inspected refrigerator and the dishwasher.
"There is a laundry room on every floor," Irene told them. "Not as convenient as having one in the flat, but you won't have far to go."
"And more convenient than what we have now," Geoff said as he open and closed the cupboards.
"Now, the lounge," Irene said, herding them gently out of the kitchen. "Quite lovely with this wood floor."
"Oh, we don't face the river, do we?" Jamie asked.
"No, unfortunately not," Irene replied.
"The view isn't terrible, though," Geoff said, moving to stand beside Jamie. "There's not a building ten feet away, and it overlooks the gardens."
"Yes, well, I was hoping," Jamie murmured.
"Is it terribly important to you?" Geoff asked as Irene moved away.
"No," Jamie sighed. "More of a 'wouldn't it be nice'."
"I'm disappointed, too. I think it's a wonderful flat, though."
Jamie brightened. "I like it. I like the light and the space and —"
"The bath?"
"Definitely the bath, but the rest of it, too."
"Would you like to see the other flat?" Irene asked as they joined her.
"Why not?" Geoff agreed. "We do like this one, though."
"It is special, isn't it?" Leading them out to the hallway, Irene made short work of closing up the flat. "There is a very low turnover rate for this building, and I think you can see why. Everything is well built and maintained."
Stepping into the lift, Irene pressed the button for the ground floor. "This second flat is one floor below the lobby." She shook her head as Geoff frowned. "Now, give it a chance! I think you may be pleasantly surprised. The owner has been transferred out of the country, and he has priced it to sell quickly."
When they stepped off the lift, Irene led them down a hallway with doors only on one side. Following her to the last one, Jamie shot Geoff a look clearly questioning why they were bothering. Geoff shrugged slightly.
"Why don't we start at the other end this time?" Irene asked as she led them through the flat to the lounge and gestured to the windows. "What do you think?"
Geoff stared at the view of the river they had admired from the lobby.
"There's a garden!" Jamie shouted as he moved toward the glass doors. "Our own garden, Geoff!"
Geoff followed him out, and they walked to the end to lean on the railing. Eight feet below them was the walk Geoff had noticed from the lobby windows. On its far side, the Thames lapped at the embankment.
Jamie grabbed his arm. "This is brilliant!"
Geoff grinned at his enthusiasm. "Let's look at the rest of it, all right?"
"But a garden, Geoff! And the river!"
"I know, darling, but let's take a breath and calm down."
The tour of the flat was quick. The layout was the same, and the fixtures mirrored the ones they had liked in the first flat. The added bonus was that every window faced south. They would have the light they craved all day long.
"The building also features a gymnasium and pool, in addition to the communal gardens," Irene told them. "Now, do you have any questions?"
Geoff shook his head as Jamie asked, "Have many other people been in to see it?"
"No, you're the first people I've shown it to."
"I think we should take some time and think about this," Geoff told his partner.
"But, Geoff —"
"I know, Jame," Geoff interrupted, "but I think we need to talk this through."
"I always suggest taking a walk through the neighbourhood," Irene added. "Get a feel for the area. It helps knowing where the shops and the tube station are."
Jamie sighed and then nodded. "I guess."
Irene took out business cards and handed one to each of them. "All my phone numbers are on there. Call me anytime. Now before we go, is there anything you'd like to see again, either here or in the other flat?"
"No, I think we're all set," Geoff said. "Thank you for meeting us this afternoon."
"It was a pleasure to meet you both." Irene shook hands with them both. "I hope to hear from you soon."
As soon as they reached the lobby, Jamie rushed back to the windows. "Can you believe this?" he demanded when Geoff joined him. "Two flats in the same building! I was beginning to worry."
"I like them both," Geoff agreed. He caught the look Jamie gave him. "All right, truth be told, I love the one with the river view."
"It has everything we want." Jamie frowned. "Oh, I wanted to ask Irene for any printouts she had for it. I have them for upstairs, but I wanted to compare them."
"Why don't you see if you can catch her?"
Jamie dashed out, looking both ways down the street. By the time Geoff caught up with him, he was shaking his head.
"I don't see her."
"What about an internet café, then?" He started across the street with Jamie two steps behind. "There were some shops and things this way, weren't there?"
They found a café in the next block, and Jamie made short work of printing out the pages he wanted. Geoff bought them each a coffee and returned to find Jamie doing a careful comparison.
"The price is still in our range," he reported as Geoff dropped into the chair opposite. "Higher than the fourth floor flat, but it does have more space when you add in the garden."
"Would we use it enough, though?" Geoff asked.
"I think we would," Jamie replied. "If we had chairs and a table, we could eat dinner there on nights like this. It would be nice to have an outdoor space."
"Having the gym and the pool in the building would save money," Geoff allowed. "No more membership fees."
"I liked the bedroom more, too. The wardrobe doors weren't mirrored."
"What? You don't want to look at yourself every spare minute you have?"
Jamie grinned. "No, that's why I have you."
Geoff gave him a quick kiss. "So, should we ring Irene right now or have dinner first?"
"I think we should ring first. I don't want anyone else to get it, do you?"
"No. This one feels right, doesn't it?"
"I felt it when we got there. Something about the building."
Geoff pulled his mobile from his belt. "Here."
Jamie looked surprised. "I thought you'd do it."
"Sweetheart, you're our financial wizard, and you've done most of the work. You deserve to do it. Plus," Geoff said, handing over the mobile, "you're the charming one."
"Well, I am that," Jamie agreed, pulling out Irene's business card and punching in the numbers.
Geoff watched his partner as Jamie told Irene they wanted to buy the ground-floor (he refused to think of it as 'basement') flat. He answered a few questions, and then rang off with a promise they would stop by her office later that evening to sign the offer.
"Now we should have a good dinner to celebrate," Geoff said as they walked back to the car. "Where would you like to go?"
Jamie frowned. "We have to be careful with our money now. Nothing too grand."
"You're always careful with your money — and with mine, come to that. I think we can afford a decent last meal."
"We could take Irene's advice and explore. See what we find."
Geoff nodded. "I'm up for it. I want to find the tube station as well. You said Tower Hill wasn't far, didn't you?"
Jamie glanced up at the street signs. "This way, I think."
Without waiting for Geoff, he started through the people hurrying home. Geoff caught up with him after half a block and took his hand.
"Slow down! I'm too old for an all-out sprint."
Jamie snorted but did as Geoff requested. "It should only take me half an hour to get home. Isn't that fantastic?"
Geoff smiled. Everything was 'fantastic' tonight. The flat, the river, wherever they had dinner and whatever they ate — all of it. They had found the perfect flat, and he was as excited as Jamie to start their life together.
"I should call Robbie, don't you think? Or should I wait until we know it's ours?"
"It's up to you," Geoff answered as they dodged a young woman walking three large dogs.
"I think I'll wait. By the time he comes home, we'll know."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tristan stepped into the front hall of his parents' home and dropped his bag at the foot of the stairs. "Hullo?" he called into the quiet.
"In the kitchen, Tris!" Kate called, and he followed the passage back. "I thought you'd never get here. I've kept an eye out all afternoon."
"I decided to take a nap before I started. I didn't sleep much on the plane." He bent to kiss her cheek as she continued carving a cold roast. "Where's Robbie?"
"Having tea with Grand. Your dad is stopping for him when he finishes at the college. They should be here soon."
"Tea with Grand?" Tristan asked.
"She rang yesterday to invite him."
Tris filled a glass with water and drained it in three long swallows. "How has the week been?"
"Lovely. We've thoroughly enjoyed having him with us."
"When I rang, he said you were stuffing him with food."
"At the risk of repeating myself, one of you must learn to cook properly. It may be all well and good for you, but that boy is too thin."
"Mum —"
"I'm not joking, Tris. There are loads of cookery classes in London. You could take it together."
Tristan mentally conceded her the point. "I'll look into it, all right?"
"I already have." Kate pointed to a folder on the table. "You're absolutely right about the internet being a wonderful place to do research."
Groaning, Tristan picked up the folder and leafed through the pages. All types of cuisine, all levels of classes. Taking one with Robin was certainly more tempting than doing it on his own.
"So other than feeding Robin, what have you been up to?"
"We cleared away most of the vines and cut back the shrubs in the garden. It's too late in the year to do any planting so we'll leave that for spring." Kate wiped her hands on a tea towel. "You haven't eaten, have you?"
"No, not yet."
"Good. I've made a salad to go with the meat, and there's cheese and bread. I don't think Robin will be much interested in eating."
Tristan filled two of the wineglasses Kate took from a cupboard and handed one to his mother. "Not if Mrs. Nevins has anything to say about it."
They heard the sound of a car on the drive an instant before Robin's voice rang out in the hall.
"Tris?"
"Here, darling!"
The sound of footsteps in the hall and Robin appeared in the doorway. Dropping an armload of packages on the table, he launched himself into Tristan's waiting arms. "What are you doing here?"
"I finished yesterday and flew home last night. I thought we might spend the weekend here."
Robin looked perplexed. "But Jenny gave me a packet of sandwiches for the trip home tomorrow."
"Jenny?" Tristan asked.
"She said the sandwiches they sell on trains are muck." He looked at Tristan then Kate. "She's right, you know."
"Jenny Nevins?" Tristan asked again.
Robin looked at him, frowning slightly as he tried to decipher what Tristan was asking him. "Yes, Jenny Nevins," he agreed. "Grand's Jenny."
"Oh my," Kate murmured.
"Have I done something wrong?" Robin asked.
"No, of course, you haven't. I've never heard anyone but Grand and Dad call her Jenny," Tristan told him.
"But she said I should. When we were doing the washing up, I called her 'Mrs. Nevins', and she said, 'Jenny to you, my lad.'" He looked from Tristan to Kate. "Wasn't that right?"
Kate put a hand on his arm. "Of course it was, dear. You just surprised us. I've only ever called her 'Mrs. Nevins' in all the time I've been married."
When Robin's frown did not ease, Tristan asked, "Did she make her currant scones?"
Robin sighed in remembrance. "She made everything. I haven't any room left for dinner."
"It's all right, dear," Kate told him, pouring a glass of wine for Drew as he joined them.
Drew kissed his wife and hugged Tristan before taking a sip. "Have I missed the announcement?" he asked.
Tristan grinned. "No, I was waiting for you, Dad." He looked at the expectant faces. "They offered me the job —" A chorus of cheers met his words and he held his hand up for quiet. " — with a generous increase in salary and excellent benefits. Acceptance is, of course, contingent upon discussions with my partner." He saluted Robin with his glass.
Robin gaped at him. "You didn't say yes?"
"I said it all looked wonderful, but I had to talk to you before I agreed to anything." He pulled Robin into his arms. "I have everything with me, darling. We'll sit down and go through it. I told Max I would call him on Monday morning with my answer. All right?"
Robin nodded, but his frown lingered.
"It's fine, Robbie. Max and Gail understand."
"I wish I did," Robin mumbled. "You've waited months for this."
"And they've been looking for someone for over a year," Tristan explained. "Three days more aren't going to change their minds."
"Especially now that they've found the right person for the job," Drew added. "I think we should celebrate."
"Well, there is a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator," Kate pointed out. "You boys go into the lounge. We'll be in a minute."
The telephone rang as Tristan passed it, and he scooped it up with an apologetic shrug to his parents. "Hello?"
"Tris, what are you doing there?" Jamie demanded.
"I flew home last night and came down to surprise Robbie. Didn't Geoff tell you?"
"No, he didn't," Jamie huffed. "Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded of someone on his end. "I can keep a secret! It's not as if I'd ring Robin and tell him — No, I wouldn't!"
"Jamie, did you want to speak to Robin?" Tristan asked gently.
"Yes please, if he's available. No, I'm not speaking to you now, Geoff!"
"Robbie, it's Jamie," Tristan said, handing him the phone.
"Hello? No, I didn't know. That's why it was a surprise." He shook his head at Tristan who leaned against the wall opposite. "We'll be back on Sunday. Why?" His face lit up. "You did? Where is it?" He held his hand over the mouthpiece. "They found a flat. It's in Wapping, overlooking the river."
"Brilliant!"
Robin nodded as he continued listening to Jamie. "Do you have pictures? Oh, it is? Send me the link." He rolled his eyes. "Of course they have internet! All right, I'll talk to you then." He hung up the phone. "He rang off so he could be stroppy with Geoff."
"He didn't like not being in on your surprise," Tristan said as they sat down on the couch together.
"But he can't keep a secret," Robin replied. "He's never been able to."
"So tell me about the flat!"
"He's sending the link with all the information, but he says it's fantastic. Wood floors, lots of light, an incredible view of the Thames, and a garden. Their offer was accepted this morning." Robin frowned. "How far is Wapping, Tris?"
Tristan wrapped his arms around Robin. "Forty minutes on the tube, I think. Less by car. An easy trip."
"Are you sure, or are you trying to stop me from worrying?"
"Yes."
Robin smiled and kissed him. "Good."
Heralded by the pop of a cork, Kate appeared carrying a tray of glasses with Drew two steps behind with the champagne. He filled the flutes and handed one to each of them.
"Shall I propose the toast?" he asked.
"May I?" Robin asked hesitantly. He lifted his glass and turned to Tristan. "Tris, we're so happy that you've found a new position with a company you like and with people who appreciate how talented you are." He turned toward Drew and Kate. "Thank you for this wonderful week. I've enjoyed every moment I've spent with you, and I don't think you know how much I appreciate all the love you've given me." He raised his glass a little higher. "And to Jamie and Geoff as they start their life together. I hope they're as happy as Tris and I are."
Tristan dropped a kiss on his lips as they touched glasses. "Then they'll be very happy indeed. Cheers, darling."
Jamie and Geoff