Three Amazing Things About You Read Online Free Page A

Place was Elsa’s grandson Zander, two years younger than his sister but eerily similar in looks. With their dark hair, pronounced cheekbones, narrow blue eyes and striking dark brows, they had the air of a couple of vampires about them. Since they lived just across the square, it seemed weird that Flo had never met them in person before, but their paths simply hadn’t crossed.
    At least the brother seemed calmer and less overwrought, although you couldn’t say he was looking exactly thrilled.
    ‘Right,’ said Mary, who had been Elsa’s solicitor and was sole executor of her will. ‘Let me just stress here that Elsa made her own decisions about this property. In no way was she coerced or persuaded by anyone. Flo, how long ago did you first meet Elsa?’
    ‘It was two years ago. Just over two years,’ said Flo. ‘In the October.’
    ‘And Elsa told me five years ago that this was what she wanted to happen. Her mind was made up, even then.’
    ‘But she’s only known my grandmother for two years! And now she’s got this place! How can that be fair?’
    ‘Sshh.’ Zander shook his head irritably. ‘Stop screeching.’
    ‘I’ll screech if I want to,’ Lena snapped. ‘This is the most ridiculous situation EVER.’
    What a couple of charmers. Flo raked her fingers through her hair, painstakingly blow-dried before the funeral but now, thanks to the rain, back to its natural state of out-of-control corkscrew curls. ‘Look, I haven’t
got
this place—’
    ‘Oh really?’ Lena retorted. ‘Certainly looks like you’ve got it to me.’
    ‘Enough.’ Zander was glaring across the room at her.
    ‘I’m going to speak to a lawyer about this. A
proper
one.’
    ‘You’re most welcome to do that,’ said Mary. ‘But I’m telling you now, it won’t change anything. I’m quite capable of drawing up a legally binding will. And this one is watertight.’
    ‘Well it doesn’t stop it being ridiculous.’ Lena grabbed her handbag and pulled out her phone. ‘For God’s sake, how can she do this to me? It’s only a fucking cat!’
    Time to zone out. Flo remembered instead the very first time she’d met Elsa Travis, after responding to the advertisement she’d placed in the local post office.
    ‘The trouble with being eighty-two is I
know
everything,’ Elsa had explained. ‘I just can’t
do
everything any more. I’m no longer . . . spry. Basically, I want someone I can call on whenever I need a hand with anything.’
    ‘Like a really good neighbour,’ Flo had suggested.
    ‘Exactly. Got it in one. And my neighbours are fine, they’re perfectly nice people. But they’re always busy, they have their own lives to lead and even if they were happy to help me, they wouldn’t have the time.’ Elsa’s eyes were bright and unsentimental. ‘The last thing I want is to become a nuisance. I’d far rather pay someone to run errands and do odd jobs for me.’
    ‘Makes sense.’ Flo had nodded sympathetically.
    ‘Of course it makes sense. That’s why I’m doing it. Where do you live?’
    ‘Barrow Street. Three minutes away on my bike.’
    ‘How old are you?’
    ‘Thirty.’
    ‘And you’ve been working in the retirement home for the last five years. Why?’
    ‘Why not? I love it there.’
    ‘Really?’ Elsa raised an eyebrow. ‘What does Flo stand for?’
    ‘Florence.’
    ‘Funny sort of name for a thirty-year-old.’
    ‘Wait till you hear my middle name.’
    ‘What’s your middle name?’
    ‘If you give me this job,’ said Flo, ‘I’ll tell you.’
    Elsa stared at her for a long second, then burst out laughing. ‘Go on, then. You’re hired. Now tell me.’
    Flo kept a straight face. ‘It’s Elsa.’
    ‘Good lord.’
    ‘I know. My mum was two hundred years old when she had me.’
    ‘It’s a wonder you didn’t run away from home.’
    That had been their first encounter, and it had gone on from there. Elsa had her moments; she could be irascible and impatient, but they’d fallen into