The Gods of the housing market were obviously smiling on them and they were both able to sell their houses quickly. The new larger house was duly purchased and a bank loan found the last £20,000 that was needed to complete the purchase and carry out some minor repairs and decorate the house throughout. Chris being an architect meant that all of this was done quickly and at minimum cost. They all had a go at some of the repairs, and each of them irrespective of age chose the paint and paper for their own rooms.
Although her late husband Brian had been a painter and decorator he had never allowed her or, God forbid, the children to get involved. Chris let the kids paint, paste, plaster and polish – and they all loved it.
The younger female children were installed in the converted attic with a room each, and Daniel and Robert had a large room each on the first floor, next to the two bathrooms.
No one had noticed that the two adult rooms on the first floor had built in wardrobes in the same place against an adjoining wall covering where a door had once been. Its concealment had been completed with few words between them. He'd purchased the Ikea furniture and installed the same in each room after removing the architrave. The hardboard backs of the wardrobes were fitted to some runners instead of being nailed in place. The whole process had been completed with no more than a 'That could be handy,' from her and a 'leave it to me,' from him when their post-coital inspection showed the adjoining door between what had formerly been offices.
On the evening of moving in day he showed her how it operated by the simple expedient of opening the door and appearing from behind her clothes.
"Oh," she said, "you scared me." She was sat on the bed in just her underwear brushing out her hair. She raised the duvet to cover her nakedness.
"Sorry," he said reversing into the wardrobe again, "I didn't realise you were undressing."
"That's OK," she said.
"How are you?"
"I don't know, I spent a long time in that house."
"Don't worry about it. When I pulled that door closed and locked it for the last time I cried my eyes out."
"I didn't."
"But you will do Cathy, in your own way."
She picked up her T-shirt nightdress and looked embarrassed, and went to put it on.
He turned his back, feigning an interest in the workings of the wardrobe while she removed her bra and panties. However, he did watch part of the show in the wardrobe mirror.
"Thanks Chris," she said tucking her feet under the covers.
"You're welcome," he paused. Are you still OK with this?" he pointed to the magic wardrobe, "I'll fit a little lock on it just in case."
"I don't know why I should worry, you have seen it all already."
"And then some."
"Oh Yeah," she smiled at the memories, "Anyway, I just feel a bit... I don't know what it is."
"Me too," he answered, "Look we've both just said goodbye to vast parts of our lives, it's tough."
"But," she tried to find the words to explain, "It was never my house you see?"
"What?"
"It was Brian's house, and I moved in. I may have chosen some colours and wallpaper a few times and made it look nice, but it was never 'mine', least I never felt it was mine. I just moved in and that was it."
Indeed, at the point when anyone else would have moved up the property ladder, Brian had dug in his heels. Daniel and Colleen shared a room until Cathy laid down the law, so Brian just split their already small bedroom in two with a stud wall. She had asked about moving out of the area, but Brian insisted. It made no sense to move, everything they needed was near; Colleen's primary school, Daniels secondary (and all of the reprobate hooligans he called friends), the local shopping centre with its cut price 'pile it high, then sell it cheap' stores that Brian so approved of, but most of all 'the club' – the local branch of the Royal British Legion and the old farts that he seemed to prefer the company of over her. This was the area where he'd grown up, he'd say, and she'd known that when she'd married him. No Major's daughter would ever make him forget his roots and move up the road to snob town.
But now he was gone and that house would soon fade to a memory, even though she did promise herself that she would remember that there had been good times there.
"Don't worry Cath, a night through the sheets will sort it all out for you." He pushed her down on to the bed and, to her surprise, lifted the duvet up to her chin and tucked her in, kissed her on the forehead. "See you in the morning Cath," he whispered and walked back through the wardrobe. She drifted to sleep in seconds.
The next morning found them in all in the huge kitchen, she in just the long T-shirt she'd worn the night before. She looked down at herself and then at him as he came into the kitchen in shorts and a T-shirt.
"Morning Chris," she said with a beaming smile, watching his eyes take her all in.
"Good morning," he smiled back, "You slept well?"
"Like a log," she said, "I think it helped just knowing there was someone else around."
"Knew you would..."
"Please Daddy, can we explore the garden properly?" Karen begged. Cathy smiled; it had been his idea to keep bits of the place a secret, that the younger children could explore and increase the adventure of the new house. Colleen and Robert were behind Karen smiling expectantly also.
"Go on then, have you finished you breakfast."
"Yes Daddy," Karen and Robert crooned, with an added 'Uncle Chris' for good measure from Colleen.
"Go on then," he smiled. With a roar they had gone in a flurry of jackets and Wellingtons, fighting temporarily for who was best placed to unlock the new hardwood door into the conservatory.
Cathy sipped her tea and watched the children disappear into the garden.
"What do they have to look forward to?" she asked.
"Oh, all sorts of cool stuff," he said, "The old shed is still a shed, but the one I had in my garden is now a playhouse with some old furniture. Doubt the Robster will get much of a look in but he has a nice tree house with enough soldiery looking stuff to keep him happy."
