Licence to Dream Read Online Free PDF Page B

tempted to do that after Sandy died. But the sheer satisfaction of creating beautiful gardens helped him cope.
    He’d almost lost his small company after losing Sandy. Only the intervention of his wife’s uncle Rod had saved him from bankruptcy, but he still wasn’t sure he’d done that right thing in accepting that help, because one condition of the loan had been to find a job for Rod’s son Phil. Ben had never liked Sandy’s cousin – but he hated the idea of losing his business because it was one of the main things he had left of his wife.
    Phil proved to be a good salesman, but he had no feel for landscaping or plants. He made Ben wince when he talked about ‘product’.
    The business was going really well now, because Ben’s designs were proving popular. Well, he had long, quiet evenings to work on them and perfect them. But Phil said they could be making more money and that had led to several arguments. He wasn’t going to let Phil persuade him to cut corners, whatever difference that might make to the bottom line. There was no way Ben would short-change the clients by putting in inferior plants and materials. He and Phil had argued about that only yesterday.
    He switched on the computer and began to work on a new garden design, soon losing himself in it, so that his secretary had to shake him to make him realise someone wanted him on the phone.
    Christine gave him one of those motherly smiles that reminded him of his real mother and patted his shoulder.
    When he’d finished the call, she came back into his office. ‘I need to know what you agreed with this new client. Just concentrate for a few minutes then I’ll let you play again.’
    ‘Yes, Mama!’
    She pretended to slap his arm and left him to it. Thank goodness for her accounting skills, he thought. He wasn’t the world’s best with figures. Unfortunately she was retiring soon and he was wondering how he’d manage without her to keep him on track about the business side of affairs.
    Garden design he could talk about; keeping accounts in order was definitely not his best skill. Sandy had done all that.
    Phil gradually took over from Christine, promising to show her replacement what to do and keep an eye on that side of things.
    That was such a relief. Ben loved the design and gardening side of things and knew he did them well. You couldn’t be good at everything.
    * * * *
    On the Monday following her arrival, Meriel started work. Her boss, John Repping, welcomed her formally into the West Australian branch of Lee-Line International, then handed her over to a young woman of her own age. ‘Rosanna will show you round the office and she’ll be able to tell you about – er – shopping and such.’
    As soon as they were away from his office, Rosanna grinned. ‘John’s so stiff sometimes you wonder if he’s going to crack down the middle next time he tries to smile! He’s all right, though. Looks after his staff. How was the flight?’
    ‘I slept most of the time. There wasn’t much else to do. It’s a long time to sit still in a small seat.’
    ‘I’ve never been to Europe, but I’m going there on my honeymoon.’
    ‘Oh? Are you getting married soon?’
    Rosanna grinned. ‘Not for a while. I haven’t met the lucky fellow yet. But a girl has to plan. Are you single – or did you come out here with a guy?’
    ‘I came here on my own.’
    ‘Don’t you like guys?’
    ‘In moderation.’
    Rosanna rolled her eyes. ‘Moderation is for after you’re married, not before.’
    It was Rosanna who helped Meriel to find a small villa to rent. She also went shopping with her after work to assemble the essentials for survival. To her, this meant cooking utensils, sheets and towels, while Meriel’s thoughts ran more in the direction of art supplies and a good easel.
    On the Saturday, Rosanna turned up at the hotel with one of her many relatives and an open-backed van called a ute, to help Meriel move her suitcases and parcels into the new flat.