Chapter 247

Allison shook her head and carried on with her tidying.

“What’s the scoop, Allison? Who’s got you head over heels?” Daisy nudged.

“Daisy, are you here to help me clean or to pry into my love life?” Allison replied.

“I’m here to help, but I’m also nosy! Come on, Allison, dish the dirt! Who’s the apple of your eye?”

Daisy kept chattering around Allison like an unstoppable parrot.

Allison didn’t bat an eyelid, just kept on with her tidying. Eventually, Daisy dropped the interrogation.

She continued, “Allison, I know a guy who’s got a place. It’s in the city center at Blue Mountain Estate, a swanky eighty–something square meter pad. It’s a real steal. He’s living abroad and no one’s staying there. Fancy a look?”

Allison had seen places at Blue Mountain Estate online. They weren’t cheap, and required a three–

month deposit, and the annual rent wasn’t exactly chump change. But the location was tops and it had a lot going for it.

At five in the afternoon, after a meal with Daisy, they hopped in a cab to Blue Mountain Estate.

Daisy whipped out the keys and opened the door. The place was beautifully decorated and the surroundings were top–notch.

Seeing Allison hesitate, Daisy said, “This place is really something. My friend’s abroad and it’s just sitting here. He even has to pay someone to clean it. He said if you rented the place, it would put his mind at ease.

The place was indeed a catch, but the price seemed too good to be true, at least five times lower than the going rate for Blue Mountain Estate.

Allison was seriously tempted.

“All right, tell your friend I said thanks, Allison said.

Daisy replied, “Tomorrow, I’ll help you move in.”

The next day, Daisy had her personal driver load up a big van with Allison’s stuff, and they were busy until the afternoon.

Allison left the place where she’d lived for many years. She looked at the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard. It was past blooming season, just a bare trunk now.

She remembered that when she first came here, that big tree was already there.

Now, eight or nine years later, the tree had grown even sturdier. The small house was still furnished with the original table and bed. She looked at the place where she had lived for many years, filled with her memories.

She and Ricky had played in this small yard, while Grace picked vegetables in the Flanagan family’s back kitchen. Through the back door, she and Ricky could run to the Flanagan’s to help….

Her father often came back and hoisted her onto his shoulders.

Allison’s eyes moistened. She bit her lip, closed the door, and locked it.

Turning around, she walked over to the cherry tree and gave it a hug, “I’m leaving now, take care. I hope I can see your blossoms next year.”

A light breeze blew, carrying a faint scent of cherry blossoms.

She smiled a little, bent down, and picked up a glass bottle, scooping some soil from the base of the cherry tree into it. The next time, when she visited her father and Ricky, she would bring it to them.

She turned and left.

Daisy’s friend’s house was very clean, with a variety of decorative styles, very suitable for a woman to live in. It seemed that he must have lived here before, the furniture was complete, very suitable for a new tenant.

After she had tidied up her clothes and daily necessities, there was a knock at the door. She went to open it, and outside was Daisy.

To celebrate your new digs, I’ve decided to treat you to a barbecue!” she said, holding a bag of food.

“Well, thanks a bunch”

“Don’t sweat it, Allison. My friend’s paying a cleaner every month, so having you here is actually saving him a buck, Daisy said, echoing what Jason had told her to say.