note. I may have mentioned that you might be up for it though.' I stared at her in shock and after a moment she burst into laughter. I poked my tongue out at her, 'You are cruel.' 'I know! I'm sorry! I would never make you stand up in front of people and sing. Not unless you are drunk anyway.' I nodded in agreement as Ella turned the car down a single lane road. I got a glimpse of the sea again and the road snaked down towards its edge. I sat up in my seat and spotted a dark slate roof. 'There it is,' Ella said, pointing towards the house. We reached the bottom of the hill and she turned the car into a gravel driveway. When Ella said her mother lived in a cottage I imagined a small stone building with a thatched roof not unlike the ones we had passed in the village but what stood before me was far from that picture. It was a large brick building with a dark slate roof and huge windows. From the outside I guessed it had at least four, maybe five, bedrooms and who knew how many reception rooms. There was a large garden to one side which looked pristine despite the time of year and its location. Ella parked her car in front of the house and when I looked out of my window I gasped. The other car already parked in the driveway had been my dream car since its review on that car show with the annoying host; it was the brand new Jaguar F-type in a shining sliver and did not look out of place in front of the house. 'Holy mother of...' It came out in one breath. 'What?' Ella asked a little panic in her voice; when she saw that I was staring at the car she started laughing. 'It's pretty nice isn't it? My brother does have good taste I will give him that.' 'It's so... sexy.' I wanted to touch it, I had memorised the spec from the website and now seeing it in real life I recited it to myself; the Rhodium silver metallic exterior I wanted to run my fingers over, I wanted to follow the smooth lines and flow of the body and feel the cool metal beneath my hand. From where I sat I could see the 20" Tornado rims and how they stood out, shining against the deep black of the tyres and I bit my lip wanting to climb out of my seat and circle the machine that was so close. I knew it would look as impressive from the back as it would from the front with its shining twin exhausts and I hoped, no, prayed he had gone for the plush black leather sports seats with red trim. I may be fully in love with this car, it was the most amazing creature I had laid my eyes on and I would give my right arm to own one but with my salary it wasn't likely and I would just have to make do with drooling from a distance. Ella giggled and turned off the engine, 'Well I'm sure if you asked nicely Nate will take you for a spin in it. Although it is his pride and joy so you might have to be super nice to him.' Ella climbed out of the car and left me to drool a little longer. I let out a laugh at my own ridiculousness, undoing my seatbelt and climbing out of my side of the car I followed Ella around to the back of the vehicle and hauled my case from the boot. I plonked it down on the gravel then reaching in for my other bag and heaved it over my shoulder. Ella had managed to lift her own case out of the back and now stood waiting for me and when I had all my things she closed the boot and pushed the button on her key to lock the car. She walked towards the front door and I followed dragging my case behind me.
Chapter Two We stepped in to the hallway that was decorated in bright yellows with hints of orange, and we were instantly greeted by two very excited golden retrievers. I dropped my bag and leaned my case by the wall then crouched down to say hello. 'Well aren't you beautiful!' I exclaimed as I rubbed them both under their chins. They stretched their heads up to give me better access and panted happily. 'Oh they like you,' Ella smiled, 'and if you keep that up you will have friends for life.' 'What are their names?' I asked Ella, not lifting my gaze from the