London Loves - Book 3 - Love's Great Adventure Series Read Free

the agent advised they take the night to talk it over and get back to him first thing in the morning.
    “My head’s swimming in a sea of confusion,” Tess said wearily as they sat down for a late lunch at Harrods.
    “I know, but we said we were going to make the decision today.”
    “We will,” she agreed. “Can we start by eliminating any properties?”
    “We should knock out the two in Camden Town. I don’t feel completely safe there. I’d be worried about you and Mattie.”
    “I liked the two near Regent’s Park. We can take Mattie there to play and it’s near the zoo,” Tess explained.
    “I liked them, but the prices—two hundred thousand pounds. Are you okay with spending that much? They are smaller than the condo we have back home.”
    “I know. You warned me about that, but it was still shocking to see. The kitchen was so tiny—and that mini-refrigerator. Are you going to be happy cooking there?”
    “I can just go to the market every day and buy fresh food to prepare our meals.”
    Tess looked back and forth between the two photos of the properties. “I guess it all comes down to the garden. If we take the first floor unit, we gain outdoor space. If we take the third floor unit, we get the view.”
    “You decide. I like them both,” Sebastian said, taking her hand.
    “It’s so much money.”
    “I’m twenty-five now. The money Nanny left is ours. We can afford it, and I’m sure the prices will only swell as time goes on. It’s a good investment, Tess.”
    “Let’s go with the ground floor unit with the garden.”
    “Excellent—I’ll ring Mr. Hume in the morning and we can stop by the agent’s office to let him know our decision before we head home.” Penny and Mattie walked over to their table. They were carrying shopping bags from various stores. “Well, what have we here?” Sebastian said, picking Mattie up and setting her on his lap.
    “We had a brilliant day,” Penny said, taking a seat at the table.
    “Were you on your best behavior for Aunt Penny?” Tess asked.
    “Yes, Mummy.”
    “And did you find Paddington Bear today?” Sebastian asked his daughter.
    “Not the real one,” she replied with a frown. “Only stuffed animals.”
    Sebastian wasn’t exactly sure how to respond to that, so he asked another question. “And what did you buy at Hamley’s?” It was the local upscale toy store on Regent Street.
    Mattie’s face lit up and she grabbed for the bag that Penny had set on the floor. Reaching inside, she pulled out a twelve-inch Steiff teddy bear. “Look, Daddy. He’s the baby brother of Charles!”
    The mohair bear did resemble Sebastian’s own teddy bear. “He certainly does look like Charles. Do you think he’ll like having a little brother after all this time?”
    “I’m sure he’ll love it!”
    “What did you name him, Mattie?” Tess asked.
    “I’ll call him Bas.”
    “You’re naming the bear after me ?” Sebastian asked.
    “Mummy calls you Bas all the time and she loves you,” Mattie replied. “I love you, too.” She reached up and kissed him on the cheek.
    Sebastian shook his head. Mattie was too observant and smart for her own good. She definitely took after Tess in that regard. “Well, you know, Charles has been an ‘only bear’ for many years. I’m not so sure he’ll take kindly to a sibling.”
    Penny tried to conceal her smile as she watched the two interact. She leaned over and whispered to Tess, “I think that is the most adorable thing I have ever seen. If you would have told me this is how Sebastian’s life would have ended up ten years ago, I would have said you were mental.”
    Tess watched Bas and Mattie as they carried on a conversation about two stuffed animals. This was her family and her life couldn’t be better.

Chapter 3 - No Place Like Home
    Three weeks later, most of their belongings were packed in a freight container and sailing across the Atlantic toward their new home in London. They decided to keep the