Tammy: Flying High Part 8: Forget Me Not Shiraz Turvey & Alecia Snowfall

 
This story follows on from Tammy: Rank Stupidity and Snowfall's Butterflies, Asphalt & Insanity

Part 8: Forget Me Not

A van was waiting for Tammy when she reached the North Weald security gate, where she was waved straight through.

“Back again, Miss Smart?”

“Yes, another unplanned visit!”

Her driver was one of the security team, there was mutual recognition but Tammy simply sat in the back for the thirty minute ride into Hertfordshire.

They entered through the rear underground carpark so Tammy swiped the security door and allowed herself entry to the lobby where she was met by the housekeeper.

“Nice to see you again Miss Smart.”

“Thank you.”

“I believe you haven’t had any lunch?”

“I hadn’t.” Tammy had no idea how the housekeeper could have known this but saved that thought.

“If you would like to take a seat in the conservatory then I can bring something to you.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you armed today?”

“I’m not.” Tammy had half expected the question so shook her head and made her way to the conservatory.

Sir Thomas was waiting, with another gentleman. Tammy received an odd look.

“Hello, er, Captain Smart, I’m Frederick Hardwick from the Crown Agents, acting on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy.”

Tammy had arrived at Catterick that morning in army uniform and didn’t have a change of clothes with her, but had actually forgotten what she was wearing,

“Pleased to meet you. If you don’t mind, some food has been arranged for me as breakfast was a long time ago in Thurso. I’m off duty now, I think.”

Coffee was delivered, alongside a few dainty sandwich wedges and a lump of cake.

“Did you fly yourself, Tammy?”

“Yes, Sir, just my two seater. You are obviously aware of where I have just come from?”

“Indeed. I suggest Mr Hardwick and myself take a walk around the garden whilst you restore your protein needs.”

“Thank you.”

If Tammy had been travelling in the Epic then she might have packed a change of clothes but space on the CzechSport was limited and she hadn’t planned on flying that far south.

A few familiar faces passed her but Tammy was left alone whilst she ate. She quickly sent Maisie a text to explain what had happened.

She headed to the ladies room to refresh herself and found the gents waiting; the Crown Agent now had a briefcase with him. Sir Thomas started walking towards the study, Tammy followed.

“What do you think of the grounds, Mr Hardwick?”

“Quite pleasant, I had no idea this house was a part of the Crown Estate.”

Tammy had doubts that this house was listed as government owned.

They took seats around a coffee table.

“Now, Captain Smart,”

Tammy interrupted. “I’m here as Tammy Smart, private individual, not as a Captain in the Army. My uniform is due to a meeting I had in North Yorkshire this morning.”

“My apologies, Ms Smart. It has been suggested to me that you would be developing the site? I understand you own a property company?”

Tammy looked at Sir Thomas for some help but didn’t get any.

“I need somewhere bigger to live and will have to employ a live-in nanny as my partner is pregnant. The farmhouse is perfect for that. She’s a fitness instructor so I had the idea to build a fitness centre for her at the site, or adapt one of the other buildings. She would be able to continue through her pregnancy and indeed almost immediately afterwards. The same facilities would be made available to the local disability groups as it would be step-free.”

“I see.”

“So far as the former farmyard is concerned, I’m a qualified helicopter pilot and soon to be owner of one helicopter. I already own two aircraft at Wick airport, one of which brought me down here today. I would also imagine using the space for public displays and other events.”

“You wouldn’t be looking to dig up the yard and redevelop it?”

“No, I believe it’s contaminated below the surface?”

“That’s correct, Ms Smart, and our efforts so far to sell it have been thwarted by the contamination.”

“That’s unfortunate, however I have no wish to build on the site but rather to adapt what is there.”

“And use it as a family home?”

“Correct.”

Mr Hardwick reached into his briefcase and retrieved a file. He opened this onto the coffee table and extracted a number of sheets.

“In which case I have been authorised by the Secretary of State to offer you the site known as Vernon Farm for One Pound Sterling. This would include the transfer of any liabilities. Do you accept?”

“I do.”

“Please sign here, and here. Sir Thomas, could you witness here, and here, please?”

Tammy received a sale confirmation and then a copy of the deeds.

“We will notify the Land Registry of Scotland.”

“Thank you.”

They stood and the agent shook Tammy’s hands, before turning to Sir Thomas’ to do the same.

“My driver is outside, I’ll bid you both farewell.”

Sir Thomas suggested Tammy sat down again.

“What just happened, Sir?”

“He thinks he just offloaded a worthless plot of land onto you.”

“But one quid!”

“They couldn’t give it away, that wouldn’t be a contract. You do now need to give that to your solicitor so they can arrange the payment.”

“Indeed. If I had thought about it I would have had my property company buy it, but I gather that may not have been the best idea?”

“Indeed, but if you want to pass all or some of the land onto your property company, for tax purposes, as that is now an option?”

“I think I need to create a company to own and manage the secure site, separate to the farmhouse and possible fitness centre.”

“Nice idea about community involvement, so long as security is maintained?”

“Maisie wanted to use the mezzanine level in the Western barn as a gym, have you seen the plans?”

“Are you talking about the cafeteria and viewing gallery? Yes, I am familiar with the plans. How quickly would you want to move?”

“I will give Mary, the current resident, at least a month to relocate, possibly an additional month employed by myself, but I would like to get planning permission in as soon as possible for the fitness centre with space for a swimming pool. I wouldn’t expect us to move in there before September.”

“I see, so what about developing the facilities?”

“I need to use the remaining good weather to get that building work secure. That doesn’t stop me from dropping a helicopter onto the site but I would like Mary to have gone and for Maisie and myself to have moved into the farmhouse before any choppers arrive.”

“And your helicopter training will take you to the end of July?”

“Correct.”

“Okay Tammy, would you like to see her?”

“Who, Joan?”

“Yes, but it won’t be easy. If you want to accept the risk then she’s in the conservatory right now.”

“And I’m in uniform!”

“So?”

“I was warned to keep away?”

“Circumstances have changed, Tammy.”

“So today was a ruse?”

“Not at all, just a mess of changing priorities and a phone call late yesterday from the Crown Agents, which was firmed up late morning.”

Sir Thomas stood and invited Tammy to do the same. She folded the paperwork into her bag and swung that over her shoulder.

Tammy followed him out of the door but didn’t get very far before a pair of feet could be heard heading towards her.

“Tammy! What did you do?”

“Hi Suzie, keep your voice down or you’ll upset the housekeeper.”

“What happened, yesterday?”

“Not now.”

They had walked over to the conservatory but Joan was stood on the veranda looking towards the lake, Sir Thomas was alongside.

Tammy walked outside to join them, with some trepidation.

“Hi Mum.”

“Oh, hi Tammy, what’s that uniform?”

“It’s Army, I had a meeting earlier today.”

“Oh. This is a nice house, have you been here before?”

“A few times.”

“I don’t know where we are?”

“You’re about half an hour from Stansted.”

“In England? How did I get here?”

“You flew, yesterday, oh.”

Tammy slowly started to realise what was going on.

“Sir Thomas, could I have a word?”

She took him just back through the patio doors.

“Does she have any recollection?”

“No, which is why the medical staff suggested she saw some familiar faces. That’s where you and Suzie came in.”

“Obviously Suzie doesn’t see it that way?”

“No, not yet.”

“Is she in the medical unit or staying in the house?”

“She’s in the house. Are you able to stay tonight?”

“I only have what I’m wearing.”

“I asked Suzanne to bring you some clothes as I guessed you kept a change at the home in Epping?”

“Thanks.”

“One of the medical staff will be keeping an eye on her vitals using a monitor and will attend to her if necessary. She has a clogged valve, by the way, and they can fix that here.”

“So she gets another week here?”

“Not quite as long as a week, but yes, a few more days. Your father will fly down to be with her. Has he been to this house before?”

“No, we have kept our parents away from this environment.”

The housekeeper walked over.

“Your usual room is available Miss Smart.”

“Thank you. Are there ice creams by the lake?”

“There may be, Miss Smart.”

Tammy returned to Sir Thomas.

“Thank you for arranging this, I’m going to take a walk with mum and sis.”

“I’ll bid you a good day, Tammy. You have done good today.”

“But until I write a report, no-one will know that?”

“So true.”