Settlement of her aunt Hilary"s house in Bowler Street fell on a kiln hot Saturday in March. Heather had arranged to meet the agent for a final inspection at nine. Already, a hot northerly breathed pollen laden air across Hawthorn East. Standing in the shade of the front porch she reached for her inhaler, thinking she would make an appointment with her doctor to alter her medication which didn"t seem to work adequately on bad days.
The agent pulled up in his smart red car on the dot of nine, and alighted feigning cool in an open neck shirt and casual pants. She waited. The garden was the worse for wear. Some of the shrubs looked heat stressed and the lawn was crisp. She hoped the agent would be accommodating. He came up the short path with a clipboard and greeted her with a cheery smile.
