Summary

The short story “Beautiful Things” by Kate Vine follows the narrator and her partner, Tom, who are planning to buy a house together. Tom believes that the somewhat shabby house they are looking at has potential, but the narrator is not convinced. 

As they walk home, Tom tells the narrator that he has feelings for Ashley, a woman he works with. The narrator is confused and does not understand why Tom has agreed to look at houses with her if he is thinking of leaving her. Tom assures the narrator that he is not going to leave her and tells her that he simply wants to be honest with her. 

On the second day, the estate agent takes the narrator and Tom to see a bungalow, which the narrator does not like. While Tom looks at the garden, the estate agent asks the narrat...