What had he been up to?

Debbie Boitoult

 dry sherry

 

I read the letter again, why were his Solicitors writing to me?   It must be 5 years since I’ve seen him; in fact it is 5 years, it was at Susan’s funeral.   The last I heard was that he had sold the old house and moved into a Nursing Home.  

 

The letter said it would be to my advantage to contact Simon & Broadway, his Solicitors.   It’s worth a telephone call I suppose, perhaps he has left me all his worldly goods.

I was given an appointment the next morning so now I am at Simon & Broadway waiting to be shown into Mr Simons’ office.   Mr Simon sat behind his paper-littered desk.   He peered at me over his half-moon glasses.  

‘Good morning Mrs Heale.   Please take a seat.   I am very sorry for your loss; your brother-in-law was a client of ours for many years.’

‘Thank you, mind you I hadn’t seen him for many years.’ 

‘Oh I see, well I have his will here. He amended it recently.  I know that it was a very difficult time for him; he had to make some hard decisions.    At his age one tends to think that everything is settled and there would be no more surprises in life, but for him first the heartache then the delight.  It’s strange how things happen, isn’t it?’

I had no idea what he was talking about, but I nodded in agreement.

‘The terms of his will are very straight forward. The trust he set up will continue, by that I mean the arrangements of the monthly payment for Lucy.  His personal belongings come to you.   I think the Nursing Home have made arrangements for them to be stored until you collect them.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Oh I am so sorry, didn’t I make myself clear, the terms of the will are..........’

Interrupting him mid flow I asked, ‘Who is Lucy?’

‘I’m sorry Mrs Heale, I know very little about her, other than she is Belinda’s daughter.’

‘Who is Belinda?  My sister, his late wife was Susan.   I know he didn’t have any other family and I don’t think he married again.  So who is Belinda and why is he paying her daughter money?’

‘Once again I am very sorry I cannot tell you any more, it would be a breach of client confidentially.’

‘Surely as your client is dead that doesn’t count anymore.’

‘Well it does for certain things, however even if it didn’t I have no more information other than what I have already told you.     I know that your brother-in-law blamed himself for all the distress he caused Belinda, but he thought it best in the circumstances.’

I thanked him and left his office.  I sat in my car trying to make sense of it.   Who was Lucy and what was her connection to my late Brother-in-law?  He always was a womaniser.  He used to say that women fascinated him, but why he was paying this Lucy a monthly amount?  Perhaps she was his daughter with Belinda and he felt he should provide for her?   No that can’t be right; surely he was too old to have had an affair or start a new relationship.  

I went to the Nursing Home to collect his belongings, perhaps there would be a clue amongst them.  I asked the staff if they know anything about Lucy or Belinda, but there seemed to be a wall of silence.  I was told that they never interfere with their guests personal affairs, unless the individual was not capable of managing them for themselves.  They were quick to point out that prior to his death my Brother-in-law had been perfectly capable of organising his personal matters.  Apparently he had made his own arrangements for his funeral which had already taken place.  He wanted no fuss, just a private cremation.  The one thing they did tell me was he had wanted Lucy to be there, but he understood if it was not appropriate.  Apparently she did not attend. 

Amongst his belongings was a diary.  I sat in my kitchen flicking through the pages, there was an entry written the week before he moved into the Nursing Home.  

     ‘I could see the hurt in her eyes when I told her that I had sold the house.   I tried to explain that I couldn’t manage any more even with her help.   I had always known that Susan was my first love, but when Belinda came into my life I quickly grew to love her as well.  I explained that she was too young to be saddled with an old man like me.  I would be a burden to her, she needed to find someone younger.  I turned my back on her and walked away.    I know it broke both our hearts, but she deserved better than me.’

I realised that tears were running down my face as I read the words.  You silly old fool, what had you been up to?    Oh Belinda, he must have loved you so much if he was prepared to leave you rather than be a burden to you.    The diary fell off my lap.  As I picked it up I saw another entry on the back page.

                ‘Wonderful news, Lucy was born last night.   I know that I must never go to see her, but I’m sure she will be the image of her Mother.  I am determined that even if she grows up not knowing anything about me, I want to help make her life a happy one.  I want to make sure she never goes without.’

There was a telephone number written at the top of the page with the name Lucy next to it.   I picked up the telephone.  I needed to know the truth even if it was none of my business.

 A woman’s voice said,

 ‘Hello’.

‘Oh hello, it that Lucy?’ 

‘Who is this?   What do you want?’

I knew instantly that I had made a mistake calling.   Her voice was understandably suspicious.   I tried to explain who I was and why I was ringing.  

Hesitantly she said,  'Look I think it would be best if you come here and we talk face to face.   I think there are things that need sorting out.’

She gave me her address and an hour later I parked my car outside her house.   Perhaps at last I was going to find out what he had been up to.  

‘Hello, please come in.   I think we owe you an explanation.    We’re all sitting in the garden in the sunshine.  Come through I know Belinda and Lucy will be delighted to meet you.’

She guided me through the house towards the garden.

As soon as I saw them it was obvious that they were Mother and Daughter, they both had the same colour hair and the same facial features.

‘Lucy was born just after Belinda came to live with us.   We felt that he should know, even though he said that he wanted no contact. It turned out that he had his suspicions that Belinda was pregnant when he left her.   I think he felt guilty about what he had done because he insisted that he pay us a monthly allowance for Lucy.’

At last the mystery was solved.

Mother and Daughter stood side by side looking at me, before they raced off round the garden barking happily fighting over a brightly coloured ball.

Will he or won’t he be on time?

Debbie Boitoult

espresso 

‘Hello it’s me.    Is anyone out there listening to me?

 Of course you’re not. You never do unless I do something to attract your attention.   Perhaps I’ll stick a foot out to kick you, that might make you take notice of me.  

Oh no not again, they are at it again, it is all they talk about these days.    Hey Chaps, what about me?    I’m the key player around here.    Without me nothing is going to happen.

I’ll tell you what; it’s certainly getting a bit cramped in here.   I need to shuffle round to get comfortable.  Whoops she felt that one, sorry Mummy.    That’s better, now where was I?

I don’t think they realise that I can hear what they are saying.   If they had read the books properly they would have known, but oh no, all they do is talk about needing to get me out of here early.   What do they think I am,  a bar of chocolate in one of those machines, put the money in, push a button and out I pop.

Serves them right if I mess up their plans.   I can do it you know, I’m the one in charge of when it happens, not her.   If I don’t want to come out I won’t.   They have even had the cheek to discuss how to get me out if I don’t appear in time.    There is no chance I’m going to let that happen.

I think need to have a little nap, I’ll be back soon to tell you what this is all about.’

************

‘Hello are you still there?    Oh good, do you want to know what this is all about?    It’s about money, yes that’s right money.   Not about me.

Grandmamma, Lady Elizabeth Saunders is the one who is to blame for all of this trouble.   Yes her, the posh one with the loud voice.   Apparently she made a grand announcement on New Year’s Day 2016.  They were all there, her three daughters and their partners.   She announced that whichever one of her children produced a boy before midnight on the 31^st December 2017 would inherit the Saunders family pile.   If not she was leaving it to a Cats Home.   Cats indeed, that’s rubbish, she’s nearly as allergic to cats as she is to her family. 

Obviously I’ve never seen her, but I’ve heard her.  Oh boy have I heard her!   When she comes into the room everything goes quiet. Everyone is waiting for her to speak, even I’m quiet just waiting to hear what she’s got to say this time.  This morning when she visited she said that she hoped that all the money she was paying for this private hospital was going to be worth it.   She keeps reminding my Mummy that she has to give birth before midnight or everything goes to the Cat’s Home.   What a cheek, who does she think she is?

 When I am born I will be the first boy in the Saunders family for four generations. Ok I know that I have to pop out in time if I am to save the family fortune.  Don’t get me wrong I want a life of luxury as much as the next baby, but I don’t like being told what to do so early on in my life, after all I’m not even born yet.   If she is like this now, what is she going to be like all though my life?

I’m very happy in here. It’s warm and it’s safe. I’m not ready to be poked and prodded and have stupid noises made to my face.  I’m not a pigeon, I won’t respond to coo, coo, coo.   I know I am gorgeous; I don’t need to be woken up every time I want to sleep with someone telling me how gorgeous I am.  I bet you are wondering how I know about all these things.  

 You think us babies don’t talk to each other, well you are wrong.  All those posh antenatal classes we went to weren’t just for you. You don’t really think that we just sat around in here while you did that yoga and floated around in that hydro thingy.  Of course we didn’t, we babies had a chance to talk to each other. You would be amazed at what we discussed.   I told them about Grandmamma Lady Elizabeth and her diabolical announcement.  They were horrified, all apart from that silly baby that your best friend is having.  She thought it was a fun idea and that she wished that it was her instead of me.  It took me ages to explain that the whole thing was about there had not been a boy born into the Saunders family for 4 generations and that I was a boy. I then explained to her yet again that I had to be born by midnight on the 31^st December 2014 if my Mummy and Daddy were going to inherit all the Saunders estate and money from Grandmamma.  If I was born later than midnight, she would leave it all the Cats Home.  The silly little girl thought that was a fun idea as well.  I tell you how stupid, I hope I don’t have any sisters if they are like her.

Anyway as I was saying, we all agreed that it wasn’t right to make me pop out at a certain time. I should be allowed to do it when I want. They also didn’t think it was right that Daddy should be trying to persuade Mummy to hurry thing up.  I mean to say, he even gave her some orange juice and castor oil to drink the other day to make things happen quicker.  I didn’t think she should drink it, but she did.  I really had to hold on tight that time.  Things were getting a bit serious.

Like I was saying the other babies didn’t think that I should give in, even if it did mean not having a big house to live in, nice gardens to be pushed round in a comfortable pram.   Lots of toys to play with and a pony when I got a little bigger.  We all agreed that I wouldn’t do it, but at times it has been a struggle for me to stay where I am.

It’s like when her waters broke, oh boy that was no fun.  Panic stations all round.  Phone calls to the hospital.  Rushing outside to the car and then that manic race to the hospital.  I had to remind them , excuse me don’t forget that I’m in here and I’m holding on as tight as I can, there is no way that I am having the indignity of being born in the back seat of this car.

All that panic for nothing, I am still in here.   Wow that was a close thing, I nearly had to give in, but I managed to stay where I was.   I’ll make them wait for a bit longer.

Hang on, is that my Mummy speaking?  I do wish she would speak up, doesn’t she realise that I’ve only got tiny ears.  What’s she saying? Oh do stop crying, I can’t understand what you are saying. Wait a moment, did I hear that right.  She doesn’t care about the inheritance any more, she just wants me to be born safe and well. That I mean more to her than all the money in the world and she knows that I will come when I am ready, not when they want me to. It doesn’t matter that it is five to midnight and I still haven’t been born as long as I am healthy when I do arrive.

What a time to tell me this. This changes everything.  I’ve got to get a move on, push Mummy, push.   Where is that orange juice and castor oil when you really need it?    

Will you please stop telling her to breathe slowly, we haven’t got time for that. Just push Mummy I’m doing my bit, I’m almost there.

Oh my goodness, is this the outside world, it’s cold out here.  Hey will you stop rubbing and patting my back, I’m not a pet dog you know. I’ve had enough of this, perhaps if I start crying you might leave me alone.  Oh hello Mummy so that what you look like, well I think it’s you.   You’re a bit fuzzy, ah that better I can see you now.  I suppose you must be Daddy. Why are you crying? I’m the one who should be doing that.

Oh my goodness I know that voice, it’s the scary one Grandmamma Lady Elizabeth.   I don’t think I like the look of her.  No don’t come any closer and don’t you dare kiss me, I’m not ready for all that yet.   

Roberta Saunders and Jeremy Matterson

are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their son

Justin Peter MATTERSON

Born 31.12.2017

23.58hrs       7lbs 2oz.

Hello it’s me again.  As you know I’m out.  Mind you it was a bit close on time, I nearly left it too late.  Mummy is very happy I’m here, Daddy is very happy I’m here but I think that he is even happier now we’ve inherited the family fortune.    

Me, well I’m not very happy, look what they have called me.   Just because both of them said that I had arrived just in time, I’m stuck with a first name of Justin.’

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‘Hello it’s me.    Is anyone out there listening to me?

 Of course you’re not. You never do unless I do something to attract your attention.   Perhaps I’ll stick a foot out to kick you, that might make you take notice of me.  

Oh no not again, they are at it again, it is all they talk about these days.    Hey Chaps, what about me?    I’m the key player around here.    Without me nothing is going to happen.

I’ll tell you what; it’s certainly getting a bit cramped in here.   I need to shuffle round to get comfortable.  Whoops she felt that one, sorry Mummy.    That’s better, now where was I?

I don’t think they realise that I can hear what they are saying.   If they had read the books properly they would have known, but oh no, all they do is talk about needing to get me out of here early.   What do they think I am,  a bar of chocolate in one of those machines, put the money in, push a button and out I pop.

Serves them right if I mess up their plans.   I can do it you know, I’m the one in charge of when it happens, not her.   If I don’t want to come out I won’t.   They have even had the cheek to discuss how to get me out if I don’t appear in time.    There is no chance I’m going to let that happen.

I think need to have a little nap, I’ll be back soon to tell you what this is all about.’

************

‘Hello are you still there?    Oh good, do you want to know what this is all about?    It’s about money, yes that’s right money.   Not about me.

Grandmamma, Lady Elizabeth Saunders is the one who is to blame for all of this trouble.   Yes her, the posh one with the loud voice.   Apparently she made a grand announcement on New Year’s Day 2016.  They were all there, her three daughters and their partners.   She announced that whichever one of her children produced a boy before midnight on the 31^st December 2017 would inherit the Saunders family pile.   If not she was leaving it to a Cats Home.   Cats indeed, that’s rubbish, she’s nearly as allergic to cats as she is to her family. 

Obviously I’ve never seen her, but I’ve heard her.  Oh boy have I heard her!   When she comes into the room everything goes quiet. Everyone is waiting for her to speak, even I’m quiet just waiting to hear what she’s got to say this time.  This morning when she visited she said that she hoped that all the money she was paying for this private hospital was going to be worth it.   She keeps reminding my Mummy that she has to give birth before midnight or everything goes to the Cat’s Home.   What a cheek, who does she think she is?

 When I am born I will be the first boy in the Saunders family for four generations. Ok I know that I have to pop out in time if I am to save the family fortune.  Don’t get me wrong I want a life of luxury as much as the next baby, but I don’t like being told what to do so early on in my life, after all I’m not even born yet.   If she is like this now, what is she going to be like all though my life?

I’m very happy in here. It’s warm and it’s safe. I’m not ready to be poked and prodded and have stupid noises made to my face.  I’m not a pigeon, I won’t respond to coo, coo, coo.   I know I am gorgeous; I don’t need to be woken up every time I want to sleep with someone telling me how gorgeous I am.  I bet you are wondering how I know about all these things.  

 You think us babies don’t talk to each other, well you are wrong.  All those posh antenatal classes we went to weren’t just for you. You don’t really think that we just sat around in here while you did that yoga and floated around in that hydro thingy.  Of course we didn’t, we babies had a chance to talk to each other. You would be amazed at what we discussed.   I told them about Grandmamma Lady Elizabeth and her diabolical announcement.  They were horrified, all apart from that silly baby that your best friend is having.  She thought it was a fun idea and that she wished that it was her instead of me.  It took me ages to explain that the whole thing was about there had not been a boy born into the Saunders family for 4 generations and that I was a boy. I then explained to her yet again that I had to be born by midnight on the 31^st December 2014 if my Mummy and Daddy were going to inherit all the Saunders estate and money from Grandmamma.  If I was born later than midnight, she would leave it all the Cats Home.  The silly little girl thought that was a fun idea as well.  I tell you how stupid, I hope I don’t have any sisters if they are like her.

Anyway as I was saying, we all agreed that it wasn’t right to make me pop out at a certain time. I should be allowed to do it when I want. They also didn’t think it was right that Daddy should be trying to persuade Mummy to hurry thing up.  I mean to say, he even gave her some orange juice and castor oil to drink the other day to make things happen quicker.  I didn’t think she should drink it, but she did.  I really had to hold on tight that time.  Things were getting a bit serious.

Like I was saying the other babies didn’t think that I should give in, even if it did mean not having a big house to live in, nice gardens to be pushed round in a comfortable pram.   Lots of toys to play with and a pony when I got a little bigger.  We all agreed that I wouldn’t do it, but at times it has been a struggle for me to stay where I am.

It’s like when her waters broke, oh boy that was no fun.  Panic stations all round.  Phone calls to the hospital.  Rushing outside to the car and then that manic race to the hospital.  I had to remind them , excuse me don’t forget that I’m in here and I’m holding on as tight as I can, there is no way that I am having the indignity of being born in the back seat of this car.

All that panic for nothing, I am still in here.   Wow that was a close thing, I nearly had to give in, but I managed to stay where I was.   I’ll make them wait for a bit longer.

Hang on, is that my Mummy speaking?  I do wish she would speak up, doesn’t she realise that I’ve only got tiny ears.  What’s she saying? Oh do stop crying, I can’t understand what you are saying. Wait a moment, did I hear that right.  She doesn’t care about the inheritance any more, she just wants me to be born safe and well. That I mean more to her than all the money in the world and she knows that I will come when I am ready, not when they want me to. It doesn’t matter that it is five to midnight and I still haven’t been born as long as I am healthy when I do arrive.

What a time to tell me this. This changes everything.  I’ve got to get a move on, push Mummy, push.   Where is that orange juice and castor oil when you really need it?    

Will you please stop telling her to breathe slowly, we haven’t got time for that. Just push Mummy I’m doing my bit, I’m almost there.

Oh my goodness, is this the outside world, it’s cold out here.  Hey will you stop rubbing and patting my back, I’m not a pet dog you know. I’ve had enough of this, perhaps if I start crying you might leave me alone.  Oh hello Mummy so that what you look like, well I think it’s you.   You’re a bit fuzzy, ah that better I can see you now.  I suppose you must be Daddy. Why are you crying? I’m the one who should be doing that.

Oh my goodness I know that voice, it’s the scary one Grandmamma Lady Elizabeth.   I don’t think I like the look of her.  No don’t come any closer and don’t you dare kiss me, I’m not ready for all that yet.   

Roberta Saunders and Jeremy Matterson

are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their son

Justin Peter MATTERSON

Born 31.12.2017

23.58hrs       7lbs 2oz.

Hello it’s me again.  As you know I’m out.  Mind you it was a bit close on time, I nearly left it too late.  Mummy is very happy I’m here, Daddy is very happy I’m here but I think that he is even happier now we’ve inherited the family fortune.    

Me, well I’m not very happy, look what they have called me.   Just because both of them said that I had arrived just in time, I’m stuck with a first name of Justin.’

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