Where There's A Will

by Mary Malone

  Twisting and turning and finding it impossible to get into a comfortable position, Marian eventually gave up and slid out from underneath the covers so she wouldn’t wake Frank. Her eyes blurred as she focused on the green digits on the digital clock and groaned inwardly when she realised it was still only 3.00 a.m. Subtracting five hours made it 10.00 p.m. in Toronto, a good time to get Charlotte at home. Taking her pale pink robe from the end of the bed, she pulled it around her and went downstairs to make a hot drink and call her daughter.

  Flipping from his side onto his back as soon as Marian had left the bedroom, Frank opened his eyes. He too had lain awake for hours, mulling over his recent conversation with Carl and wishing Beth hadn’t witnessed their meeting. Hurting his daughter had never been his intention, quite the opposite in fact. The hurt in her eyes, the shock that registered on her face that day in the café had stayed with him. He pulled the quilt up under his chin, a sudden chill passing over him. He sincerely hoped he was doing the right thing. In time she might appreciate and understand his reasons for excluding her. Hearing Marian’s muffled voice through the floor, he presumed she was calling Toronto. Her fixation with overturning the will was consuming her, her clandestine phone calls childish in his eyes. He licked his lips, his mouth dry. But he wouldn’t go to the kitchen to get a drink of water, not being in the mood for confrontation with Marian. He’d been relieved when she’d stopped trying to persuade him to get involved, her assumption that he wasn’t aware of what she was doing a source of mild amusement – a bit sad too if he were honest. Rolling over on his side once more, he buried his head in the pillow and smiled. Marian was building herself up for a very big fall, an unexpected surprise, one she could have avoided if she’d heeded his words of caution. She just didn’t know it yet.

  Chapter 25

  Carl burst into the house, beads of sweat dripping off him, his body ready to collapse. It was the first time he’d exercised in quite a while. He had run around the perimeter of their grounds, appreciating its beauty as he hadn’t done previously. Planning the best quad-bike route as he’d skirted the extremities, he imagined it would be easy to get in place, separating it from the paddock area to minimise any disturbance for the horses – hypothetical as it was for now. Must be the prospect of leaving that’s making me nostalgic, he thought, opening the freezer and taking out a tray of ice cubes.

  Buying the place had been Beth’s idea. He’d gone along with it, caring little about their increasing debt and believing the auctioneer when he’d indicated the opportunity for resale. What a joke that was, he thought, banging the plastic tray to release the ice cubes, dropping them into a glass of water and refilling the tray before putting it back in the freezer.

  “There are a few people calling to look at the stables later this morning.”

  Carl’s glass hit against his teeth, his wife’s arrival startling him. Conversation had been minimal since their meeting in the coffee shop, neither of them mentioning it directly, yet the incident remaining silently between them. Remembering Frank’s stern warning, he bit back his retort and struggled to maintain a pleasant manner.

  “I don’t have plans if you want me to show them around?” he offered.

  He noticed her raise an eyebrow.

  “If you like. Or we could both meet them and discuss prices.”

  “Did you Google the going rate?”

  She nodded. “Varies but I have a ballpark. I left the list by the computer if you want to take a look.”

  “Are you still contemplating the bike trail?”

  She nodded. “I need more info on that one but I visited two to take a look. I’m waiting for insurance companies to get back to me. Some of the quotes are astronomical.”

  “It’ll need a few mounds of earth to add a bit of adventure,” he said, rinsing his glass and leaving it on the draining board to dry. “I’ll have a go at it. No harm getting a bit of it done while you’re waiting. I’ll fence off the ring fort or we’ll have the authorities on our backs. What do you think?”

  She nodded again, her surprise evident. “I guess not. Funding’s the issue as usual though.”

  He side-stepped the issue of money. “That brook at the end of the field should be included too, would be a shame not to take full advantage. And it’d be unique, something other trails wouldn’t have. I’m sure I can dream up a bit of danger, let it be optional for some of the younger ones. What about the bikes? Have you thought about supplying them? Or is it just the route we’ll provide?”

  “We’ll be lucky to pay the insurance for now. But maybe we could stretch to buying bikes in the future?”

  “Up to you,” he said, feeling her eyes upon him as he turned to leave. He wouldn’t be around to see it develop. The deal he was striking up with her father would make sure of that.

  Their civil conversation giving her the breakthrough she’d needed to finally broach the unmentionable, she called him back.

  “What were you discussing with Dad that day in the coffee shop? You two have never had that much in common?”

  Carl raised an eyebrow, her accusing tone irritating. “Why don’t you ask him? You probably wouldn’t believe my version anyway.”

  So much for thinking we’d reached some sort of amicable truce, Beth thought. Wanting to find out what was going on between her father and husband had been eating her up inside. But she didn’t rise to his sarcasm, continuing with more direct questions instead.

  “Carl, what’s going on? Did you ask him to intervene with the bank for us even though he’d refused me already?”

  “No.” He didn’t meet her eye. She hadn’t mentioned the outcome of Polly’s will to him. And he hadn’t asked, their fraught relationship getting in the way of most conversations they’d had recently.

  “Has it something to do with Ed? Please don’t expect Dad to pay his bills!”

  Carl’s eyes darkened. “We’ve been over this, Beth. I’ll do whatever it takes to help my brother.”

  “Regardless of dragging others down with you, including us?”

  He spelt the situation out to her, delivering it in a slow and even fashion as though he were speaking to a small child. “Ed is dying, Beth. For the first time in my life, he needs my help and I won’t fail him.”

  “Our help,” she corrected him. “The decisions you’re making affect both of us, increasing our own debts more and more.”

  “Frank and I have come to an arrangement.”

  “I bet it’s one that benefits you!”

  He leaned against the doorframe, his weariness evident in his stance. “I can’t refuse, not after everything Ed’s done for me. I owe him. It may be the last thing I can do to put his mind at ease. Don’t expect me to refuse because it’s not going to happen.”

  Beth’s frustration was at saturation point. “And what about me, Carl? Don’t you think you’ve got an outstanding debt of your own to consider? Don’t I deserve some sort of recompense?”

  He ran a hand over his face. “Let it go, Beth. I did what you wanted, coming to Ireland, supporting your decision to buy this monstrosity of a house.”

  “You had no choice but to leave the country! You were on the run from the French police. Still are, I might add. And as for this house, you made no objection at the time. It wasn’t as if I dragged you to sign on the dotted line!”

  He stared at her.

  She stared back, swallowing the lump that rose in her throat, knowing tears weren’t too far behind.

  “My brother’s dying.” It was as if he’d pressed rewind and they were back at the beginning of their conversation once more, neither making progress convincing the other, nobody winning the argument.

  “Ed wouldn’t expect us to fork out money if he knew the truth about the vineyard. Why won’t you swallow your pride and open up to him? Wouldn’t it make you a better person?”

  The look on her husband’s face withered her inside.

  “He wants to see you,” he announced flatly. “Alone.”

&
nbsp; She looked startled. “On my own? Why?”

  Carl shoved his hands in his pockets. “He asked to see you. I’m assuming he wants to quiz you on our marriage, find out what’s gone wrong between us. He knows there’s something up. Ed’s no fool.”

  She recognised the warning look in his eyes. Don’t tell him, his expression said. Guard our secrets. Don’t send him to the grave hating me.

  “You want me to lie to him?”

  “I want you to protect him from any unnecessary suffering. Why expose him any further?”

  “What deal have you struck with Dad?” She didn’t mince her words.

  “Frank’s willing to bring up the shortfall on the repayments on Ed’s business, keep it afloat.”

  Beth shook her head. “No, you can’t let him do that. Where’s the point? Why not just let it go now? It’s losing money every hour, becoming obsolete. It won’t be anything without Ed behind it. Did you tell Dad that?”

  “He’s a professional, Beth. He doesn’t need telling.”

  “He’s your father-in-law. How ruthless are you?”

  “That’s rich coming from you!”

  An indignant Beth threw her hands in the air. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Have you forgotten what you’re planning yourself? Rather underhanded stealing from your own brother, don’t you think? At least I’m trying to protect my sibling!”

  Her face turned bright red. She made no response. How did he know?

  Carl shook his head. “Tut, tut! Not very nice to be on the receiving end of sensitive accusations, is it, Beth?”

  Stunned into silence, she gawped at him.

  “Didn’t realise I was home when you had that long conversation with your sister?”

  Beth struggled to remember. She’d taken the phone to her bedroom. He hadn’t been home when she went upstairs. “Were you listening outside the door?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. When Charlotte called you back, I picked up the phone downstairs, intrigued by the litany you launched at her from your end. I was interested. I decided to listen.”

  “You’re pathetic.”

  “Does Frank know what his family are up to behind his back?”

  “No! And there’s no need to upset him either!”

  “I thought not. Now I’m sure you’ve little objection to my dealings with him after all? Frank will maintain the balance of the repayments and try and re-launch the investigation to clear my brother’s good name, Ed gets his dying wish and you keep your dirty little secret.”

  Holding back her tears was a severe struggle for Beth. But already humiliated enough, she managed to hold them back, attempting some form of defence to his astute observation. “Kieran will still get his share.”

  “You’re cheating your brother. Why bother denying it? Granted, I’m hardly in a position to judge you.”

  And with that he turned on his heel and left, leaving her standing in the middle of the kitchen, frustrated beyond belief, her tears finally betraying her as they rolled down her cheeks. Turning to pull a segment of kitchen paper from the roll, she was startled when his voice cut through her thoughts.

  “What happened to us, Beth? What happened to those two people riding on the pinnacle of love in Paris? How have we reached a point where we can barely stand in the same room without sniping at each other?”

  The colour drained from her face, her icy tone matter of fact. “You caused the death of our baby, Carl. As a couple, we’ve been dying ever since.”

  She pushed past him, her heart heaving with loss. Halfway up the stairs, she flipped around once more.

  “Let Ed know I’ll be in before the end of the week. There are a few things I’d like to talk to him about too.”

  She’d sit with her brother-in-law. She’d decide for herself if he was strong enough for the truth. Carl’s dictating had gone on for long enough.

  Kieran was still sleeping when he received an unexpected call from Olivia. “How are things in Number 5?” she enquired after her initial greeting. “Everything working out well for you?”

  “Think so,” he answered, stifling a yawn, yet suddenly on full alert. She hasn’t called to enquire how I am, he thought, holding his breath while he waited for her to drop her bombshell.

  “I’m afraid we have a slight hiccup. The will’s being challenged.”

  He pulled himself into a sitting position, glancing around him, savouring the familiarity of Polly’s bedroom, the room where he was enjoying waking in the mornings, opening the curtains to the magnificent view of the Atlantic spreading beyond the harbour.

  “I should have known it was too good to be true. But I can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve had a feeling something like this would happen.”

  What he didn’t realise was that Olivia was pleasantly surprised to hear the tension in his voice. For a guy so adamant about not setting down roots when he’d attended the reading of the will, she was reassured to hear the strong element of dread in his voice at the thought of losing Number 5.

  “Unfortunately, yes. But I’m lodging a counter-appeal so we will fight back. I’m not sure yet if the objections will be upheld – in the meantime I’m trying to decide on the best course of action.”

  “Objections? There’s more than one objection?” At a guess his sisters and mother were involved but why weren’t they working together?

  “Yes, two separate claims.”

  “It’s my family, isn’t it? I expected that.”

  “Well, yes, but there’s an unexpected complication . . .”

  That sounded ominous. “Yes?”

  “Look, Kieran, I’m sorry but I’m very pressed for time just now – I’m meeting a client in ten minutes – it’s best if I ring you back later to explain about the objections. Is that okay?”

  “Fine. Thanks, Olivia.”

  No point worrying, he decided, throwing back the quilt and getting out of bed. He’d keep up his end of the bargain and after that he could only hope for the best.

  Kieran wasn’t the only one in receipt of an unpleasant call that morning.

  “Hello?” Jess was unprepared for the raised voice on the other end.

  “Jess, it’s Pru. Where the hell are you? And why didn’t you answer the phone yesterday when I called to confirm?”

  “Excuse me?” Damn, damn, damn, Jess thought, remembering a couple of hours too late that she’d been supposed to meet her sister-in-law that morning – and the missed calls she’d noticed the previous morning.

  “Our appointment? This morning at ten – to suit you, I might add, so you’d be back in time to collect Gary.”

  “It’s Greg,” Jess interrupted her, refusing to allow her away with mistaking his name. Being her husband’s only nephew, getting his name right surely wasn’t too much to ask!

  Pru railroaded ahead as if Jess hadn’t spoken. “Surely you couldn’t have forgotten?”

  Jess closed her eyes, her heart sinking at the sound of her sister-in-law’s accusing and berating tone. She’d received a text from her a few days before, inviting her to meet up for a chat – more of a demand than an invitation judging by the end result. Acquiescing to an early-morning meeting had brought an end to Pru’s incessant texts but as soon as she’d pressed ‘send’ Jess had paid little heed to the arrangement, so distracted with Kieran she had pushed almost everything else to the back of her mind, enjoying the fun she was having and acting selfishly for a change.

  “My time’s precious, Jess. I’ve got more to be doing than sitting around cafés waiting for you to turn up. If you hadn’t the manners to turn up you could at least have sent a text!”

  “It’s been a hectic few weeks,” Jess said by way of excuse. “My head’s all over the place.”

  “I’ll give you another thirty minutes.”

  “It’s too late now. I wouldn’t be back on time to collect Greg.” She crossed her fingers, hoping Pru would take no for an answer.

  “It’s decision time, Jess – then we can all move on wi
th our lives.”

  Jess shuddered at the other’s icy tones. Not for the first time, she wondered what the hell had attracted Henry to the cold and calculating Pru.

  Why had she agreed to meet her? Flatly refusing her offer couldn’t be done over the phone so she would have to do it face to face – but not without Henry. Despite marriage giving Pru an equal share in his worldly goods, in Jess’s eyes she should mind her own business and allow brother and sister come to a decision without her interference.

  “Pru, I’m not being put under this pressure! When I’m ready you’ll hear from me. I have a son to consider.”

  “Oh, for goodness sake! Your indecisiveness is so annoying.”

  “We’ve all had quite a shock, not something I can dismiss as quickly as you it seems.”

  “Shock! Your mother was unwell for years. It was only a matter of time before she croaked it. Henry’s anxious to get things sorted out. And he’s under pressure at work so the last thing he needs is you adding to his anxiety.”