Out of My Depth

by Gwenyth Clare Lynes

  “Oh, look you have customers,” he sneered. “Not much choice here, is there ladies?” He looked into their sparsely filled store wire baskets and pulled a face. “A supermarket would be a better option, don’t you think? Especially if there’s also a car park.”

  They looked at him blankly.

  “Competition would be good, wouldn’t it?”

  “Good for whom?” Emma was struggling to remain gracious and kindly in her attitude towards the offensive stranger who was so obviously decrying her monopoly.

  “Bit pricey in here, isn’t it, ladies? Be good for your pocket to get more for your money, eh?”

  Other shoppers stopped their browsing and gravitated to the checkout counter, ears a-wigging.

  “What be he a-talken about?” whispered Mrs Saunders.

  Mrs Peek shook her head, “I’ve no idea.”

  “Oh, you’re busier than I thought. I’ll leave you to get on. I’ll find the boss myself. Office down here?” The stranger blundered through the cluster of customers towards the back of the shop leaving the ladies by the till staring after him open mouthed and Emma flabbergasted at his audacity.

  “Did he say this a-goen’ to be a supermarket?”

  “Emma be yew a-sellen’ the shop?”

  “No, most certainly not. I’m not sure what he was talking about.”

  The shop door bell jangled and Bernice Durrant came through the doorway. Emma breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Aunt Bernice, could you hold the fort for a little while, I have a serious matter to sort out?”

  “Of course, my dear girl,” Bernice slipped off her coat, pushed it into her basket and tucked them temporarily underneath the counter.

  “Now, who’s first?” Bernice clapped her hands to catch the attention of the chattering shoppers.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Come yew on, Mrs Durrant, do hurry yew up,” Mrs Saunders grumbled as she jostled impatiently from foot to foot while waiting her turn at the checkout. She couldn’t wait to get across to the butcher’s shop and share the snippet of news that had the customers in the Village Stores all agog.

  “I bet they won’t be callen’ on yourn services when this place is a supermarket.” Patience was not Mrs Saunders’ strongest virtue.

  “Oh, surely not,” dismay flitted across Bernice’s face. “I’m sure Emma doesn’t plan changes of that sort to the Stores.”

  “Yew weren’t in ’ere when that chap said that be what a-gorn to ’appen,” explained Mrs Peek.

  “I ’spect that be what Emma’s discussen’ with him right now,” said Mrs Saunders with a flick of the head towards the office.

  “I wouldn’t place too much credence on what a stranger says,” Bernice advised.

  “We’ll see,” said Mrs Saunders as she packed her bag, paid her money and hurried out of the door. She crossed the road to Billy Cooper’s butcher’s shop with a spring in her step. What news she had to share!

  But the stranger had been there before her so robbed the dear lady of her anticipated moment of glory. As she listened to the ongoing chatter Mrs Saunders learned she had completely misunderstood his intent.

  “He’s planning to open a supermarket in competition to the Village Stores,” explained Billy.

  “Hopen’ to put Emma out of business, I expect,” mumbled Mr Bracewell.

  “Thinks we’ll be won over by building us a car park,” laughed Pauline sarcastically.

  “Thass the last thing we need a-spoilen’ the village.”

  “You be right, we want less traffic not more.”

  “Where’s he a-plannen’ to build it all, then?”

  “On the waste land opposite the Stores.”

  “Kezia’s Wood?” asked Mr Bracewell thoughtfully.

  “So he said,” confirmed Billy.

  Mr Bracewell shook his grizzled head, “Can’t do that. It’s entailed land.”

  “Oh?” Billy raised his eyebrows questioningly.

  “What be that, Mr Bracewell?” asked Mrs Saunders. “I allus thought that be common land.”

  The old man pondered for a while. “I don’t know all the ins and outs o’ the matter, it was all way afore my time, but I recollect my Grandmother a-sayen’ that land be all tied up with the Kemp family inheritance. Can’t build on it.”

  Billy looked at him quite shocked. “Are you sure? I’m certain Alex and Emma aren’t aware of that.”

  “Oh, yes, I be quite certain. I expect ole Capps-Walker’s got all the paper work in his arffice.”

  Before the day was out rumours of all kinds were circulating around the community. When it reached Doctor John’s ears he was astounded because only days before he had finalized the purchase of the land under discussion with Lord Edmund’s estate manager and Adam Catton. As far as the Doctor was concerned the land was now his. He was looking forward to breaking the news to Stephen when he came home for the weekend.

  “Can there be any truth in the rumours?” Trixie asked anxiously.

  “I wouldn’t have thought so. Adam did a thorough land search but I will contact him in the morning to see if anything could possibly have been overlooked.”

  However, as soon as the idle speculation reached Adam’s ears he contacted his boss, Jocelyn Capps-Walker. Afterwards, he rang Doctor John.

  “Doc, the Chief suggests you call a Parish Council meeting ASAP. If it could be this evening he will be there at 8pm. There could well be something significant that I totally missed because I was unaware that it existed. I’m so very sorry, Doc. Mr Capps-Walker has called in a junior to go up into the loft at the office where there are boxes of files kept from his grandfather’s day. They are sifting through them as we speak.”

  “Not your fault, my boy, you investigated in your usual meticulous manner. I’ll do my utmost to get a quorum together for this evening.”

  “Thanks, Doc. The Chief insists it is imperative that Lord Edmund is present at the meeting as he’s the assumed vendor.”

  “Right, I’ll see what I can do.”

  “The Chief’s also learned from Heath and Black, fellow solicitors in the city, that representatives from a multi-national superstore have instructed them to act on their behalf in the purchase of the site. Believing it’s all cut and dried, bar dotting the i’s and t’s, I understand contact has also been made with Durrant’s builders to undertake the necessary work, therefore Mr Capps-Walker advises that Roy Durrant also be at the meeting to speak for the company, as well as Graeme Castleton to represent the Kemp girls interests.”

  “This is serious, then?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Not rumour?”

  “It would seem not. As far as Mr Capps-Walker is aware no one else knows of your intent to purchase the site, Doc.”

  “I sense there is a need for urgency if we are to stave off a takeover by a national company.”

  “That is also my understanding, Doc.”

  “I’ll get on to it immediately. Goodbye, Adam.”

  John turned to Trixie but before he could speak she said, “I heard it all. You had the speaker phone on.”

  “I’ll get on with these arrangements.”

  “I think, dear, as any decision making is going to involve Alex and Emma they ought to be allowed to hear what is being said about this issue.”

  “I don’t know what the PC ruling is on that score.”

  “I think if two thirds of the quorum is in agreement a non-member of the PC can be invited to attend if their being present has any bearing on the outcome.”

  “It would seem in this instance that is likely to be the case.”

  “Mention to Graeme, when you invite the girls, that I will go and babysit Bethany, if necessary. Their presence at the meeting seems to be far more crucial than mine.”

  Lights blazed in homes around the village till the early hours of the morning. The villagers were worried. They talked and talked about what they had heard earlier in the day and how it might affect them and future life in the villag
e. Those not in attendance at the PC meeting sensed that there was something gravely amiss. Those actually present at the PC meeting were stunned to silence when Mr Capps-Walker read to them the contents of ancient documents that had been unearthed in his office attic.

  They confirmed that the land did indeed belong to the heirs of Kezia Durrant, nee Bemment, whose mother had been a Kemp. The situation regarding any dwellings on it, if they were still standing, was uncertain as there had been insufficient time to search for and study relevant papers to authenticate such a suggestion.

  “A family tree was appended to these documents about twenty years ago and if my reading of it is correct the majority of people living in the village today are descendents of Kezia Durrant or more specifically, Ada Durrant, her mother-in-law, through her marriage to Benjamin Durrant.

  “Others in the village are related through Ada’s first marriage to Ted Woodhouse. Thus, in a sense the land belongs to the whole village. It could become legally very technical. Tonight, you need to decide how you wish to proceed in order for us to draw up a document that is legally binding and which the lawyers of the superstore will not be able to overturn.”

  Doctor John was the first to break the silence that followed the lawyer’s words. “Lord Edmund, it would seem that the superstore is unaware of the true ownership of this land and assumes, as I did, that it belongs to the de Vessey Estate.”

  “That is also my understanding of the situation Mr Capps-Walker has brought before us. I was unaware that parcel of land, known as Kezia’s Wood, was the property of someone else. I would also like it putting on record that I have not been approached by anyone other than your good self, Doctor, with an offer to purchase the land.”

  “So the plan of the supermarket chain to engage Durrant’s to carry out building works is somewhat precipitous and bumptious,” Roy Durrant shook his head in disbelief.

  “Quite!” quoth Mr Capps-Walker with legal authority.

  For some time conversation buzzed across the room as opinions were expressed and ideas were presented following these revelations.

  “Mr Capps-Walker may I ask you a question?” Emma ventured tentatively not knowing if she should by protocol go through the Chair.

  “Yes, certainly.”

  “If the documents you have just read to us had remained unfound would the bill of sale between Lord Edmund and Doctor John been legally binding?”

  “Yes,” came the clipped reply.

  “And the lawyers for the superstore could not have had it overturned?”

  “No,” he said brusquely.

  “I understand Doctor John’s plans for the site are for the benefit of the residents of the village so if the documents were to go permanently missing no one would be any the wiser and the locals would certainly not be the losers.”

  There were gasps from some of the people sat around the table at Emma’s bold suggestion but more than a nod or two from other quarters in agreement with her proposal.

  “But would that be ethical?” asked Doctor John.

  “I would be very loathe to destroy these documents. They are legally binding as well as being a valuable record of the social history of this community,” replied the lawyer in an irritated tone.

  “I wasn’t suggesting they were destroyed just that they go permanently missing and the parcel of land revert back to the de Vessey Estate,” Emma responded defensively. She was beginning to feel hot under the collar and wished she had not voiced her opinion as the piercing legal eyes of Mr Capps-Walker held her gaze.

  “Young lady, are you advocating the estate holds it in trust for the village?” he barked impatiently.

  “Yes, something like that.”

  “Doc, can you clarify what you propose to do with the land?” interrupted Graeme, anxious to calm the heated exchange.

  Doctor John carefully explained his vision for the parcel of land that had stood neglected for such a long time in so prominent a part of the village.

  “That sounds a fascinating project, John.”

  “I can’t be more specific at the moment. Our findings, when the scrubland is cleared, will determine what may be possible. I hope to find a vestige of the original buildings, upgrade them, provide a job for our son, and maybe others, a service for the local community and an attraction for visitors.”

  “I think, we would all agree, anything would be an improvement on the unsightly mess it has become but certainly not a supermarket or a car park.”

  “The havoc those huge delivery lorries create doesn’t bear thinking about.”

  “We’ve narrow lanes and very few footpaths, a child’s life could be in danger.”

  “I agree! I would consider donating the field we use for visitors parking on bank holidays as a permanent car park rather than give way to multi-national concerns.”

  “That’s very generous of you, Lord Edmund.”

  “Not at all, it would enable us to retain control of vehicular access to the village.”

  The discussions continued until late into the night when Lord Edmund as chairman of the PC called a halt to proceedings. “We are all tired, have many commitments in the morning, can I suggest we bring our deliberations to a conclusion.”

  Mr Capps-Walker looked across to Adam, “Do we have sufficient material to work on?”

  “Yes, sir, I do believe we have.”

  “We will trawl through the de Vessey Estate deed of settlement, and any other documents held in the archives, Lord Edmund, to ensure there are no legal loopholes. However, as they are written in such archaic script and language it will take some time, but it shall be done and the rights and objectives of the villagers will be upheld.”

  Nods of approval from around the table seconded his words.

  “I think, too, it is of paramount importance that we locate a copy of the will which states how property has been left to descendents in order to ascertain to whom the land has actually been bequeathed.”

  After everyone had dispersed Mr Capps-Walker walked across The Green in company with Adam to where he had parked his car at the Catton home. Together they discussed legal strategies and possible ways to surmount any difficulties. As he prepared to drive away he wound down his window. “Write down what is foremost in your mind at the moment, then sleep on it, and come back to it fresh in the morning. I’ll do the same and we’ll compare notes tomorrow when we meet in the office. Good night.”

  Adam was grateful that RK had agreed to a last minute arrangement to babysit the children and stay the night. It enabled him to focus on the legal document he was required to prepare without worrying about the needs of his family.

  The buzz throughout the village the next morning centred on the possible closure of the Village Stores and the development of Kezia’s Wood. More people than was usual strolled around the perimeter of Kezia’s Wood. They looked at its tangled mass intently, finding it hard to visualize the area as a supermarket with a car park.

  At one point Emma noticed the shop was so heaving with chattering customers it was impossible to get down the aisles. RK and Rachel found a niche by the delicatessen counter to air their views until the queue by the till had quietened down.

  “Not much left in here today, is there?” Rachel said as she leant over the display cabinet to make a choice from the meagre selection remaining.

  “I think most of the villagers will have heard about Emma’s visitor and his scaremongering so turned out in force to show their support for the Village Stores.”

  Rachel nodded, “I’m sure no one wants to see this shop close. Emma and Alex have worked jolly hard to make it a viable concern in these hard economic times.”

  “You’re right. Where else could you go to get this kind of personal service and choice of fresh produce at such reasonable prices?”

  “I agree. A supermarket would be hard pushed to better the quality of freshly made products on sale here every day.”

  Rachel held up a fish pie. “Just look at this. One of Jilly’s best. My
children love it.”

  “From your Dad’s catch?”

  “No, he doesn’t go out fishing so much now that Dave is down in Devon. I guess it’s from Mark Bemment’s last trip out and the vegetables will be from Jenner’s market garden or the Beckingsdale’s farm.”

  “Can’t get fresher than that, can you?”

  “And we know the provenance and carbon footprint of all the fresh food that’s sold in this shop without scrutinizing a label.”

  The queue began to go down by the till but before the two young women moved on Rachel put a hand on RK’s arm. “How are you, RK? I hear you had a bit of a scare the other night.”

  RK shrugged her shoulders, “It was rather unpleasant but I’ll be OK.”

  “Sure? You’re welcome at our house, anytime.”

  “That’s really kind of you, Rachel, thanks. I didn’t sleep at home last night because Adam was at the PC meeting. He anticipated it would go on until late so I stayed over at the Catton house with the children. I’m hoping I’ll be fine tonight.”

  “Remember the offer’s there should you need it.”

  RK nodded as she picked up a packet of Jilly’s fish cakes for the children’s tea and joined Rachel by the till.

  “Hi, Mum, it’s busy in here this morning. How’s Emma coping with the rumours?” Christina was serving at the checkout and greeted her daughter cheerfully.

  “It’s good to be busy and Emma’s taking the gossip in her stride. The chap who came in yesterday knocked her for six, at first, but she soon gave him short shrift. He couldn’t accept she was the owner.”

  “Good for her. Thanks, Mum,” Rachel said as Christina handed her change to her and turned to the next customer.

  “Well, good morning RK and how are you? You must have had a right commotion at your cottage last night. Have you got someone in to fix your windows?”

  RK stared at Christina blankly.

  “Windows?” she asked when she found her voice.

  “Yes, windows! I noticed all your windows were smashed when I came to work early this morning.”

  “Smashed?” RK said faintly.