Even though Simon had never declared his intentions to Ava, and had certainly never done more than give her a peck on the cheek and a cuddle, she felt a sharp twinge of envy as she watched the two of them laughing together as they walked on ahead. Surely Cheska couldn’t be thinking of Simon in that way? She was old enough to be his mother.
But then, Ava calculated that if Cheska had only been sixteen when she gave birth, it meant she was actually only eleven years Simon’s senior. And besides, she looked ten years younger than she was. Ava shuddered with distaste at the way her mother had suddenly changed from her exhaustion of this morning into a sparkling . . . girl the moment she’d seen Simon.
‘Let them at it,’ she murmured to herself.
When they came back from the walk, Ava said she was returning to the hospital for evening visiting hours.
‘I’ll drive you there,’ offered Simon immediately.
‘Oh goodness, you don’t need to do that, Simon. You’ve done enough today already,’ announced Cheska. ‘Ava can take the Land Rover and drive herself, can’t you, honey? And don’t worry, I’ll keep Simon company. I might even treat him to my scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Everyone in Hollywood comes to me on a Sunday for brunch. My secret recipe is famous!’
‘Really, it’s no problem—’
‘It’s okay, Simon.’ Ava had already taken the keys to the Land Rover from the hook. ‘I’ll see you later.’
Ava sat in the chair next to LJ, trying not to think of Simon and Cheska at Marchmont together and glad that LJ seemed far brighter and more alert than earlier. Ava had come armed with a couple of notepads and pens, and also her great-aunt’s favourite Austen novel. LJ scribbled short words of reply to Ava’s questions:
‘Yes, feeling better.’
‘Doc says I can sit in chair tomorrow.’
‘And they will give me a shower!’
When Ava saw that LJ was tiring, she opened Emma and began to read to her. When the bell rang to indicate the end of visiting hours, Ava looked up from the book and saw that LJ had dozed off. Kissing her gently on the cheek, she left the hospital, dreading returning home.
When she arrived, she found Simon and Cheska sitting in the kitchen chuckling at something. There was an empty champagne bottle on the table.
‘Hello, darling. Simon and I have had a lovely evening, haven’t we? He’s been telling me all about his West End debut and he’s invited me to the first night. Sixties music is my era, of course,’ said Cheska.
‘Maybe the two of you could come together?’ Simon’s deep brown eyes turned to Ava.
‘If LJ’s out of hospital by then,’ she answered abruptly.
‘Want a drink, darling?’ Cheska asked, proffering a newly-opened bottle of wine.
‘No, thanks. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed. Goodnight.’ Ava walked to the kitchen door and left them to it.
48
At lunchtime the following day, despite Cheska’s protests that Simon must stay for lunch, he said he had to leave and head back to London.
‘We’re teching the show in the theatre from tomorrow, so it’s going to be a long week.’
‘Well, I can’t wait to see it,’ said Cheska, following Simon out to the car with Ava. ‘Perhaps we can go out to supper afterwards?’
‘I think I’ll be expected at the first-night party, Cheska. But thanks for your hospitality. Ava’ – he beckoned her towards him though Cheska was still hovering close by – ‘will you let me know when you’re heading back to London?’
‘Yes.’ She nodded.
‘I—’ he looked at her, then at Cheska, and shrugged. ‘Send my love to your great-aunt, and take care of yourself.’
‘I will.’
‘Well, wasn’t he charming?’ Cheska said as they walked back inside together.
‘Yes.’
‘So mature for such a young man.’
‘I’m off to the hospital now, Mother,’ Ava said briskly, not wishing to hear her extolling Simon’s virtues. ‘Will you come with me?’
‘Maybe not today. Simon and I had a pretty late night. And you said earlier that LJ was a lot better yesterday evening. I’m going to catch up on some rest after lunch.’
Ava spent as much time as she could with LJ at the hospital over the following few days and was delighted by the improvement in her. At the end of the week, the consultant called Ava into his office and said that he thought LJ would soon be ready to leave the hospital.
‘Have you looked into any of the nursing homes I suggested?’
‘No, but we will now that you think she’s ready to leave. Thank you, doctor.’ Ava stood up. ‘I’m very grateful for all you’ve done.’
‘Just doing my job, Miss Marchmont,’ he said, showing her to the door. ‘By the way, how is that charming mother of yours? I haven’t seen her this week.’
‘She’s been very tired after being here all last week with my great-aunt, so I’ve taken over.’
‘Well, do send her my regards, won’t you?’
‘Of course.’
‘And let me know how you get on with the nursing homes. I’d book her in provisionally from next Wednesday.’
When she got home Ava dialled the numbers of the three establishments the doctor had suggested. One of them was full, but the other two said they could take LJ from the date Mr Simmonds had suggested. Having assiduously avoided her mother as much as possible over the last few days, bored now with the never-ending monologues on how marvellous Simon was, Ava went in search of her. She found her in the library looking through some papers.
‘Would you like to come with me this afternoon to visit the nursing homes the doctor has suggested? LJ is going to be allowed out on Wednesday.’
‘I . . . is it necessary, Ava? I’m sure I can trust your opinion on where will be suitable, darling. Obviously, the one nearest to here, as, once you’re back at college, I’ll be the one visiting her all the time.’
Ava could see that her mother was distracted. ‘Okay. I’ll go and see them and report back.’
‘Thank you, Ava. Anything else?’
‘No. Isn’t it good news that LJ is getting better?’
‘Wonderful.’ Cheska nodded, her eyes back on her paperwork.
On Wednesday Ava travelled with LJ in an ambulance to the nursing home she had chosen. Cheska had said she would drive LJ’s Land Rover and meet them there. True to her word, she was standing in the car park when they arrived.
The nursing home was set in well-kept parkland. The staff were friendly, LJ’s room was bright and had a lovely view over the gardens. When she’d first visited, Ava had been happy to see that there were just as many young patients as there were old.
‘We cater for all sorts here, dear,’ the matron had explained. ‘We’re not a dumping ground for the elderly but a recovery unit for the sick of any age.’
Ava helped unpack LJ’s case and arranged her things as she liked them. Cheska just sat in a chair, seeming distracted. Ava and LJ had developed a form of communication: LJ would squeeze Ava’s hand, or raise an eyebrow, pointing shakily with her good arm at whatever she wanted. If she couldn’t make herself understood, she would write down what she wanted.
‘Honey, I think we should go now, give LJ a chance to get settled in.’ Cheska was staring out of the window, her fingers twisting nervously.
‘Oh, I was hoping I could stay on for a bit, Mother. Don’t worry, you go home and I’ll call Tom the Taxi to come and pick me up.’
‘It’s okay. I’ll wait,’ Cheska said firmly.
LJ squeezed Ava’s hand and shook her head slightly, indicating the door.
‘Are you sure you’ll be okay?’
She nodded.
‘I’ll be back tomorrow. Anything you need, write it down and hand it to the matron. When I call her later, she can tell me what to bring in for you.’
LJ was looking irritated.
‘I know, I know, I’m fussing,’ said Ava, then kissed her great-aunt’s forehead. ‘
I just can’t wait until you’re back home. I love you.’
LJ smiled her lopsided smile and waved so pathetically it brought fresh tears to Ava’s eyes.
Outside, she bit her lip as Cheska unlocked the car. ‘Oh dear. I do hate leaving her here.’
‘Don’t be silly, Ava. She’s in good hands, as you can see. It’s costing the earth as well, so the place should be good.’
‘I know. I’m sorry. I suppose it’s because I know I have to go back to London soon.’
‘Well, I’ll be here, won’t I?’
Cheska started the engine and put the car hard into reverse.
Ava visited LJ every afternoon for the next three days, reassuring herself that her great-aunt was happy and settled. The staff seemed kind, and the physiotherapy was helping enormously. Even though her speech hadn’t yet returned, LJ was now able to take short walks around the garden with the aid of a walking stick.
‘You must go back to London. I am better.’
Ava read the note and saw LJ looking at her and nodding. She wrote another note and handed it to her niece.
‘Tomorrow!’
‘But, LJ, I don’t want to go until you’re home.’
‘You must. Don’t disobey me.’
‘I’m not, but—’
‘I am still your aunt.’
‘All right, if you insist. But I’ll be back next weekend.’
‘We’ll see about that.’
Later that evening, when Ava told her mother she felt that LJ was well enough for her to leave for London, Cheska announced she, too, would be visiting the capital.
‘And I have Bobby’s . . . I mean, Simon’s show to see. I thought I’d also stop by and see my old agent. While I’m in England, it seems a pity not to explore opportunities.’
‘But what about LJ? I thought you’d be here to visit her while I was away?’
‘For goodness’ sake, Ava. I was only thinking of coming to London for a night! Mary’s here, and I’m sure LJ can survive for twenty-four hours without both of us. We can meet at the theatre for a drink before the show. I have to find something to wear beforehand, of course. It is a premiere, after all. I’m so excited!’
Cheska said goodbye to Ava the following morning with a kiss and a smile.
‘See you on Wednesday night. And don’t worry about LJ. I’m going straight off to see her now.’
‘Okay. Send her my love.’
‘I will.’
The next morning Cheska put on a fitted silk blouse that matched her eyes and showed just a hint of cleavage. Then she went downstairs to greet Dr Stone, whose car had just pulled up outside.
When he’d left, Cheska drove into Monmouth and walked into the reception of Glenwilliam, Whittaker and Storey, the solicitors for the Marchmont estate.
‘Hi, my name is Cheska Hammond. I have an appointment with Mr Glenwilliam.’
‘Er, yes . . . Miss Hammond . . .’ The receptionist stumbled slightly over her words. ‘Do sit down, and I’ll let Mr Glenwilliam know you’re here.’
‘Thank you.’ Cheska sat. A minute later, the door opened and a man in his early thirties came out. She stood up.
‘Miss Hammond, it’s a pleasure. Do come through to my office.’
‘Thank you. I thought you were going to be crusty and old.’ Cheska giggled coquettishly.
‘Er, no. You would be thinking of my father. He retired a couple of years ago and I took over the practice.’
‘I see,’ she said, following Mr Glenwilliam into his office.
‘Please sit down, Miss Hammond.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Now, what can I do for you?’
‘Well, the problem is, my uncle is abroad on an extended holiday and at present uncontactable.’ Cheska crossed her legs slowly and watched the solicitor’s eyes follow their movements. ‘And now that LJ, my aunt, is so sick, I—’ Her eyes filled with tears and she reached into her handbag for a handkerchief.
‘Please try not to distress yourself, Miss Hammond.’
‘Well, it’s all been left up to me to sort out, and I really need some advice.’
‘I will try to help in any way I can,’ Mr Glenwilliam reassured her, staring into those famed blue eyes.
‘I’m grateful for that, Mr Glenwilliam. As I’m sure you know, running the Marchmont estate is a full-time job. My aunt has managed it well for so many years but, recently, her illness has meant that all sorts of things haven’t been attended to. There’s a pile of bills that haven’t been paid, fences in need of immediate repair. Jack Wallace, the farm manager, came to see me yesterday. Something has to be done.’
‘Really?’ Mr Glenwilliam raised an eyebrow. ‘You surprise me, Miss Hammond. I was there not long ago to see your aunt and I thought things were running like clockwork, as always.’
‘Well, let us say that appearances can sometimes be deceptive. Anyway, the immediate difficulty is that I need some money to pay the wages and some general bills.’
‘That won’t be a problem. We’ve dealt with the affairs of the Marchmont estate for many years. If you let me have the bills, I’m authorised to write out cheques using the estate account. There’s plenty of money in it. Then, once your aunt is better, she—’
‘But that’s the trouble, Mr Glenwilliam.’ Cheska let the tears flow once more. ‘I don’t think my aunt is ever going to fully recover. At least not enough to manage the estate. And with my uncle out of the country, I am the next of kin, and I want to do what I can, at least until he returns.’
‘I see. As you say, Marchmont is a full-time job. What about your acting career?’
‘Family comes first, doesn’t it? I shall just have to take a sabbatical until my uncle gets back.’
‘Well, I think that may be a bit drastic, Miss Hammond. As I’ve said, this practice has run the Marchmont estate on numerous occasions and will happily do so again, temporarily, of course.’
‘No, I don’t think that’s going to be the answer, Mr Glenwilliam. Pardon me for seeming rude, but I really don’t want to have to run to you every time I need a cheque for some hay or animal feed, however enjoyable the interlude might be.’
‘I understand, Miss Hammond.’ Mr Glenwilliam straightened his tie. ‘So what you really want is a temporary power of attorney?’
‘Do I? Could you explain what that means?’
‘Well, when someone is deemed unfit by the doctor to manage their own financial affairs or businesses, power of attorney can be granted either to a close member of the family or a legal body. This gives them access to finances and enables them to act on the person’s behalf.’
‘I see. So you could do that for me?’
‘In theory. Although I do think I should attempt to contact your uncle before we undertake such a measure.’
‘Unfortunately he’s trekking in the Himalayas, then in China. It could be weeks if not months before you’re able to get hold of him. I’ve tried myself, of course, with no luck so far.’ Cheska recrossed her legs and again saw Glenwilliam’s eyes flicker in their direction.
‘I can see that makes matters difficult, Miss Hammond. But are you sure this is even what you want? Marchmont is a huge responsibility, especially for someone with – pardon me for saying it – little experience of this kind of thing.’
‘Yes, at least for the foreseeable future. When my uncle gets home, we can take things from there.’
‘Well, I’d have to have some papers drawn up, and your aunt would have to sign them.’
‘That might be a problem. At the moment, my aunt cannot lift a cup to her mouth, let alone sign her name. She has also lost the power of speech.’
‘Well, then, we’d have to ask her doctor to write a letter confirming that, at present, Mrs Marchmont is unable to conduct her own affairs.’
‘I have it here, actually. Dr Stone has seen my aunt and confirms in the letter what I have just said.’
‘I see.’ Mr Glenwilliam opened the letter and read its contents. ‘I stress it would
be temporary power of attorney, until your aunt recovers or . . . well, then her will would come into operation, anyway.’
‘Of course,’ Cheska whispered, lowering her eyes. ‘And the estate passes to my Uncle David, doesn’t it?’
‘Exactly,’ Mr Glenwilliam confirmed. ‘I must repeat, it really is a lot of responsibility, Miss Hammond.’
‘I know. But I want to do whatever I can to help my aunt. If she knows Marchmont is in safe hands, it’ll be a huge weight off her shoulders. I have Jack Wallace, and you’ll be here to advise me, won’t you, Mr Glenwilliam?’ She gave him the benefit of her most beguiling smile.
‘Of course. Any time you need any help or advice, just pick up the telephone. In the meantime, I’ll have the papers drawn up.’
When she arrived home, Cheska made a phone call.
‘No, she isn’t incontinent, but she can’t talk at present. Do you think you might have room for her? Great. Well, I’d like to bring her across on Monday afternoon, if that’s okay with you. Yes, I will. Goodbye.’
That night, Cheska didn’t sleep. She was afraid of the dreams she knew she would have.
On Monday morning she drove into Monmouth with Tom the Taxi. Telling him she’d find her own way back home, she went to Mr Glenwilliam’s office and picked up the envelope containing the temporary power of attorney, then walked around the corner to the bank. There, she arranged for the transfer of a large sum of money from the Marchmont estate account to be credited to her own. Having enquired where she could rent a car, she followed the bank clerk’s instructions and found the garage.
She paid the rental for the car, climbed in and drove off in the direction of LJ’s nursing home.
Later that day, she was back at Marchmont. She went up to her bedroom and began to pack. Then she went downstairs to see Mary.
‘As you know, I’m off to London tomorrow, Mary, and I was thinking that you should leave early today and take tomorrow off as well. Spend time with that husband of yours. You’ve been working so hard recently. In fact’ – Cheska dug into her handbag and pulled out her purse – ‘why don’t the two of you go out for dinner tonight? It would be a “thank you” from me.’ Cheska proffered two twenty-pound notes.
The Angel Tree Page 41