“Okay, so our plan of action is you talk some more to Mr. Sherman and I’ll chat to Willow. We’ll meet back here on Wednesday seven-thirtyish, what do you think?”
“You make it sound like a top secret military operation, Sal,” laughed Lacey.
“Let’s take a look at the photos and have a laugh at our wonderful fashion sense back then,” Sally was over by the mantelpiece and sipping some water. She didn’t feel as confident as she sounded about getting answers, but she would not reveal that to Lacey.
The two women spent the evening pouring over photos of their childhood. Sal stole a few glances at her sister to see if she had noticed the strange family set-up captured in the pictures. But her happy demeanour suggested she had not, and Sal didn’t intend to burst yet another bubble for Lacey by breaking that story to her. Some things were best left alone; Sal decided that the photo dilemma would be one of them.
“Hey, have you looked closely at Willow in these, Lacey? More her teenage years really, who does she remind you of?” Sally enquired.
“Ah, a prim and proper young lady! Gosh, did she ever go out without being groomed to perfection? She’s a real mini Lillian, isn’t she?” Lacey was amazed at the resemblance.
They passed a pleasant evening chatting and recalling stories of their escapades as they grew up. When Sally went to have a hot bubble bath to ease her tired muscles, Lacey watched some television, allowing herself time to unwind mentally with some cheap entertainment on the Comedy Channel. It was late when they both retired to bed, tired but content.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Robert and Aoife were seeing more and more of each other. They hoped they were being discreet at the office, yet it was hard to hide their true feelings from their co-workers. He felt in control of life again, now that he had someone to share it with. He even slept better. But at work the gossips noted the lingering looks between them and the gentle touches when he would lay his hand on Aoife’s shoulder, or she would playfully hit his arm when they shared a conversation.
He had called to see Willow a few days after the meal fiasco. He’d dreaded it, but felt obliged to check up on her. She had that way of making those around her feel guilty when really she was the person who stirred things up.
He met Derek instead, as his sister was out with some friends from the flower club. Relieved at the chance to speak openly without worrying that Willow would hear them, Robert was taken aback to hear how concerned his brother-in-law was.
“I know it is still early days in some ways, but surely she should be in better shape by now,” Derek said. “I don’t seem to help her, Rob. I try, but I end up saying the wrong thing, well, according to her anyway. It’s like she couldn’t care less about anything or anyone.”
“She did do a lot with Mum. So it must be strange for her to do those things alone.” Robert tried to reassure the older man.
“But that’s just it, Rob. I thought it would be an ideal opportunity for us to do stuff as a couple. No offence, buddy, but your mum was in our life a lot, you know.”
Derek paced over and back in the garden. He had been tidying up outside when his brother-in-law dropped in. Robert watched him pull up weeds and snap off dead flower heads with vigour. He seemed wound up, on edge, Robert thought.
“But she’s out with friends from the flower club, you said. So that’s good, isn’t it?” Robert suggested.
“Only because she has turned against the golf set.”
Robert raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner. Derek stood up and shrugged.
“We didn’t get an invite to some fundraiser they were having. She took it as a personal insult and was muttering on about how they were gossiping about her. How her position in the community was damaged beyond repair, would you believe? I don’t know why she would think that or what it’s about, though. She’d a couple of glasses of wine drank, so I couldn’t get much sense from her.”
Derek sounded like a beaten man. He clearly loved his wife, but was struggling to know how to cope with her.
“What gossip would they have?” Robert realised the answer almost as soon he had asked the question. He shot his brother-in-law a look. “She did tell you about the incident at The Sea Horse, didn’t she?”
Derek’s eyebrows were raised in complete surprise and he shook his head. “Nope, not a word. What happened there, or do I really want to know?” he sighed wearily.
“Well, in a nutshell, she was after a few red wines. Mum was the topic of conversation and Willow was speaking. Lacey took offence and slapped her. I sort of hinted at Lacey to leave and I’ve not spoken to her since.” Robert was still amazed by what had occurred at that meal.
Derek stopped gathering the grass-cuttings and stared at the other man.
“Are you serious? Lacey slapped her? Good Lord, that’s not like her. What did Willow say?”
“I can’t remember, but it was Mum-related.” Robert felt a small pang of annoyance that Derek seemed to blame Willow without knowing the full story. But why had Willow not told her husband? What else did she not say? Was their marriage in danger?
“Fancy a beer, Derek?”
Derek didn’t look too good. His face registered trouble. His eyes narrowed and the tight clench of his jaw spelled frustration. Rob wasn’t sure now if he should have told him about the incident; maybe he should leave.
“I don’t have any in the house. I’m trying to keep the alcohol around here to a minimum.” He sounded so tired as he rubbed his fingers through his thinning hair. He threw down the weeds he’d taken the time to gather. Without looking at Robert, he started in towards the house, like a man desperate to escape from everything
“What do you mean ‘to a minimum’?” Rob asked, as he followed Willow’s husband inside.
“Nothing, nothing,” Derek stuttered. “Let’s go to the local for one.”
* * *
Changed out of his gardening clothes, Derek left a brief note for his wife, explaining that he and Robert were off to Tipson’s, then placed it on the kitchen table where she would find it. He doubted whether it would bother her, but he was happier letting her know.
Tipson’s bar was busy. They sipped their beers in silence for a while, enjoying the cold alcohol. They watched some of the sport on the big screen and cheered along, forgetting their troubles with the rest of the punters whenever there was a goal scored, or a good effort made. Their conversation was mixed, a bit about sport, some work, some politics, all general chat. Neither smoked.
After two beers each, their chat returned reluctantly to Willow.
“Does she need counselling? Would it help her? Would she even go? She can be so stubborn and bloody private.” Derek sounded like he was at his wits’ end with his wife.
“She was very close to Mum. Derek, you said earlier about having no drink in the house, why is that? Is it Willow?”
“Have you noticed it, too? She’s been having a bit too much at times. Every lunch she has at least two, if not more, glasses of wine. And, on at least one occasion that I know of, the whole bottle. I’m worried about that, too, Rob. Now I know she is holding stuff back from me. It’s like her whole life has collapsed, like I don’t count. As if she has built a wall up and no-one is allowed near her.”
Derek hung his head low. He was relieved to have shared this burden. But was Robert the right one to tell? He was Willow’s brother, after all; maybe he wouldn’t take kindly to hearing him moan about his sister. Had he just made things worse? It was all so stressful, so bloody annoying.
The men finished their beers and decided to head for home.
“I’ll leave the car tonight, Derek, and come get it in the morning,” Robert said.
“Grand, Rob. Come in and have a coffee before you go. Willow might be home by now.”
They saw her coat in the hall and her handbag on the stairs, but the downstairs of their home was in darkness. Derek got no response when he called Willow’s name, so he went up to their bedroom and saw his wife stretched
on top of their bed. She was fully clothed and asleep.
When Derek tried to move her, Willow just moaned and rolled over, the smell of wine on her breath. He took her shoes off and managed to get her cardigan off, then took a spare duvet from the linen cupboard and put it over her. Happy she was safe and asleep, he returned downstairs.
“Kettle’s boiled if you want a coffee,” Robert said. He looked at Derek, “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, sound asleep. Looks like she had a good night.” His face betrayed the concern he felt for her and the frustration of not knowing what to do next. He yawned with exhaustion.
“Maybe we can have coffee another time. You should get some rest,” Robert said. “I have a taxi arriving any minute and we can chat again tomorrow. Remember, Derek, you’re not alone, okay? Keep in touch.” They shook hands at the door and Derek locked up and went to sleep in the spare room.
* * *
Back at his house, Rob went straight to his bedroom. He sat wearily on the bed and text Aoife goodnight. She replied in seconds and his heart did a little jump as he read her message. On his way to the bathroom, he stared at the photo on his bedroom wall – his parents and him at his graduation. He reached up, took it down and placed it in a nearby drawer.
Where will this all end? he wondered.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The following morning Robert decided to arrange a meeting with Mr. Sherman. Putting away the photograph last night had been a strange moment in his life. He was unsure whether it was his mum or his dad that he was most uncomfortable with. Deep down, it all scared him. No two days were the same any more. Christ, no two hours were the same. It was one hell of a rollercoaster he was riding right now. He decided to deal with one parent at a time, and visiting Sherman’s office might sort his father’s story out first. He was bothered by the way Joe Taylor had apparently manipulated his mother into accepting Lacey. This mystery needed to be solved; Robert needed answers.
Sitting in his office, he phoned the solicitors and scheduled an appointment later in the week. Maybe it would help Willow to deal with the issues too, if she were to know more about it.
Aoife came in and Rob got up from behind his desk. He kissed her gently, realising how her presence calmed him. He felt better knowing this wonderful woman was in his life.
“I’ve arranged an appointment to meet with Dad’s solicitor, and I’m thinking about asking Willow to come with me. Do you think it would help her?” he asked warily. “I mean, if she had any questions of her own.”
“Well, it can’t hurt, can it? Like you say, it is giving her an opportunity to voice any concerns she has. Go for it, Rob, ask her to go with you.”
Handing Aoife some files from his desk, he went back to his chair and sat down to call his eldest sister.
“Hi, Willow, it’s Rob. How are things?”
“Oh, hi. Everything’s grand.”
“Good, I missed you last night when I called over to yours.”
“Is there a reason you phoned, Rob?” He detected impatience in her voice.
“I’m meeting Sherman later in the week, thought you might like to come with me.”
“Yeah, whatever. Text me the details, okay?” she grunted down the phone.
“You okay, Willow? Is there anything wrong?” Robert was concerned with her couldn’t care less attitude.
“Look, what’s with all the questions? I’m just not feeling good, okay? See you during the week, bye.”
That was it! Robert found himself cut off; left with nothing to hear but silence. He was already regretting including his eldest sister in his plans. He knew, even without seeing her, she was hung-over.
Anything he discovered he would share with Sally and Lacey, and then maybe, just maybe, they could all return to life as it was before Lillian’s death.
* * *
Robert picked up Willow the morning of the meeting at Sherman’s. Determined to be pleasant, he found himself being made to feel more like a chauffeur. Willow had waited for him to open the car door for her, and then asked him to turn off the radio as she didn’t feel like listening to anything this morning. They drove in silence.
As they entered the solicitor’s office, Robert squirmed a little as memories of the will reading flashed into his mind.
“Thank you for seeing us, Mr. Sherman. My father thought a lot of you, sir.” Robert settled into the office chair after shaking hands with the elderly gentleman.
“Please, call me Philip. I thought a lot of your father. We were good friends, I must say.” Mr. Sherman seemed happy to be helping the family with their queries. “Now, what exactly can I do for you?”
“Well, as you can guess, since Mum died, we have a lot of questions without answers.” Rob gestured towards his sister to include her in his words. Willow sat stern-faced, clearly in no mood to help out her brother.
Robert knew that for Willow, it was plain and simple. Her mother was a saint; the wronged party in this horrid saga. She held her handbag on her lap, like a barrier against anything offensive which Sherman might say.
“Yes, it has been a serious shock for everyone, especially Lacey. How is she? The poor girl must be totally confused.”
Robert noticed Willow’s shoulders stiffen at the mention of her sister’s name. Her face betrayed no emotion, so it was difficult to read what was going through her mind, but there was a noticeable tremor and agitation in her.
“Lacey is very upset, as we all are,” Rob replied, glancing uneasily at Willow. Why did he feel she was a time-bomb waiting to go off? Would Sherman push Willow’s buttons? Hopefully not.
“So tell me, what is it you want me to discuss with you exactly?” The older man was giving nothing away.
“I’ll be blunt, Philip. How did our father get Mum to agree to raise Lacey?” Rob asked with genuine interest. He had leant forward in the chair, throwing weight behind the earnestness of his words.
His sister immediately turned to look at him, venom overflowing from every pore; the bomb was about to explode. She did not wait for Philip to answer, but shot in with her own statement.
“Really, Robert, I think that is rather obvious. Mum is, was, a great woman, full of strength and patience and love. I’m disgusted you could ask such a question, to be honest,” Willow spat her words out to the room.
The fuse was lit. Robert sank back in the chair, the scolded schoolboy.
Philip Sherman looked at the cold, bitter woman. “Is that all?” he asked in a low tone, returning to the question in hand. Willow crossed her arms and turned icily away, clutching her handbag tighter.
“For now, I guess. I mean it was some feat on my father’s part. Like my sister says, Mum was a strong lady and it seems a tad out of character,” Robert said, a slight blush caressing his cheeks. He felt like he was going behind his parents’ backs, searching for secrets and hidden skeletons in the closets.
“As I told Lacey...Robert, Willow,” he looked at them both, “I didn’t handle Lacey’s adoption by your mother.”
When the two Taylors remained silent, Philip Sherman took the silence as a sign for him to continue. Joining his hands together, he rested his arms on the file before him.
“It was another firm who dealt with all the contracts. I was your father’s friend and I only advised him. He was adamant at the time to keep Lacey’s birth mother out of the picture. I mean, this was what she wanted, too, and he respected that so he–”
“Oh, wasn’t he the gentleman? He respected her feelings?” Willow was seething. “Oh, how in love they must have been! He and his bit of fluff, but who cares if he respected his wife? She raised his– what’s the word they use nowadays, love child, isn’t that it? Can’t use bastard any more, can we?”
She rose from her chair and pushed it aside. “I’ve heard enough of this crap.’ She pulled on her coat and glared at Robert.
“Are you coming,” she barked. It was an order and not a question; she had finally exploded.
“Willow, please, we need
to know more. Mr. Sherman is telling us the story as he knows it. Will you sit down and stay quiet?” Robert was annoyed now. He gestured to the chair before her but instead she stepped towards him.
“Stay quiet? Are you serious? You drag me along here ‘to get closure’ and instead all I get are insults to my mother’s memory. Really, Rob, grow a pair. I’m leaving and I suggest you do the same.”
She stormed over towards the door and waited, furious with her brother, daring him to go against her in front of Sherman.
“I assure you, Willow, I did not intend to disrespect your mother’s memory,” Philip spoke quietly, trying to soothe the agitated woman. He stood up, hoping to appease the woman.
“Mrs. Taylor-Shaw to you, Mr. Sherman,” was the icy reply. “And whether you did or didn’t is not an issue I wish to discuss. Rob, are you going to take me home or do I have to get a taxi?”
Robert had remained seated. He was dying of embarrassment. His sister had attacked full-force and he was sure those outside the office had heard the heated outburst. He got slowly to his feet and held out his hand to Philip, a look passing between them that shared an understanding of the irate woman in the office.
“Excuse me, Philip, I’m sorry to leave like this but I must take my sister home. Maybe we can re-schedule for some other day?” Rob felt about ten years old.
“Give me a ring when you are free to meet, Robert. Give my regards to Sally and Lacey, won’t you?” The older man closed the file before him and buzzed to his secretary for the next client as they left the room.
Robert was sure the solicitor had often experienced clients having meltdowns; Willow’s outburst did not appear to have alarmed him one bit. He, on the other hand, was embarrassed.
His throat tightened and his pulse raced. It reminded him of the day he had got caught in school throwing stones at the windows, and been marched up to the headmaster’s office. His mother had been called in and when she was informed of his behaviour, she had twisted it around that it was the other boys’ fault. Her Robert would never dream of taking shots at school windows. The headmaster made it clear that Rob had been caught red-handed. Not at all, she’d said, he had obviously been covering for some other boy and that had been that. His mother had stormed out, taking her son with her. She had even gone a step further and written to the school asking for an apology for wasting her time. It was months later before the taunts of “Mummy’s Boy” had died down. The incident replayed in his mind as he drove Willow home.
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