by Anna Jacobs
'Are things that bad at Corrigan International?'
'It sounds like it.'
'I'm sorry.' He took her hand for a moment. 'It won't make any difference to us, will it?'
'I hope not. But I can't seem to think of myself just now. I'm spending all day at the office, trying to help.'
As three o'clock approached, conversation faltered in the private suite they had adjourned to after the meal. When Maeve came in on Andy's arm, it died out completely. He led her across to an easy chair and waited until she was seated before taking a chair slightly behind hers, placing himself outside the circle of Des's relatives.
'There are,' Maeve began, 'several things which need discussing. Firstly, Des's will, or rather the lack of one. I'm sorry to tell you that my dear brother died intestate, which leaves us with some interesting decisions to make.'
There was a babble of noise.
'Did you know?' Cal asked Judith.
'I wasn't sure. He hated the thought of making a will but I hoped he'd done something about it after I left. If it wasn't for Mitch, I wouldn't care.'
Maeve tapped the side of her water glass to regain their attention. 'The second thing we need to discuss is Des's business, which is in serious trouble. It appears that his Director of Finances has absconded with a great deal of money and if the company is not to go bankrupt, something needs doing.' She paused. 'I hope, Judith, that you and Mitch will let me help you through this patch, both financially and with my experience of business.'
Judith stared at her in shock. 'Are you sure? It'll take a lot of money to set matters right. And - surely you have better things to do?'
Maeve waved one hand in a dismissive gesture. 'I'm not short of money. But there is a condition to my helping you. I think Mitch should take a gap year before he goes to university and be involved in the restructuring. He'll then be able to base his studies on a sound, practical understanding.'
One look at Mitch's beaming face was enough for Judith. 'We can't thank you enough.'
Maeve nodded. 'The third thing we have to deal with is what to do with Des's estate once we've salvaged it. We have four of his children here and one unborn child, represented by its mother. Can we all agree that any money should go to Judith and to them.'
'Typical of Des to leave a mess for everyone to sort out,' Leo said into the silence. 'Will there be anything left do you think?'
She smiled. 'Oh, yes. I'll make sure of that.'
'Will you have time, though?'
There was silence as Jean exclaimed 'Leo! What a thing to say!'
'You always were a plain speaker,' Maeve said, 'so I'll be equally plain. It's been discovered that I am in remission, thanks to a radical new treatment for my sort of cancer. So even though there are no guarantees about how long I'll last, I should have more than enough time to rescue Corrigan International and make sure Des's children have something worth inheriting.'
The room erupted in cheers, with Mitch and Lily reaching her first, to clip her up in a hug, only to be superseded by Andy, who spun her round until she ordered him to put her down.
'Why didn't you tell me?' he demanded.
'I couldn't talk about it at first, had to get used to it. Strange how hard it is to face life after you've prepared yourself for death. Now, let me sit down, you fool!'
But she was smiling as she took her place again. 'I think that this would be a good time for the champagne I ordered, and I hope that no one will stop even our youngest Corrigan joining us in a toast.'
Lily looked across at Cal and he nodded and waved a hand in permission.
Andy picked up the phone and a few minutes later two waiters brought in a trolley with bottles of chilled champagne waiting to be poured. When everyone had a glass, Maeve stood up.
'The champagne is for two very special toasts. The first one is, of course, to Des!'
They all echoed that name and raised their glasses.
'And I'd like you to bear with me a few minutes longer before we make the second toast, because I want to explain it to you. Ever since I was first diagnosed with cancer, I've been trying to decide who I should leave my money to. Since I'm childless, it seemed appropriate to leave it to my five nephews and nieces, so I tried to find out more about them, because I'm a practical woman and I didn't want to give it to someone who'd waste it. I decided that each of them should receive something, but I wanted to keep my business intact and leave that to one person only. It was a difficult decision to make and now - well, there isn't the same urgency.'
Everyone's eyes are on her, Judith thought, looking round the room. She's got us in the palm of her hand. No wonder she's been so successful.
Maeve smiled across the room at Lily. 'During the investigations we found that I had another niece - welcome to the family, Lily - and as if that wasn't enough, Tiffany is expecting Des's child. So that will make seven in the next generation of Corrigans, whether they bear the name or not. And there's also Andy, who has not only been my right hand man for some years, but has become like a nephew to me. I couldn't in all fairness leave him out. So there will be eight of them to inherit my money. I used to think of it as the Corrigan legacy.'
She stared into the distance for a moment or two. 'However, my thinking about legacies has changed completely over the past few weeks. I think that it's Des and Leo who have given the family the best legacy of all, a wonderful bunch of youngsters, and not a bad apple among them.'
Leo stared at her in surprise.
'You're a fortunate man, Leo Corrigan,' she said. 'But I hope you'll share your good fortune with me and let me get to know my Australian niece and nephew.'
Her brother was clearly too emotional to speak, so she raised her glass. 'So we come to the second formal toast. I'd like to drink to the Corrigans.'
'The Corrigans.' Everyone raised their glasses and sipped.
'And now I'll let you enjoy the rest of your champagne in peace.' She sat down, looking exhausted.
But as Leo stood up and made his way across the room, his expression grimly determined, the noise faded and everyone turned to watch him.
Worried about what Leo intended, Andy stood up protectively.
When he got to his sister, however, Leo bent down and pulled her into his arms. 'A good toast,' he said in a voice thickened by emotion. He patted her on the back several times then said gruffly, 'I'm glad we're speaking to one another again, Maeve.'
'Then perhaps you and Jean will come and stay with me at Saltern House before you go back to Australia? And perhaps you'll send your son and his family out to stay later?'
He nodded and put an arm round his wife, who had followed him across the room. 'Yes. Yes, we will.'
Judith sniffed and hunted in vain for a tissue.
'More happy tears?' Cal pressed a handkerchief into her hand. 'Here you are.' Then he turned a bit pink, took a deep breath and got down on one knee. 'Will you marry me, Judith?' His voice rang out and people stopped talking to stare at them.
She gaped at him, astonished by the public nature of his proposal, then forgot about the other people and pulled him to his feet. 'Of course I will.' She went into his arms for a lingering kiss.
Lily nudged Mitch. 'I didn't feel safe till I knew Mum had gone to America, but now she's gone without me I can get on with my life. I told Dad he should propose to your mum today and he said it was too soon. So I bet him it wasn't and dared him to get down on his knee and do it in front of everyone. She's said yes, and look at her face, how happy she is. So I win ten pounds off Dad.' Then Lily turned to her brother. 'You don't mind, do you?'
He grinned. 'I suppose that means I'll have to put up with living with you, brat. But I reckon I can do that.'
Cal looked across the room at the two youngsters and raised one thumb as a sign of victory.
'Told you so!' Lily mouthed at him.
'While we're all here . . .' Cal called out and then waited for silence before saying, 'We have another announcement to make. Judith and I intend to get married as soon as it c
an be arranged and we'd like everyone to attend the wedding.'
Once again the room erupted into noisy cheers and applause. Andy went round filling the glasses with more champagne and another toast was drunk, though Mitch removed the second glass of champagne from a protesting Lily.
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photo © Sas Jacobs 2002
Anna Jacobs was born in Lancashire, but emigrated to Australia and now lives on a waterside block where dolphins visit. She has worked as a teacher, lecturer and human resources officer. She and her husband have two grown-up daughters. Her first novel was published in 1992 and she now has many novels in print - including the acclaimed Gibson Family saga, beginning with Salem Street.
Anna Jacobs also wrote Seasons of Love, A Forbidden Embrace, Replenish the Earth, Mistress of Marymoor, Change of Season, Marrying Miss Martha, The Wishing Well and An Independent Woman, all recently published by Severn House.
For further information, please visit the author's website:
www. annajacobs. com
Table of Contents
Front Cover
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