“Yes, yes. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to denigrate him in any way, especially for his transparently vital work in the field of science. I’m only talking about his closeness to the rest of the family. You probably don’t know this, but he rarely saw any of us after he moved up here. Tragic really, because we were very close as children. I blame the university for brainwashing him with their godless ideology.”
Leonard doubted anybody could have forced his father to believe anything without empirical proof, but felt best to leave well alone. He hoped his lack of a response might entice Aunt Millie to move away and looked around to see if Eric was on his way back. But Aunt Millicent had not finished.
“Will you be living back here with your mother?”
“Only until my father’s estate is tied up. Then I’m back home.”
“And where is that? Home?”
“South London. Balham.”
“I see. Your mother said you’ve called the solicitor to run through your father’s will on Monday, so Matthew and I will remain in town until that’s finalised.”
Leonard felt sure his father had no significant assets, apart from the house and his life policies. Everything would be signed over to his mother.
“You don’t need to stay. I’m sure it’ll all be pretty straightforward. If you prefer, you can leave my mother or me your contact details and we’ll either email a summary or call you.”
“Thank you. But I’d rather be here to find out in person.”
* * * *
By late afternoon, only his mother and Aunt Marcie remained of the funeral guests. Even cousin Eric had decided to leave. Leonard went to join them. Both red-cheeked, they were giggling together like schoolgirls as he sat down at the end of the small booth.
“She’s changed,” said Leonard’s mother when Leonard told her about his conversation with Aunt Millicent. “Not so prickly, and definitely not constantly thrusting her religious fanaticism down everyone’s throats.”
“But she doesn’t drink,” add Marcie, slurring a little. “So I wouldn’t trust her no further ‘n I could throw her.”
“She told me her and Matthew are staying to attend the reading of Dad’s will.”
“Did she?” His mother frowned at that and stared at her drink. “Not sure why. He never mentioned leaving her anything. But I suppose she has a right to be there, being family. And the poor woman has had her fair share of misfortune.”
“What do you mean?”
“Her husband, Michael, walked out on her and the kids some years back. So she’s been on her own since then. Although it looks as though Matthew’s living back home again.”
Leonard sympathised but didn’t consider a husband walking out tragic. Marcie voiced his thoughts before he had a chance to speak.
“Not sure I’d call that tragic. The poor sod probably had enough of her, if even half of what you told me is true.”
“I remember the day Colin got a call from your grandfather to let him know. Said he thought trouble had been brewing between the pair for a long time. Ever since what happened to Luke.”
“Who’s Luke?” asked Marcie.
“Her oldest. Good-looking boy. Bright, too, by all accounts. Tragic.”
“Why? What happened to him?” asked Leonard.
“I thought I’d told you. Luke took his own life. Still, let’s not dwell on…”
Coldness filled Leonard.
His mother continued talking but he heard nothing more. For years he had raged and agonised about his helplessness when Kris succumbed to an incurable illness, and had eventually reconciled himself to his lover’s death with the knowledge that he could have done nothing to change the outcome.
But the thought that someone could feel despair enough to consider taking their own life, to know a family member he had never been allowed to meet had done exactly that, filled him with a profound sense of sorrow mixed with injustice.
And a whole headful of useless ‘what-ifs’.
Chapter Four
