19
Day 48
Easter Sunday April 1
Nigel glanced up as Chloe padded into the kitchen, her pink dress touching her in all the right places. She held an envelope in her hand. “What you got there, love?”
“I don’t know. It was on the mat by the front door. It’s addressed to you.”
He took it and turned it over in his hands. “No post mark or stamp.”
Chloe poured herself a mug of coffee. “Better open it and find out then.”
“Hmmm.” He picked up his knife and slit the top of the envelope. He pulled out the paper and unfolded it. A small rectangular piece of paper fell to the table, narrowly missing the butter dish.
Chloe picked it up, glanced at it and did a double take. “How many zeros?”
Nigel looked up from the letter and took the check from her. “It’s the first part of my inheritance. For some reason the lawyer decided not to transfer it to my bank account, but write a check.”
His wife laughed. “Probably the only chance he’ll have to write one this big. So, what are you going to do with it all?”
He tilted his head. “I think we’ll cash it, then write a big one of our own and give it to the church. Can you imagine the look on their faces when they see a check for this amount in the offering box?”
She grinned. “So long as they don’t think we won the lottery.”
He pointed at her. “Good point. Maybe not.”
“Bank transfer would be better. Warn them it’s coming. Just be honest and tell them it’s an inheritance.”
Nigel put the letter and check down and moved over to Chloe. He wrapped his arms around her. “Are you sure? It’s an awful lot and…”
“…we don’t need it,” she finished. “We have each other and God. We don’t need anything else. Now, if you don’t get a wriggle on, we’ll be late for church.”
Nigel kissed her gently. “Yes, boss.” He rolled his eyes as his pager went off. “Or not.”
“Go. I’ll see you back here later.”
He grabbed his bag and jacket and headed to the door, safe in the knowledge that Chloe would always be waiting for him. He may have set out doing this wrong, but marrying by Easter had been the right thing after all.