Despite the kids’ protests that they needed just one more day to get over Vivien’s death, Lexi deposited them at the school and beat a hasty retreat. They had both cried and it had wrenched her heart out when the teachers cajoled them into class while they told them how sad they were. But Lexi knew that what they needed was calm, normality and routine. It was hard for her too, but the more they stayed off school, the harder it would be to go back. The headteacher had kindly rung her an hour later to confirm that the kids had calmed down and were enjoying a normal school day, so she didn’t have to worry. It had been a huge weight off her mind.
Now all she had to stress about was what the solicitor could possibly want with her. She and Vivien had been close but she’d never mentioned leaving her anything in her will. Perhaps she had left her the pretty full-length mirror from her bedroom, knowing how much Lexi liked it. But what if it was something awful? Lexi had no idea what that could be, but she really couldn’t cope with anything else right now. Being with Will at the funeral had brought back a whole heap of memories and feelings, and her heart felt fit to bursting with the weight of it all.
Mr Beck was seeing her at eleven o’clock and Raina had said she could take as much time as she needed. Everyone was being so sweet and kind. Lexi felt her eyes well up again but she looked to the sky to dry them and took a deep breath. She was bored of crying now and there was no point in destroying her eyeliner. The day was warm as the last month of spring had begun and they were edging towards summer. The sky was a bright clear blue, almost shiny, and clouds were few and far between. She’d only worn a cardigan over her dress today and took a moment to enjoy the sun on her skin.
The solicitor’s wasn’t based in a new shiny office building because, thankfully, there weren’t many of those in Swallowtail Bay. It was actually nothing more than a renovated Victorian house. Mr Beck’s office even had an old Victorian fireplace in it, filled with wood stacked in an arty fashion. He sat behind a large old-fashioned dark wood desk, and looked even older in the dim light that struggled to come through the small window behind him, shaded as it was by a large hydrangea bush.
‘Thank you for coming, Miss Durham. Normally we would simply write to anyone mentioned in a will, but Miss Griffen gave us very specific instructions regarding you.’
‘Oh, okay,’ Lexi replied, shifting in her seat opposite him. Her insides felt as knotted as Ralph’s shoelaces when he tried to tie them.
‘Would you like a cup of tea or coffee before we begin?’
‘No thank you.’ Lexi pushed down the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach and felt her shoulders tense up. She couldn’t eat or drink anything right now. Mr Beck picked up a folder, opened it and then peered over the top at Lexi. Patience wasn’t a virtue Lexi had been blessed with and she had to hold herself back from shouting at him to hurry up. Eventually, he spoke.
‘Miss Durham, apart from a bequest of some vinyl records and some books to Miles Parker, Miss Griffen has left all her property and monies to you. The mortgage on the house has been paid for some time and Miss Griffen had a substantial amount in savings. After inheritance tax, over three hundred thousand pounds has been bequeathed to you.’
Lexi’s mouth fell open and she leaned in close, fearing she had misheard. ‘I – I’m sorry, what?’
Mr Beck smiled and his face became softer and more kindly. ‘I understand it may be a shock, but Miss Griffen has left everything she owned to you. We’ll begin the process of transferring everything to your ownership within the next few days. You’re welcome to enter the house as soon as you wish and I understand you have a set of keys already?’
‘Yes. Yes, I do. So – wait – hang on a minute.’ She was now resting on the edge of his desk for support. Her brain was foggy and it was like she was in a dream, or drunk. ‘Do you mean to say she left the house to me?’
He nodded. ‘And everything in it, and all her money too. Apart from the items left to Mr Parker.’
Unable to speak as her mind whirled around, Lexi paused. ‘So what do I do with the house?’ If her brain was a cartoon character it would have its fingers in its ears and be running around in circles shouting ‘aaarrrggghhh!’ Instead of relaxing at such incredible news, the knot in her stomach had tightened so hard it felt like it had pulled in all her other internal organs. Her heart refused to beat and her ribs felt like they were collapsing inwards.
‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like a cup of tea or coffee, Miss Durham?’
‘No. Honestly, thank you. I just – I just don’t understand.’
Mr Beck was being very patient. ‘The house is yours,’ he said with a smile. ‘You may do with what you wish. You can move into it or sell it.’
‘I couldn’t sell it.’ The reaction was pure instinct – a way to preserve Vivien’s memory – but could she live there? In the house her friend had died in?
‘You have some time to think about it. You can’t sell until we’ve transferred the deeds but that won’t take long. Take your time to make a decision.’
‘No. No. I mean I just couldn’t. It was Vivien’s home and it’s such a lovely house.’
‘That’s for you to decide. But we’ll be happy to offer advice or provide any assistance you require. All our fees are on our website.’
‘Yes, of course.’ She nodded. ‘Thank you.’
‘If you’ve no further questions there’s nothing else I need to tell you at this stage, but please feel free to call me if you think of anything. We’ll send you a letter shortly with full details.’
Mr Beck stood up and Lexi knew that was her cue to leave. Her legs wobbled and her head spun, leaving her light-headed. Then as she left, a huge grin spread across her face. Her stomach unknotted and her heart felt about to explode. How could this have happened to her? She shook her head in pure disbelief as she walked to Stella’s shop.
‘Are you okay?’ asked Stella from behind the counter.
Lexi paused in the doorway, still unsure if she was in a dream. ‘Vivien left me her stuff.’ The words still didn’t quite register with her brain.
‘What stuff?’
‘Everything.’ Suddenly she wanted to laugh. ‘Her house, her possessions … everything.’
Stella stared at her. ‘I can’t believe it. That’s amazing.’ She leapt up from behind the counter and took her in a hug. Lexi was too shocked to even close her arms around Stella and they hung loosely at her sides.
Lexi laughed disbelievingly. ‘I’m not broke anymore and we can move in as soon as we want to. We just have to wait for the deeds to be transferred.’
‘She really was very fond of you, wasn’t she?’ Stella said.
‘I had no idea she’d do this though.’ It was all utterly unbelievable.
‘Well, that’s clear from the look on your face.’ Stella laughed.
‘I’m so shocked. I don’t know what to do. I’d better tell Will and I’ll have to tell the kids tonight.’
‘I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more,’ Stella said. ‘Shall I go and get us celebratory coffee and cake from next door?’
‘I’ll go,’ said Lexi. ‘I need to tell Raina.’
‘You’re not going to quit your job, are you?’ Stella asked, concerned, but the idea hadn’t even entered Lexi’s head.
‘No! Gosh no. I just want her to be one of the first to know, that’s all.’ Just because her luck seemed to be changing a little didn’t mean she could turn her whole life upside down and no one had supported her more than Raina.
‘I’m sure she’ll be happy for you.’
‘She will. I know she will. Can I have another hug first though, please? I’m all shaky and weird.’
Stella obliged. Lexi hadn’t felt this way since they had handed over her newborn children. It was a moment of pure pleasure – of peace and tranquillity, and of everything being right with the world. In fact, this was even better than the days the nurses had plonked her wriggly babies on her chest because the house wasn’t going to learn to talk back, she thought with a smile. She’d always known Vivien was a kind and caring soul but Lexi had never expected anything like this. Closing her eyes, she gave thanks to the wonderful old lady for changing her life.