Of course, all the local officials came for the free food and drink and to get their photos in the newspaper.
Epilogue
To mark the occasion, I arranged for three of the streets to be renamed.
The new names are: Miriam Close, Jack Close and Abigail Close. The new bridge road is to be called Stevie’s Way.
Over the coming year, it is hoped that 200 families will be able to move into newly refurbished homes, each with its own garden. The remaining 680 families will be housed over the following two years.
Work on the school was finalised just two weeks ago, and the doctors’ surgery is nearly complete and should be open within four weeks. An adjoining pharmacy has now been added to the original plans.
Many businesses have shown an interest in the facilities and BT has kept their promise so the entire area now has fast broadband access. One of the giant phone companies has installed a mast and now everyone around can receive a good signal on their mobiles.
I invited my wife’s parents to come and see the estate and they have given me their blessing, especially when they saw the three roads named after their beloved daughter and grandchildren.
Susan is now training a young lady to take over the running of the charity when she retires. She’ll keeping working with us but on a part-time basis.
I am looking forward to seeing the families move in and watch the area come back to life, just as Susan and I planned along with the help of Stevie, whom I miss dearly.
The opening ceremony turns out to be the biggest event in Trentbridge for many years. Most of the staff from The Albion Hotel turn up.
As to what’s next in my life, I really have no idea. All I know is – giving away money to deserving people gives me a great deal of pleasure and I intend to go on doing so until the money runs out. I’ve still got the Ford Mondeo and I’ve moved into the house at twenty-seven Foundry Road.
The Albion is doing very well and young Ronnie Brown is training to become a trainee assistant Manager.
I bumped into Martin Hammond recently. The good news is he and his wife are expecting a baby. They still live on Ramsden Square.
I’ve also bumped into Julia from January’s Estate Agents, looking as stunning as ever but we’ve only ever said ‘hello’. I don’t think I’ll ever love anyone but my beautiful Miriam.
Whenever I want to feel close to her I go onto YouTube and search for When I Call by Ghost Dance. It was a record we heard at a disco at university that became ‘our song’: Three minutes and thirty seconds of pure joy and a tune as beautiful as she is. Listening to the haunting melody brings her back to me.
However, there could be a new lady in my life soon. I went to Birmingham the other day and popped into the Ferrari car showroom and saw a brand new 488GTB. She’s a beauty and I just might bring her home to live with me!
I know there’s no chance of getting reinstated into the police force, so I’ve been talking to Phil Jones, the private investigator. We might start working together.
I walked along Market Street and past Tindall’s convenience store yesterday. One thing I’m sure of, I won’t be buying another Lotto ticket, but it shouldn’t stop you from trying. Who knows?
You could be the next Mr (or Mrs) Lucky.
The End
Book Two
Lucky Break
Lee Wood
http://leewoodauthor.com
The Trentbridge Tales series
Book One: MR LUCKY
Book Two: LUCKY BREAK
Book Three: DEAD LUCKY
Book Four: THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS
Chapter One
2013 - THE HONG KONG SCAM
Someone was watching Harold Croft.
He thought he had been clever and no one had noticed as he rummaged through the box of old tat labelled ‘Property of Burlington House’ and discovered the letter from Christie’s Auction House of London dated seventh of July 1963. The paper had their crest at the top and was clearly old. Harold knew this from the dried brown stains and the fact he could feel the indents of the characters made by a typewriter in the days long before computers and desktop printers.
He had seen the letter when it dropped out from the centre of the rolled-up painting that made up part of the box’s contents. After reading it Harold glanced round to make sure no one was watching, and as inconspicuously as possible, placed the letter into his pocket. He couldn’t run the risk of anyone else seeing it.
He looked all around to check he had got away with it but failed to notice Peter Moore with his back to him using the reflection of the large centre mirror on the Edwardian style wardrobe to spy on his every move.
It hadn’t been his intention to bid on a box of what looked like worthless junk, which he was now convinced, included a genuine masterpiece. He had originally come to the pre-auction viewing to check out a job lot of tools he couldn’t afford to buy new. But decided while he was here he might as well kill some time and have a look around.
Seeing him take the letter, Peter was convinced Harold would bid on Lot 135 which was described in the catalogue as ‘Box of miscellaneous items from a country house’.
The auction catalogue had put the estimated price at between ten and twenty pounds. Peter had a good idea Harold would end up bidding considerably more.
He knew this because of the letter Harold had taken. It was addressed to Lord Cunningham, Burlington House, Old Priory Lane, Bucksholt, Norfolk, and read:
Dear Lord Cunningham
Thank you for allowing our expert to visit your lovely home and examine the painting of the lady in the pink dress. I can now report that it is indeed an original by the artist Giovanni Boldini painted
