‘Don’t. Just don’t!’ Megan felt the heat inside her intensify. ‘I don’t want you to say another word.’
Lisa took a step back, in deference to her anger and her grief. ‘Of course. I understand. I’ll leave you with him. I’ll be outside if you need me.’ And with that, she finally left.
Megan remembered edging around the room and sitting down on the chair beside the bed, at last taking up her rightful position.
He had gone without her.
She had not been there at the end, to hold him and absorb his fear.
She had not told him that she loved him. Nor he her.
Megan opened her eyes. The moonlight shimmered across the ceiling.
At least he had not been alone.
Lisa had been there, for his last breath, his last touch, his last moment… and for that Megan was grateful, and deeply, intensely jealous.
The sound of the waves filled the room.
She had not been with Jonathan at the very end.
And for that there was no absolution.
But perhaps, with time, there might be acceptance.
Chapter 53
TEN DAYS since their last meeting and the Coulter family was back at Greenwood’s – all of them punctual this time, ready and waiting in the conference room, sitting in the same seats as last time. Rachel Hewson smiled briefly as she took her place at the head of the table. One weekend together to unravel the knot of Jonathan’s last will and testament. It was quite impressive really. Three siblings, an ex-wife, a new partner, the threat of it all going to charity, a generous bequest to a virtual stranger, a somewhat ghoulish instruction preventing burial until there was agreement… it was only natural that she was more invested in the outcome than normal.
After the handshakes and greetings, it was time to get down to business. Rachel looked at Olivia Coulter, expecting her to lead proceedings, but surprisingly it was Chloe, the younger sister, who spoke. She began somewhat hesitantly, but no one chipped in; they let her speak without interruption. Rachel was impressed, and intrigued. Family dynamics were so often ossified by time and precedence, it was refreshing to witness an example of change.
‘Thank you for making the time to see us today.’ Chloe Coulter glanced down at the sheet of paper in front of her, pulling it closer for support. ‘As you know, we’ve spent the weekend discussing Dad’s will. Unsurprisingly, it threw us slightly – its contents and the circumstances in which it was written. But we have, as he instructed, arrived at an agreement that we are all happy with.’ She glanced around the table and each of them gave their silent assent. ‘Firstly, we have a message from our mother’ – Chloe seemed to be overcome by an awareness she was dealing with something legally significant and sat up straighter – ‘Eloise Coulter. She has told us she wants nothing from the estate, on the grounds that she received a substantial settlement after her divorce from our father in 2015. She is happy to confirm this in writing, and by signing anything that you need her to. Her one request,’ at this point Chloe touched her mouth – nervously Rachel thought, ‘which we all agreed to, was to have the picture of Scarborough that used to hang in the hall at the house. I hope it’s okay, but she’s actually taken it already.’
Rachel was not about to nit-pick over a picture, though the solicitor in her wondered what it might be worth. She really needed to do less death and divorce work. She refocused on her note-taking.
‘As to the rest of the estate… this is what we’ve unanimously agreed.’ Chloe picked up the piece of paper. ‘To sell the house and all the contents, with the exception of certain personal mementoes that each person would like to take, in memory of Dad. We’ve provided a list of what those items are.’ Liv passed a copy to Rachel, which she glanced at, but didn’t read. ‘And that the proceeds from the sale of the house, and its contents and any and all remaining financial assets belonging to our father, after the payment of any debts, should then be shared equally between the following: Olivia Redpath, Noah Coulter and myself, Chloe Coulter.’
Rachel Hewson gave Chloe an encouraging nod to let her know that she had expressed herself clearly and correctly.
Chloe went on, ‘Despite our mother declining a share, we want to give her nine thousand pounds out of the estate. We think it’s only right that she gets something.’ Chloe flushed, then stuttered on. ‘That’s three thousand pounds from each of us.’
Megan didn’t move a muscle.
Chloe got back on track by looking down at her notes. ‘And we want to donate another three thousand pounds to the MND charity, in Dad’s name.’
Rachel nodded, making sure her views on their decision weren’t showing in her demeanour, her expression or her tone of voice. But she obviously wasn’t in full poker face mode, because she heard herself saying, ‘So you’re doing everything in threes.’ It was not the time for levity.
Chloe blinked. No one else said anything.
Rachel scrambled back onto safer ground swiftly, but clumsily. ‘And you do remember the bequest to Lisa Browne for five thousand pounds.’ That didn’t fit in quite so neatly. ‘I presume you are happy for that to be paid?’
There was a pause and a ping-pong of glances around the table. Chloe nodded. ‘Yes, we are okay with that. Aren’t we?’ Her question met with no dissent.
Rachel waited. Surely that couldn’t be it.
Megan sat unflinching. No one looked at her, but it was palpable that they were all, including Rachel, thinking about her, or at least about her omission – so far.
‘With regards to Megan,’ Chloe swallowed, audibly, ‘she has also waived her interest in the estate.’
Rachel looked up sharply, no longer caring whether or not she appeared totally impartial.
‘I have.’ Megan’s voice was clear.
Chloe went on, ‘Megan is to remain in the house until it’s sold or until
