Rachel felt the need to say something. But all she came up with was, ‘Okay.’ So they had cut Megan out of Jonathan’s legacy, and Megan was accepting it. Families. Not for the first time, Rachel was glad she didn’t have one.
Chloe folded her notes in half and sat back, obviously mightily relieved to have finished.
They all looked at Rachel. The baton of responsibility was being handed back to her. ‘Well. Okay then.’ She laid down her pen. ‘I think that more or less covers all the main points. It’s certainly enough for us to be getting on with.’ She moved on to the usual platitudes. ‘I hope that, having arrived at a decision, you all feel better able to move on.’
Liv finally spoke. ‘Yes. It’s good to get it sorted.’ There was another ripple of small nods that came to a stop with Megan.
Chloe added, ‘We’re getting arrangements for the funeral under way. I assume that we’re okay to proceed with it now? We’re hoping to be able lay him to rest before Christmas.’
‘Good, good. But as I said when we last met, that stipulation from your father wasn’t ever legally binding. I’ll have a look at this list of items from the house, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. It is your family home, after all. As long as you’re in agreement, it’s up to you to disperse any personal items as you see fit.’
Noah Coulter, released by the conclusion of the business in hand, started shuffling around, flipping his phone over on the table. ‘So that’s it then, is it? You process any paperwork, we chase the pension company, we get a final balance and we’re good to go.’
‘Well, yes. Given that I now have clear instructions, there’s very little to do from a legal viewpoint, except to write it all up and send you each a copy of the documentation to sign. And even that is for reference more than anything else. I just want to be sure that we have everything recorded correctly, given the slightly unusual approach your father took with regard to his will.’
‘And will the wrapping up of the estate take long?’ It was Noah, the son, agitating again.
‘Not necessarily. Not now there’s a clear plan. There’s probate to get through. Though that can normally be completed in a few months. Then there’s the house sale. That’s obviously in the lap of the gods. Greenwood’s would, of course, be more than happy to help with the sale of the property, should you wish us to get involved.’ There was an awkward pause. Touting for business – Rachel was almost ashamed of herself, but not quite. ‘The distribution of funds will only occur when we have a final balance. But we will try to expedite everything as soon as possible.’
There was a noticeable easing of the atmosphere in the room.
They obviously thought they were done.
Chapter 54
IT WAS nearly over.
A few clear and coherent sentences from Chloe, who seemed, surprisingly, to have been nominated as the chief spokesperson, a patch of blessed silent acquiescence from Liv and Noah and that was it. The arguments settled, the division of the estate agreed, the future sealed, the past sorted. Ms Hewson made precise notes in her neat handwriting, her expression set to neutral, though Megan noticed her eyes flick over to her more than once, sympathy lurking beneath her professional demeanour. Megan gave her nothing in return. She had no use for the sympathy of strangers. Ms Hewson read back the key points of the agreement, checking that she had their unanimous consent – she had – then promised to enact their wishes as swiftly as possible. With a restrained flourish, she set aside her notepad and recapped her pen.
As denouements went, it was an anticlimactic one.
It was at an end.
Or perhaps not.
‘If you could just bear with me for a few moments.’ Ms Hewson stood up and excused herself, saying that she had one last piece of paperwork to give them. In her absence the silence held. She was back almost immediately, clutching some envelopes. She sat down. They all looked at her. She seemed suddenly self-conscious. ‘I have one last task to fulfil, at the behest of your father. Jonathan instructed me to give you these, once you had arrived at your decision.’ She passed an envelope to Chloe, Noah and Liv in turn. Megan felt a shiver of sadness on seeing Jonathan’s wavery handwriting. The notes must have been written near the end of his life. The disease stole many things from him, including his elegant handwriting.
‘Should we open them now?’ Chloe seemed to be getting used to acting as the family envoy.
Ms Hewson remained professionally, politely indifferent. ‘That’s completely up to you.’
They glanced at each other. Noah took the decision. He stopped spinning his envelope round on the surface of the table and picked it up. By the time he’d started ripping it open, his sisters had joined in. The room was filled with the rustle of tearing paper. Ms Hewson looked at her hands. Megan watched them, her focus flicking from face-to-face, trying to work out from their reactions the content of the letters – her fatigue with Jonathan’s grand plan only deepened by this last act.
Whatever Jonathan’s last message to them was, it was obviously short. Chloe lost her composure and starting sniffing. Liv and Noah looked up from their sheets of paper at each
