The Legacy: Trouble Comes Disguised As Family (Unspoken Book 2) T. Belshaw (management books to read .txt) 📖

Twenty minutes later, Jess had chosen, ordered and paid for a sofa. She checked her banking app and realised with a shock how much she had spent recently. She would have to bring up the subject of money with Bradley after all. Some of her annual allowance was urgently needed. Her credit card bill had arrived that morning too.

Standing at the door of the kitchen, Jess stared across the room trying to imagine the new sofa in situ.

‘Sorry, Nana, but it had to be done,’ she said aloud. Her eyes were drawn to the big, expensive, hospital bed that Alice had slept in for the last twelve months of her life. She had decided to offer it to Nana’s carer, Gwen to see if she could find a use for it, but had forgotten to call her. She picked up her phone and hit her contact number. Gwen answered after three rings.

‘Hello, Jessica, is anything wrong?’

‘Hi, Gwen, no, nothing at all. I’ve been meaning to call you all week. I’m living at Nana’s house now.’

‘So I heard, Lovely, there are no secrets in this town you know.’

Jess laughed.

‘The thing is, Gwen. I’d like to catch up, there are one or two things I’d like to talk to you about. The main one being this bed of Nana’s. Do you think you could find a place for it? I’d much rather it goes to one of your clients than have it picked up by a charity.’

‘OOOH! That’s very kind of you, Jessica. I took a new client on when Alice passed. She’s another Alice, Alice Scrimshaw and she really could do with something like that. She’s a bit heavy for me and those buttons and switches that raise and lower the bed would be a big help.’

‘Then, it’s yours,’ said Jess. ‘When do you think you could arrange to have it picked up. Do you need a man with a van? I can organise that.’

‘No, Lovely. Alice’s grandson has a big van, he does removals. I’m sure he’d be happy to pick it up. How much do you want for it?’

‘I don’t want a penny, Gwen, it’s yours to do with as you see fit.’

Jess could visualise Gwen’s astonished face. She never could understand why anyone would want to reward her.

‘I’ll tell Alec that it’s not theirs to keep of course. It was far too expensive to just give away. Alice has a few month’s yet, but after that, old Mr Parfitt will be needing one. He’s starting to struggle now, even with the stairlift.’

‘I’m sure you’ll use it wisely, Gwen, and I’m happy it’s going to someone who will appreciate it.’

‘You said there are a couple of things you want to talk to me about,’ said Gwen with a worried tone in her voice.

‘Oh, it’s nothing important, Gwen. Just the odd thing or two about Nana. She seems to have torn some pages out of one of her memoirs and I can’t find them. They were there when I brought them down from the loft.

‘I don’t know anything about those, Lovely. Alice never mentioned them to me.’

‘Not to worry,’ said Jess. ‘As I said, it’s not important. Give me a call when Alec has an hour free. We can have a coffee and a chat while he loads it onto the van. I think he’ll need assistance though. It will be a bit awkward for one.’

‘Alec has two sons. They’ll help I’m sure.’

‘Great. All right, Gwen, take care now. I’ll see you when you come over.’

‘Bye bye, Jessica, and thank you again.’

After the call, Jessica picked up her laptop and carried it upstairs. Putting it on the dressing table she had another look at the new sofa she had ordered. The blue light problem seemed to have fixed itself so, relieved at not having to raid her dwindling finances again, she closed the laptop lid, patted it for luck and walked through to the bathroom to shower.

She dressed in newish, light blue jeans, a white blouse with a pink, floral embroidery above the right breast and black, low heeled shoes. She kept her phone at the side of her as she brushed her hair and applied the minimum of makeup, as she couldn’t remember if Bradley had said he’d call when he was on his way.

At twelve on the dot, Jess heard the toot of a car horn, and grabbing a navy jacket and her shoulder bag she let herself out of the front door to see Bradley standing proudly at the side of a vintage, Alvis car.

‘Oh, Wow!’ Jess exclaimed. She had read all about what Alice had called the Gangster Car but she had no idea it was still on the road after all these years. She stood for a few moments as she admired the beautiful, shiny, black automobile. There didn’t seem to be a mark on it.

Jess looked up to the skies and smiled.

‘I have a Gangster Lawyer too now, Nana.’ She grinned at Bradley as he walked around the front of the car and opened the passenger door for her.

‘All that’s missing is the hat,’ she said with a laugh.

Bradley looked puzzled. ‘The hat?’

‘Godfrey always wore one. That’s why Alice called him her Gangster Lawyer. With his pin striped suits, hat and that car, he looked like he’d just stepped out of a James Cagney movie.’

‘Ah, I see,’ said Bradley with a grin. ‘Sorry, no hat.’

Jess climbed into the car and sat down. She reached over her shoulder for the seat belt, but not finding one, looked at Bradley with a puzzled look on her face.

‘Cars of this vintage aren’t required to have them fitted,’ said Bradley as he started the engine and put the Alvis in reverse.

‘Are you sure?’ Jess felt a bit uncomfortable without the reassuring strap over her shoulder.

‘Trust me, I’m a lawyer,’ grinned Bradley. ‘It feels a bit odd doesn’t it? But don’t worry. I’ll be careful.’

Jess looked over her shoulder towards the back