Chapter Twenty-one

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

As the summer began to wane, so did Aunt Jen's spirit. She celebrated her seventy-sixth birthday quietly, at home with me and Dolly. My sister Cassandra sent a huge box of expensive chocolates from Harrods, totally over the top, inappropriate and ostentatiously wrapped. I had a mental image of Casey sitting in a plush chair, with liveried flunkies presenting each chocolate on a gold platter for her to sample. She must have tried a fair few, because there were more than a dozen different confections to choose from. Casey sent an enormous mushy card too, with apologies for not visiting ; she and Christopher were away on a cruise, exploring the Norwegian Fjords, for two weeks, but would try to 'drop in' on their return. There was no mention of Nicholas and Jemima at all.

No cake for Jen this year, just cards and heaps of flowers. I think everyone who knew her called in with a bouquet or a potted plant. I had to borrow extra vases from the neighbours.

“It's like the Chelsea Pensioners Flower Show in here” was Dolly's considered opinion.

Even Daniel brought a miniature rose bush in a pot. We still hadn't spoken. I had hardened my heart to him ever since the article in the Yewell Valley Herald, after nailing it to a bitter email. Dolly ran interference when Daniel called at the library or at Swan Street. I refused to answer his calls or texts, concentrating my attention on Aunt Jen instead. She was the focus of my life, now and for the immediate future.

She was not as hale and hearty as she had been at the onset of summer. Jen had made a return trip to Yewell Memorial to have fluid drained once more, which had involved inserting a syringe into her belly, an uncomfortable and intrusive procedure. Eventually Jen would need a permanent drainage tube.

My aunt soon began to talk about after she was gone.

“Everything is in order” she told me one day in late August. “My funeral is all arranged and paid for. The Reverend knows what I want; it's the same service as we had for Lewis.”

A memory came flooding back to me. of sitting in the back of a big, black car on the day of my uncle's funeral, just eighteen months earlier. I was still holding the order of service in my hand.

“Keep it safe” Aunt Jen had told me. “I'll have the same service when it's my turn.”

I had thought she would be around for a few more years; but suddenly it was her turn.

Jen pulled a large blue ring-binder from the stool beside her chair, the motion jerking me back from my reverie.

“I have settled my will” Jen Began. “Everything you need to know is in here; all my accounts and payments, insurances and the like. You and Cassandra are the main beneficiaries, and I've made Christopher and Daniel executors.”

I groaned inwardly, knowing that at some point in the ever nearing future I would have to speak to Daniel again. Maybe I could just deal with my brother-in-law instead. My feelings must have been transparent, although Aunt Jen misunderstood them.

“I know, Emily. You think I should have chosen Damien. I didn't, for a sound reason. He is apt to get rather emotional at times and I wanted someone who could be level-headed and impartial. But I haven't forgotten dear Dolly; I've left him my car.”

I couldn't comment, having retreated to a deep, dark place deep in side me, until Jen's voice roused me once again.

“Fetch me the box from the bottom of the left-hand wardrobe.”

I did as I was bid and brought her the gold coloured box, a biscuit tin in it's former life. Placing it on Aunt Jen's lap I helped her to ease off the lid, which proved difficult for her to do alone. Inside were jewellery boxes of all shapes and sizes. Aunt Jen selected a small dark blue square and opened it carefully. Inside was a beautiful ring with four mounted rubies.

“My mother's engagement ring. I've left it to you.”

I picked up a folded piece of paper from the box and laid it open on my knee. My name was at the top. 'To my great-niece, Emily Rose Jackson, my mother's engagement ring.' My sister's name came next, followed by those of Jen's cousins and their children, and finally her closest friends.

“I want you to take charge of this when I'm gone, Emily. See that everything goes to the right people. The boys will have enough to do. You promise me now.”

I promised to do as she asked, what else could I say; though a part of me wondered why she was leaving me her mother's ring. Why not her own? Reading down the list I could see no mention of another engagement ring.

It was not Jen's original one, bought over fifty years earlier. Just two days after Uncle Lewis passed away there was a burglary at Richmond Street. While Aunt Jen was sitting alone in her front room someone broke in through the bedroom window; the catch was faulty and the window old. Jen's engagement ring was taken, along with a bracelet and some earrings.

After a tussle with the insurance company- they wanted proof of purchase, after fifty years- a payment was made on receipt of a letter from the solicitor. Aunt Jen bought herself a look-alike. It was her seventy-fifth birthday present, from Uncle Lewis, she told everybody.

Right now I couldn't, didn't want to take any of this in. I was feeling sad enough already, but I pushed all my selfish thought aside. Jen's well-being was the most important thing in my life. I had to be one hundred and ten percent focused on her from now on. Gradually I became aware of her watching me intently.

“Daniel still visits me” Aunt Jen informed me gently. “He comes across most evenings after work.” She reached out a thin, pale hand and stroked my hair. “He's lonely and missing you, Emily dear. He always asks after you; wants to know you are okay.”

I looked away; I knew if I met her eyes my own would brim over.

“Call him, Emily. Go and see him.”

If only she knew how many times I'd stood looking at the house opposite. But I always hesitated too long, lost my nerve. Something, maybe pride, probably stupidity, always held me back.