Page 50 of Ghost

"I would like an explanation as to what is so important for me to get up half an hour before I needed to?” Ellen asked, one eyebrow raised. “And why am I not to ring for a cup of tea?”

“One, Sharon is out taking a walk. Two, I would rather not have anyone else know that we are speaking, and three, it is of utmost importance and time is of the essence,” Francis answered her.

Ellen looked at Gerald pacing in front of the window. She looked back at Francis. “This is why this little meeting is taking place in your former bedroom?”

“Yes.” Francis smiled slightly as he glanced around the room. “It is... very comfortable in this room for me.”

“It must be important if Gerald woke me.” Ellen smoothed out the dress she was wearing. “Well, get on with it. Tell me.”

“My dear, you were quite right to say that Francis was a good businessman even though I was rather tired of hearing you say so,” Gerald grumbled. “Now, I admit I am quite jealous and envious.”

“This is a red-letter day. I shall mark it in my calendar,” Ellen twittered, covering her mouth with her hand. “Never in my life would I have ever expected that statement to come out of your mouth, Gerald.”

“And I never thought I would say it either,” Gerald all but growled.

“The suspense is killing me.” Ellen looked at Mason who was lying across the bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Why don’t you explain it to her, Gerald?” Francis asked as he went to Mason, looking down with a concerned look on his face.

Gerald stood in front of Ellen. “Your dear, sweet cousin is far richer than you or anyone else may have suspected.” He glanced over to where Francis and Mason were. “In fact, I suspect, he has more fortune that any one man should be allowed to have.”

Ellen smiled. “I am not one little bit surprised. As I told you, he was an excellent businessman.”

“Yes, yes.” Gerald waved his hand. “I am very aware of that now.”

“Ellen, my dear, sweet cousin, I hope you don’t mind that it is my wish that Mason have all of it.”

“Why on earth would I mind?” Ellen seemed shocked at Francis’ statement. “I have more money that I know what to do with myself, and I don’t want or need anymore!”

“There will be some substantial tax liabilities, and I do not think that we should be held responsible for them,” Gerald all but bellowed. “I need a guarantee!”

“First off, Gerald, there is no we, only me. You are dead in case you’ve forgotten that. If there is such a grand fortune as you seem to think, I am sure that Mason would not mind making sure that any tax issue could be handled using whatever funds come from such a windfall.”

“I agree,” Mason said from the bed, sounding very tired. “I don’t even know what to think at this point. I’m not ready for... this.” He then groaned and sat up. “This isn’t my life. I’ve got to be dreaming.”

“May I see some evidence of this great fortune?” Ellen asked, taking a pair of reading glasses from her small black handbag.

Mason got up and gathered up the stack of papers that had been on the small writing desk and handed them to Ellen. “The important one is on the bottom,” Mason commented. “I’d look at that first.”

Ellen took the folded piece of paper and read it. She looked up, over the rim of her glasses and read it again.

“I see.” She looked at Francis and then at Mason. “Francis, this is your final wish?”

“It is, Ellen.”

“You are sure? Because, once this wheel starts moving there is no stopping it.”

“I am aware.” Francis stood next to Mason. “Mason really is or was my one and only true love.”

“Very well.” Ellen took off the glasses and put them back into her purse.

“I will contact Alfred Stockbridge, our attorney, as soon as we get back to Savannah. It shall be done. I will say that the box was found in some of the old furniture when we moved it all back to Mason’s house.

That should take care of any legalities that may arise.

I am, after all, your only living relative. ”

“You have my deepest gratitude, cousin.” Francis knelt down beside Ellen. “Had it not been for Mason, I’m afraid I would never have been able to see you again or... find peace in my death.”

Ellen nodded, wiping a tear away from her eye. “Francis, if you make me cry right now, I will be very cross with you.”

Francis smiled. “I would never want you to cry.”

“Mason, I suggest you go and take a quick shower before you come down for cocktails. You look positively horrid!”

“Gee, thanks,” Mason mumbled. “Good idea, anyway. I’ll meet you downstairs when I’m done.”

Mason stood under the hot water cascading over him, his chin resting on his chest. He tried to think through everything. Even if there was no money, which both Francis and Gerald said was impossible, just the property alone would make him rich. Richer than anything he could comprehend.

“Mason, are you upset with me?” Francis asked on the other side of the shower curtain.

“What? Why would I be upset with you?” Mason replied, lifting his head and reaching for the soap.

“You seem very distant.”

“I don’t know what to think or how to feel, Francis. I guess I’m in shock is all. It’s a lot to take in. I’ve always been somewhat poor. My family never had much money, and I didn’t either until my Uncle Bud died and left me a little nest egg, but it was nothing compared to this.”

“I suppose I can understand that.” Francis said softly. “I have had a talk with Gerald and he has agreed to help guide you. It seems that there are now people who do nothing but look after other people’s money. I find that most peculiar.”

“They call them financial planners, or advisors, I think,” Mason said as he shut off the shower and pulled the shower curtain aside. “I never had the need for one, obviously.” He laughed.

Gerald suddenly appeared startling both Mason and Francis. “Where are those papers?”

Before Mason could answer, Gerald put his forefinger to his lips, telling Mason not to speak.

Mason wrapped a towel around his waist and walked back to the bedroom where he pointed to what was basically a large gym bag, as he didn’t own any real luggage. Gerald nodded.

“Stay here,” Gerald said. He turned to Francis. “Judith and that red-headed mongrel have the rooms bugged!”

Francis looked around the room. “What bugs? I have not seen anything but the odd spider.”

Gerald shook his head. “Not actually insects, but recording and listening devices.”

“Oh, right. I understand now. I learned of such things watching the television.” Francis looked around the room. “What should we do?”

“Make sure that they can’t find those documents is what we should do.

As it is now, anyone who has them has everything.

” Gerald started pacing. “All anyone would need to do is present that last will and testament and they could walk away with it all! We need to find a good hiding place until we leave.”

Mason chuckled. “I’ll just put them back where they were. They’ll never find them there.”

Francis laughed. “So right you are, Mason, so right.”

“Right. So, you go and do that and I need to speak to Ellen immediately. Those two have been cooking the books and taking money out of the Hobonny accounts. This will stop!” Gerald bellowed and then disappeared.

Mason dressed quickly, grabbed the stack of deeds and papers and put everything back exactly as he had found them, where Francis had hidden them all those many years ago.