Page 38

Penzance

When I sat in the car, I was angrier than I’d ever been.

Paul looked like he’d won something, possibly the lottery.

I started the engine and gripped the wheel until my knuckles went white.

He scrolled through his phone. He’d been reading my emails and replying for me, helping me.

I’d stopped that now by changing my passwords.

But how long had he been doing it? We’d lived together for eight years, so it could have been quite a while.

It was like he didn’t trust me. I’d done nothing to make him feel that way.

And yet here he was, without warning, coming to a place he despised.

I reversed the car and without a word pulled out into the stream of traffic heading into the centre of town.

‘You don’t seem happy to see me,’ he said, still looking at his phone.

‘I’m just surprised.’

‘You asked me to come down.’

I bit back my words while I pulled in to let someone pass on a narrow street.

‘I did. I asked you and you said you couldn’t.

’ I cast a glance at him before pulling into the little car park near the solicitor’s.

‘In fact, I asked you not to leave after the funeral. Both times you said no, so that’s why I’m a bit surprised to see you here now. ’

‘I emailed,’ he said, ‘and you didn’t reply, and then I saw you’d changed your passwords.’

How did he know that? But of course his was the backup email if I lost my password. God, why hadn’t I remembered that?

I turned into the car park with so many emotions raging inside me.

Once the engine was off, I forced my shoulders down to a normal level.

I didn’t need a fight with Paul right before seeing the solicitor, so I had to play this carefully.

‘It’s good to see you, but I don’t require you in this meeting.

’ I released my seat belt and grabbed my bag.

He got out of the car. ‘You do need me. You’re still so wrapped in grief that you won’t make the right decisions.’

‘Whether they are right or not, they are mine to make.’ I smiled at him with as much sweetness as I could muster, which was not a lot.

‘What about your mother’s point of view?’ he countered.

I opened my mouth, then shut it, pausing before saying, ‘I am the executor of my father’s estate.’

‘You are making decisions for your mother and she hasn’t given you that power.’

I was about to ask him how he knew, but then I remembered he’d been on the phone to her every day. It was becoming clear he hadn’t simply been checking she was OK, but much more.

‘This is my meeting about my father’s estate. I’m going in alone.’

‘You don’t have the experience for this and you’ll get things wrong. You know you will. You become flustered when under pressure.’

‘Paul, I’ve told you I’m going to this meeting on my own.’ I looked at him across the car bonnet. My legs were shaking but he couldn’t see that.

‘Fine. I’ll sit in the waiting room.’

‘OK,’ I said, but it wasn’t. Had Paul always been so interfering? Why hadn’t I seen it?

I locked the car and we headed into the offices. I was relieved when I was ushered straight through to Mr Thomas, because it didn’t give Paul any further time to argue with me and wear me down. I had enough doubts about my abilities without him adding to them.

‘Ah, Kerensa.’ Jack Thomas stood and came around the desk. He opened his arms and gave me a hug, one that was much needed. I’d known this man for a long time.

‘Right, you requested this meeting,’ he said, settling back into his chair.

‘I did.’ I sat down. ‘I moved it forward because things at the auction house and my father’s affairs are not what you think they are.’

‘Go on?’ he prompted.

I blew out all the air that had built up within me. ‘My father’s current account is overdrawn. The savings accounts are empty, as are the investment accounts.’

‘Really?’ His eyebrows drew together.

‘Sadly, yes. I’m still trying to get to the bottom of it. What’s clear is that he’s been feeding money somewhere on a regular basis.’

‘Does your mother know?’ he asked.

‘She’s just figured it out. We’ve raided her Premium Bonds to pay for Meg Pascoe. All of this came to light when Meg’s standing order didn’t go through.’

‘Not good. Can you take a loan from the business for the interim?’

I snorted. ‘No. I think the business accounts are in a similar condition to my father’s personal accounts.’

‘That seems odd. Have you spoken to your uncle?’ He picked up a pen.

I put my hands up. ‘Not yet, other than to ask if he was in a position to buy Mum and me out.’

‘How did he react?’

‘He walked away.’ Telling the bare facts like this was hard. It felt like it was all my fault.

‘Kerensa, this doesn’t sound good at all. I’ll need to see the bank statements, and you’ll need to consult with your uncle.’

‘I know.’ Dread filled me at the thought. I paused. ‘All of this will affect probate, won’t it?’

‘Yes and no. As the bulk of the estate goes to your mother, that part should be fairly straightforward.’

‘The house, and the non-existent value of the company?’

‘It still has its good name.’ He tented his fingers.

‘But with Dad dead, its resident expert in Cornish art is gone. We’ll just become a house clearance operation.’

‘You bring skill to the table.’

I laughed.

‘Seriously, you do. Tash has told me about all the work you do behind the scenes on Fake or Fabulous . You make the experts look good.’

‘They’re the experts, though, and I’m just the researcher.’

‘As I’ve told you almost as many times as I’ve told Tash, believe in yourself.’ He came around the desk and gave me another hug. ‘Let me know if we can help with your mother.’

‘Thanks.’ I could have stayed there safely for ever. But Paul was waiting on the other side of the door.

‘Since her diagnosis with vascular dementia, I know things have become harder.’

I froze. ‘What?’

Jack sat on his desk and took my hands in his. ‘You didn’t know?’

I shook my head. ‘When? How? Why?’

‘After her stroke. Your father came in with her and did all the paperwork giving him lasting power of attorney. And we will need to do that with you now, as soon as possible, while she still can.’

I tried to form coherent sentences, but none came. My mother had dementia. That explained some things, but not why I didn’t know.

‘I recall her saying she was going to tell you,’ Jack said.

I thought of Paul, sitting in the outer office. He knew, I realised, and he was the reason why I didn’t. He was trying to protect me, but instead he’d made things far worse. I’d lost my father, and now I was losing my mother too.

My phone buzzed. It had better not be Paul telling me to hurry up.

It was Tash. Rory was at Harbour House. His trip to Exeter had been quick.

I scrolled through my emails, and sure enough there was one from Paul.

There was one from Rory too, saying he had verified the work and would be back today.

That email had arrived about ten last night.

Paul had taken the train shortly thereafter.

Something told me that was why he was here.

And that he still had access to my emails.

Alarm bells went off inside me. I would need to tread carefully.

‘I’m here for any legal advice you need, and also as a sounding board.’ Jack’s expression showed concern. Tash looked so much like him.

His kindness nearly had me weeping, but then I thought of Paul and squared my shoulders.

Many things were uncertain, but I needed to fix things for my mother, confront my uncle and, if I could, honour my two artists.

One fact was vital for my sanity at this moment, and that was Paul and how he made me feel.

I had to face him, and I couldn’t let him railroad my mother into what he thought was best for her.

‘One more question. Tash mentioned that you remembered there being wills for Sheba Kernow and Viv Sykes.’

Jack nodded. ‘Yes. I recall filing them.’

‘The contents?’

‘Unfortunately I didn’t read them. It always becomes complicated when people die intestate, or apparently so.’

‘And without the wills, the estate will pass to the great-nephews?’

‘Sadly, I can’t say. But ask around, because people do remember things.’

In the outer office, I saw Paul perched on the edge of his chair.

Although the night on the train had left him a little less groomed than normal, he was still good-looking and poised.

He scrolled continuously through his phone, possibly checking my emails and messages.

He would know that Rory was at Harbour House.

Had I become so incompetent that he had stepped into the void?

He glanced up, frowning. It was a split second before his expression changed and he was all smiles again. ‘Good meeting?’

He might have overheard it sitting so close to Jack’s office, but he wouldn’t hear the details from me.

‘Yes.’ I waved at the receptionist and headed out the door.

Paul caught up with me. ‘The coffee and pastry they offered on the train really didn’t do it for me. Can we go and get something to eat?’

It was nearly twelve. ‘Sure.’ Rather than head to the car, I walked to a café around the corner.

It was obvious he wanted to talk, but I ignored him, squinting in the sunlight and wishing I’d remembered my sunglasses. At four this morning they hadn’t seemed essential.

Inside the café there was a happy buzz, and I tried to let it soothe me.

‘What can I get you?’ Paul asked.

‘Just a black coffee, thanks.’ I took a seat.

He sent me a sharp look. ‘Have you been eating? You’ve lost weight, which looks great, but you need to eat.’

‘What?’ That whole statement didn’t make sense. I looked great but I needed to eat. ‘I have been eating.’

He made his way to the counter, and returned with the coffees. ‘I’m worried about you.’