Chapter 32
PHYLLIS
Phyllis read the letter in surprise. It was from the executor of Joyce’s will informing her that Joyce had made her a special bequest of an emerald necklace and matching earrings.
Joyce had a lot of jewellery, some left to her by her mother, which Phyllis had presumed would be passed down to Howard.
She remembered the necklace and earrings.
Joyce had shown her them once, they were a particular favourite.
It was so kind of Joyce, Phyllis thought, blinking back tears from her eyes.
It would be good to have something to remember her dear friend by.
The letter went on to request that Phyllis phoned the office to make an appointment to pick up the jewellery.
She looked at the address at the top of the letter.
It was an office in Birmingham City Centre.
She could take the train there and do a bit of shopping at the same time.
She phoned the office and was surprised when she was offered an appointment for the next day.
‘Mr Charterwell is going on holiday next week, so he’d like this sorted before then,’ the secretary said.
‘The leaves were right again,’ she told the others over breakfast, relating the contents of the letter to her. ‘They showed me circles, presents or good fortune.’
Nancy and Jackie were fascinated but Slate rolled his eyes. ‘It’s just folklore, Phyllis. But I’m very pleased for you.’
* * *
‘Of course it’s all right for you to take the afternoon off,’ Aurora told her when Phyllis explained.
‘I’m so pleased that Joyce left you something in her will.
I think that Howard’s treated you abominably after the years you two were together, and how much you looked after Joyce at the end.
And he practically ignored you at the funeral. ’
That was true, but she hadn’t expected anything different from Howard.
As he was an only child, Joyce and Cecil had given him everything, and everything was what he expected.
He had allowed Phyllis to attend the funeral as it was what his mother had wanted, but had made it quite clear that she needed to leave straight after the service and was most definitely not invited to the reception.
Phyllis had been glad of Aurora’s company and support.
‘I didn’t expect Joyce to leave me anything in her will. I assumed Howard would have made sure everything went to him. It will be really nice to have something to remember her by,’ Phyllis said.
* * *
When she arrived at the solicitor’s office the following afternoon she had an even bigger surprise.
Mr Jarvis told her that the necklace and earrings were both very valuable.
Worth almost thirty thousand pounds. ‘I suggest that you keep them in a very safe place,’ he told her.
‘A safe deposit box might be best.’ He opened his desk drawer.
‘Mrs Montgomery also left you this letter. You might like to read it in private at home.’
Phyllis had taken the jewellery straight to her bank to put in a safe deposit and then had gone home. She went up to her room, wanting to read the letter in private. It was short and to the point, very like Joyce.
My dearest Philly,
When you read this I will be gone over to wherever it is we go when we leave this world.
You often told me that it was to a place full of light and love, where we would meet the friends and relatives that had gone before us, but I always thought there was nothing once we drew our last breath.
Well, I will know now and I hope you are right.
Thank you, my dearest, for all the years of happiness you have given me. And particularly for the care and love you have shown me over these past few months when I’ve been ill. You have never failed me.
I’m sorry that the house isn’t mine to leave you, but I want you to have this jewellery as a token of my love and appreciation.
It belonged to my grandmother, and I know she would want me to pass it on to you.
I don’t want you to hoard it and lock it away.
Please use it. Sell it, dear, put it towards getting yourself somewhere to live.
My love forever,
Joyce
Phyllis wiped the tears from her eyes. How thoughtful of Joyce to do this for her. And to write a letter giving her permission to sell the jewellery, because Phyllis never would have otherwise. As Joyce knew, she’d have kept it hidden away, scared that she would lose it, or it would get stolen.
Put it towards somewhere to live, Joyce had said.
She would she use it to buy another caravan. It would be a good deposit at least.