Chapter Twenty-Four
Monday, 10th December
Evan looks up from his computer when I tell him and Haneen about my Christmas proposals. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. But be sure to inform the care home. You don’t want them to complain that they’ve already spent money on their own preparations.”
“I have, or at least the Squad have, and they demanded a refund off their catering costs for Christmas Day.”
“And they agreed?”
“They haven’t disagreed.”
Actually, all has been quiet at The Glyn. I had deliberately not told anyone at Kendric House yet because I wanted to find out if Cynthia would refuse. Cynthia, surprisingly, hasn’t even raised a single objection to my Christmas invitation. I would have expected her to at least question me again. But nothing. Even trolley Jenkins has been quiet since she confronted me four days ago.
Now, I find out why.
“Did you tell her about the letter?” Haneen glances round from stirring honey into her daughter’s porridge. They’ve brought lots of honey from the island. Her brother has bee hives and they produce unique honeys. So the kitchen cupboards are full of mead, honey-based marinades and more varieties of honey than I ever knew existed.
This morning, she’s opened a jar of thistle honey, a delicate gorgeous flavour I’m already in love with.
“What letter?” I ask Evan.
“Oh last week, I got an official letter from the management of The Glyn threatening legal action because Kendric House isn’t safe for elderly people and we don’t have a hygiene certificate or a catering licence blah blah.”
My heart falls. “She did question me about all this, and I told her that they were my guests not paying customers. As such, I didn’t need any insurance and certificates. But now, of course, they are paying. At least for the shopping.”
It never occurred to me how this might change things. And anyway, how did Cynthia find out? If Evan received this letter last week, then she must have sent it almost the day after that meeting in the games lounge when the subscription was decided. Was she spying on the Squad? Someone must have been either careless or deliberately reporting to her. No wonder she’s been conspicuous by her absence; she has an informer.
“Are they going to sue you?” I ask Evan and Haneen.
That would be the perfect way to pay them back for their kindness to me, get them into litigation.
“Don’t worry so much.” Haneen gives me one of her kind smiles. “I have all that already. Don’t forget, I run a catering business and do a lot of my cooking here.”
“And with all the teenagers around the place,” Evan says. “We need all kinds of liability insurance and health and safety covered.”
The relief is so great, I sag down into a chair. “So, it’s okay? Did you explain to her?”
“Certainly not. It gave me great pleasure to write back and tell her to mind her own business.” He gives me a wicked smile. For the first time, I notice the man has dimples. It must be the first time he’s really smiled at me. If Mum were here she’d be all over me to try to catch him for myself. She wouldn’t care that he’s with Haneen, she’d say, they’re not married, so all is fair in love . She wouldn’t care that he’s a nice man, that he loves Haneen and is a wonderful stepfather to her daughter. These thing, to my mum are just icing on the cake. It explains Horrible Howard. More than ever, I feel sad for Mum who’s spent her life chasing the wrong things. Getting to know my Welsh Hagrid has finally made me see the truth I’ve been trying to understand all my life.
Meredith comes into the kitchen to collect Henrietta and take her to school. Only after they’re gone, Haneen starts having her own breakfast. That’s what mothers do. Mothers who are not like mine. Evan, too, hasn’t eaten because he’s been waiting for her. See? that’s what I mean.
“Let me.” I go to the stove where the porridge is on a low simmer, and dish two bowls. I’m still in charge of making breakfast because it’s the only thing I can contribute to Kendric House in return for their hospitality. “Toast?” I pop four slices under the flame grill.
“Please.” Evan closes his laptop and shoves it away.
“Can I just ask, when did you reply to The Glyn?”
“Wednesday last week.” Evan butters a slice of toast and hands it to Haneen with a private smile.
I really hope he’s right not to be concerned, but I’m worried this isn’t over. In my mind I remember Jenkins hissing, “you’ll pay.”
That was on Wednesday, last week. Yet neither Cynthia or Jenkins have tried to stop me visiting and zero objection to the Squad coming over. What are they up to?
The question is still in my head when Evan’s phone rings. He pulls it out of his back pocket takes a look and frowns.
“What?” Haneen asks drinking some of her tea.
He shows her the screen and her smile drops. “What does he want?”
“It’s half past nine, so he’s already in the office. This isn’t a brotherly call.”
The phone goes on ringing until Evan, reluctantly swipes to answer. Instantly, an angry voice shouts loud enough for me to hear at my end of the table.
Evan winces, moving the phone away from his ear to place on the table and puts it on speaker.
“…being irresponsible and exposing us to lawsuits.”
“Owen, there’s—” but the other man (Owen?) carries on shouting.
“And what’s this about you running a business. There was never any agreement for you to take the house and convert it to a restaurant.”
“Owen, Owen stop shouting—”
“This is typical of you. I should never have agreed to give you Kendric Park.”
Evan blows out a breath full of frustration. Haneen reaches over and lays a calming hand over his, but he’s angry too, now. When he finally replies to Own, his voice is taught, like a s spring pulled to its limit.
“Owen you didn’t give me” – he lands heavily on the word give – “anything. We made an exchange, a very fair exchange. You got our father’s house in Belgravia worth five million in exchange for a derelict house that was full of dead vermin and not fit for human habitation. You wanted shot of it and had it valued at one million.”
“If it’s a derelict house not fit for habitation, how are you running a hotel?”
“I’m not running a hotel—”
“If I find out you lied to me—”
“No one lied to you Owen, I’m not going to dredge up a probate settlement that was signed and stamped two years ago.”
“Unless you bring the family into criminal—”
“What criminal?”
They’re both shouting now. I’d never have believed it of Evan who is always calm and sensible. Only family can do this. No one who knew me would imagine me arguing with Horrible Howard. Some people just press your buttons and bring out long buried rage.
“Criminal activities or things that will damage our name.” Owen stops shouting and all we can hear is the sound of paper shuffling. Evan has also gone quiet but he’s breathing hard.
When Owen comes back on the line, he’s not shouting but it’s worse. “I’ve heard from a solicitor acting for Cotes Care Homes PLC. They’ve complained that you’re running a scam to defraud old age pensioners, disabled, suffering from dementia and vulnerable.”
Evan glances at Haneen and they both look gobsmacked. “I’m not running any scam, this is just rubbish.”
“He says you’ve duped them into moving from their care home into Kendric House.”
Evan barks a laugh that’s angry and incredulous at the same time. “This is a complete nonsense. I can’t believe you’re taking it seriously. Someone is trying to cause mischief.”
“So, you’re not renovating the house?”
“What’s this got to do with anything?”
“Only that you don’t have the money to renovate anything, not unless you’re hoping to make money out of rich old people by moving them into a house not fit for habitation.”
“Owen, I’m going to end this call. I don’t have time for this. What I may or may not do in my house is my business.”
He reaches for the phone to end the call but Owen’s answer comes fast as a bullet.
“Actually, dear brother, it isn’t. You forget the terms of father’s will includes a clause of ethical conduct. If you’re guilty of endangering life then the –”
“I’m not endangering life.”
“Good. I hope so for your sake. I’ve been asked to authorise a special survey to check that all parts of Kendric house are fit for habitation. If the survey flags up anything that might be a hazard then the place will have to be cordoned off until it can be made safe.”
And the call ends. It’s Owen who hangs up. Evan just sits staring at his phone on the table; colour gradually draining from his face.
It’s Haneen who finally breaks the stunned silence. “He can’t do anything. As you just told Leonie, you have all the insurance needed.”
He looks up at the two of us. “It is. But only for the open parts of the house. The north and west wings are full of hazards.”
“But they’re shut off.”
“And the top floors here and…” he points towards the south wing where Llewellyn has his business hub on the ground floor. I had noticed a wood plank laid across the stairs up to the third floor to block access.
“Didn’t you hear him. If any part is dangerous. That means they will be poking around everywhere. In fact, I bet they will start in the parts not yet touched, find what they find and close us down.”
“But,” I have to say something. This whole problem is because of me and The Glyn. “I can speak to them about the visits from the older guests. I’ll tell them it’s not how they made it sound…”
Haneen is watching Evan, her face more and more concerned. “They surely can’t close the whole house if the open parts are safe. They can’t kick us all out. You’ve done everything right. You can prove it.”
“I would have to prove it in court, and these cases take forever. If Owen scents a chance to ruin me, he’ll make sure the case takes years. He knows I don’t have the money for a long fight.” He scoffs bitterly. “I don’t even have the money for a short fight.” He rubs a hand over his face. “Hannie, if we’re evicted, then it’s not just you and me. It’s Llewellyn, the professor, everyone. It’s the end of all our projects.”
“This is my fault. If I hadn’t got involved with The Glyn and upset Cynthia.”
Evan shakes his head. “No, it isn’t. The Glyn is small fry. This is all Owen.”
Haneen asks, “You think he’s just jumping on this silly squabble with the care home because he’s been actively looking for something?”
“You remember that rumour in the village last summer? That he and not I is the real owner. He’s spreading the word around.”
“But no one believes him,” she says getting up to clear the half-eaten breakfast.
“No, but it means he’s kept in the loop if there’s a problem. Which is what The Glyn’s manager has done when she didn’t get anything from me. She appealed to him.” Evan gets up from the table so fast it topples his chair backwards.
I go to pick it up. Evan has marched to the window, staring out at the dead garden. “Just as well Watson has done nothing here, it would have all gone to waste.”
Haneen goes over and slips an arm around his waist and rests her head on his shoulder. “Your brother won’t go that far. What’s in it for him?”
“Pay back for Rhys. He knows what this place means to me, so he’ll make sure I lose it.” He groans. “It’s not just me this time. So many others will suffer. And with Christmas coming, it’s a matter of days before the courts close and we can’t appeal for a month. So, we’re all homeless for Christmas.”
He pulls her round into a hug and buries his head in her chestnut hair. “Do you think your little shed in the woods can fit all of us?” he sounds very emotional
I have to leave the kitchen because this is a very private moment between them. But also, because I’m guilty.