Chapter Two #3
‘There will be legal notification, as is standard procedure. A notice must go into the paper. No names will be mentioned. And there won’t be any leaks from my office,’ Peachey assured.
‘Nor from mine,’ said Ethan with emphasis, and speared her with a look, leaving her in no doubt, in case she’d ever forget, that he was referring to what had happened with the press eight years ago.
‘I’ll leave you both a copy, and I suggest you get your legal representatives to look over it. Any questions—you have my details. In the meantime, I’ll start the necessary procedures.’
They all stood, and after shaking their hands, Peachey left.
Ivy, in frantic need of distance from Ethan, made for the desk and ran her fingertips over the mahogany wood. ‘She really did it—put us in her Will. I’m wondering if your letter is exactly the same as mine. Did yours give any specifics on what she’s expecting?’
Ethan stood and moved to the fireplace, and after giving Mr Tabitha a quick pat, he positioned himself with his back to the grate, mirroring his stance of yesterday. ‘None. Yours?’
‘Not really, other than she wanted us to stay here for six weeks, and she believed in me…in us.’ A lump formed in her throat, and she blinked furiously to hold back the threatening tears at Ruby’s warmth, love and belief in her.
She glanced down at the photos on the desk’s gleaming surface, a selection of Ruby’s favourite people, including her and Ethan, and one of Ruby with Ivy’s grandmother, Joan.
In the centre was a large silver-framed photo of Ruby and My Don—the name Ruby had had for her fiancé, who’d died when they were both twenty—and in Ruby’s words she’d never looked at another man since.
So much love, so much longing. Ivy’s throat thickened and suddenly inspiration hit.
‘I’ll read out my letter. Please let me know if yours is any different.
It might help.’ She desperately needed insight into Ruby’s motives, because she’d read it at least twenty times and still remained clueless.
It wouldn’t be long before she knew it word for word, but this was no script to be memorised—this was real.
His lips flattened before he abruptly nodded.
Carefully removing the letter from her pocket, she struggled to stop it from shaking and leant back against the desk for support.
‘My Darling Ethan and Annie, I’m no longer here otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this, but please never forget the long, happy life I’ve had and that now, I’ll finally be reunited with My Don.’
Ivy’s lips trembled in time with her hand, and she did the breathing exercise that got her through red carpet events and anytime unwanted attention was fixed on her. Gradually, the impact of the letter lessened and she could continue.
‘Ethan, watching you grow into the man you’ve become has been one of my greatest joys and I couldn’t be prouder of you. You’re the son and grandson I never had, and you’ve filled a void in my life that’s brought me so much love and happiness.’
Ivy swallowed. If she’d ever doubted—which she hadn’t—how much Ruby had loved Ethan, this letter dispelled it.
‘Annie, you are my dearest friend’s cherished granddaughter, but that’s not the reason I’m doing what I’m doing—not even close. It’s because of the capable, remarkable, loving person you are and how you’ve touched my heart in a way no one else could.’
She bit the inside of her cheek so hard she was surprised it didn’t bleed and took another deep breath.
‘What I’m writing to tell you will be a surprise, a shock even, because I’ve left my beloved WillowGlen to both of you.
‘Yes! Really! Please don’t think I’m unaware of the turmoil this will cause, but it’s not designed to harm. Nothing could be further from my reasoning. You see, I trust you both emphatically, which is why I want the two of you, together, to decide the fate of WillowGlen.
‘Not something either of you would be expecting, I know, which you might view as an imposition, so please forgive me. Still, it’s my decision and what I think is best for my treasured home, and for you, too, my darlings.’
The words blurred and Ivy rubbed at her eyes and did the breathing exercise again.
‘I know the two of you will make the best decision. Which is why I’m asking both of you to stay at WillowGlen, together, for six weeks after my passing. Let its beauty and peace show you the path forward, as you follow your beautiful hearts. It won’t let you down, if you trust it.’
Ivy’s voice faltered, Oh, Ruby.
‘Don’t think I’ve gone cuckoo; you know how much I believe in the power of nature, slowing down, rest. I’m fully aware neither of you stop, and of what I’m asking of you and how it will impact your lives. But please, my darlings, trust me this one last time.
‘I’m writing this in my study, looking down the rolling lawn, the sky a vivid blue, a thousand memories of you both filling my heart, making me smile, bringing tears of happiness.’
This time Ivy couldn’t stop her tears, and she scrunched her eyes closed to stem the flow. Finally, she brushed them away and cleared her throat, not daring to look at Ethan in case it set her off again.
‘The only cloud on the horizon is that I won’t be here to see you, and what you do with WillowGlen, but then again that cloud will be the perfect spot for me and My Don to sit and watch the goings-on.
‘Finally, I ask you to open and listen to your beautiful hearts. They won’t ever lead you astray.’
Ivy sniffed.
‘Love always, Little Big Boss/Ruby XX.’
Ivy’s lips trembled and she wondered if the letter’s impact would ever lessen, because Ruby’s faith in her had never wavered.
Only because she didn’t know what you’d done.
A fresh wave of despair hit as silence filled the room except for the crackling fire.
Ethan rubbed a hand across his nape. ‘You had nothing to do with this?’
‘I had no idea, and I didn’t coerce her, if that’s what you’re getting at. Is that exactly what yours said?’ she asked.
She held his stare until he frowned and pulled a matching blue envelope out of his pocket and headed towards her. There was no threat in his movement, yet her heart galloped as she fought the urge to make a run for it when all his lethal grace came her way.
‘Yes. Here, read it.’
Careful not to touch her he handed over his letter and perched on the arm of the sofa.
She focused on the achingly familiar handwriting and quickly scanned the pages, the wording exactly the same.
‘It’s identical,’ she said with a thread of disappointment, when she was sure her voice would work. ‘Which doesn’t give us any clues as to why she did this.’
She passed the letter back to Ethan. He rubbed a hand over his temple and for a fleeting moment looked both devastated and exhausted.
‘It seems we’ll never know,’ he said, placing the letter on the table. ‘Feel like a walk?’
Ivy blinked, surprised at the offer of Ruby’s favourite way to talk something through, no matter the weather. She’d been on walks with Ruby in the dead of winter and, despite her misgivings, had always felt better for it.
This wasn’t Ruby, but maybe outside they’d be able to make sense of everything. It was worth trying, because right at that moment she was at a complete loss.
‘Okay.’
‘I’ll wait for you in the mudroom while you get changed,’ he said.
‘It’s all right, I’ll go like this.’
Raising a brow, he looked pointedly at her outfit but remained silent as they headed along the corridor, close but not touching, until reaching the room where a row of coats, jackets, hats, beanies, gloves and scarves suitable for all-weather scenarios hung ready for anyone to grab.
She put on a large black padded coat with a hood, as Ethan did the same with a black jacket that he zipped up to his neck.