Fifty
Matt stood on the porch and looked out over the front meadows. The sky was no longer the darkest shade of black and was slowly moving into the hazy grey of dawn. Flora was curled up asleep on a chair in the lounge of the B she was just a desperate one.’
‘You say that now – what if she comes back for more money? What then? You won’t be able to go to the police…’
‘She’s not going to ask for more money.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘Because she didn’t ask for more in the first place. All I keep hearing are her words “I need…” She never said, “I want…” she just said, “I need…” and that’s enough to make me believe her. Not once did she ask for more than she needed. And she could easily have done so, there’s plenty of money there after all.’
Matt drew in a deep breath at the reference to her bank account. Oh, yes, Sally had told him everything and he honestly didn’t know which of her revelations had floored him more – the fact she was richer than the Bank of England, that Jools had kidnapped her for money, or that she’d lied to the police and was not only letting Jools get away with it but that she was also intending to give her the money! All of it beggared belief!
‘Well, I think you’re a fool to let her off and an even bigger fool to give her the money.’
‘Yes, Matt, you’re making that very damn clear but as it’s my money, I can do with it what I like. Jools made me see how fortunate I was to be able to grieve for my husband without worrying about how I was going to pay the bills. Not many families get that luxury. So, with that in mind, I’ll be looking into setting up a charity – only small and local – which helps people when they’re left high and dry after a bereavement. I don’t know all the ins and outs yet but I’m sure Craig can help me.’
‘Oh, I’m sure he’ll love that!’
‘Matt, do you have a problem with the fact I have all this money? Because I’m certainly getting that feeling from you!’
He stopped pacing and turned to look at her. He’d thought he was falling in love with this woman but now he felt he didn’t know her at all. How could anyone have a bank balance of those proportions and be happy to be with a mere builder. Okay, sure, he was comfortably off from a financial perspective but he now felt like a Dickensian pauper compared to what Sally was sitting on.
Finally, he replied. ‘I don’t know what I feel right now, Sally, apart from right bloody stupid for calling the police and for worrying myself silly. You’re not the woman I thought you were and yes, I have a problem with that. You’re planning this fete to raise funds when you don’t need to, you have all the money you need. People are volunteering their time when you could easily pay them. You’ve set this thing up under false pretences, I… I…’
He stopped. He didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t know what else he could say.
‘Look, I’m going home. I’m exhausted. I’ve been up all night, in the freezing wet cold,’ he couldn’t stop himself from making the dig, knowing as the words left his mouth, how pathetic he sounded, ‘worrying about you when clearly I needn’t have bothered, so now I’m going home for a hot bath and some sleep.’
He was almost at the back door when her voice quietly followed him across the room.
‘Will you call me later?’
He hesitated for a moment.
‘I’ll see.’
He let himself out, knowing as he closed the door behind him, that he wouldn’t be calling her later.
Or anytime soon.