Chapter 29 #2
‘So what Charlie told me about you not being able to afford it? He gave me the impression you were worried about letting me down and that’s why you didn’t tell me yourself.
I didn’t like the idea of the cottage sitting empty, but he told me not to worry about it because he’d heard the production company were looking for rental properties and it would give me a couple of months of breathing space while I decided what to do with it. ’
‘Nothing he told you is true. I mean, he’d heard the production company were looking and that they were willing to pay handsomely for the right properties.
He went behind all our backs, Mrs J, and made a deal with them.
He came to me and said you had asked him to take over your financial affairs.
I only moved out because he threatened to have me evicted if I didn’t leave under my own steam.
’ He rubbed a big hand across his face and sighed.
‘I knew I should’ve talked to you about it, but I heard you weren’t doing too well and I wondered if perhaps that’s why Charlie was looking after things on your behalf. ’
‘It’s true I had a nasty chest infection, but that was weeks ago and I’m over it now.’ She shook her head. ‘I still can’t believe this.’
Ed leaned forward next to Matt. ‘I hate to say it, Mrs J, but I’m not sure Charlie has your best intentions at heart in all this. My friend Frankie is the one who’s been living in the cottage. Did you know that Charlie had tried to negotiate a six-month rental extension with her?’
‘No? When was that?’
‘Only last week. Frankie got rather attached to the cottage and wanted to stay on after the show finished filming.’
Mrs Jenkins looked completely bewildered. ‘He’s not said anything to me.’
‘Maybe he decided it wasn’t worth bothering you with because Frankie decided against it when she found out Matt was keen to get the cottage back, but I’ve seen the contract he sent for her to sign.
’ Ed paused then decided to just put it all out there.
It was horrible seeing Mrs J upset but worse to think Charlie might find a way of talking her around.
‘How much rent have you been getting from the production company?’
‘A bit more than I was getting from you both.’ She cast a guilty look towards Matt.
‘I won’t say it wasn’t welcome at this time of year with my heating bills and everything, but I also know you’ve spent more than the discount we agreed on all your refurbishment works.
’ She shook her head. ‘That’s why I was surprised you were willing to move out, after all the money you’d invested. ’
Matt gave a small shrug of his shoulder but didn’t reply. A casual observer might think none of this was bothering him, but Ed knew his cousin well and could practically feel the anger vibrating off him.
Ed didn’t think what he had to say next was going to do anything to calm Matt down, but he had to drive his point home. ‘The contract Charlie sent to Frankie was for nearly three times what we were paying you, and he’d told her he was discounting it from what the production company paid.’
Matt grunted then stood abruptly and walked out of the room. They heard the front door open and close a moment later and Ed exchanged a glance with Mrs Jenkins. ‘Give him a few minutes,’ Ed suggested.
Mrs Jenkins’ face crumpled. ‘I feel like such a fool!’
Ed shifted to Matt’s vacated seat and took her hand. ‘It’s okay, Mrs J. Now we’ve figured out what’s going on, Matt and I are going to sort it all out.’
A ringtone interrupted them and Ed picked up the phone Matt had forgotten and looked at the screen. ‘It’s Chloe. Shall I ask her to make an appointment for you in the new year so you can discuss all your options?’
‘Yes, I think that would be for the best.’
Ed had just finished arranging things with Chloe when there was a gentle knock at the door.
Not giving Mrs Jenkins the chance to get up, Ed went to answer it.
Matt stood in the corridor, the shoulders and front of his grey sweatshirt wet and his dark hair flattened against his head.
A rivulet of water leaked from his fringe and rolled down his face. ‘I forgot my coat,’ was all he said.
Mrs Jenkins appeared behind them and let out a gasp. ‘Matthew, darling, look at the state of you. Let me get you a towel. Ed, pop the kettle back on!’
Having something else to focus on seemed to be doing her good so Matt let her fuss over him.
By the time she’d run his sweatshirt through her tumble drier and he’d dried his hair and was clutching a fresh cup of coffee, she seemed much calmer.
‘I’ve made an appointment with the solicitor in the second week of January and I’d like you to come with me,’ she told him.
‘Of course, I’m more than happy to give you a lift.’
Mrs Jenkins shook her head. ‘No, Matthew, I want you to come in with me. I’m still not sure about this power-of-attorney business, but I’ll listen to what they have to say and make up my mind about it afterwards. What we do need to sort out is the sale for the cottage.’
‘Are you serious?’ Matt looked between Ed and Mrs J as if he couldn’t quite believe what was happening.
She smiled at him. ‘Absolutely. I’ve hung on to it for too long, thinking I needed that connection to my Alan.
’ She cast a fond look over to the TV stand, where a framed photo of her late husband took pride of place.
‘But it’s not about bricks and mortar, is it?
It’s what’s in my heart and my memories.
I don’t need the cottage because I carry him everywhere with me. ’
There was one pressing question Ed still needed to ask. ‘What about Charlie? Do you want us to talk to him?’
Mrs Jenkins shook her head, her expression determined. ‘No, you leave that sneaky little toad to me.’