Sister's Trio Squad

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Margaret was surprised at how kind people had been, too. She had never realized the extent to which Lewis had been respected, for cards and messages arrived from people she'd never heard of and the whole of his workforce, headed by Mr Johnson and Davies, had come to offer their condolences and had begged that four of them be allowed to carry the coffin. Doctor Salmon and Canon Ormond between them had taken care of all the formalities and arrangements. Vi and her mother had taken complete charge of the household and Ernest had sent telegrams to her mother, Lisa and Nancy. Elizabeth was distraught, he'd informed her.

"Tell her . . . tell her to pray for him and thank you, Ernest, you've been so good."

'It's nothing. Will your family be here for the funeral??

'I don't know,' she answered, wishing with all her heart that she could just lay her head on Sarah's breast and cry out all her anguish.

Nancy had sent a wreath, a large, expensive one, and comforting note, deploring with all her heart that she wouldn't be able to come to the funeral, but that when it a was all over, Margaret must come down and bring the children. It would be good for them all. Edward, too, had sent her a note, asking if there was anything at all he could do? She'd been touched by his gesture, for she'd only met him a few times.

The postal service in the rural areas of the Free State was so bad that Sarah hadn't even received the telegram until the day of the funeral, but Lisa had come. And it had been Lisa who had found herself to be the strong one that day - she who had always been so timid, who had always shied away from situations like this. Oh, how she'd changed, she thought, as she held Margaret's hand tightly throughout the Requiem Mass and the interment in Ford Cemetery. And it was to Lisa that Ellen finally sobbed out her pent up sorrow the night before her father's funeral. She had even had a few words of comfort for Elizabeth, who had sobbed noisily throughout the service. And she had sat up all night with Margaret and listened with sorrow and shock to the events that had brought about Lewis's death.

'Oh, Margaret, I wish I could stay longer. What are you going to do? Why don't you go down to Nancy or back to Ma?"

'I can't. There are the children, the house, Vi, and ... Oh, Lisa, such a short time, that's all I had with him. And I could have been a better wife to him!' 'Don't talk like that. You know it's not true.'

'It is! It's only now that I realize how much I loved him. He was good and kind and honourable. And I . . . I... dreaded him coming to my bed! What kind of a wife does that?"

'Stop it! Stop it, Margaret!'

'I feel so guilty! I should have insisted on seeing to his leg. I should have thought...

'Margaret, tearing yourself apart like this won't do any good and you know it. You've got Ellen and Jamie to think of now.'

'I know. What can I do, Lisa? I relied on him so much.'

You were always the sensible one, the practical one. You'll have to keep the family together. You'll have to run the business, for Jamie. You're no fool, Margaret, you can do it.'

'But I know nothing about running a business!'

'Of course you do. You already do the books, don't you? Mr Johnson will keep the office going and I'm sure the men will help you out, they all turned out, didn't they? Why, they even carried... him, and they still need their jobs, don't they?'

'Oh, I don't know if I can face it!'

'You've got to. You've got to try, Margaret. It's what Lewis would have wanted and expected of you, you know I'm right!' Lisa fell silent. Was she really talking like this to Margaret? Lisa, the one who had run like a scared rabbit from Lancaster Street from that weasel Bart. She'd changed. She'd grown to be more like her sister, like her mother.

Margaret had known Lisa was right, but she was too tired, too bowed down with grief to think much about it now. She looked towards the window. It was dawn. You're going to be worn out, Lisa, you'll have had no sleep for two days. Do you have to go back this morning?' 'Yes, but Ma will be here soon. She'll take care of you

until you're feeling better.' 'Oh, Lisa, I don't know what I'd have done with out you.'

'You would have coped, Margaret. You're stronger than you think. You always were.'

Margaret looked at her sister, really looked at her for the first time since Lisa had arrived. 'You've changed, Lisa. You've grown up."

I had to. Life is hard, Margaret and fate is unkind. We've both found that out to our cost, but perhaps it's all for a reason."

As soon as Sarah arrived Margaret felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Sarah took charge instantly and it was she who opened the door to Elizabeth and Ernest when Elizabeth at last came to the house she'd not set foot in for years.

Sarah showed them into the parlour where Margaret and Ellen were trying to keep Jamie amused. All the pic tures and the mirrors were draped in black and the room looked sombre despite the sunlight that came in through the window.

I'm glad you've come Elizabeth. I wish you had come sooner,' Margaret said with a catch in her voice. She wore a plain black dress with only a jet brooch at the neck and she looked very pale and thin.

Elizabeth also wore black, but the dress was embroidered with jet beads and looked more like an evening dress than sombre mourning, Sarah thought.

'I... I couldn't bring myself to come. It was Ernest who persuaded me. . .' Elizabeth dabbed her eyes with a black-edged handkerchief. 'But at times... like this... we must be ... practical."

Sarah eyed her coldly. Elizabeth hated Margaret and Sarah didn't think her views had been changed by her father's demise. So, the vultures were gathering. 'Practical' was it? Oh, she was hard and scheming to come here when Margaret was so vulnerable. But Madam Elizabeth hadn't reckoned on her being here.

'Practical, now there's a fine word.' Elizabeth ignored Sarah. 'It's so... so painful to me, Margaret, to have to bring this up Father leave a will?' but . . . did

Margaret stared at her blankly for a second. 'A will?' she echoed. 'Oh, yes... I believe he did.'

'Elizabeth, don't you think we should leave this until later?' Ernest interrupted, looking uncomfortable. 'Ernest, it will have to be dealt with sooner or later.

There's just no... suitable time.' 'It's all right, Ernest, I understand. Your father made provision for you, Elizabeth, despite . . . despite what he said."

'In what way?'

'He left you the deeds to your house."

'And?'

'Holy Mother of God! Your Pa's not cold in his grave and all you're interested in is how much money he's left you?' Sarah erupted.

"There isn't any money,' Margaret said tiredly.

'What? I don't believe it!'

Margaret pressed her fingers against her temples, wishing her step-daughter would just disappear. 'Mr Boreham, the solicitor, has the will. You may see him. But the business and the property, what's left, is for Jamie. Ellen has three houses and I have this house."

'Margaret, you've no need to tell her all this! She's a hard-hearted little madam, if ever I saw one! Would you kindly take your wife home, where she belongs, Ernest, and if I were you I'd go and see the solicitor. My daughter is not up to all this!'

Elizabeth turned on Sarah. 'I don't think any of this concerns you!'

'That's just where you're wrong! My daughter and my grandchildren concern me greatly. And as far as I can see, you came here to brow-beat her into agreeing to something. But you didn't expect me to be here, did you? Oh, I could see what your little game was right from the minute you walked through that door, dressed up as though you were going to the theatre and putting on such a fine display of grief. You'd make a good actress, Elizabeth, but it won't wear with me. I've already got one actress in the family and I learned her little tricks years ago!'

And how is Margaret going to run a business by herself?" As it's not your business, I don't see that it's any

concern of

yours, but at least now we've dropped all the

pretence!" 'Ma, please?' Margaret begged.

Ellen, take Jamie upstairs. All this shouting is upsetting him and it's not helping you, either,' Sarah instructed. Ellen picked up the little boy but, as she reached the door, she turned, her grey eyes blazing. 'You're hateful, Lizzie! You always have been and I hope you die tonight go straight to Hell!'

and When the door closed Sarah turned to Elizabeth. 'Are you satisfied now? Now that you've managed to upset everyone, even your little sister?"

'I didn't come here to upset anyone. She's always been a totally frightful child.' 'But she won't be a child for much longer. I'd look out

for her she hates you.'

Elizabeth was determined to hang on to her self-control

and not be goaded. 'I came to put a proposition to you,

Margaret."

'And just what kind of proposition would that be?' Sarah demanded. Elizabeth kept her gaze on Margaret. You will need

someone to run the business and as Father saw fit to

exclude me from his will... 'No, he didn't. You've got your house."

'Ma!' Margaret's nerves were at snapping point. As I was saying, as everything is to go to his son, then Ernest will be quite willing to run the business for you until the boy is old enough to take over. He's very competent and quite trustworthy.'

He may be, but you're not, Sarah thought, and he dances to your tune. But she said nothing. It was Margaret's decision.

'Ernest, what are your views?' Margaret asked.

'I I agree with my wife. It's too much for you, Margaret, What with the shock, and the children to cope with, you need someone to take one worry off your shoulders.' 'I'll have to think about it, it's too soon yet...'

'Of course, we understand that. But Ernest is ready to take over just as soon as you are ready.'

'And that's an end to it, is it?'

'Yes!' Elizabeth snapped back at Sarah. "Thank you both. Would you see them out Ma, please?" 'With the greatest of pleasure!'