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“Dad! You’ve got nothing else planned over the holidays, with me going to Aunt Marie’s for Christmas, an ideal opportunity for you to go and sort out Granddad’s place.”
Terry scowled, trying not to let Nina his daughter, see him as she put it, ‘grizzle’! It was not so much the thought of sorting out his father’s place that was at the root of that, nope it was her mentioning his sister.
Ever since the death of his father earlier in the year, he had put off going to the former family home for his parents. Mother had died two months before his father. The closeness of the two departing this eartly coil had upset him badly. Not so his sister, who had taken everything in her stride. Even flying in from Canada for the funerals.
“Not interested, do what you want with it.” That had been her attitude re the property left in the will, to him. Not her. Raised words, equal shares? No!
Just her refusal to have anything to do with the place and or any intention on his part to share the proceeds of any sale of the place, to her
An argument had ensued. A brother sister dispute of raised voices and? Terry should, as he reviewed events, have known it was in itself pointless, Marie had switched off, not listening to a word he was saying, mostly protesting at her lack of interest and as it progressed being a little explicit on how he felt re her indifference.
Nina had interrupted them to ease the tension between them and it had the desired effect, they both stopped to talk about the will? Grandad had left her a substantial inheritance.
The money was to be put towards her training to be a doctor. Marie had been enthused about that. “At least someone in the family has brains and beauty. You don’t want to end up like your father.“
Nina sensed this was another attempt by Aunt Marie to restoke that fire or was it more of a furnace, an attempt to undermine her dad? What the ! She quickly rebutted the inference that her Dad was anything but a devoted parent and given the circumstances had nothing to be ashamed of; something Marie, now boxed into a corner could not argue with.
True to say, Nina was certainly a Miss whatever prize contestant in the wings. Stunning, socially adept and though her mother had died shortly after giving birth to her from a complication of sorts, HE had purposely kept the memory alive of her and Nina had never been left in the dark, so to speak, about her mother.
The last seventeen years, of him being on his own, had had his parents somewhat concerned about his loathing to find someone else. Especially with Nina about to flee the nest, wanting as Marie made clear, her independance.
Marie, despite their frequent rows, loved him. Nina was absolutely right, he had been a good father, a solid worker, reliable and dependable and doted on Nina.
If he had spoilt her, in fairness Terry was relieved and had made it clear, with the odd thankyou, that Marie was there to bring her down to earth.
Five days, before Christmas day. The weather wasn’t too bad. Unlike the year before, most roads unpassable and the temperature dropping to minus 10 degrees; sudden snow storms had struck to leave chaos in it’s wake?
If the subject of weather had been one of the topics talked about to Marie that evening, the response was derisory, expressed with a howl of laughter.
“You want to be over here ! It’s minus 20 on average and the wind chill drops that to make it feel more like minus 30! .
After the first winter visit where Nina had left the UK the temperature a modest 11 degrees, to arrive in Canada not having checked to see or ask Marie for advice on what clothing to pack?
Leaving the aircraft to step into the arrivals lounge, it had been a sudden chill of air that stirred her senses into the realization of just how dammed cold it was and how unprepared she was for currently; minus 15 degrees.
Marie true to form had found it hilarious; it remained firmly fixed in Nina’s mind NOT to be caught out again.
In the airport car park, after she had left, he sat in the car, the key resting in the ignition, not moving, just thinking, a tear forming. He hated seeing her off, even on school trips abroad, where they had said goodbye and he had watched her wave from the coach?
It swelled within him, an overwhelming sense bordering on loss, and despite how he knew it was temporary, it lingered, emotions in flux. Interrupted by his mobile phone, those who worked for him ringing to wish him a safe journey and to reassure him as he smiled; the office could manage
without him!
Packing what he needed into the car; for his journey north. Over 400 miles, mostly gritted motorway; but he would be stopping in Carlisle for a break overnight, his decision helped by the fact that he knew the city quite well, having spent time there with an ex army buddy of his; though ‘buddy’ Eric suspected it was more a lusting for his sister than an appreciation of his company.
If Eric had married and moved to Newcastle, his sister had married and was now to be found in Sydney, Australia. Apparently loving the life there and a proud mother of two daughters, why this year Eric had taken his family out to visit them for Christmas.
Events that had transpired after they both left the army had seen him and Eric helping to shift his parents into their new home in Northmberland. Father had bought the place some three years earlier. Mother had voiced her concerns at the fact that the place was in the wilds and isolated. Solitude.
A father and son shared ideal. Visits to the place had been during the summer. Quite a large mansion style abode. Six large bedrooms, something that he couldn’t get his head around.
It might have crossed his mind as to why the hell father wanted such a large place, however it did come in handy when he and Nina joined by Eric and his wife Janice with daughter Louise, about the same age as Nina? spent summer holidays there.
It transpired, that as a boy, father had been a guest at the place. Bought it to remind him and the missus of happier times. In truth they had, through the years been subjected to two world wars and all the horrors plus, to leave them rather grateful for some peace and quiet in their lives.
If summer visits had been something to look forward to, other times in the year could be stressful. The weather and the remoteness of where they lived had on two ocassions caused problems for them.
The weather had not been kind. Storms that had brought down trees, thick concentrated piles of snow and roads that were in truth inacessible. Stuck in the mdidle of nowhere, well not quite, but stranded nevertheless, was not his idea of getting into the festive mood; particularly when it was freezing cold.
The car either stuck or as had happened; almost buried under a mini avalanche after sliding across the road and hitting a hedgerow dislodging a seemingly endless amount of snow, much to his displeasure!
Not so where Nina was concerned, whose demeanour was one of a far more seasonal frivolous outlook on the situation chiding him for his intemperate remarks or failure to adapt, improvise and as they had no choice but to; overcome!
Handing him a flask containing hot chocolate, telling him to pour them both a cup as she got out, removed a shovel from the boot of the car and proceeded to dig them out, this achieved she replaced the shovel, got back into the car to take a bottle of Grand Marnier from a bag pouring a drop into their drinks, the effect being a very warming and ‘cheer you up Dad’ moment shared by them
Dad had made excuses about not going but conceded after her persuasive tactics in convincing him that Nina was entitled to see her grand parents especially at Christmas. Did he want her to travel on her own? Take that risk of being stranded on her own? Yet she knew it was not that he didn’t enjoy seeing his parents, having a week of festive memories brought to life.
True the one’s they could remember there had been real good. That huge fire place, the logs sizzling away and the massive amount of food, drink left them more than contented. Strange how Marie and Donald her husband with their two sons had flown in last year for Christmas?
Mother was not ill, not then. The sudden onset of pneumonia that led to her dying, would not strike until late February. His father had been as he had been, on hearing the news, deeply saddened by it all and sharing his father’s grief as best he could whilst coping with his own.
She, had been his inspiration, his light in amongst the moments in his life of darkness.To hold him, comfort him when Di had died. To be a mother to Nina during her adolescent hormonal changes. To spur him on when he felt at a loss.
“So where is the blaggard ?!” Tims grinned as he placed his folder on the desk, sat down in the chair and let it swivel. “Bloody hell Tim, he’d have your nuts if he knew you were sat at his desk.“
“When’s he back?” It was a relief to hear that Terry had taken a lot longer off work than he normally did. “Not till after the New Year. “
Tims reached down, pulled open the drawer and pulled out a bottle of mature whisky. A glass on the desk as he poured himself a tot. Slumped back and sipped at it. Louis was watching from the desk opposite, as were several others.
Up went his feet, to shove them onto the desk.
“This is the life. No one to tell me what to do! Governor being away an all.” Oh yes.. feet up on the desk, slumped back and the inevitable? It happened. Louis was smirking, knowing full well what was about to happen.
The chair tipped! Over went Tims with drink mid air and the glass tumbling to the floor the abuse from hom as he hit the deck probably matched the response he was now receiving from his onlookers. “That’ll bloody teach you ! “
Miranda stepped past him shaking her head to place some files on Sheila’s desk.
“J.E. Electricals. Going bust, I want you to take a look at their financials. You might as well do an audit, the bailiffs are not involved but I suspect they might if their creditors seek a high court writ, I suggest you phone Reese just to check there isn’t a high court writ in place or bankruptcy in play.
Tims had picked himself up, regained as one might say; his composure, noting there were still some present with smirks on their faces. The chair shifted, slid under the desk as he took hold of the glass, replaced it onto the desk and shoved the bottle back in the drawer. Minutes later sat at his own desk watched by Miranda who was now placing files on his desk.
Two court sessions, New Year. Terry wants you, to make yourself acquainted with the details, on both cases and chase up the creditors. There’s the list of the trustees for the first one, Baker Simpson, you need to speak to Jodi.
I will be talking to her within the next two days so I will know if you’ve spoken to her; Terry won’t be pleased to come back and find this is not resolved.”
Miranda did not like Tims. The others present had similar thoughts re his ability to not get the tasks allotted to him completed on time; mostly due to simple idleness on his part.
Unknown to them he was a cousin of Eric’s and that was the only reason he had been taken on. However it had been more than irritiating to Terry to realise it might have been a mistake on his part to allow his emotions to cloud his judgement, he was more than aware of how he failed to achieve targets set, was often rude to those around him and had that cocky I know it all, you don’t need to explain it to me attitude that in short; sucked.
Thus the assignment he had set Tim’s would have him make his decision on whether to sack him. That had in some respects been made less of a problem after talking to Eric.
“He’s a lazy little git Tel, only child and they let him get away with being spoilt rotten. Got the brains, just doesn’t use em. Skiver. No skin off my nose bud if you want to go ahead give the little tosser a wake up lesson in life by sacking him.”
Miranda watched as Tim’s glared at her, stood up and grabbing a packet of cigarettes headed out of the room pushing past Lucy almost shoving her to one side. “Oy!” she screeches at him disappearing down the corridor, “Learn some bloody manners you wanker.”
With a cigarette in one hand and his mobile phone in the other, Tim’s was talking to another male. “I should have his entire client list and other stuff before we meet up on Christmas Eve. I’ll plant the virus on the computer system and by the new year we’re good to go.
They won’t know whats hit them, by the time they do it will be too late. I’m looking forward to seeing this lot go bankrupt. Clients screaming at them for results they won’t be able to deliver, important documents lost, banking records and other financial info trashed.
Us stepping into pick up the pieces, we’ll be able to charge what we want and they’ll pay a fortune to see their problems resolved. Best Christmas present ever! Well apart from the date I have tonight with that tart Viga, you know the one from Francini’s.
So how many have you got so far? Mine’s up to twenty one, only another ten to go to win the bet.” “Just be careful you tosser, I’m not talking bout our biz, I hear Viga’s old man is a right b’stard when it comes to anyone taking advantage of his little girl.
I hear the last guy almost lost his credentials, as far as her old man is concerned his balls have an expiry date; if he ever gets his hands on him, get my drift?!”
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