look glorious in the daylight.
He tore himself away from the window and headed through another
doorway, a small walkway to the bedroom. On the right hand side a wash basin was
set into a row of cupboards and on the left a door into the tiny bathroom; a
bath with a shower above and a toilet. The room was tiled in white with a black
and grey trim. A heated towel rail covered with burgundy coloured towels
completed the room. All that was needed.
He opened a door and was in the bedroom…Charis' bedroom… their bedroom. This room was as tastefully decorated as the rest of the house. The
same carpet ran through the entire upstairs and the room was painted a soft
lilac. The only furniture, apart from the double bed, was a chest of drawers on
either side of the bed and a small armchair in the corner opposite the door.
The bed was covered in a patchwork quilt of pastel colours. Charis had picked
out a soft purple from one of the patterns as an accent for cushions and
curtains. An archway led into a small dressing area with a tiny dressing table
and a walk in wardrobe.
Charis had told him to sleep in her bed… their bed, but
suddenly he didn't want to, not without her. He knew that there were two more
small rooms in the loft so he climbed the next flight of stairs, took the door
to the room on the right furnished with a double bed and noticed with relief
that it was already made up. He noted the small en-suite shower room, took off
his suit, shirt, shoes and socks and collapsed into bed. He’d been up and on
the go for over twenty hours. He was asleep in no time at all.
*****
Ben awoke early the next morning with another busy day ahead. He found
some bread in the freezer, made some toast, and with a glass of orange juice
breakfast was taken care of. After a quick call to Charis he was ready for the
day.
First on his list was to telephone his mother. She had no idea he
was back in England and he had a lot to tell her, but didn't want to do it over
the phone. After catching up on the family news he said, “I have a surprise for
you all. I need you to make yourselves available from Saturday until Monday,
twelve days from now – it’s very important – cancel everything please. I'll be
there tomorrow and stay overnight and will explain it all to you, and Dad and
Jennifer if she’s there. But it involves anyone who can make arrangements. I'm
sorry that it all sounds very mysterious but you'll understand when I talk to
you tomorrow. I should be there about lunch time.” Ben told his mother he loved
her, asked her to say ‘hi’ to Dad and hung up leaving her to spend the rest of
the day wondering just what was going on in the life of his, her wonderful much-loved
son.
At nine-thirty he was sitting in James’ comfortable office. He’d been
welcomed warmly. James had liked this young man when he was taking care of
Helen during her pregnancy. They hadn't married until Helen was forty-two and
it was three years later when their twins were born - a double whammy of a high-risk
pregnancy. Although not yet qualified to consultancy status, Ben was already
making a name for himself in the obstetrics department of a large London
hospital and came highly recommended as an excellent doctor for high risk
patients and Helen had complete faith in his abilities. Her faith in him had
not been displaced. Despite a few minor problems everything turned out well and
they attributed it to Ben’s excellent care.
But James had no idea why Ben wanted to see him. Ben asked about Helen
and the babies and James spoke with pride of his growing family for a few
minutes.
“I expect you're wondering why I asked to see you.”
“Yes, I must admit I am a little curious,” replied James, smiling at
him.
“It concerns Charis Ainslie…I believe you are her trustee?” Ben
asked.
“Yes, that's right. I didn't know you knew Charis.”
“I have known her since she was ten years old,” Ben told him. “Her
best friend at school was my sister,
He tore himself away from the window and headed through another
doorway, a small walkway to the bedroom. On the right hand side a wash basin was
set into a row of cupboards and on the left a door into the tiny bathroom; a
bath with a shower above and a toilet. The room was tiled in white with a black
and grey trim. A heated towel rail covered with burgundy coloured towels
completed the room. All that was needed.
He opened a door and was in the bedroom…Charis' bedroom… their bedroom. This room was as tastefully decorated as the rest of the house. The
same carpet ran through the entire upstairs and the room was painted a soft
lilac. The only furniture, apart from the double bed, was a chest of drawers on
either side of the bed and a small armchair in the corner opposite the door.
The bed was covered in a patchwork quilt of pastel colours. Charis had picked
out a soft purple from one of the patterns as an accent for cushions and
curtains. An archway led into a small dressing area with a tiny dressing table
and a walk in wardrobe.
Charis had told him to sleep in her bed… their bed, but
suddenly he didn't want to, not without her. He knew that there were two more
small rooms in the loft so he climbed the next flight of stairs, took the door
to the room on the right furnished with a double bed and noticed with relief
that it was already made up. He noted the small en-suite shower room, took off
his suit, shirt, shoes and socks and collapsed into bed. He’d been up and on
the go for over twenty hours. He was asleep in no time at all.
*****
Ben awoke early the next morning with another busy day ahead. He found
some bread in the freezer, made some toast, and with a glass of orange juice
breakfast was taken care of. After a quick call to Charis he was ready for the
day.
First on his list was to telephone his mother. She had no idea he
was back in England and he had a lot to tell her, but didn't want to do it over
the phone. After catching up on the family news he said, “I have a surprise for
you all. I need you to make yourselves available from Saturday until Monday,
twelve days from now – it’s very important – cancel everything please. I'll be
there tomorrow and stay overnight and will explain it all to you, and Dad and
Jennifer if she’s there. But it involves anyone who can make arrangements. I'm
sorry that it all sounds very mysterious but you'll understand when I talk to
you tomorrow. I should be there about lunch time.” Ben told his mother he loved
her, asked her to say ‘hi’ to Dad and hung up leaving her to spend the rest of
the day wondering just what was going on in the life of his, her wonderful much-loved
son.
At nine-thirty he was sitting in James’ comfortable office. He’d been
welcomed warmly. James had liked this young man when he was taking care of
Helen during her pregnancy. They hadn't married until Helen was forty-two and
it was three years later when their twins were born - a double whammy of a high-risk
pregnancy. Although not yet qualified to consultancy status, Ben was already
making a name for himself in the obstetrics department of a large London
hospital and came highly recommended as an excellent doctor for high risk
patients and Helen had complete faith in his abilities. Her faith in him had
not been displaced. Despite a few minor problems everything turned out well and
they attributed it to Ben’s excellent care.
But James had no idea why Ben wanted to see him. Ben asked about Helen
and the babies and James spoke with pride of his growing family for a few
minutes.
“I expect you're wondering why I asked to see you.”
“Yes, I must admit I am a little curious,” replied James, smiling at
him.
“It concerns Charis Ainslie…I believe you are her trustee?” Ben
asked.
“Yes, that's right. I didn't know you knew Charis.”
“I have known her since she was ten years old,” Ben told him. “Her
best friend at school was my sister,
Similar Books
