Lane's End by Jill Paterson Page B

Ben, with Emma still in the hospital. How is she, dear?’
    ‘Only time will tell, Theodora.’ Ben gave a quick smile and removed his hand from her tight grasp. ‘We’ll have to wait and see.’
    ‘Of course you will, but remember, if there’s anything we can do, you have only to ask.’
    ‘Thank you both,’ replied Ben as he shook Emerson’s hand. ‘Please, go through.’
    Emerson ushered Theodora into the living room and Ben followed soon after, leaving Joanna to greet the remaining mourners. As he did so, he glimpsed Amanda Marsh walking toward him. He had little memory of her time as his parents’ housekeeper and was always puzzled at her familiarity on the rare occasions that they had met.
    ‘Ben. It’s been a long time,’ she said, taking hold of his arm, her face full of concern. ‘I’m so sorry about your father. So sudden. It makes it doubly hard, I know.’ Amanda shook her head. ‘You and Joanna will have to help your step-mother through her grief. Oh, there she is now, the poor dear.’ Amanda put her hand out to Laura as she walked past. ‘Mrs Carmichael, may I offer my condolences. Richard will be sadly missed.’
    ‘He will, Ms Marsh,’ replied Laura, a certain tension evident as she faced Amanda. ‘Thank you for attending today. I know how busy you are.’ As she spoke another guest caught Laura’s eye and she excused herself with what Ben thought a great deal of grace.
    ‘A difficult day for her,’ continued Amanda, turning back to Ben. ‘And for you too, of course. I heard on the news about your fiancée’s ordeal. How is she, Ben?’
    ‘She’s making progress slowly,’ he replied, following DCI Roberts’s advice not to go into detail about Emma’s situation.
    ‘I’m glad to hear it.’
    ‘It’s been a difficult week for you also,’ he continued, wishing to change the subject.
    ‘It certainly has. Not only was I catering for your father’s cocktail party last Friday night, but I was the person who found the body!’
    Ben grimaced. ‘That must have been upsetting for you.’
    ‘Chilling to say the least. I haven’t been able to sleep since.’ Amanda took a sip of her white wine before she looked around the room. ‘And now this. Who would have thought...?’
     
     
    When the last of the guests had left, Laura came back into the living room and sat down heavily into an armchair. ‘Well, I’m glad that’s over. I found it difficult knowing it’s conceivable that one of the mourners likely killed Peter Van Goren.’ She sighed and looked to Ben and Joanna. ‘Thanks you two for your help and support. I couldn’t have got through this day without you both. And I know it’s especially difficult for you, Ben, with Emma in the hospital.’ Silence ensued until Laura continued. ‘Look, I know it’s the last thing you both want to hear right now, but I want to read your father’s will.’
    ‘Are you sure?’ asked Ben. ‘Wouldn’t you sooner leave it for another day? After all, it won’t be an easy task.’
    ‘I know, but as your father’s executrix, it’s one of my duties and I think the sooner I get it over with, the better.’ Laura rose from her chair and went to the writing desk that sat in the corner of the room. From it she took a long narrow envelope and sat down again before putting her reading glasses on. After reading through the preliminaries, she looked over her glasses at Joanna. ‘Joanna, your Dad wanted you to have the house that you’ve been renting from him for the past two years. There’s also a bequest of $100,000 that you’ll receive through his solicitors, Murray, Bennett, Walker.’ Laura turned to the third page of the will. ‘And to you, Ben, your father has bequeathed Lane’s End at Whale Beach.’
    Ben sat forward in his chair. ‘Lane’s End? But I thought... that is, I thought Dad would want the property sold after his death.’
    ‘I thought so too before I read through the will last night, so I was as surprised as you are