‘Thank you.’ She put her case on the coffee table and opened it, getting out a file. ‘Please tell her that I’m so sorry to turn up at her home unannounced, but that she really needs to hear this.’
Lili glanced at the file. ‘Of course.’
Lili walked down the stairs to the basement.
Abigail turned from the kitchen counter with two mugs in her hand as Lili entered the kitchen. ‘I thought I heard you talking. Was there someone at the door?’
Lili nodded.
‘Who was it?’
Lili walked over. ‘Is that my tea?’
‘Yes.’
‘Let me take that.’ Lili intended to give it to the solicitor and make herself another one, while Abigail sat upstairs. ‘Look, a young lady has turned up from Benjamin and Hart.’
Abigail’s smile faded. ‘Excuse me?’
‘They don’t normally do house calls, but as you haven’t been answering your phone …’ Lili trailed off. She knew all about that. It was the reason she had made the journey to visit her friend. All this, the tidy flat, the fake smile, wasn’t fooling her.
‘You didn’t let her in, did you?’
‘Of course I did.’
‘For goodness’ sake, Lili.’
‘She’s here to read the will. I’m guessing that’s what you’ve been avoiding.’Among other things, thought Lili,including your close friends and your family. But no matter how much Abigail cleaned and polished and ironed to take her mind off the fact that Toby was gone, what had happened wouldn’t go away; he wouldn’t miraculously walk back through that door.
It surprised her that Abigail had sorted through his things and put them into black sacks for the local charity shop. She knew that was what was in the sacks in the hall because Abigail had even labelled them. This wasn’t normal behaviour. She should be in a heap on the floor, not going about the day as though it was just one of those events she had to make lists and get jobs done for before moving on. Except all this wasn’t about moving on with her life – not at all. Lili knew what it was. She’d been here herself, albeit not quite in these circumstances, when she’d split up from her long-term partner. It was easy to run away rather than to deal with matters – with reality.
Abigail stopped dead and cast her eyes to the ceiling. ‘You’ll have to send her away. I haven’t got time today.’
Lili gaped at her but avoided a sarcastic remark. She had all the time in the world. She just didn’t want to know. Lili wasn’t all that surprised by her reaction. At first, when she hadn’t got through on Abigail’s home phone, Lili had thought she might have run away to the cottage that she and Toby had been so fond of; the holiday cottage in Suffolk. Lili hoped she had, because she knew where it was – just a few miles along the coast from where she lived.
Lili would have loved to be able to pop in from time to time, to see how Abigail was and if she needed anything. She wouldn’t have blamed Abigail if she’d decided to get out of the flat and London. Lili knew she had a month’s compassionate leave from work, and that it could be extended. It was no small thing, losing your husband like that.
It should have been just another ordinary day, sayinggoodbye, see you after work,but it had turned into a waking nightmare. Lili imagined the moment when the police had turned up at Abigail’s door with a specialist family liaison officer. Lili shook her head. How long does it take to come back from that – if you ever can?
Lili knew it was time Abigail began facing up to Toby’s death through a nice young lady who had his will. Abigail couldn’t avoid it forever.
‘I’m taking this cup of tea upstairs.’ Lili motioned at the stairs. ‘After you.’
Abigail scowled at Lili. ‘This is my home and I want her to go away.’
Lili took a deep breath and said in a soft voice. ‘I know you do but sending her away isn’t going to …’ Lili paused, choosing her words carefully, ‘make what happened go away.’
There was an uncomfortable standoff. Lili thought she’d have to go upstairs and turf the solicitor out, until Abigail said, ‘Fine – whatever. But she’d better make it quick.’
Lili smiled behind her back as she followed her up the stairs.
Abigail grumbled all the way. ‘I know what’s in his will. We had the talk – you know.’
Bythe talk,Lili knew she meant discussing his will. ‘It’s just a formality, Abigail.’
‘Yes, I know that,’ she snapped. The tone of her voice said she was being forced into it.
Lili followed her into the lounge, just to make sure she didn’t give the solicitor her marching orders. Lili introduced her. ‘This is Abigail.’ She caught the look on Miss Watson’s face as she rose from her seat. Lili guessed she’d overheard the strained conversation as they walked up the stairs.
Miss Watson held out her hand, apologising, yet again, for the impromptu house visit. ‘I will be as quick as I can, I promise.’
Abigail took her hand and shook it before taking a seat on the sofa opposite. Lili placed the tea on the coffee table beside the official-looking file.
Miss Watson smiled at Lili. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’ She glanced at Abigail, then stared at the file. ‘Right, well, I’m going to make myself a cup of tea. If you need anything I’ll be just downstairs.’ She lingered in case Abigail asked her to stay. She didn’t.
‘Right, well, you know where I am.’
Abigail shot her a look as she sidled out of the door.