The Family Inheritance by Stringer Tricia

Author:Stringer, Tricia [Stringer, Tricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Relationships/Family, Womens Fiction
ISBN: 9781489270801
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2020-09-30T14:00:00+00:00

twenty-five

It was Thursday afternoon and Hazel and Jack were strolling through the Botanic Gardens enjoying the April sunshine. They’d met in the city this time, had lunch and gone to a small theatre in the east end to see a movie.

“What a beautiful day,” Jack said. “I always prefer to be out than in, especially after a show like that.”

Hazel laughed. “Next time you can pick the movie.” It had been a dark and brooding story, not really her thing either. An art-house film that had sounded interesting in the write-ups but not so in reality.

“It will have to be after Easter. I’m going away, leaving next Thursday.”

“That will be nice for you.” Hazel was disappointed, both at not having something to look forward to next Thursday and at the thought of having nothing planned for Easter. She and Franklyn had been regular attendees at their local church but she hadn’t been to a service since his funeral. Father Donnelly had called on her and she’d been grateful but she hadn’t been ready to attend services again. Perhaps she’d go this weekend for Palm Sunday.

“Some of these statues are intriguing, aren’t they?” Jack stopped to read a plaque. Hazel moved on a little, staring up at a tree towering above.

“I told you we went the wrong way.”

The deep belligerent voice startled her. For a second it had sounded like Franklyn. A man and woman were hurrying along the path – at least the woman was hurrying, the man was tall and she was having trouble keeping up with his long strides.

“I thought it would be quicker,” the woman said as she passed, a harried look on her face.

“Thought! You don’t think, Helen, that’s your trouble,” the man snapped.

“It should be just ahead.” Her voice had a whining edge to it as they disappeared around a bend.

Hazel’s back prickled. How often had Franklyn spoken in that tone? She’d never snapped back, had always placated, kept the peace. Standing up to Franklyn only caused trouble, mostly for her. She could see his bullying so clearly now but when he was alive it had crept up on her, wormed around her, stripped her of her independence and become the norm. Divorce was out of the question, not that she’d considered it, but it would never have happened, not in the Catholic church. And not to people like Franklyn.

“I’m sorry I won’t be here,” Jack said.

He was standing back beside her. She looked at him, puzzled.

“For Easter. It’s a blokes’ weekend away. We catch up every year.”

“Oh…yes…of course.” Hazel rolled her shoulders to banish the prickling down her back. “I don’t expect you to dedicate every Thursday to me. We both have others in our lives.”

“Will you spend time with your daughters?”

“We haven’t made plans. In the past we’ve gone to each other’s places for meals. Sometimes the girls go away on a holiday but Easter has crept up on us this year. I don’t know what they’ve got planned.”

“Surely to look after their recently widowed mother.

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