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“What can I do for you today?” he asks. She pulls out a large envelope that is sealed with a wax seal and her nerves are obvious, even to a stranger.
“I need you to put this in a safety deposit box for me,” she says nervously.
Her solicitor frowns. “You came all the way from Melbourne to put something in a safety deposit box?”
She nods. “Yes, I need your utmost discretion and my husband knows too many solicitors in Melbourne.”
“I’m intrigued, Mrs Stanton.”
“Please call me Margaret.”
“Ok, Margaret, what are your instructions?”
She swallows the large lump in her throat. “If I go missing or am found dead, I want you to deliver this envelope directly by hand to my eldest son Joshua Stanton. Make sure he is alone when he reads it.”
The solicitor frowns. “Do you think your life is in danger, Margaret?”
She smiles. “I don’t think so, but I am concerned about a current relationship my son is having and if it continues it could be.”
“We must call the police. What exactly is in the envelope? I assure you it will not leave this room?” he breathes.
“No police…please no. I don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to this matter. If I do go missing, I am just covering all bases. After Joshua has read the contents please pass it onto the police.”
“Margaret, this is highly irregular and I have concerns. What exactly is in the envelope? Are you involved in criminal acts?”
She smiles. “No, nothing like that. It relates to my son’s…paternity.”
He smiles and nods. “I see.”
She smiles a nervous smile at him. “If this information gets out, it will destroy the lives of my husband and son but it will be catastrophic for a very powerful man who stands to lose everything.”
“How would this information put you in danger?”
“My son is deeply in love with his… first cousin. I have kept this information from him for twenty–seven years but if this relationship continues, I will tell him. I will not let him live a life of guilt when he doesn’t deserve to.”
“Maybe this affair will end,” the solicitor kindly smiles.
“We can only hope. He has been in love with her for seven years and they have recently reconnected. He is not letting her go this time. That I am positive of.” The solicitor writes the necessary instructions and walks Mrs Stanton out of his office.
“My discretion is assured. Thank you for your trust.” She smiles and wipes the tears from her eyes. She hopes to god her son never has to see that letter. It will break his heart as he idolises his father. Pain lances through her as she realises Joshua is going to lose either way. The love of his life or his father. Either way it’s a loss she doesn’t know if he will be able to bear and definitely not one that he deserves.
You know what the problem with dating a very intelligent man is? Just that. He’s a smart son of a bitch. When he agreed that I didn’t have to go to his stupid fight I did have an inkling that it was all a bit too easy—he was too agreeable. So why was I surprised when Abbie, Bridget, Cam and Adrian came around to my house tonight to pick me up to go to the fight. And when I refused, drank wine with me until I was tipsy enough to be talked into anything. Diabolical. So here I am, three hours later,
at the bar in Luna Park Convention Centre wincing as I watch the big screen. Thankfully Adrian and I are staying at the bar boycotting the activities. It seems Joshua made Adrian come too because he knew I would come if he did. Thankfully we are having a really good time and we are very tipsy.
“So tell me, Adrian. What goes on with you? Do you have a boyfriend?” I point my wine glass at him.
He smiles and rolls his eyes dramatically. “No, sort of, yes.”
I raise my eyebrows. “What does that mean?”
He shrugs, “To be honest I don’t even know. My stupid boyfriend’s phone calls are getting fewer and fewer. When I first got here he rang me twice a day and now it’s down to once every three days.” He shrugs and talks into his wine glass. “He couldn’t even wait three months.” I give him a sympathetic smile and he smiles and shrugs. “Josh hates my boyfriend.”
My eyes widen “How come?”
“Josh knew him a long time before I met him; he’s in his polo team.”
I nod and raise my eyebrows and take another way too large gulp of my wine. “And,” I prompt.
