Chapter Four: The Will
Bert kept seeing the girl, whose name was Phoebe, despite his feelings for Mary. He tried to push his feelings for Mary away – after all, she didn't even care enough to see him when he returned from his year-long tour with the Navy. So he tried to find love with Phoebe, but it didn't work.
Mary took a job in Essex in order to get as far away from London as she could. She tried to drown her feelings for Bert in the children she was taking care of. It didn't work – it made her long for children of her own, with Bert. But she knew that it would never happen – Bert didn't love her.
The next time that Mary and Bert saw each other was when Bert's mother died three years later. Mary had kept in touch with her throughout the years, stopping by to visit when Bert was out of the house. Mary had also kept tabs on Bert, though he didn't know that – magic came in handy.
So she wasn't surprised when he brought Phoebe to his mother's funeral – hurt, yes, but not surprised. After all, Bert had been courting her for the past three years.
Mary dressed in her most becoming clothes – black, of course, because she was in mourning for the woman who had been like a mother to her – to try to show Bert that she wasn't a little girl anymore.
Bert dressed in his new black suit, bought just for the occasion. He didn't know if Mary would be there – he didn't think that she would. He brought Phoebe, whom he had been courting for the past three years, and prepared himself to bury his mother.
To his great surprise, Mary was there, looking sad yet radiantly beautiful. He hadn't seen her for four years, and he would not have recognised her if she hadn't been standing with her uncle Albert. She was beautiful, with smooth, creamy skin, flushed cheeks, shining dark hair, and a slim figure. He could barely take his eyes off her during the entire funeral.
Bert was as handsome as ever – tall, strong, manly – and she could feel him watching her throughout the service, to the chagrin of Phoebe. Though she longed to be the cause of their separation, she knew that she couldn't hurt Bert in that way, so she disappeared just as the funeral ended.
She had to see him again, however, the next day, for the reading of the will. She sat across the table from him, and it was so hard for her to keep her eyes on her hands. It was even harder once the will was read.
I, Kathleen Alfred, being of sound mind and sound body, do hereby declare that this is my last will and testament, thereby rendering null and void any such testaments previously made by me.
Save only for the special bequests made below, all my worldly goods and moneys and properties pass to my husband, Admiral Kenneth Alfred, upon my death.
Special Bequests:
Firstly, to my son, Albert Alfred, hereafter known as Bert, my wedding and engagement rings, along with the rest of my jewellery, to be given to the woman he desires to marry.
Secondly, to my neighbour and good friend Albert Poppins, my books, with gratitude for his long friendship.
Thirdly, to my neighbour and surrogate daughter Mary Poppins, hereafter known as Mary, niece of Albert Poppins, my parrot-headed umbrella, to be used in both fair and foul weather.
Finally, to Bert and to Mary, my diaries and letters, to be perused by both together immediately after this will is read.
Signed,
Kathleen Alfred