Being of Sound Mind
"Ahem," Mr Smith, partner at Smith, Black and Jones Lawyers cleared his throat. A balding somewhat weedy man he falsely believed the clearing of this throat and a forced deep voice lent gravitas to the proceedings, especially when faced with these strapping farmers. "We are here to hear the reading of the last will and testament of Mr Thomas Lynde formerly of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island..."
The police investigation came up empty. No murder weapon was ever found or anyone with a motive. Thomas Lynde was not necessarily the most popular man in town, but he had no discernible enemies either. Eventually it was filed as a cold case and the authorities let the will be disclosed.
John Lynde lent back in his chair confident of how this would all play out. As eldest son he fully expected the property would be left to him; he planned to sell it, the money would come in very useful. Of course, he expected his siblings would be upset; but really, they had no say in the matter. He'd listened to their conversations prior with contempt, they should have realised how this would go. He would get the bulk of the estate and they would get the remainder split between them. He smirked to himself; whatever was left wouldn't go far between the nine others. He did not factor his mother into his musings at all. His father had impressed upon him, in words and deeds how much of a waste of space she was. He did not pay Mr Smith much mind as he read through the preamble, yada yada yada, get on with it, he thought impatiently.
"Being of sound mind I bequeath the farm, the house, its fittings and all chattels to my eldest son John Lynde to do with as he pleases."
There was a blast of noise at that as John's siblings reacted noisily. It was a miscarriage of justice; they deserved that money. No one, apart from Lucy thought of their mother even once. Rachel sat back resignedly, her arms crossed. She had hoped that maybe, just for once... But no of course that was foolish, since when had Thomas nursed a single generous thought towards her? She could feel a sob rising, but swallowed it down. She refused to appear upset in their presence. Still she made sure not to look at Lucy who was bound to look at her with pity and that would be too hard to take.
Rachel left the solicitor's office and drove homewards, though she couldn't quite face it at the last minute and drove the extra half mile up the lane to Green Gables.
"You'll contest it, won't you?" was Marilla's immediate response as she hugged Rachel tightly. "You're the widow, you are entitled you know."
"Maybe this is retribution?" said Rachel defeatedly, the familiar feeling of meat on skull tracing down her arm.
"Fiddlesticks! That money is yours. I'll take you down to see the lawyer in the morning."
"Eh?" John must have misheard, it sounded almost as if the law had stolen his rightful inheritance from him and given it to his mother. Around him the startled exclamations of his siblings alerted him to the fact that perhaps he had heard right after all. "No, no!" blood rushed to his face in indignation as he jumped to his feet shouting with the rest of them.
Rachel sat back in some shock herself. She smiled, content to let her children rage around her calling out about the iniquity of the situation. She planned to sell the farm. If they behaved, she would give them all a small amount, not too much. She had her own needs after all.
She started for home in his car. She always thought of it as his, maybe it was time to trade it in for something nice? She didn't need such a big car; it was unwieldy and hard to park. Instead of turning down the road to home, she made an abrupt left-hand turn and headed out to the car dealership.
Marilla was surprised to see an unknown lime green Volvo, obviously brand new, turn into the driveway; red gravel spraying out under the tyres as it came to a sudden stop and positively shocked to see Rachel leaping out waving two bottles of champagne. "Nice car," said Marilla admiringly.
"I know, I know. I traded his monster in for this. I won Marilla! I got the money!" Rachel caught hold of Marilla's waist and twirled her around. "Here, champagne, darling. I definitely have some celebrating to do." They laughed when the cork popped, and Rachel messily poured the champagne into two champagne glasses laughing when the bubbles overflowed. Marilla caught up in Rachel's infectious elation laughed alongside her. She sipped and sneezed when some went up her nose.
"You should have heard the children, oh they were spitting mad. John was apoplectic," Rachel laughed as she took another slurp of the champagne, coughing when she choked slightly. "I thought he was going to have a stroke, arrogant littleā¦" she laughed again at the memory. "Well he got what he deserved, which is to say hardly anything. They all get $5,000. I think I might rewrite my will and leave it all to the cat's home."
"What about Lucy?"
"Well of course I will look after my darling Lucy. She has always been on my side. Oh, I was so relieved," she sighed. "I can't fathom it, but I'm happy, that's what. I'm just so happy. And you Marilla, you have been with me all along, darling."
"You don't think...?" Marilla looked across at Rachel, concern furrowing her brow.
"What?"
"Well maybe buying the car might look a bit...," she watched Rachel's face carefully. "I don't know it might look a bit like you are reveling in his death."
"Oh piffle." Rachel gesticulated with staccato jabs of her forefinger. "Look Marilla, I'll tell you and I'll tell anyone else who comments; in all my years I've never had a nice new car. My husband died in tragic circumstances, and now I feel I should be able to live a little. It's not as though he left me anything in the will. It's not as though I obviously did it for the money!" Rachel's voice rose as she talked, getting more strident and upset.
"Sh shh, I'm on your side remember," Marilla put her hands palm forwards in a conciliatory manner. "You don't have to defend yourself to me, I'm just commenting on how it looks to the neighbours."
"I don't care about them, where've they been all these years?"
Marilla took a sip and watched as Rachel refilled her glass with more care this time. Suddenly without warning, Rachel swivelled around and kissed Marilla full on the lips. She leaned back and waited for Marilla's reaction. Marilla was used to kisses that was true, but she and Rachel had never been like that in all their years. She placed her two fingers wonderingly up to her lips to check that it had happened. Then watched again as Rachel grasped her fingers and kissed them tenderly. "You know I've been wanting to do that for decades. I wasn't sure I could though," she said momentarily somber.
"You most certainly could have," Marilla replied. "I have been longing to kiss you too, but you were um, engaged."
"Engaged!" giggled Rachel. "That's a fine way to put it. More champagne? I want to get rollicking drunk. I feel I deserve it."
"You're halfway there already, I reckon," Marilla watched Rachel pull the foil off the next bottle and ease the cork out. They cheered when the cork popped. "Is there a nicer sound? I don't think so," said Rachel. She unsteadily poured another glass for them each and they sat down to plan how Rachel was going to spend the rest of the money, their words getting more slurred and the plans more outlandish as the alcohol slipped down.
Matthew found them surrounded by the detritus of a drunken afternoon singing dirty songs to each other. "Hi M-affew," Rachel hiccuped waving her glass in the air. They had run out of champagne and had moved onto Marilla's potent home made redcurrant wine, a bit sloshed out onto her blouse and she ineffectually dabbed at it only managing to make the stain worse. Marilla giggled and lent over to suck the stuff out nearly falling off her chair in the process.
"I think maybe you ladies have had enough now," Matthew said disapprovingly. The women frowned at each other and shook their heads exaggeratedly.
"You old spoilsport," Marilla complained with a burp.
"No he, he's right. I should be going," Rachel stumbled as she got to her feet. "Now where are my car keys?"
"Oh no you don't." Matthew replied looking at Rachel as she gently swayed. "I'll take you." He took the car keys away from Rachel, "don't want to wreck that nice car on your first day, do you?" Rachel complied and let him lead her out the door. Marilla waved bye bye suddenly feeling a bit unwell herself.
Half an hour later Matthew found her passed out in bed, fully clothed. He covered her with a blanket and left to tidy the kitchen, shaking his head. Really the two of them were mad.
