The Country Cottage Predicament The Daughter Gets Back Whats Hers
Lucy, darling, you must see, things are rather desperate, sighed Christopher Bennett, rubbing his temples. Charlottes been bending my ear for two straight months.
Theres this fancy education scheme for Harry shes keen on, over in Jersey. You know, for our son.
Says the boy needs a leg up, needs his English brushed up a bit. But wheres the money supposed to come from?
You know Im not exactly flush at the moment.
Lucy, her gaze steady, finally looked at her father.
And you thought selling the cottage was the best way out? she asked softly.
Well, what else? her father leaned in, a nervous spark in his eye. The cottage is sitting there gathering dust. Charlotte never actually visits, she says its dull, too many midges
She doesnt even know Im not the official owner anymore, not on paper, anyway. Shes convinced well put it up for sale and suddenly be living the high life.
Lucy, youre clever. Lets do it this way sell the place properly, the whole things yours. You get back every pound you lent me ten years ago to the penny!
And whatever extra its worth now on the market, you pass that bit on to me. Nice and fair, family style.
Youre not out of pocket, right? You get whats yours, and your old dad gets a helping hand.
Hed invited himself over, of course. Theyd hardly spoken the last few years his second family had always come first, and Lucy, the older daughter, fit nowhere in.
She suspected hed come to scrounge again, but the offer, if you could call it that, was absolutely offbeat.
Dad, lets remind ourselves, what happened ten years ago? Lucy interrupted, unfazed. When you showed up and told me you needed cash for your operation and recovery.
You remember?
Christopher wrinkled his nose.
Whats the point raking up old ground? I pulled through, thank the Lord.
Old ground? Lucy gave a wry smile, shaking her head. The money Id scraped together in my account, saved penny by penny for five years, was for my first flat.
I worked weekends, skipped holidays, scrimped on everything. And then you came. Out of work, no savings, but you had Charlotte and little Harry.
You took every last bit of my savings then!
I was desperate, Lucy! What was I to do lie down under a bridge and wait for the end?
I did offer to help, Lucy went on, ignoring his protest. But I told you plainly: I was scared, worried about being left with nothing if you didnt make it.
You had your legal heir Charlotte. Shed have never let me near that cottage.
Remember how we haggled for a week? You were insulted at the idea of a proper written agreement.
How dare your own daughter not trust you!
But all I wanted was some assurance.
And you got it, didnt you! Christopher interrupted, his voice rising a notch. We had the papers done, the cottage became yours.
I sold it to you for practically nothing, the very amount that paid for my treatment.
But we agreed: I could use it, and when I had the money, Id buy it back.
Ten years have passed, Lucy said sharply. Ten years, Dad. Not once did you mention buying it back. Havent seen a single pound.
You kept living there every summer, growing your tomatoes, chopping up logs for the fire which I paid for.
All the taxes, the new roof three years ago I covered the lot.
You lived as if you owned the place, never wanting for anything, while I slogged away to pay my mortgage.
Christopher pulled a handkerchief, dabbing at his brow.
I wasnt working, Lucy You know, after chemo, it took ages to recover, and then, with my age, nobody was hiring.
Charlotte too… she’s a delicate soul, office work is killing her.
We’re living off her eBay re-selling, barely scraping by.
Delicate soul? Lucy stood and started pacing the kitchen. So I must be thick-skinned?
I can manage two jobs, pay my mortgage, and foot the bill for your convalescence at the cottage?
Now Charlottes decided its time to sell, send Harry off to Jersey for some posh education?
My cottage, Dad! Mine!
Lucy, technically, yes, its yours. But it was always meant to be a stopgap.
Im your father. I gave you life! Are you really going to be so petty over a patch of rural England, when your brother needs a boost?
Brother? Lucy spun round. Ive met him twice, Dad. Not once did he send birthday wishes. And Charlotte has she once asked after me? Wondered how I managed all those payments?
She still thinks you own factories and ships, just temporarily short of cash.
You lied to her, Dad, for ten years.
He looked away, guilt on his face.
I meant well Didnt want to upset her. Shes emotional shed have kicked off about me doing up the deeds.
Doing up the deeds?
Oh Lucy, dont split hairs! he snapped, raising his voice. Im giving you a sound offer! The cottage is worth five times what it was. The markets gone insane.
You get your hundred grand back, what you gave me for my operation. Fairs fair! The rest two hundred thousand comes to me.
I need to sort Harrys school, get Charlottes teeth fixed, the cars on its last legs.
Those two hundred thousand are nothing to you youve a flat in London, youre sorted.
Help out the family!
She stared at him where was the man who once read her fairy tales?
No, she said, voice clipped.
What do you mean, no? Christophers jaw dropped.
Im not selling the cottage. And Im certainly not handing you any extra money.
The cottage is mine, by right and by sense.
Youve lived there for ten years, got your health back, enjoyed the countryside. Consider that my support for you.
Thats where it ends.
Youre being serious? Christophers face flushed purple. Take the very last thing from your own father?
If not for me, that cottage wouldnt even exist! My father built it!
Precisely Granddad built it. And hed be spinning in his grave to know youre flogging off the family haven to pay for dodgy schemes in Jersey for a nineteen-year-old whos never lifted a finger.
Lucy, come to your senses! he bellowed, suddenly on his feet. You owe me! I raised you! If you dont agree, Ill Ill tell Charlotte! Shell come here and make sure you regret it, you mark my words!
Well go to court! Nullify the deal! It was extortion, I was ill, you swindled me!
Lucy gave a grim little smile.
Go on then, Dad. Ive got every hospital invoice. Every bank transfer.
And the signed sale contract, which you made at the solicitors office, perfectly lucid, already in remission.
And by the way, Charlotte will be mighty surprised to hear the cottage was sold before Harry even started primary school.
You told her it was your inheritance, didnt you?
Lucy His voice wavered, almost pleading. Please. Charlottes in a fragile state
If she finds out, shell boot me out. Shes fifteen years younger, shes only with me for the stability.
No cottage, no money and shell have no use for me! Do you really want me wandering the railway stations at my age?
Maybe you should have thought of that sooner? Lucy seethed. When you shirked work for a decade? When you let Charlotte pile on debts? When you promised her the moon at my expense?
So you wont help? Christopher straightened, something cold in his voice. Daughter, she calls herself. Should never have bothered
Go home, Dad. Tell Charlotte the truth. Its the only decent thing left for you.
Choke on your precious cottage! he spat, storming past her. And know this: youve no father now. Never call me again!
He left. Lucys lip curled: as if shed ever really had a father.
Hed left her when she was seven.
***
The phone rang on Saturday morning. Unknown number.
Hello?
Is that Lucy? Charlottes voice was instantly recognisable. Youve got a hell of a nerve, you little minx.
Think we dont know you tricked Christopher? He told me everything!
You slipped him papers while he was doped up after surgery!
Charlotte, a good morning to you too, Lucy said calmly. If you want to talk, can we do it without shouting?
Morning? Dont get smart with me! Weve already got our solicitor drafting it.
He says that dodgy sale wont stand up. You profited off your fathers illness, snatched the family house for peanuts.
Well see you penniless!
Charlotte, listen carefully.
I understand Christophers told you his version. But Ive got proof every penny went to his treatment.
And Ive messages from him for ten years, thanking me for keeping the cottage, for letting him stay there.
Clear as day: Thank you, love, for not giving up on me, for making sure the cottages looked after.
What do you reckon a judge will say?
Silence hung on the line. Charlotte clearly hadnt expected preparation.
You selfish cow, she hissed. Isnt your flat enough? Had to strip your brother of his last chance? Harry needs to study!
Harry needs to work, Lucy cut in. Like I did at his age.
Its time you heard the truth, Charlotte. Remember those shares he supposedly had? Didnt he tell you?
What shares? Charlottes voice trembled.
Exactly. There were none. Hes been taking cash from the money I sent, passing it off as dividends.
Check his transfers if you dont believe me. Your husbands lied to you all these years. He begged me for help and faked a sob story every time.
And I went into debt, thinking I was saving his life. I only found out lately what was really going on.
Charlotte hung up, and that evening Lucy got a text from her father.
Just three words: Youve ruined everything.
***
She didnt respond. A few days later, the cottage neighbours rang to tell her Charlotte had kicked up an almighty scene.
She hurled Christophers things out the windows, screaming, until the police arrived.
It turned out Charlotte had already run up massive debts, convinced theyd soon sell. Shed taken out a huge loan with wild interest for that head start Harry needed.
Christopher had to move out. Charlotte filed for divorce on learning how deep his lies ran.
Harry, used to having everything easy, didnt sympathise he packed straight off to his girlfriends, declaring the old man brought it on himself.
Where her father is now, Lucy doesnt know. And she doesnt intend to find out.
