Bobby's Girl Read Online Free
Author: Catrin Collier
theyâd been too cautious to leave written records of their indiscretions.
The bamboo-framed sofa and easy chairs with their huge feather-filled cushions were as old as the house. As were the chests of drawers. His only contributions to the room were a telephone, fax, computer, printer, television and home movie and audio systems.
A door to the left led to two bedrooms and a single bathroom with tub, shower, washbasin and toilet. The bedroom furniture was pine, the linen, white cotton. The bedroom and bathroom in the main house Charlotte had prepared for his use after the accident were the epitome of masculine luxury. Sheâd never understood his taste for simplicity in all things except electronic. No one had except â¦
He pushed the memory from his mind before it paralysed him, opened a desk drawer and lifted out a sheet of headed notepaper.
BROSNA ESTATE
Should he write the letter on the computer and print it out?
No! This was one letter that should be handwritten.But writing pained what was left of his right hand. Would it tempt Penny to reply?
He sprang one of the secret drawers and withdrew the bundle of letters it contained. He removed the topmost one and reread it, wincing at the rejection. It was couched politely enough; he wouldnât have expected anything else from her, but cold civility failed to soothe the sting. He set it aside, unscrewed the top from his fountain pen, gripped it in his fleshless claw and began to form letters, slowly and meticulously.
11 th May 1987
Â
Dearest Penny,
As you see from the date, Iâm writing this nine days after Andrewâs eighteenth birthday. On the desk is the letter you sent me after he was born, together with my cheque which youâd torn in two and the letters Iâve written you since that you returned.
You insisted in 1969 you didnât want Brosna money, or your son to claim his fatherâs name or any part of the Brosna inheritance. I believe Charlotte was an important enough figure for you to have heard of her death, even in Wales.
You met her; you know what she was like. She never changed. She was alert, tyrannical, self-centred and domineering to the last.
But, now she is dead and Andrew an adult, the situation has changed. Charlotte has willed the entire Brosna Estate to Andrew. Her lawyers will soon be contacting you. Thatâs if they havenât already.
I know youâve never been interested in the Brosna money, either for yourself or Andrew, but youâve no right to keep the knowledge of the Brosna family and fortune from Andrew any longer.
Logic dictates your son is not wholly yours. Hasnât he inherited a single Brosna characteristic to remind you of that summer we shared?
The telephone number and address below are those of my English lawyer. Speak to his office and they will arrange flights to the States for you and Andrew, or if you prefer, I will come to you.
There is nothing I wouldnât do for you, or Andrew. But youâve known that for eighteen years.
Love, as always.
Should he sign it? He couldnât bear to â not to Penny. He initialled it RB then reread what he had written before flicking through the file again. There were so many photographs; images that recorded Andrew Johnâs journey from babyhood, through childhood, to young adult. Money really could buy anything. Given enough dollars he had acquired photographs he had no right to claim.
He left the room, went into the living room and opened the drawer that held the scrapbook. He removed the photograph of the two couples standing on the yacht, placed it between pieces of card and folded it into the letter heâd written. Taking an envelope from a cubbyhole in the desk he pushed the letter inside and sealed it. He didnât need to look up the address.
When he finished, he lifted the telephone and dialled an internal number.
âTim. I have a letter that needs to be posted right away. Send it tracked, signature
The bamboo-framed sofa and easy chairs with their huge feather-filled cushions were as old as the house. As were the chests of drawers. His only contributions to the room were a telephone, fax, computer, printer, television and home movie and audio systems.
A door to the left led to two bedrooms and a single bathroom with tub, shower, washbasin and toilet. The bedroom furniture was pine, the linen, white cotton. The bedroom and bathroom in the main house Charlotte had prepared for his use after the accident were the epitome of masculine luxury. Sheâd never understood his taste for simplicity in all things except electronic. No one had except â¦
He pushed the memory from his mind before it paralysed him, opened a desk drawer and lifted out a sheet of headed notepaper.
BROSNA ESTATE
Should he write the letter on the computer and print it out?
No! This was one letter that should be handwritten.But writing pained what was left of his right hand. Would it tempt Penny to reply?
He sprang one of the secret drawers and withdrew the bundle of letters it contained. He removed the topmost one and reread it, wincing at the rejection. It was couched politely enough; he wouldnât have expected anything else from her, but cold civility failed to soothe the sting. He set it aside, unscrewed the top from his fountain pen, gripped it in his fleshless claw and began to form letters, slowly and meticulously.
11 th May 1987
Â
Dearest Penny,
As you see from the date, Iâm writing this nine days after Andrewâs eighteenth birthday. On the desk is the letter you sent me after he was born, together with my cheque which youâd torn in two and the letters Iâve written you since that you returned.
You insisted in 1969 you didnât want Brosna money, or your son to claim his fatherâs name or any part of the Brosna inheritance. I believe Charlotte was an important enough figure for you to have heard of her death, even in Wales.
You met her; you know what she was like. She never changed. She was alert, tyrannical, self-centred and domineering to the last.
But, now she is dead and Andrew an adult, the situation has changed. Charlotte has willed the entire Brosna Estate to Andrew. Her lawyers will soon be contacting you. Thatâs if they havenât already.
I know youâve never been interested in the Brosna money, either for yourself or Andrew, but youâve no right to keep the knowledge of the Brosna family and fortune from Andrew any longer.
Logic dictates your son is not wholly yours. Hasnât he inherited a single Brosna characteristic to remind you of that summer we shared?
The telephone number and address below are those of my English lawyer. Speak to his office and they will arrange flights to the States for you and Andrew, or if you prefer, I will come to you.
There is nothing I wouldnât do for you, or Andrew. But youâve known that for eighteen years.
Love, as always.
Should he sign it? He couldnât bear to â not to Penny. He initialled it RB then reread what he had written before flicking through the file again. There were so many photographs; images that recorded Andrew Johnâs journey from babyhood, through childhood, to young adult. Money really could buy anything. Given enough dollars he had acquired photographs he had no right to claim.
He left the room, went into the living room and opened the drawer that held the scrapbook. He removed the photograph of the two couples standing on the yacht, placed it between pieces of card and folded it into the letter heâd written. Taking an envelope from a cubbyhole in the desk he pushed the letter inside and sealed it. He didnât need to look up the address.
When he finished, he lifted the telephone and dialled an internal number.
âTim. I have a letter that needs to be posted right away. Send it tracked, signature
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