Kitty Neale 3 Book Bundle. Kitty Neale

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       Chapter Twenty-Seven

      Celia saw Amy carrying bags of shopping as she hurried past her window, and her lips tightened. She managed to put on a front when Amy came to the house now, but it was one that hid her true feelings. Her opinion hadn’t changed – she still felt that Amy was socially inadequate and totally unsuitable for Thomas, but all her attempts to undermine the girl had failed. Thomas had found it charming that Amy had been tongue-tied the first time she was invited to dinner, and he didn’t seem to notice the girl’s dreadful etiquette.

      Amy’s parents were just as bad, when at Thomas’s insistence Celia had invited them to dinner. Stanley Miller had slurped his soup, and then to her horror he had lifted the bowl to drink the last dregs. Celia had been disgusted and wanted as little to do with them as possible, but there had been a return invitation. It was, of course, a disaster, and with so little in common Celia hoped her feelings were reciprocated. Now, as the months passed, she was running out of ideas to undermine Amy.

      Celia saw a taxi pulling up outside and gasped as a familiar figure climbed out. With a cry of delight she hurried to open the door, uncaring of the rain as she ran to his side. ‘Jeremy! Oh, Jeremy! You’ve come home!’

      ‘Hello Mum,’ he said, grinning then pulling out two suitcases before paying the driver.

      Celia ushered him inside and then threw her arms around her son. ‘I can hardly believe you’re here,’ Celia enthused. ‘Leave your cases there for now, darling, and come into the living room.’

      Jeremy smiled when he walked into the room, his eyes coming to rest on the tree. ‘It’s just as I remember it, though there wasn’t a Christmas tree in view when I left.’

      ‘Considering it was in July, that’s hardly surprising. Please, darling, tell me that you’re home for good.’

      ‘Mum, I’ve only just arrived and I don’t know what my plans are yet.’

      ‘At least say you’ll be here for Christmas?’

      ‘Of course I will.’

      ‘That’s something,’ Celia said, hoping that Jeremy would decide to stay for a lot longer than that. ‘Sit down, darling. Are you hungry?’

      ‘I wouldn’t say no to a sandwich,’ Jeremy replied.

      Celia was almost crying with happiness and dashed a tear from her eye as she looked up at her son. Jeremy had left little more than a boy, but had returned a man and a very handsome one too. She made him a sandwich and then listened as Jeremy told her about his travels; the places he’d been, the jobs he had done, all of which had been transient. It sounded as though her son had been living the life of a nomad, and she felt it was time he settled down in one place. If she had anything to do with it, Celia decided, that place would be here, by her side.

      ‘I was still in Greece and got your letter,’ Jeremy continued. ‘I had found work harvesting olives, but you sounded a bit desperate so I decided to come home.’

      ‘I’m so glad you did,’ Celia told him.

      ‘Have you heard from Dad since you wrote to me?’

      ‘No, not a word, and I have no idea where he is.’

      ‘It was a bit of a surprise to hear that he handed his business over to Tom. How is he coping with it?’ Jeremy asked.

      ‘I prefer Thomas, but I suppose calling him Tom is all right. Anyway, he’s done well; increased trade and pays me a salary for keeping the accounts. However Thomas has made it clear that I’m to have no say in the running of the business, and of course I don’t get a share of the profits.’

      ‘What sort of money are we talking about?’ Jeremy asked.

      Celia rose to her feet and finding the account books, she showed them to her son. ‘When your father ran the firm it was just a one-man band. He made enough money to see that we were well provided for, and employed Thomas, but refused to expand. In the short time since Thomas took over he’s already gained new contracts, employed more glaziers and purchased new vans. Despite that expenditure, as you can see,’ Celia said, pointing to the latest figures, ‘Thomas has hugely increased profits.’

      Jeremy whistled through his teeth and then said, ‘He’s done well, but by rights, surely the firm should be yours.’

      ‘You’d have thought so, but as your father made sure that everything was done legally there’s nothing I can do about it,’ Celia said sadly.

      ‘Well morally I think it’s wrong and when I see Tom I’ll tell him that the least he can do is to offer you a half share in the firm.’

      ‘As the elder son, you should have a share in it too, but Thomas will never agree. He’s changed and hardly listens to a word I say; especially when it comes to that common slut he’s going to marry. I told you about her in my letter and I’m frightened that once they’re married, Amy will persuade Thomas that he doesn’t have to employ me, and … and if that happens, I … I’ll end up destitute,’ Celia sobbed, putting on the tears.