And now what?

4. Mr Greyson

Grace had chosen a dark blue suit to wear to the lawyer's office. The skirt just covered her knees, the light blue silk blouse open at the neck worked perfectly with the fitted, navy jacket.  She had chosen to wear her high heeled black shoes to finish off the look.  It had taken a lot of effort to get ready but she knew she had to give a presence of being in control, for her own pride if nothing else.

As she clip clopped up to the front reception desk she mused that this was in fact the first time she had ever come to the lawyers' office on her own. This had always been her husband's job!

Grace had been quite a successful person in her life. She had attended the local schools, had achieved relatively good grades in her GCSE and later in her A levels. She had gone to the local university and had successfully completed a degree in the history of art. At 22 she gained her first employment at the local museum as a curator and there she met Gregory.  They had almost instantly fallen in love but Gregory was building his own marketing business at the time and wanted to ensure the company was established before committing himself to marriage, children and responsibilities.  He always had insisted that he wanted to be a full, hands on father.

Just a month after her 28th birthday, Gregory and Grace had walked up the aisle. Gregory had insisted that Grace give up her job, he felt that it was important that a wife and mother stayed at home to nurture children and that a housewife's job was certainly not to be taken lightly.  He always insisted that a happy home was a warm and loving home and, he would argue, how was that possible if both parents were out working and the children were being brought up by a nanny or child minder.  Of course he was always quick to add, especially in front of friends, that sometimes circumstances were such that both partners had to work, but in his perfect world, the husband provided and the wife nurtured.

Grace had been more than happy to comply.  Some of her friends had worried for her, telling her that she was losing her Independence but she assured them that she really was looking forward to being a wife and mother and she didn't feel that any independence was being lost.  That together with Gregory what they were forming was a new relationship, a new partnership and it was going to work.

And it did work.  For 12 wonderful years, Gregory had been highly successful in his business and they had a lovely home, two beautiful children and they had been very, very happy.

'Good morning,' smiled the receptionist, 'can I help you?'

'Yes, good morning, I'm Mrs Wilton, I'm here to see Mr Greyson'

'Ah yes, please accept my sincere condolences for your recent loss, please take a seat and I'll notify Mr Greyson of your arrival'

The receptionist indicated a seat and Grace walked towards it, no sooner had she sat down when the door on the left opened and Mr Greyson came quickly out, 'Mrs Wilton, so sad that we have to meet under such circumstances, please, please, come through'

Grace stood and shock his offered hand and followed him into his office.  He quietly closed the door and indicated for Grace to take the rather large and comfortable chair by his oak desk.

He walked round the shinny desk and took his seat facing Grace, 'Firstly let me say that, as you know, I have known and worked with your late husband for the last fifteen years, he was a great man with a lot of vision, he often took risks in business but they always paid off in the long run, he had much foresight and was very intelligent. I also know that he was a very supportive husband and a great father.  He loved you all very much and often spoke of you and his children.  He was very proud. This all must be so hard for you.'

Through this speech Grace could only offer a half smile as an acknowledgement, she wanted desperately for him to stop, to give her the papers, for her to sign and to be able to leave.  She felt if he said one more word she would break down completely and start crying uncontrollably.

'Thank you' she managed to mutter. 'I believe I have some papers to sign?' She knew that sounded rude but she just wanted all this over with so that she could just go back home and stay alone and depressed again, her way of coping with Gregory's death.  She quietly thanked The Lord that she didn't have to go out to work and face anyone.

Mr Greyson moved a little uncomfortably in his chair, 'Well about that,' he started, averting his eyes, Her stomach clenched, she felt something was not quite right.

'I'm afraid I have some bad news for you,' he continued, 'A few months ago Gregory had decided to expand his business, he was concerned that the children would soon be thinking about universities and you had spoken of renovations to the house and the possibilities of buying a summer home in France, although his business was good, this opportunity would have made all your dreams a reality.  Unfortunately it did entail very high investments. I'm afraid to say he invested all the spare cash he could find from both the company and your personal accounts, when that was insufficient he mortgaged both the company and your home. I am sorry to have to give you this news, but the reality is, with his death, you are now bankrupt.'

Grace sat, stunned, in the chair.  She couldn't comprehend what he was telling her.  How could this be. It was impossible. She realised he was still speaking.

'Obviously there are still some issues I need to work on, but basically everything hinged on Gregory completing this investment, with his death the banks will start to reclaim the loans and as things stand there is no capital to repay anywhere near the amount outstanding. I am sorry, but I think you have to put your house on the market and try and sell as quickly as possible or you may be left with nothing at all.'

The silence was deafening, eventually Grace looked up, 'and the life insurance policy?' she almost whispered.

'Cancelled' came the quiet reply.

Grace slowly got to her feet. She was in a trance, she just couldn't understand what was going on.

Mr Greyson was saying something about getting back to her, not to worry, things would work out, but in fairness she had stopped listening, she couldn't listen.  Her world had collapsed two weeks ago but now it felt that the whole universe was collapsing.

She was 40 years old, on her own, she had not worked for 13 years, she had a 12 year old daughter and a 7 year old son and no money. No income and quite possibly no house.

What was she going to do!

 (to be continued)