March 2012
It had been hard for a long time – keeping secrets from Joe had never been easy. On the one hand she felt dishonest and deceitful but on the other hand knew deep down in her heart that she had been doing the right thing. She hoped that when and if he finally found out he would be understanding and trust that she had everyone's best interests at heart. It was a hard line to draw, believing as she did that telling a lie and keeping secrets were the worse of things to do. Other than Christmas and birthday presents, of course, they had to be surprises, all else should be open and above board.
It was coming to an end soon so maybe he would never have to know; just in case, she had put a letter in with her will at the solicitor's office. Colin was the only one who knew and had helped her to carry out her plans. She remembered the day it had all started. She had felt so sad Freddie Mercury (Queen lead singer) had announced he had been diagnosed with full blown AIDs. He had kept his personal life intensely private; no mean achievement for Queen had sold over one billion albums in Britain alone in 1986. He had disappeared from public life in early 1991 and amidst all of the rumours the announcement had come on the 23rd November of that year. No sooner had she taken this in then his death had been announced just two days later on the 25th November. Life had been a game of chance and Freddie in spite of all his talent and money had just run out of luck.
Sue had remembered feeling sad, angry and miserable, a little bit angry with the unfairness of life and the futility, powerlessness and helplessness in this world. Injustice seemed to be endemic within society; she had protest marched so much throughout her life. Starting with CND then Vietnam, Greenham Common, Poll tax etc. etc. She remembered thinking that surely her days of protest were now over, but maybe life had other plans.
Life passed and Sue settled back into a life of easy contentment, maybe pressures had worn her down and she was now taking the easier way in life. It was whilst she was out shopping some three years later that she had seen the signed picture of Freddie in the Star and Sports Memorabilia shop. It was way beyond her price range and she just stared mouth agape, wishing a little more luck had gone both their ways. On a spur of the moment she purchased a lottery ticket, she had used Freddie's date of birth together with Joe's; spending £1 for a whim and a few moments of wistfulness seemed to her to be very good value. She went home happy. Since that following Sunday she had chosen to be a liar and a little dishonest, it had been an easy choice, but had preyed on her mind ever since. She had won the Lottery that Saturday, only half heartedly checking the paper on the Sunday morning. Just under five million; what on earth was she to do? She knew Joe inside and out, both warts and wrinkles, she decided quite quickly not to tell him. He would want to change their lives completely. How could she claim it, hide it and do some good with it; her head was more than dizzy and she tossed and turned in bed that night, but decided that she did not have to claim it for a few weeks yet. She put the decision on hold and went to sleep.
Finally Sue decided to go to see Colin, their solicitor, he had been so friendly helpful and insightful when they had drawn up their wills and he was duty bound to keep her business confidential. Working part-time in the shop left her with enough time to fit in the appointment (the start of many to come) without drawing attention to herself. The plan grew with surprising ease and she grew in confidence with every trust set up or payment given out.
Joe received an unexpected legacy from an old aunt he had not realised existed, a solicitor's letter enclosing a cheque for £950,000 left him asking no questions. He had great fun easing our worries, buying a bigger house and at last, the super-dooper car he had always wanted and the little narrow boat on the Broads. Many small local charities benefitted and the school in Kenya, visited by accident on one of their holidays, received not only a water pump but additional funding for equipment and new classes. Two annual scholarships were set up to fund education for the girls in the village. Many anonymous bequests followed. She had secured the grandchildren's education by setting up trusts for them, and their own son and daughter would share the proceeds from the home on their demise. The money was now gone and the letter with the solicitor had to be changed listing her treasured possessions, her Lalique glass and her Moorcroft Pottery, but in pride of place, her signed photo of Freddie Mercury.
She was happy with both a life and a fortune well spent.