Two

The next morning was the same as any other. Gus woke up crying with stiff little legs and Sally spent a long hour massaging him before she could sit him down for his breakfast.

Sally heard the rasping sound of a key in the front door lock. “Morning dear” said her mother as she breezed into the kitchen. Her voice changed as she greeted Gus “How’s nanny’s little soldier then?” He giggled as she tickled his foot. “There’s a letter for you Sal, looks important”

“Leave it there, I’ll get around to it” her daughter told her as she continued to feed her son.

It wasn’t until they sat down for morning coffee while Gussie was having a fitful nap that Sally finally got around to the mystery letter. She looked carefully at the envelope, trying to divine its contents. It was clearly expensive and had the name of a local firm of solicitors on the back. ‘Good news? Bad news?’ she thought. Ever the pessimist she sighed and opened it. There had been no good news for some time so why should her luck change now?

In fact it was no news.

“Dear Mrs Grenville. Please find enclosed a cheque for £300.” Sally read to her mother. She shook the envelope and the cheque fluttered to the floor. Her back ached as she stooped to pick it up. All that running she thought to herself. “This money is for you to appoint a solicitor to verify my credentials. Once you have done so to your satisfaction please contact me. I assure you this will be to your very great advantage. Yours Trevor Bailiss ”

“You can save the £300” her mother told her firmly, “I know Trevor Bailiss and he’s as straight as a die”

“So what does he want then?”

“Only one way to find” her mother told her.

“You look after Gus” Sally said.

Ten minutes later she was back. Her mother looked at her daughter, her expression was unreadable.

“Well?”

“He has a proposition from a benefactor which should provide all we need for Gus’ treatment”

“Proposition?” asked her mother.

“We have to see him in person to find out; Jack and me. It’s very unusual”

“And what is that supposed to mean?”
Sally shrugged. “I don’t know, but if we do go at least we get to keep the £300”