After lunch, they went for a walk through the stores on Granville Island. They stopped in several stores before continuing on around the sea wall toward Vanier Park. They passed the Bard on the Beach site and then passed the Planetarium. Then they started along Cypress toward 4th where Sylvia was going to catch the bus.
“There are some very nice houses along this street,” Peter said.
“Yeah. They have small yards, but they’re beautiful houses.”
“True, but beautiful houses on large property are rare around here. And expensive. These houses are what a million apiece?”
“More. Probably around 1.5 million give or take. The ones with yards are ten million plus.”
“Exactly. And who can afford that?”
Sylvia was quiet. She didn’t mention that she could by another two of the beautiful houses with the yards if she wanted to.
When they reached 4th, they stood together at the bus stop waiting.
“So, you don’t drive?” Peter asked.
Sylvia shrugged. “My mom can’t drive and my dad died when I was little. We didn’t have the money for lessons, so I never had anyone to teach me. Now I live in Vancouver and so does my mom, so it seems like a waste of money at the moment. Maybe I’ll get my license later, but for now, I’m fine with the bus. It’s gotten me everywhere for the past twenty-four years, it can continue to do so for a while longer.”
“You know, Sylvia, you are a very remarkable person.”
The bus came into sight and Sylvia took out her wallet to find her bus pass.
“So do I get your number this time,” Peter asked.
Sylvia smiled at him. “Nope. Not this time. Maybe next time.”
“And when will next time be?”
“How about Friday? There’s a movie out that I’d like to see. What do you say?”
“I love movies. I’m in. Where do you want to meet?”
“Fifth Avenue Cinema on Burrard and 5th. Let’s say at 5. That’ll make sure that the movie hasn’t started and we can get something to eat first.”
“I’ll be there.”
The phone woke Sylvia at 1:32 in the morning. She stumbled out of her bed and went to the sitting area where the phone was ringing incessantly.
“Hello?”
“Sylvia? It’s Will. Will Cassidy. I’m in jail. I need you to come bail me out.”
Sylvia frowned at the telephone. “Why do you think that I would do that?”
“My father always bailed me out of jail when I got locked in here. It’s a stupid charge. I didn’t do anything wrong. Anyway, you have his estate now, so you have to come and help me.”
“I don’t have to do anything, Will. I can simply go back to bed and pretend I never got this phone call.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the telephone. “You can’t.”
“Yes I can. When you’re father left me everything, there were no caveats and addendums attached to the will. I can do whatever I want with the money. If I want to come bail you out, I can. But if I don’t want to bail you out, I don’t have to. It’s my choice.”
“What am I going to do, then?”
“How old are you, Will?”
Another pause. “Forty Nine.”
“Mm-hm. And why were you arrested?”
“I allegedly got into a bar fight and broke someone’s nose.”
“So you’re almost fifty and you’re doing stupid things like getting into bar fights.” Sylvia sat down on a chair and closed her eyes. “Do you have any idea how childish that sounds? You say that your father would have come and bailed you out? Well, maybe he shouldn’t have. Maybe he should have let you take the consequences of your actions and you wouldn’t be where you are right now.”
“That’s ridiculous. Now come and get me. I’d like to go home.”
“I know you would. Which is exactly why you’re staying right where you are. You’re going to deal with what you got yourself into. Maybe I’ll change my mind and come tomorrow. But it is quarter to two in the morning and I’m going back to my nice, warm, comfortable bed. Good night, Will.”
“Wait! Sylvia! You can’t do –”
Sylvia pressed the end button before she could hear him tell her what she couldn’t do. She wasn’t sure if she should go to the jail the next day and bail Will Cassidy out. It was true that if his father was still alive, he would have gone and done it. And if she hadn’t been James’ beneficiary, Will may have gotten his share of the estate and been able to bail himself out. But neither of those things had happened. If James had decided to leave his estate to charities, as he said in his letter was what he had been thinking when he changed his will, Will would not have anyone to turn to in this situation. Maybe that would have been better.
Regardless of what could have been, Sylvia now had all the money that the Cassidys thought should be theirs.
No comments:
Post a Comment