The Celtic Riddle

"Now, Mr. Stewart," Ryan said, smiling rather engagingly. "You really mustn't worry about this. I can assure you the family has no case. We have copies of earlier versions of Eamon Byrne's Will, some of them dating back several years, and you were named in all of them. So their case, the idea that Eamon was not quite right at the end, if you see what I mean, will simply not hold water. We are hopeful, I think," he said, looking toward Charles who nodded, "that the court will find this action merely capricious and refuse to even hear it."

"I don't know," Alex said. "I've been thinking a great deal while I've been out at Rose Cottage. It's a lovely place, but…"

"Of course it is," Ryan interrupted. "A wonderful place. And Eamon Byrne wanted you to have it."

"I know," Alex said, "but I don't need it, and I'm beginning to think-I mean all the rumors in the village-that the Byrne family might…"

"Hardly," I interjected. "They still have Second Chance, and while they may have to sell it, they're not exactly in the poorhouse. What could you get for a place like that these days, anyway? More money than you and I will ever see, I'm sure. And they still have control of Byrne Enterprises, even if it isn't doing as well as it should."

"But if it means that much to them," he protested.

"Oh, no, Alex," I exclaimed. "Don't do this. You know you love the place. I saw you the other night, cooking over the fire. It's the best you've looked in a long time. The place is good for you: the sea air, the quiet away from the city."

"But my friends, my life, are in Toronto," he said. "You know that as much as I do. What would I do if I couldn't come into the shop every day? You think I'm doing you a favor, but I'm not. I hated retirement five minutes into it. I need the activity, the sense of being needed."

"Well, let's just say that we both benefit from having you in the shop. I'm glad to hear it, but that's not the issue, Alex," I said. "If you don't want to use it, you can always sell it, or rent it out for some extra income, get yourself a little cottage closer to home or whatever, but as Ryan says, Eamon Byrne really wanted you to have the cottage, and those people have no business being so entirely selfish. You saved his life, Alex, and he wanted to repay you in some way."

"Did you now?" Charles said turning to Alex. "I've often wondered. Tell us about it."

Alex gave him a delicately edited version of Eamon's story, telling him that Eamon had fallen off the pier in Singapore.

"Singapore!" Ryan exclaimed. "I love that place. I had the best sweet and sour soup in the world in a little dive not far from the Raffles Hotel. And the dim sum!" I smiled, remembering Charles's description of Ryan as a gourmand. I looked over at Charles, and he was smiling too.

"I know exactly where you found it!" Alex said, and the two were off on a culinary tour of Singapore, then Hong Kong, then Shanghai. Charles listened with real interest, and soon he and Alex too were trading stories of places they'd been, and adventures they'd had. Charles, it seemed, had not been to the manor born, as it were, and had worked very hard to put himself through law school. There was a determination under that cultured exterior that I found quite attractive.

After several minutes of armchair travel, Charles gently steered the talk back to the subject at hand. "Now, Mr. Stewart," Charles said. "As enjoyable as this conversation is, we'll need to get your direction on the lawsuit. We will accede to your wishes, of course. If you do not wish to keep Rose Cottage, then we will simply not contest the suit. But Eamon Byrne felt quite strongly that you should have it. To that I can personally attest. I had no idea why he felt that strongly, of course, not having heard the story, but I discussed the Will with him at some length, and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind as to his intentions. And he was quite lucid, I can assure you."

"Would you be defending the Will, then?" Alex asked. He obviously liked the two solicitors, and was coming around, much to my delight. I couldn't stand the idea of the family taking the cottage away from him.

"We'll be the defendants, yes, but we will hire legal counsel to represent us, a barrister for the court work," Charles said.

"Won't that be expensive?" Alex asked.

"It will, most likely, if the case proceeds to court, which as Ryan has mentioned, we think may not happen. But you don't need to concern yourself with that. Normally, the costs would come out of the estate, not from you."

"All right then," Alex said. "If you think so, Lara?"

"I do, Alex," I said. "I think the Byrne family is just being mean, that's all. They couldn't possibly be as desperate as they look."

"Are you with us, then?" Ryan asked.

"I suppose I am," Alex said. " I really do like that little place."

"Excellent!" Charles exclaimed. "Now, Ryan, I think you have something to do out at Second Chance before we head back to Dublin?"