Birds Of A Feather Episode 43
Rob considered telling his father that he’d never had any intention of coming into the family business, but this was not the time.
“The stress of it almost cost you your life,” Daphne said in a soft voice. “So let’s hear no more about it. We’ll survive.
“Billington Grange was too big for two of us. The Old Post Office will do us nicely once we get things sorted the way I want it.”
“I never meant to get in so deep with Brigstocke,” Geoffrey murmured. “It was at the time of the council elections.
“I was terrified of messing up my chance of getting elected if I stood up to him.
“I thought becoming a county councillor was more important than anything else.”
“You mean I did,” Daphne corrected her husband, still in that same quiet voice. “I pushed you into it, didn’t I?”
“You were ambitious for me, certainly.”
Ambitious? Rob bit back a snort of laughter. That was one word for it. Others would be pushy, forceful and bossy.
“So what was this hold he had over you?” she asked.
Geoffrey fidgeted with the sheets.
“He got me membership of the Upper Langton Golf Club.”
“But you hate golf,” Rob couldn’t help saying.
“I know. But your
mother . . .”
Daphne sighed.
“I thought it would help your father’s chances. It’s a very exclusive club, you know. All the best people are members.”
“So let me guess,” Rob began. “In exchange for this so-called favour, you were on the planning committee at the time and pushed his planning applications through.”
Geoffrey nodded.
“I only did it once, but that was enough. As soon as I did, he had me exactly where he wanted me.
“I had just lost my two biggest customers within a month of each other, I had a cash-flow problem and the bank was on my back. I was at my wits’ end.
“Then he stepped in with an offer to bail me out in exchange for a partnership.
“But the business went downhill so fast after that I could never see what was in it for him.
“We closed the site in town that had been built from nothing by my grandfather. Now it’s going to be a housing development.”
“And you think that was what he was after? A building site?” Rob asked.
Geoffrey passed a weary hand over his face.
“I wouldn’t have thought so. It’s not that big a site. But there are no prizes for guessing who the developer is.
“After the site was sold, the business, or what was left of it, was carried on from our house.
“Brigstocke built a triple garage that doubles as a small warehouse. But the business continued to fail. Now we’re facing bankruptcy.
“It’s all gone. There’s nothing left.”
He leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes.
Fear clutched at Rob’s insides as he put his hand over his father’s.
A nurse came in and pointed at the clock.
Daphne leaned across, kissed Geoffrey on the forehead and smoothed his pillows.
“We’ve got to go. I’ll be back in the morning,” she said. “No more worrying. We’ll manage. You just concentrate on getting well.”
Rob and Daphne left the hospital together in silence.
As she reached her car, she turned to him.
“I’ve got some beef chilli in the slow cooker,” she said. “That was always your favourite. You’re welcome to join me.”
“Thank you. I’d like that,” Rob said as he turned his phone on.
He saw that there were two missed calls from Jess.
“There’s somewhere I’ve got to go first, though.”
“Dinner is served at seven o’clock prompt,” Daphne declared with a flash of her normal haughtiness that made Rob smile. “Don’t be late.”