It had been quite a journey and starting out at 6 in the morning was quite an ordeal, Mary just was not used to having to get herself out the door with a bag packed for three days and two nights, one that she was able to carry herself.

She had given her kittens one final hug and cuddle before she went and how she hated to leave them. It really pulled at her heart strings as her attachment to them had become a big part of her life.

Even they were confused by the early rise and Mary’s hastened departure which abruptly ended their cuddle.

But now Mary was within a few metres of the boutique hotel which Mr. Thomas had booked her into, so the taxi driver informed her, and Mary was rather pleased that her travelling was at an end.

Stopping outside, the driver said “This is it” leaving Mary to struggle with her case after she had paid the fare.

This was certainly a city, but nowhere near as big as the city in which she used to live.

Inside was rather nice and Mary felt quite at ease in the relaxed atmosphere, there were lovely furnishings and pictures of the old fashioned kind on the wall, and even with the few art classes she had been to she found her appreciation of art had increased dramatically. Funny, but she had not thought about that benefit at all when she joined the group, just wanting a bit of company other than that of old men and to gain some sense of belonging in a small village. To-day, of course, she’d had to miss the group but she’d join them again next week and now she would have something to talk to them about.

The receptionist greeted her with a warm smile and after she had booked Mary in, she took her to her room with a porter following behind with her suitcase. It was surprising that that small attention made all the difference making Mary feel she was a very special guest. She was informed that breakfast was from 7 -9 and the evening meal commenced at 6 and was available until as late as 9. They did not do lunch as most people left the hotel during the day but there were tea and snack facilities in the room, then taking her leave left Mary to her own devices.

Mary found her window looked out over the park and she opened it for a moment or two before deciding it was just too cold.

She kicked off her shoes and put the coffee on while she unpacked her things, shaking out the creases and hanging them in the wardrobe.

That done she wandered around the room taking in its décor and inspecting the bathroom. It was just so feminine and she loved it. Mr. Thomas was proving to be a sensitive man as well as a good solicitor.

It was done in various shades of the palest pinks and mauves. The textures were silky and a pleasure to touch. The bed was just so comfortable.

That having been done Mary put on her walking shoes and her prolonged walks in the village were now going to stand her in good stead in her tour around the city. She’d have lunch out before returning to the hotel to dress for her interview with Mr. Thomas which was scheduled for 2.

As she sat sipping her delicious coffee she put on some music and found her state of relaxation was escalating. She realised her early departure had brought with it a certain amount of stress, compounded by the journey but now she was here and with time to do a little exploring she was eager to go.

Not having to worry about the kittens as she went out, much as she adored them, was quite relaxing too. Adding to a family, even with just two tiny kittens, did change the way one lived one’s life.

Mary slipped on a warm jacket and taking a casual bag, not forgetting her new set of keys, she was off for a few hours.

It was easy to find one’s way around the central part of a city, or at least this one was, she was on the alert for kitchen and bathroom renovations, driving schools and interior decorators.

The first thing she came across was a driving school, and she promptly went inside.

They were efficient but aloof and went straight to the question of what time did she want her lesson. Mary was in no position to argue but stated she wanted a patient teacher in a car with dual controls and with that reassurance she decided her first lesson should be that evening and she booked it for 6 and a follow up at the same time the next day and pausing just briefly she realised she would have time for an early 9 a.m. lesson the next day.

She was promptly informed that 3 lessons would not be enough, and she just as promptly informed her ‘distant’ receptionist that she’d be returning to the village but would need some more lessons a bit later on, whereupon she was handed a set of literature and urged to book in as soon as she could and was also handed a book of rules.

Mary thought to herself, “they will have to wait.”

Off she went looking in the windows and feeling such great pleasure that there were so many shops displaying such a range of fashions, much as she loved Tilly, her range was quite restricted but at least she did provide a service which was better than none.

She eventually became a little more adventurous and went down some side streets but time was getting on and hunger was starting to nibble so at the next outdoor café she sat down enjoying the view across to the park which was located opposite and ordered a light lunch. When you are hungry it is surprising just how good simple food tastes.

Realising she did not have a great deal of time to find her way back to the hotel and change into something more casual, Mary paid the account and left, regretting that she did not have longer to relax and realising that without further enquiry she would be a long time finding those other places she wanted.

It was a quick change to a pretty dress and warm jacket, more dressy shoes and a formal handbag in which she carried her list of questions for Mr. Thomas, glad that at last things were coming to a finality and she’d know just where she stood.

At 5 to 2 she found herself in some plush but conservative offices and was asked politely by a most courteous secretary to take a seat on a very comfortable seat and Mr. Thomas would be with her in a few moments.

It did rather surprise Mary that this had been Uncle Cyril’s choice, she had always thought of him as such a simple man living out a simple existence, but in fact she knew nothing much about him at all, and the next few minutes she spent admiring the art works which looked as if they had been chosen by an expert and to Mary’s surprise were all originals but rather varied.

She did not have long to wait before Mr. Thomas came out to greet her and usher her into his office.

His first concern was her present comfort and when she said she was delighted with her accommodation he smiled graciously, looking very pleased.

After a few preliminaries he handed her a folder which he said she should take away with her.

He announced that the estate had now been finalised and gave a prolonged account of what had been done which made Mary’s head swim. She didn’t really understand most of the terms he used and she had had so little experience dealing with solicitors.

After some time he seemed to realise how taxing it was for her and started to relax a little and detail those particulars Mary most needed to know about her financial position at this time and for the future, commenting how skilled her great uncle had been with his affairs and how thoughtful he’d been in making sure Mary would have money available whilst the estate was being settled. He said all estate fees and probate had been settled, including his own fees and the portfolio she had been given was now hers to manage. Seeing Mary’s confusion, he stated that she was free to choose her own solicitor and she should make an appointment to see the accountant, who would explain the financial arrangements in more detail and she needed to realize that from now on she would be responsible for taxes etc but everything until to-day’s date had been paid including the accountant’s fees too and she had been given a full account of his fees as well as his own.

He said he felt she would need both solicitor and accountant to help her manage her money and although of to-day’s date both their engagements were automatically terminated she was free to choose her own representatives.

He stated, without being presumptuous, he was more than happy to be engaged by her as would her accountant, and if she wanted either one or both she would be required from now on to make the arrangements herself, as the estate of her Great Uncle was now settled and thereby ceased to exist and her late Great Uncle now had absolutely no say in her affairs.

He suggested she see the accountant first and then make up her mind what she should do.

With all this he took breathe and invited Mary to join him in some afternoon tea, and Mary was happy to accept, she had never done anything so taxing on her nerves before and quite frankly was not looking forward to her new responsibilities.

When the tea arrived with some very nice cakes, Mr. Thomas said, subject to her agreement, he’d make an appointment for the accountant to see her to-morrow and picked up his phone. Mary was happy to comply and very glad to have him make the arrangements for her.

He went on to explain he’d need to see her again, to-morrow afternoon at the same time, after she’d seen Mr. Chambers, accountant and financial advisor and after a few more words of explanation he led her from his office saying he would look forward to seeing her to-morrow and it would be a good idea if she looked through the folder he had given her in the interim, which reminded Mary of her own little list, which she found rather pathetic now, but she still needed to have her questions answered and she’d make sure she’d do that to-morrow.

It was back to the hotel and changing into more comfortable clothes well ahead of her driving lesson and Mary took the opportunity to chat to the receptionist in the hope of finding where she would find home renovators and decorators. She was surprised she felt so alert still, guessing that the afternoon tea had helped and her solicitors consideration of her confusion.

She was really enjoying her trip to the city, it was almost like coming home.

The receptionist proved very helpful and Mary was soon armed with the names and addresses she needed and after returning briefly to her room she was soon off for her first driving lesson, after which she was looking forward to dinner at the hotel, having spotted the menu for the evening earlier. The pangs of hunger were beginning to strike after such a stressful but stimulating day.