Chapter 25: Mrs Jones Departs

Suzanne arrived at Mrs Jones house at 9.00 am. Mrs Jones was waiting for her to arrive. Dressed, packed and keys in hand, gave Suzanne a big hug. Then handed over the keys saying please enjoy your new, and my old, home. She has a few tears but was happy to leave. On the dining table was a package wrapped in brown paper. Mrs Jones requested Suzanne to hand the parcel to her good friend Helena. This is my thank you to Helena for her kindness and gift of the cruise.

Mrs Jones said to Suzanne, you stay here. Janet and Julie will be capable to see me on to the cruise. Enjoy your new home. Hugging Suzanne she left with Janet and Julie in the large limo.

Suzanne rang Helena saying what had happened and would she like to come for lunch. Helena agreed. Calling Bill he was able to pick her up at 10.30. Suzanne also rang Dave the locksmith, he was in the area and was able to change all of the locks within 30 minutes. He gave Suzanne 4 sets of keys. Suzanne planned to give Helena a set for security. Suzanne then went out to get a few supplies for home. Arriving back home there was a note from the local real estate agent, the one that tried to buy the house, asking for her to call him. She threw the card into the bin.

Helena arrived about 11.15. They quickly went through the house making a list of any items needed or need replacing. Most were minor electrical items like a kettle, toaster, new cutlery etc. The stove and fridge would be replaced in the kitchen renovation. Suzanne loved the lounge and dining room table. The bed did need a new mattress but otherwise everything else was fine. Helena handed Suzanne four envelopes containing $50 thousand dollars in each saying she needed to get rid of the cash and currently is getting some $90k per week in cash. Suzanne tried to refuse but knowing Helena she accepted. Suzanne then passed on the thank you gift from Mrs Jones. Helena did not open as requested on the note but planned to take home later. They then made lunch and enjoyed a nice chit chat about what style to buy etc.

The girls walked over to the tram and went to Pacific Fair shopping centre. There they purchased some of the immediate goods like kettle, toaster, cutlery, 2 Royal Albert dinner sets, bed sheets, pillows, bath towels, quite a few beach towels, table cloths, etc, from Myers. Because Suzanne paid in cash the sales ladies tried to get her to buy plenty of expensive items. They stayed away from the female fashion and shoes department. All of the goods were sent down to the dock area for later pickup.

Julie rang advising they have seen Mrs Jones off and would be back on the coast in one hour, Suzanne asked if they could meet at Myers Dock and pick up some goods in her name. Julie agreed and would ring her when she got to the pickup dock. The girls continued to have a good time in Myers getting more items now they know they had transport. By the time Julie rang they had filled the boot of the limo and half of the interior. Julie took the girls home and helped to carry all of the items in. Helena gave Janet $2,000 and Julie $3,000 for their time today and cover for the hire of the limo. Janet and Julie knew better than to refuse. Helena went with Julie and Janet, taking her thank you gift home.

On Helena returning to her unit she placed the gift on her table then made a cuppa. Opening the gift she was amazed that Mrs Jones had given her the painting she so admired. The note enclosed gave a history of the painting. Apparently her grandmother met a dutch painter in Paris and lived with him for 6 months. He painted this picture of her one morning whilst she got out of bed. To keep the religious people happy he painted a thin shear cloth over her body. There is a signature on the bottom of the picture partly covered and it appears maybe painted by V Van but she has never got any one to review it. It would be up to you if you wanted to get it valued. Helena could see the face of Mrs Jones in the picture. Helena sealed the note from Mrs Jones and stuck it to the back of the picture for historical information. The picture was hung where the sunlight would not affect it.

Suzanne, in the mean time, had a caller at her new home. It was that real estate agent. He was demanding the reason why she did not call him back. Suzanne explained that she has no interest in selling the place and would like him to leave now. He started to enter the house. Suzanne started to let him then slammed the door in his face. He was forced backwards then found he was facing a solid door. Suzanne told him through the door never to return or she would make sure he lost his licence to trade in real estate. He stormed away. Suzanne knew that was not the end of the matter.

On Thursday morning Suzanne awoke to the sound of someone trying to fit keys into the door lock. Opening the door she saw three people that ask her who she was and where was their mother. Suzanne explained that she had purchased the house from Mrs Jones, who left yesterday to go on a cruise. Yes they knew about the cruise but they wanted certain items from the house. Suzanne explained that she sold all of the items in the house to a Miss Helena. There was a legal contract drawn up and it was with Mrs Jones new solicitor in Coolangatta. She asked them to wait at the door whilst she got the solicitors details from her phone. Ringing Ben she explained about the callers and wrote down his address in Coolangatta so they could see the signed contract and any other documents they needed. Reading behind Suzanne explanation, they were going to be trouble.