You can hear a pin drop by the time Tomas finally returns with our drinks.
‘So, I have asked my uncle to tell you a little about Marek.’
I look at Tomas. The lines on his face indicate that he must be in his forties perhaps. I wonder when he was at uni. I used to go to Cardiff on nights out when I was younger. We could have even crossed paths. Although I am sure had I ever seen a man like this, I would have looked twice with that olive skin and those bright, sparkly eyes.
Albert still hasn’t spoken and simply observes me. It is hard to know what he must be thinking. He takes a big glug of hisBecherovka.
He clears his throat and then starts speaking. ‘I’m sorry, dear; it’s a shock to open the door and hear Marek’s name. I shouldn’t have been so rude.’ His voice is slow, and I notice he chooses his words carefully, as though he has to think before saying each word.
‘That’s okay. I understand. I’m sorry if I took you by surprise.’
‘Tomas has explained who you are. For a long time, the family and I blamed your aunt. If only Marek had never met her, then maybe he wouldn’t have died.’
‘But, I don’t understand. To be honest, it’s all come as a shock. I’d never heard of Marek before I received a letter from my aunt recently.’
I take a sip of the coffee that is on the table beside me and explain why I am here.
‘It was her dying wish that I come and meet with Marek to tell him that she had died. Apparently, until the day she died, she still loved him.’
Albert’s eyes well up, and I realise I have made him cry.
‘I am so sorry. Please, I never wanted to make you cry.’
‘No, it’s nothing you did. It’s something I tried to put behind me. You see, Marek loved your aunt too much. When he came back from meeting her in London, he was so happy. I’d never seen him like that before. He also loved your aunt until the day he died.’
Now my eyes well up. How sad that Aunt Grace had put her mother-in-law Elsie before her own needs.
‘You know, when he wasn’t working, he was out fly-fishing down the river. He would do anything to try and make extra money. He had a bit put away; he was always good with money. He’d always wanted to travel, you see. But he thought he could earn extra to get him back to London sooner by selling trout. He knew it was going to be expensive to move to another country. He also needed bank statements for his visa, and every hour, he would try to make money so he could get back to her. He wanted to leave and make a life with her in Britain. When Marek wanted something, nothing could stop him. All he cared about was the money he’d get for the fish he caught. He took risks. He was getting closer to the amount he needed to get back to your aunt when…’
Albert’s eyes fill up once again, and so do mine. Seeing an old man recall his late brother is making this so much more emotional than I could ever have imagined. Tomas gets up and returns with some tissues from the bathroom for us.
‘He didn’t come back. It was getting dark. His rod washed up ashore, but there was no sign of him. His body followed a few days later.’
‘I’m so sorry. Now I understand why you must be upset about my aunt, even though she didn’t have a hand in this. It’s so tragic.’
‘Over the years, I’ve come to understand that maybe this was his destiny.’
‘Can I ask what year he died?’
‘Yes, 1994.’
I think back to when I was in my early twenties. I remember going to Elsie’s funeral around then.
‘That’s so sad.’
I reach for the tissues that are on the table and, in doing so, accidentally brush my arm against my chest, setting off Rudolph’s nose. Why, oh, why did I wear the Christmas jumper again today?
Fortunately, it makes us all smile and Rudolph seems to ameliorate the atmosphere.
‘So, you want another coffee… Or?’
‘No, thank you. I guess I should be going. Thanks for clearing this up for me. I’ll let my solicitor know.’
‘Your solicitor?’ says Tomas.
‘Yes, Aunt Grace made a stipulation in her will that I had to come here, or I wouldn’t get my inheritance.’
‘Wow, so she really wanted you to come here, hey?’
