The Inheritance
Jamie Foggarty watched in silence as the priest administered the Last Rites to his father. Outwardly Jamie displayed all the emotions of a grieving loving son. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye with a silk handkerchief. But deep inside his heart he was smiling.
At last he could collect his inheritance. It was not his father’s accumulated wealth that Jamie wanted, but his huge collection of vintage wine, which included a case of unopened red from Lord Nelson's flagship, and some bottles that had survived
the Titanic.
Jamie recalled his father's promise three Months earlier just before his first heart attack.
"Jamie, my son, I know you have had an eye on my wine for some time, so when I am gone the bottles will be left to you."
This is what he had wanted to hear. He did not care about the house that would go to Ruth, his sister who had looked after their father since their mother had died. No, the wine would solve all his problems. Jamie had built up a huge gambling debt and his taste for the good life attracted women with expensive tastes.
A few days after his news about his inheritance Jamie was called to the house. His father was recovering from a near fatal stroke. The doctor called Jamie to one side.
"I'm putting your father on a course of tablets to combat his heart condition, but I must warn you that he should cut out his alcohol."
"He likes the odd whiskey." Jamie replied.
"Well that must stop at once," the doctor said, "the next drink could be fatal."
The words stuck inside Jamie's head as he spoke to his sister.
"Ruth, I think I'll move in to help with father."
"You don't have to. I can manage."
"No, Ruth I insist I want to take care of father too."
Even as he spoke he realized the words had a double meaning. While Ruth accepted them as concern Jamie only saw them as the inevitable.
Over the next three months his father suffered 4 more strokes. Each time Ruth called the doctor or administered treatment in time. Each time he apologized to the doctor for not stopping his father from having a whiskey.
"He won't listen to me doctor; I am not always around to stop him."
"Maybe I had better have a word with him." said the doctor.
"No, I'll tell him." Jamie lied.
After the fourth and final stroke the doctor said there was nothing more to be done.
As the doctor closed his father's eyes for the final time Ruth buried her face in Jamie's shoulder. He led her out of the room into the lounge. Leaving her alone with her grief he went into the hallway to the phone.
Clive, it's Jamie, it's all over. The wines mine now. Are we still agreed on the price? OK good. I'll let you know when you can collect. Have to do some mourning first."
The day of the will reading came. Jamie and Ruth were told that it would be held outside in the grounds. When asked why the lawyer said it was the instructions in the will. As expected Ruth was left the house. The lawyer hesitated as he read further.
"This part is most peculiar." he said, "It says, ' my wine collection will be split, half going to my son Jamie."
At this point the lawyer stopped and proceeded to open the bottles which had been stacked outside. He then began pouring the wine into a nearby drain.
Jamie stared open-mouthed for a moment then jumped up from his seat.
"What the hell are you doing?" he shouted.
"Sorry Mr. Foggarty, Just following the instructions to the letter of the law. It says here ' If that greedy no good son of mine thinks I'm stupid enough to let him touch my wine then he's mistaken. I promised him that he could have the bottles and that's the half he'll jolly well get.'
At last he could collect his inheritance. It was not his father’s accumulated wealth that Jamie wanted, but his huge collection of vintage wine, which included a case of unopened red from Lord Nelson's flagship, and some bottles that had survived
the Titanic.
Jamie recalled his father's promise three Months earlier just before his first heart attack.
"Jamie, my son, I know you have had an eye on my wine for some time, so when I am gone the bottles will be left to you."
This is what he had wanted to hear. He did not care about the house that would go to Ruth, his sister who had looked after their father since their mother had died. No, the wine would solve all his problems. Jamie had built up a huge gambling debt and his taste for the good life attracted women with expensive tastes.
A few days after his news about his inheritance Jamie was called to the house. His father was recovering from a near fatal stroke. The doctor called Jamie to one side.
"I'm putting your father on a course of tablets to combat his heart condition, but I must warn you that he should cut out his alcohol."
"He likes the odd whiskey." Jamie replied.
"Well that must stop at once," the doctor said, "the next drink could be fatal."
The words stuck inside Jamie's head as he spoke to his sister.
"Ruth, I think I'll move in to help with father."
"You don't have to. I can manage."
"No, Ruth I insist I want to take care of father too."
Even as he spoke he realized the words had a double meaning. While Ruth accepted them as concern Jamie only saw them as the inevitable.
Over the next three months his father suffered 4 more strokes. Each time Ruth called the doctor or administered treatment in time. Each time he apologized to the doctor for not stopping his father from having a whiskey.
"He won't listen to me doctor; I am not always around to stop him."
"Maybe I had better have a word with him." said the doctor.
"No, I'll tell him." Jamie lied.
After the fourth and final stroke the doctor said there was nothing more to be done.
As the doctor closed his father's eyes for the final time Ruth buried her face in Jamie's shoulder. He led her out of the room into the lounge. Leaving her alone with her grief he went into the hallway to the phone.
Clive, it's Jamie, it's all over. The wines mine now. Are we still agreed on the price? OK good. I'll let you know when you can collect. Have to do some mourning first."
The day of the will reading came. Jamie and Ruth were told that it would be held outside in the grounds. When asked why the lawyer said it was the instructions in the will. As expected Ruth was left the house. The lawyer hesitated as he read further.
"This part is most peculiar." he said, "It says, ' my wine collection will be split, half going to my son Jamie."
At this point the lawyer stopped and proceeded to open the bottles which had been stacked outside. He then began pouring the wine into a nearby drain.
Jamie stared open-mouthed for a moment then jumped up from his seat.
"What the hell are you doing?" he shouted.
"Sorry Mr. Foggarty, Just following the instructions to the letter of the law. It says here ' If that greedy no good son of mine thinks I'm stupid enough to let him touch my wine then he's mistaken. I promised him that he could have the bottles and that's the half he'll jolly well get.'