Sarah Watson's family secret

The $20,000 and the little black book

Sarah walked out of her deceased father's attorney's office in the CBD with the little green box, which contained a gift and the check for $20,000 from the Commonwealth Bank. She was not sure what she would find. Sarah crossed Martin Place's pathway looking for her car. When she finally gets into the car, she cannot wait to arrive home to open the box and discover what was inside? Sarah already knew how she would use the money from her inheritance. The chestnut hair woman would probably use it to start a new business venture, especially after closing her coffee shop due to the Covid19 pandemic.

After her fingers slid through the beige laces to open the green box, Sarah thought she would find a marvellous old edition from her favourite Irish writer George Bernard Shaw. She was not sure. However, his father, Jack, was a notorious thoughtful giver; he got a talent for choosing details that made his gifts exceptional. She had never found this characteristic in another man she encountered later in her life.

The leather from the little black book was shining, even when it was not a new item. Sarah opened it to read the first page. She was shocked. The first page was a guide with instructions to find her half-brother from his father's previous relationship, which she and her mother ignored utterly. And her half-sister from other relationship his father had simultaneously while Sarah's mother was still alive.

Sarah could not restrain the tears in her eyes. She could not believe his father could have lost all control over his passions. The worst part let her take charge of the aftermath with a message explaining: "They are your family now. I hope you take good advantage of these relations. It is up to you to share the money. I love you, Jack."

The final lines were like a slap to her face in a metaphorical sense. What was she supposed to do with these siblings she had never met? His father did not have dementia, Alzheimer, Parkinson's disease; he died from a stroke. What did motivate him to do something like this? Why did he leave behind this last secret to make her follow up clues and discover the truth behind the children of his lust?

Sarah felt a mixture of emotions: anger, betrayal, resentment, confusion, embarrassment, fear and a little bit of anxiety. She did not feel the desire to look after them. Also, sharing her money with strangers was not something she could perceive as reasonable. What could these strangers or stranged siblings become to her now? She did not imagine it would be plausible to establish a close connection with these strangers. The pristine heiress left the little black notebook on the seat next to her. She starts the car's engine to run some errands across Sydney.

One week later, Sarah was making a cup of Strawberry tea at 09:00 am. Her mobile phone started to ring. She answered immediately.

-"Good morning, Sarah speaking. Who am I talking to?"

-"Hi...hi, Sarah. I am sorry for interrupting you. I mean, you do not know me. I am Aaron, your half brother. Dad left me a black book with a message to look for my half-sisters."

Listening to this voice transfigured Sarah's facial expression, which suddenly showed pain and confusion. She did not know what to say or what to do.

-"Are you there? Hello, Sarah."

-"Wait. Yes, it is me. Aaron, I do not know what to say. Do you, Did my father leave you a box, too?"

-"Yes, he did. I was shocked like you are now."

-"I did not know what to do? I did not want to contact you or Bonnie. I am sorry."

-"Look, we should meet. I had already talked to Bonnie; she is happy to see us. Do you think we could meet the three of us next Thursday in Fortune of War to drink some pints and talk at 06:00 pm?"

-"Look, I will think about it. I do not promise anything."

-"Ok, Sarah. Relax! You know it shocked me, too, but after all this, I am feeling curious. Also, I do not have other brothers or sisters. It is up to you. But I would like to have the chance of letting my sons know their aunts."

-"Aaron, I cannot promise you. I will be there, but I will think about it."

-"I will respect your desire."

Sarah's facial expression after saying "goodbye" was painful. She could not believe his father provided all of them a little black book like hers to contact the others. She was not glad but a little bit angry due to this new acquaintance's intromission in her life. She did not ask for it. She did not know anything about him. Why should she force herself to meet someone she has never seen before and suddenly had become her family?

However, her mind's thoughts made her ask herself, did my father leave money to these people? Sarah feels the urgency to verify that. Even when she was not interested in meeting her nephews, she did not like to show a clear expression of her intentions, so calling Aaron back to ask that question would be an absolute mistake.

Sarah decided to call his father's lawyer. However, she had no doubts that Mr Samuel Brooks will provide her with more details about the black books. Nothing went as planned. Samuel explained to her that Jack had asked to arrange separated meetings with each one of them. And he could not provide more details as Jack had requested him. Sarah felt angry, but she knew she must go to that meeting to see if they had more money than her after the phone call.

The day of the meeting, Sarah drove her Renault towards the encounter. She walked to the Fortune of War bar, and she noticed it was a lovely sunny afternoon of summer. She was not sure about how the not accepted yet family members looked.

Sarah went to the bar, and she asked quietly "Where is Aaron Stone?".

The bartender whispered, let me show where he is seated. She followed him in the pub, a little bit agitated by her already altered nerves. She finally found a tall thin man with blue eyes and red hair with a grin. Sarah smiled back.

-"Hello, lovely to meet you."

-"Hi, I am glad that you come."

-"Well, I was not sure, to be honest." Sarah replied.

Suddenly a small figure with blonde hair and grey eyes saluted them.

-"Hey guys, I am Bonnie. I am glad to see you."

Undoubtfully, she was the happiest one of all of them. She was the youngest. Probably something between 32 or 35 years old. Aaron was enthusiastic to see someone more pleased than Sarah and himself.

-"Hello, Bonnie. You made me feel like I had known you all my life."- Aaron expressed.

Aaron hugged her, and Bonnie responded to this affectionated action similarly. Sarah felt like she was watching an over sugarcoated soap opera. Sarah was feeling disturbed about how it could be possible that these two strangers could feel so happy to find each other. Anyways, she was not there to tear apart anybody's happiness.

They sat together and ordered some beer and wine. Sarah was waiting for the best moment to ask the question, which was why she comes aboard to this meeting. Aaron told how fascinated he was to find he got two sisters. Her mother was a young flame for his father, but he did not stay in Sydney, Jack travelled to study abroad, so her mother met and married another man. For that reason, his last name was not Watson.

Meanwhile, Bonnie was in her own words 'the fruit of an indiscretion.' Her mother was an Italian working holiday visa holder. She met Jack, his father, in the workplace, while he was an excellent high-end restaurant manager.

Sarah could not avoid a laconic "I never knew, I guess my mum neither". Aaron tried to cheer her up and avoid getting any deceitful feeling for Jack. "It is the past. He is dead, Sarah. At least, he raised you. Meanwhile, Bonnie, I guess Jack saw her sometimes, but I never did until five years ago when he started to have heart problems."

-"Sorry. I did not want to make you feel rejected by me. However, you must understand that I felt like I was living a lie. You knew the man in every aspect; I felt like I grew up in a fake picture of a happy family with a phoney father, who neglected one child and hid another. I wish you understand me. Disappointment is a soft and delicate word to describe what is happening with my emotions since I discovered you.-"

Bonnie keeps her charm, but she pointed straightforwardly:

-"We are not responsible for our father's choices. You cannot direct those feelings towards us. You got the right to feel them. However, you cannot keep us accountable for something we did not have control at all, darling.-"

-"I know.-"

Sarah took the glass of wine and finished it like she had to use the sparkling liquid to swallow his anger after acknowledging Bonnie's righteous comment.

Aaron prefers to keep his mouth shut rather than expressing another disapproving point of view towards Sarah's extreme cruel comment. He also drank from his pint. There was quietness on the table for two minutes until Sarah cannot hold her tongue. She asked directly.

-"You know something. I would like to know if my father let you some inheritance with your black books.-"

Aaron's eyes expressed discomfort.

"-What money? I only received a black book with a message saying I got two sisters and how to contact them.-"

Bonnie looked at Aaron and Sarah with a perplexed expression.

-"My father only left me the apartment he bought to my mother. I had lived there all my life, and he paid for my education. He had not given me anything else beyond the black book to contact you. Why are you asking that question?-"

Sarah was surprised. Suddenly, she could recognise his father had found some guiltiness in his behaviour. For that reason, he decided to let the money, and the Manly house, where she grew up with her mother and him to her. Bonnie was economically protected by Jack, too.

In some way, Sarah's anger diminished. She recognised his father was trying to offer some apology with his action. As Jack always did, he provided her with enough independence to make her own choices. Now, it still was up to her to share the money. She slowly regained her composure.

-"Nothing in particular. I was just curious.-"

Aaron stared at Sarah with some intrigue. Sarah was a good poker player. Bonnie believed her without giving a second thought. Sarah did not lose more time, and she asked:

-"Well, what is the name of your children, Aaron?-"

Aaron started to give a lively description of his sons Leo and Mark. He was delighted with raising the kids. In his own words, "After he felt a little bit rejected by the fact that his biological father just left him while he was growing up."

Sarah felt sympathy for him for the first time. She acknowledges how challenging the experience of being abandoned by his father could have been for Aaron. It gave Sarah's reassurance about the commitment of his father of not leaving her. The newly composed family drink one last round of beer and wine. Afterwards, they said "goodbyes" and "see you soon". And they kept in contact. Sarah just used half of her money to support a sponsor an orphan charity. Also, Sarah forgave Jack. And the most significant part of the story, Sarah enjoyed some warm and exciting moments with Bonnie and Aaron.

With a clear vision for the future, the most valuable gift Jack left to his son and his daughters were the black books.