Someone From The Past Pt 02

This is a Romance story in 3 parts, all written, which will be released to Literotica as each one is edited, so hopefully they will appear just a few days apart.

There will be some sex involved in later segments but if you are looking for something a little steamier, then, as I stated in previous parts, this might not be the tale for you.

All characters depicted as engaging in sexual activity are over 18 years of age.

As always constructive comments or criticism are welcome but please remember to enjoy it, it is just a story.

It isn't real. It's just a figment of my overactive imagination.

I hope you enjoy it.

Someone from the Past - Part 2

Chapter 5 - Revelations...

"Gwen!"

Lost in her thoughts she was so busy studying the sky that she looked around more than a little startled when the familiar voice took her completely by surprise.

Thrown by his sudden appearance, her heart started to race like a trip hammer in her chest, as she struggled to find the words to answer him.

"Rob... I... err... hi... I."

It was the first time she had spoken to him since that night after the leavers party, 5 years before, when he had told her he was going away to university and had broken her heart in the process.

Of course he hadn't known how she felt about him.

As far as she was concerned to him she was just a sad lonely girl that he had befriended at school. The fact that she was head over heels in love with him was a secret she had told no-one.

"Hello Gwen, I... I thought it was you."

As he got closer and spoke again she felt a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach and struggled to suppress the urge to hug him, unsure how she might react if he hugged her back.

"H... hello Rob... I err... I was sorry to hear about your parents. How are you?"

"Thanks, I'm guess I'm doing ok... considering everything. How about you?" Shrugging, he stopped a couple of feet in front of her, "You look fantastic by the way."

She blushed, her cheeks turning a deep red, "Thank you and like you I... I'm doing fine."

For a moment they just looked at each other, both of them at a loss as to what to say next.

"I was sorry to hear about your mother." He eventually broke the silence, returning the kindness she had shown him, "My parents told me what happened."

"Thanks." She mumbled again, "It was a blessing in the end."

"It must have been tough for you though?"

"Yes, yes it was but I managed to survive... mostly thanks to Christine and your parents."

"Christine?"

"My boss."

"Oh right." He nodded before continuing, "Mum did tell me how you'd become friends with them when I spoke to her."

The pair of them fell silent again, both obviously thinking about what to say next, the ancient history between them clearly occupying their thoughts.

"How's Ali..."

"Where are you..."

Speaking simultaneously, they both stopped mid-sentence, grinning stupidly at each other.

"After you." Rob politely offered.

"No, it's... it's ok..."

"Please. What were you going to say?"

"Thanks." Gwen smiled shyly this time, "I was just going to ask you how Alice was coping? She hasn't been in at school since..."

"She's doing ok considering everything she's been through. You know how kids are." He grinned back at her, "How about you? What are you up to now?"

"Oh, I err... I'm a teacher, I work at the school." She pointed over her shoulder in the general direction of the local school just along the street, "I've been there a couple of years now."

"That's brilliant. You enjoy it?"

"Yeah it's nice. Chris, my boss, the one I told you about, she's great."

"You don't teach Alice by any chance, do you?"

"Yes, I noticed she was back at school today but I didn't want to say anything and upset her."

Just as she said it the first drops of rain started to splatter noisily onto the concrete around them

"Damn." She continued, looking up at the darkening sky, "I'm going to get wet."

"Come over to the garage." Rob glanced up and then took her hand, starting to lead her after him, "You can wait out the shower in the dry."

"But I'll miss my bus?" Gwen objected half-heartedly, a tingle of excitement starting in her core at the simple touch of his hand.

"Where are you off to?" Ignoring her weak protest, he guided her through the doors and out of the rain.

"Umm... I was just heading into town. I err... I have an appointment this afternoon."

"Meeting your husband?"

"No, I... err... I don't have a husband. It's with a solicitor, Henry Chambers." She informed him, holding up her left hand to confirm what she had said to him about not being married.

"Oh really." Rob looked at her in surprise, "I'm due to meet with him at one-thirty,"

"How do you know him?" She asked with more than a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

"He is, or should I say was, my parent's solicitor. It's for the reading of their will."

"But that's when I..."

Gwen stopped and stared at her teenage crush, the sudden realisation that she was something to do with the Davenport's will shocking her into silence.

"Look, if you're going to the same place as I am why not let me give you a lift. Otherwise, you're going to get soaked standing at the bus stop." Rob offered as the downpour started to get heavier.

Gwen paused and thought for a second, looking out at the deluge.

"Ok, I guess I could as we're going to the same place." She agreed somewhat hesitantly.

"Great, just give me a few minutes to lock up and then we can get going."

Hurrying, Rob quickly shut up the garage, ushering Gwen out to his car before pulling the large double doors closed and padlocking them.

"Ok, all set." He grinned, sliding into the driver's seat next to her, "Shall we go and see what this is all about?"

"Sure." Trying to smile she replied anxiously.

Gazing out of the car window, watching the world go by and sitting next to the boy she had been madly in love with since she was a teenager, Gwen tried to sort out the numerous confusing thoughts that insisted on filling her head.

'Why did the solicitor want to see her?'

'What was Rob going to do now?'

'Exactly who was the girl who had been with him at the funeral?'

'What would happen to Alice?'

Sifting through them one at a time she attempted to rationalise each of them in turn.

First and foremost, she had absolutely no clue as to why Henry Chambers had asked to see her. If the Davenports had bequeathed her something in their will she definitely knew nothing about it.

She had certainly been friends with Rob's parents and had spent a lot of time over the last two years at their house, especially with Alice who she had come to regard as the younger sister she never had.

'Perhaps it was about Alice?'

Surely that was Rob's responsibility now though? He was her brother, an adult, and more than capable of looking after her.

But then wouldn't that be dependent on what he was going to do?

'Was he going to go back to London?'

"What will you do now Rob?" Without thinking she blurted out what was on her mind, "Are you going to go back to London?"

"Sorry, what?"

Gwen swallowed nervously; she hadn't meant to say it out loud but now she had she waited for an answer.

"I err... I was wondering what you were planning to do... you know, now the funeral is over and done with?"

He glanced across at her, "I honestly don't know Gwen. I need to go back home. I have a job and a flat there plus I really do need to talk to Jenna."

"Was... was she the girl at the funeral with you?" She asked hesitantly not really sure she wanted to hear his answer.

"You were there?"

"Yes, I... I saw you with her."

"Yeah that was Jenna, but she had to return to London for her job and... well it's complicated."

His response partially answered one of her concerns as to who his glamorous companion had been.

"She's ah... very pretty. Is... is she your girlfriend."

"Yeah, I guess so." His reply sounded somewhat vague.

"So, what does she do?"

He chuckled, "She's a model. Or at least that's what she wants to be. She's went back to London because she has a photoshoot scheduled for Thursday."

Gwen wanted to ask more about the redhead; to find out exactly what their relationship was but, given his obvious reluctance to talk about her, she decided against it. It was clear to her they were together and he had told her his final decision, on what he was going to do, hinged on whatever she said.

"When do you think you'll go back?"

"I have a meeting with the accountant tomorrow so probably Friday morning, as long as I can find someone to take care of Alice for a couple of nights."

Biting her lip Gwen said nothing.

Under any other circumstances she might have offered to look after the eight-year-old but, until they had had their meeting with the solicitor, she wasn't sure if she wanted Rob to know how close her relationship with his sister and his parents had been.

It was easier if he just thought of her as her teacher and a friend and nothing more.

Of course, there was also the fact that she disliked the other girl, Jenna, intensely even though she had never met her.

"Couldn't she stay with one of her friends?" She offered guardedly.

"I suppose she could but I don't really know them or their parents." Rob pointed out his problem with her suggestion, "So I wouldn't know who to ask."

"Maybe I could suggest someone."

"That might be helpful."

The pair of them fell silent and Gwen went back to looking out of the car, quietly contemplating whether or not she should offer to child mind for him.

As well as being the little girl's teacher she had grown to adore Alice in the last couple of years and the thought of how she must be feeling at the loss of her parents broke her heart.

"We're here." Rob interrupted her thoughts a few minutes later, as he pulled the car in to the side of the road.

"Oh, right."

His announcement brought her back to the reason for her journey and, once again, she started to speculate why the solicitor wanted her to be at the reading of the will.

"What do you think is in the will?" Gwen asked once they were out of the car.

"I guess we'll have to wait and see."

Ten minutes later they were upstairs on the third floor being shown into a stuffy, rather dated wood panelled office with several bookcases lining its walls.

"Robert, Gwen. Thank you both for coming." Rising from his chair Henry Chambers greeted them with a smile, "I was so sorry to hear about your parents Rob, and your mother Gwen."

"Thanks." Rob replied for the two of them, "So, what's this all about Mr Chambers?"

"First, can I get either of you a tea or a coffee?"

After they had both declined his offer of refreshments the solicitor picked up the sheet of paper on his desk and got down to business, "I need to go over George and Juila's will with you Rob, as Alice's guardian, as well as you Miss Davis, as its other main beneficiary."

"What?" Rob looked up sharply.

"Me?" Gwen added at the same time.

"There are a few small bequests to be dealt with but basically you two are the key recipients." Henry waved them down and began reading from the paper in front of him.

"Robert, first and foremost, your parents have requested you become Alice's legal guardian... along with Miss Davis."

"What?" Both Gwen and Rob exclaimed together.

"It seems they were concerned that you might not... umm... how should I put it, want to have custody of your sister Rob."

"That's ridiculous, of course I want her, and anyway is it even legal for someone not a family member to be appointed to be a guardian to a child?"

The solicitor nodded, "I'm afraid it is as long as Miss Davis agrees."

"But..." Rob spluttered turning to look at Gwen, "Surely..."

"I can contest it in court if you wish." Henry told him, glancing between the two of them, "However, a judge would look very carefully at the reasons for your parents appointing her plus there's her background as a teacher and..."

"No, that won't be necessary." Interrupting him Rob shook his head and glanced at Gwen, who looked back at him totally bemused.

"Then I'll take care of all the formalities as long as you're both happy for me to do it."

"I... I guess I'm ok." Gwen said quietly, her heart racing in her chest as she viewed Rob, "How about you?"

For a moment he gazed back at her and then nodded, it was a discussion they could have after the meeting, "Please Henry, just go ahead. I'm fine with it."

The solicitor made a note on the document and continued.

"Good. The garage and the cottage are yours and your sisters Rob, you both have a half share, to do with as you see fit. As well as that there is a small trust fund set aside for Alice that she'll receive when she turns eighteen."

"And Gwen? Is it just the question of her being Alice's guardian." Rob asked.

The older man turned to smile at her, "There's a bequest of £10,000 for Ms Davis and a smaller one of £5,000 for Anthony Morrant, Mr Davenport's mechanic."

Listening to him tell her what she had been given, on top of the shock of being asked to be a guardian to Alice, Gwen simply sat open mouthed, unable to speak.

"Is that it?" Rob enquired.

"Basically yes. Everything else is yours and your sisters. There will be a few documents to sign but I'll be in touch with you both in the coming days about those. There is likely to be a sizeable settlement from the owners of the lorry that caused the accident and I also believe that there are life insurance policies on both your parents Rob. But I'm you're your accountant will know more about those."

"Do we know how much either of those things might be?"

"I'll let you know as soon as the dust settles and an offer has been made. As for the life insurances I'll speak to Brian about them but essentially you're now a pretty wealthy man."

"Shit." He breathed out, his brain trying to process what he had just been told.

"There is one other thing." The solicitor said handing them a plain white envelope each as they both stood ready to leave, "These are from your mother Rob."

Almost immediately Gwen went to open hers.

"Wait. Her instructions were for you both to read them after you leave this office." Henry stopped her, "When you're alone."

"Do you know what is in..."

"I'm sorry, they were given to me sealed." The solicitor shook his head, "My guess is that its private, for your eyes only."

There was nothing more to be said so wrapping up their meeting they both shook hands with him before they left.

Closing the door behind them they stood at the top of the staircase both of them lost in their thoughts for a second.

"Rob, I... I had no idea..." She turned to him,

"Me neither."

Gwen held up her envelope, "What do you think is in them?"

"I've absolutely no idea about that either." Rob looked at his own wondering exactly the same...

Chapter 6 - What Next...

Walking down the stairs they lapsed back into silence, both of them preoccupied with what they had been told.

Leaving the building and stepping out onto the pavement Rob turned to her, "I guess we should have a talk Gwen?"

Her breath caught in her throat, "Yeah, I... I suppose we should. Are you ok for time though?"

"Yeah I'm good. I don't have to be at school to pick Alice up until a quarter past three." He replied, checking his watch.

"No, of course you don't. Stupid of me to ask." She mumbled.

"Fancy a coffee?" Taking her arm, he began to guide her across the street without waiting for an answer.

"Sure." Gwen said rather pointlessly as he led her along.

Steering her towards a nearby café Rob tried to make some sense of the confusion in his head.

He had started the day fairly certain of what his immediate future consisted of, of course he needed to talk to Jenna, but other than that he had a clear idea in his mind what his two main options were.

Now, in the space of a little less than forty-five minutes, literally everything had changed.

The garage finances were healthy enough but now, with what the solicitor had told him, it looked like he was going to be a lot better off than he originally thought. Not that it made up for losing his parents but it would certainly soften the blow for him and for Alice.

With the two life insurance policies, that Henry Chambers had told him about, to add to what promised to be a sizeable settlement from the haulage company whose vehicle had caused the accident, the final payout could be a life-changing amount for him and his sister.

'What might that amount be?'

He would have to speak to his accountant to get a better idea.

Then, much more importantly, there was the small matter of his Alice?

She was his number one priority and he had already made up his mind that whatever else happened, regardless of what he decided to do, he was going to take care of her. However, his parents clearly hadn't been as certain of his actions and now he would be sharing custody with Gwen.

'Maybe she would decline?'

'Should he contest the will if she didn't?'

He thought for a moment and then dismissed the idea of fighting his parents wishes. They had been right to have concerns about him, after the last few years and the gulf that had grown up between them.

It had been all his fault, he knew that. At first he had been too busy with his studies and his new friends to make time to go home and see his family. Then, later on, it had been his new job and Jenna. Her life was in London and she had been focused on her what had then been her embryonic modelling career.

However, he was determined to prove them wrong. Alice was his sister and his responsibility now, and he wasn't going to let her down.

'What about the feelings he had for Gwen?'

Glancing to the side he took a moment to study the raven-haired girl walking next to him. Ever since he had returned and had seen her in the distance at the funeral she had stirred up feelings in him that he thought he had forgotten.

"What?" Gwen looked back at him and smiled shyly, "Have I got something on my face?"

"It's nothing." He grinned back at her, "I was just thinking how much you've changed."

"For the better or worse?" The giggle that accompanied her words sent a shiver of desire all the way up his spine.

"I'll tell you once I get to know the new you a little better." Chuckling he teased her as he held open the coffee shop door.

She didn't reply and, still looking curiously at him, remained silent as she stepped inside.

"Robert Davenport? Is that actually you?" A woman's voice greeted them as he followed closely behind her.

"Mrs Baxter?" He stopped and looked in surprise at the middle-aged owner of the coffee shop standing behind the counter, "I thought you would have retired by now and settled for a quieter life."

"No, I'm still going I'm afraid." She stepped out and embraced him, "I was sorry to hear about your parents Rob."

"Thanks. Can we get two cappuccinos, please?"

"How long has it been since I last saw you?" Standing back Heather Baxter looked him up and down and smiled, "It seems like forever."

"Probably before I went off to university." Rob looked back at her rather sheepishly, "At least five years or so."

"Well, whatever, it's been far too long." She gazed at him regretfully, "It's nice to see you again, even if it is under such sad circumstances. Have these on me."

After thanking her he and Gwen extricated themselves to settle in a quiet corner of the coffee shop.

"I honestly knew nothing about any of this Rob, I swear. Especially the bit about being Alice's guardian, I..." She started to speak as soon as they sat down.