Chapter Three: Owen's Reckoning
For the next four days life at the Spa began to settle into a routine of sorts. In the mornings Taryn and Rosina would make breakfast for everyone. Owen would do the breakfast dishes, (usually with either Taryn or Rosina helping). Taryn and Karen would then go upstairs to work in the Spa, Rosina would go to the hospital and work her day shift, Owen and Veronica would take the bus together to college. In the evening when everyone got home, Karen and Veronica would make supper and Owen would do the dishes, (with either Taryn or Rosina helping). After dinner, everyone would relax and visit together, if Owen or Veronica had homework or studying to do, they would do it in the dining room. At bed time, Veronica and Karen would go off to bed and Owen would lie down in the sleeping bag for about half an hour before joining Taryn and Rosina in bed. The trio would wake up early on the pretence of making breakfast to reduce the risk of Karen catching them in bed together.
Veronica made good use of the upheaval and change in the household to her advantage. Veronica made a point to hug her mother tightly and kiss her on the lips every time she: left home, came home, first thing in the morning, and just before bedtime. Karen resisted at first but by the end of day three, and after receiving the new hugs and kisses countless times by now, Karen stopped flinching and just accepted it. She didn't particularly enjoy it, but she did allow it to happen. Eventually Karen even began to expect it, whenever she saw her daughter approaching.
At no time did Owen, Taryn or Rosina seem to be a hindrance or in the way, even though they were staying in the living room. Everyone made the best of it and pitched in to help each other out. Karen loaned Taryn a few outfits that seemed to fit. Veronica had an item or two that Rosina could wear. Owen wasn't so lucky, he had to make do with a few sale items from a local bargain store, but he didn't complain. Owen, Taryn and Rosina helped out when and where they could, hoping to pay Karen and Veronica back for their hospitality.
The only thing that put a damper on things was that everyone was anxious to hear of news about Richard or the family's money. It was as if Owen, Taryn and Rosina couldn't start to get on with their lives until this chapter was finished. They wanted to know, one way or another, what happened to Richard and the family's money. Even if nothing could be done about it, just to know for certain, one way or another. It has been said that you should be careful what you wish for, you just might get it, such is the case with this. Four days after the Thompson's arrived at the Spa to stay, they had a visitor who indeed had the news the Thompson's were looking for.
Tony entered the Spa's apartment that evening and looked uncomfortable just to be there. Nobody knew whether it was the news he brought or the fact that he was in Karen's house. Either way he followed Veronica into the apartment and paused just inside the door. Karen saw Tony and walked towards him to greet him, like any other guest in her home. The years had dulled her anger over what had happened with the divorce and the bustle of activity around the apartment these past few days had lifted her spirits. Even seeing her Ex-husband could not get her down, Karen seemed to like a crowded house.
"Good Evening Tony, you look tired, have a seat, won't you?" Karen asked as she approached Tony and took Tony's coat.
"Thanks, it's been a rough few days," Tony said wearily as he sat heavily in the single chair in the living room.
"For all of us," Taryn said as she entered the living room. "Hello, Tony," she said as she lightly hugged Tony and kissed him on the cheek before sitting down on the couch herself.
"Indeed," Tony added grimly with a nod of his head.
Silently everyone gathered around Tony, anxious to hear what he had to say. Owen and Rosina sat beside Taryn on the couch, squished together, Karen sat right beside Rosina and Veronica sat on the floor, leaning up against Karen. Karen absentmindedly began playing with Veronica's hair, much to Veronica's surprise and delight. Tony looked over at the five people on the couch and sighed heavily, not sure if he knew how to tell them the news he brought.
"The first thing I want to say is how terrible I feel about what has happened," Tony said with genuine regret.
"It wasn't your fault," Taryn assured Tony, and in reply Tony smiled, briefly.
"I only hope that I could have seen some sign, some hint of what he was going to do," Tony started out but paused briefly as he fumbled for words. "I honestly thought he was retiring early and moving to Montana. I thought it was a good change for him. Until you phoned, I had no idea that there were any problems in his life," Tony said and sighed heavily as he looked down, unable to continue for the moment. "I'm his wife and I never saw any sign that he was going to run off with our life savings?" Taryn said with just a hint of anger entering her voice.
"He didn't run away," Tony said as he rubbed his face with his hand, sighing heavily. "When they were investigating the fire, they found some . . . remains . . . some bones. They're pretty sure they're Richard's but we should know for certain in a few days," Tony said with a sombre tone of voice.
"Oh my God, he's dead?" Taryn shouted in shock, and at that Owen hugged Taryn and she clutched Owen tight.
"There's more," Tony began, "He left a note . . . he mailed it, he fucking mailed me his suicide note!" Tony said in shock and anger and paused to sob a few tears before he got a hold of himself.
"SUICIDE NOTE?" Taryn shouted in shock.
"Yeah, the fire was no accident, Richard started the fire and killed himself in the house," Tony said with a sad tone of voice, this subject was clearly difficult for him to talk about.
"Oh my God! That's unbelievable, But why? What about the . . ." Taryn started to stammer but words failed her. She couldn't come out and ask what happened to the money, even though she was wondering that very thing.
"In his note he said that he hated his life and that he had become a tool for greed and hatred. He said that he had seen so much profit from death that he wanted nobody to profit from his . . . he says he gave everything to charities," Tony said, his voice sounding almost apologetic.
"That's unbelievable! How could he do such a thing? Why would he do this to his family? . . . Can I read the note? Do you have it?" Taryn fumbled and stammered, yet managed to get out.
"I don't have the note, the police have it, but I never told them about this one," Tony says as he pulls an envelope out of his pocket. "This one was in the envelope he mailed to me, this one is addressed to you," he said as he handed Owen the note.
"Me?" Owen said in disbelief as he started at the envelope in his hands, in Richard's handwriting were the words, "To Owen."
