Trouble in the Barnard Family

Sheila Mason began work for Len Barnard as a housekeeper and there was no hint of any impropriety between them. But over time Barnard grew fond of this woman who pulled out all stops to keep the home clean, cook and care for his children’s needs. Eventually Barnard asked if she felt she needed to return to her family and she said no. It would be better for them if she didn’t return. Two years after leaving Sydney Sheila Mason requested a divorce through Barnard’s lawyers. He assured Stanley his mother had never been taken advantage of and had never sought his attentions. However, after the divorce had been granted Barnard decided it would be better if he married Sheila as people were naturally thinking there was a relationship between them, and he didn’t want that kind of reputation. Sheila agreed grateful to Barnard for his kindness in taking her in when she was to the point of suicide on that job at the hotel. Barnard understood her boys could view his new wife with anger, but they’d already grown to love her. Len assured Stanley his mother was a good woman, and she’d agreed to meet her son in the presence of her husband as she’d carried guilt since leaving them as children and wanted Barnard’s support as she made her confession.

Stanley sat thoughtfully considering what had just been revealed. The word that had circulated among father and children was that this man had enticed their mother away from them and he was to be hated. Perhaps Barnard was the good man Stanley had heard recommended by those who knew him in Adelaide and there was another side to the story. It would be hard to convince his brothers and sister this was the case. He turned to Barnard.

“I’d like to meet my stepsister too if that is considered to be appropriate.”

Barnard nodded and looked at his watch.

“I need to be getting home Stanley. I’ll be in contact again if Sheila agrees to meet with you and we’ll work out a time and place.”

The next morning, he received a text message that Barnard and Stanley’s mother would visit him at the hotel that evening at 7.30 pm but not to plan on a meal just an initial brief meeting as Sheila was finding this to be a very stressful reunion.

That evening the woman who’d smiled at him on the first day he’d decided to spy out where his mother lived arrived, but she was not smiling this time rather it was obvious she’d been crying. Barnard shepherded her to the meeting room protectively. It was obvious there was a great deal of affection in this marriage.

Sheila and Stanley sat in silence trying to read each other’s thoughts, then spontaneously Stanley slowly got up and approached his mother. He extended his arm and touched her face, and she shivered. Both wept and Sheila got up and pulled her son into her arms she whispered in his ear.

“I’m so sorry Stanley. Please tell the rest of the family I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I did what I did but I do know that without this man who you may hate I’d have been on the streets of King’s Cross with slashed wrists by morning if I hadn’t been rescued. This does not excuse what I did and you no doubt hate me for deserting you but there’s no way I can make it up to you now and can only say sorry. I’m glad you took the trouble to seek me out as I could never have faced you otherwise.”

They stood in embrace for what seemed eternity then Barnard cleared his throat.

“Stanley, I’m taking you mother home now. This has been a very traumatic experience for her agreeing to meet you and she needs to rest now. I’ll be in contact with you after a while and we’ll explore the way forward from here. You can report to your families about our meeting, and we’ll see how they feel about what has happened this evening. You can keep in touch with me, and I’ll decide where we go from here.

As his wife lay sleeping that evening after her traumatic reunion with one of her sons by the previous marriage Len Barnard sat at his desk thinking. His boys and Trisha were out visiting their friends and would be home soon. He’d told them to buy their own food for the evening as he and Sheila would be in town at their normal mealtime. How was he supposed to communicate what had happened that evening to his family. The boys had missed their birth mother so had bonded with Sheila quickly as children when she poured her love into them missing her own children after arriving in Adelaide to be their housekeeper and substitute mother. They were happy when Len and Sheila eventually married not understanding what divorce was all about at that age. So, from their point of view, she was their mother and when their sister appeared on the scene after their father’s re-marriage, they treated Trisha like a princess and the three children were firmly bonded with each other and their parents. How would they react if they came to know Trisha Barnard was a half-sister to another family if this was revealed to them now. His heart had been touched seeing Stanley reunite with his mother and he was sorry he’d reported him to the police thinking he might be a dangerous threat to his family.  He decided to share with his eldest son now taking a heavy load in administration in his company Barnard Enterprises. So, when the children came home, he reported that their mother Sheila had retired early, and he asked his eldest son John to join him in the office while James and Trisha went to their rooms to work on their evening assignments.

An hour later John soberly went to his own room to think about what he’d learned. He sat by the bed staring at the roof and trying to decide how he felt about the fact the sister who he loved dearly had half-brothers and a sister of the same first name. Now that he was aware of one of these called Stanley Mason and understood that this had all come to a head because of a private detective looking into his sister’s web page he decided to check out Facebook. He found Trish Mason Sykes on Facebook and his eyes grew wide in surprise as he saw her picture. It could have been his own sister’s photo. Then he turned to the Facebook page of Stanley Mason and thoroughly examined his Bonafide’s and that of his friends and then his brothers and their family and friends.

He shut down his laptop and sat in thought. He was beginning to feel irritation at the fact the woman he loved as a mother belonged to another family too. Why had this information been withheld from he and his brother James. Then he thought of a practical consideration that could be potentially threatening to he and his brother’s inheritance. Could this other family have any claim on the business when his father eventually died? He’d not tolerate that. He was angry now at his father and this woman he’d regarded as a mother. It was time to get the succession plan clarified so only he and his brother owned the business after his father passed on. He was unsure how he felt about sharing with his sister and Sheila now. He climbed into bed and tossed around for the rest of the night eventually arising to get ready for his workday. He’d talk with his father at work and make sure the succession plan was in order. Sheila who was feeling upbeat after meeting her son Stanley and reconciling the previous day greeted John cheerfully and placed her hand on him in the usual loving greeting, but John swept her arm away. The rest of the family reacted in surprise at this unusual angry gesture.

His brother James who loved Sheila very much challenged his brother to be more respectful and their father Len and Trisha his daughter shook their heads in disapproval. John pushed James out the way and headed for the door. He needed to be out of the home before he really let his anger out. John paused at the door and addressed his father.

“Perhaps you need to tell the others why I’m angry dad and we need to have a long talk when you get to the office.”

Sheila, James and Trisha turned to their father expectantly waiting for clarification. Len Barnard sat at the head of the table staring at his breakfast and to their further surprise he began to weep.  They’d never seen their father cry before, and Sheila and Trisha rushed to comfort him. They were nonplussed at this strange turn of events because there’d never been a cross word in their family in all the time, they’d been together. James sped outside to challenge his brother, but John was already heading out the entrance to their property in his car spinning wheels as he entered the main road. He’d see his brother at work and give him a good talking to for this act of rudeness.

Len Barnard made no explanation but was happy for the support of his wife and children and with reluctance left for the office with James who decided to go with him today rather than taking his motorcycle. He normally met up with friends or came home on time but Len his father often had evening meetings with clients and needed to keep the car for his return home. He’d stick closely by his father today to give him support.

As soon as they arrived at the office James walked protectively to see his father was not challenged by his brother. He knew that if it came to physicals, he could better his elder brother in a fight. As he was leaving for his own office John burst in angrily and James took up a position to shield his father. John spoke angrily. He reviewed what he’d learned the previous evening for his brother’s sake and then demanded to know what that meant for he and his brother in the will. Could this be challenged by the Mason family, so they got benefit from Barnard Enterprises on their father’s death? Why had they never been told that Sheila had another family when she arrived in Adelaide to look after their home and interests. His father sat shaking his head as he processed his eldest son’s anger.

Eventually John ran out of steam and then Len begun to fill in the rest of the details about how he’d discovered Sheila and assure them neither he nor Sheila had harboured any romantic interests before Sheila’s divorce. He was totally unapologetic for rescuing this woman from a potential suicide and said that he’d have done so for anyone he thought would be on the verge of taking their own life whether it happened to be a man or woman. He was a religious man, and he felt it was his duty to intervene. The children had been very young when Sheila arrived in Adelaide and wouldn’t have been capable of understanding all that transpired. He challenged his sons to name any time when anything improper had taken place in their presence or whether they felt Sheila had not poured her genuine love into them as they grew up. John immediately calmed down as he thought of the logic of his father’s explanation. James spoke to his brother calmly but there was an undertone of threat in his voice.

“John, I want to have you apologize to dad right now. And I expect to see you apologize to my mother Sheila this evening.”

John said nothing for a while then spoke.

“I want the ownership of this corporation clarified to see the Masons have no claim over the enterprise we set up as a family.”

Len Barnard addressed his son mildly.

“John lawyers tell me the will is clear in its intent, and they don’t anticipate anyone can make a claim on our family assets. It sounds like you are already planning for my death John which is heartbreaking for a father to hear. I think you’d better go to your office and get on with what is assigned for you to do today. The staff outside must be wondering why this loud angry voice has been heard in their presence and I’d appreciate you not further causing speculation about this meeting this morning. And I do expect you to apologize to Sheila tonight as she is my wife and your mother who has poured herself out on you in love all her time in our home.”

John Barnard went to his office and picked up the intercom to his secretary.

“Judy, could you cancel my appointments for the day as I have some urgent business to attend to. Do your best to reschedule and if there are any problems contact me on my mobile phone, and I’ll get in touch with those who are struggling to find an alternative time.”

He picked up his briefcase and left the office. John was dating a para legal in the law firm Barnard Enterprises retained and he headed there. He knew how busy they were as a law firm but felt his current girlfriend would use her influence to get him an urgent appointment. He needed to clarify this will issue. It was OK for his father to attempt to put him on a guilt trip, but he felt strongly this business needed to be in the hands of his brother and himself in the event his father passed on.

Beth Schulz was irritated that John should suddenly show up without an appointment and expect them to accommodate him without warning. This was the first time she’d found him to be unreasonable and had the feeling she should think about any further social contact with him. However, to be helpful she found someone who was prepared to make an important client wait for a few minutes so he could find out what was so important Barnard Enterprises wanted an urgent consultation. When the partner accepting the interview learned of the concerns John had he too became angry. They’d put careful thought into the will and succession planning they’d put in place to care for any potential challenge and to have this challenged by the son of the one they usually dealt with was irritating. He addressed the concerns quickly and excused himself to deal with an overdue appointment.

John left feeling the law firm had given him the hurry up treatment and aware that Beth had treated him coldly on his exit. It seemed John had been hasty in his reaction to the disclosure Len Barnard had made to him the previous evening. But it was his father’s fault in not disclosing something John felt was important for the family to know and he wouldn’t apologize to his father nor to his mother who he felt was now compromised between two families. He returned to the office and consulted with Judy his secretary to see how his appointments had been rescheduled then settled down to some product costing work.

James attended to his responsibilities attending to marketing issues along with the heads of departments but made frequent visits to his father during appointments to make sure he was alright and see he took lunch. He found his father to be dispirited and did his best to give him positive affirmation. The disclosure this morning had been a surprise, but it hadn’t changed his opinion of his father’s wisdom or his mother’s love even though she did have children from another marriage. He’d sort his brother out that evening. He also needed to talk with his sister before John got to her with a jaundiced version of what he’d learned.

When James reached home that evening with his father who went directly to his office after greeting his wife with a kiss, he was relieved to see John hadn’t arrived yet. Sheila was subdued not knowing what was happening to drive a wedge between the boy John who she’d cared for so lovingly as a mother as he grew and James detecting this hugged his mother to reassure her. He kept an eye open for his sister and as soon as he saw her drive down the pathway from the university to her spot in the multiple garages, he grabbed her, and they sat in the car together while James reported on the events of the day. Trisha shrugged. She was now curious after learning she was a half-sister to three brothers and a sister in the Mason family. While it was a surprise, she wanted to know more so she and James went to his room and sat at his desktop to check out this family. It was the first time she’d become aware of her half-sister now called Trish Sykes and she burst into laughter as she saw why Trish Sykes had checked up to find if she was a hacker. The photos on each of their pages were identical and Trisha Barnard had a sudden desire to be in contact with this woman who was older than she and know her as a stepsister. She asked James what he thought she should do. James put in a request to join Trish Sykes as a friend sending her a message that he was the brother of her half-sister. Then Trisha Barnard did the same introducing herself through messaging as a half-sister through their mother in common. Then they shut Facebook and went to the kitchen where a still subdued Sheila was preparing apprehensively for the evening meal wondering how John would behave toward her when he returned home.

Trisha set up the dining table while James helped in the kitchen, and he could see Sheila slowly regaining her confidence in their company. Then John returned home and headed for his room only emerging to share the meal with the family but avoiding any unnecessary conversation. After the meal was over, he excused himself with the comment he had to work on some office assignments and would be unavailable for the usual family sharing time. Len Barnard watched his son’s actions unhappily and felt his anger rising. He’d been phoned by the law office after John had left their premises to find out if Len was wanting to make changes to the will. Len Barnard assured his contact in the law firm he had no plans to change the will or any other documents they’d prepared for him. With supper finished Len headed for his eldest son’s room. Soon the rest of the family could hear raised voices, and Len came back to the lounge room and turned to the TV to let his anger subside. Decisions had to be made and there’d be fallout to spoil the once harmonious spirit in this household.

In the meantime, Trish Sykes had shared messages received from James and Trisha Barnard with her parents Anthony and Marion who were excited for her contacting her half-sister. In her excitement Trish also sent quick messages to her brothers and cousin Marcus then prepared for bed. There was a sound of incoming message as she climbed into bed, and she paused to check her mobile phone. It was her brother Stanley who expressed his joy at the reconnection between his half-sister and the Mason family. Stanley expressed the hope that someday they could be permitted to visit with their mother again.

The next day in Adelaide at the office Len Barnard called his sons into the office and addressed his eldest son.

“John what have you decided to do. For us to operate this company as a family there must be harmony and a common goal for what we want to achieve here. Last night you told me you no longer have confidence in my leadership and felt you’d be better placed to run the company, and I retire to live as I pleased with Sheila and whoever chose to remain with your mother and me. You also said Trisha your sister should be supporting herself now and paying her own way through university. I’m not stepping aside as you have much to learn about operating a corporation and I do not appreciate you going behind my back in dealings with our legal or auditing professionals. You have a choice. Either you submit to my personal oversight of what you are doing from now on rather than operating as you do within your span of control or leave. Now what is your choice.”

John smiled and it was not a pleasant smile.

“I’ve been offered a job by our competitors and am taking it. It comes with accommodation so now that you’ve bought this to a head I’ll leave now and go home to pack and move out. You’ll be sorry dad. Someday I’ll own Barnard Enterprise, and you’ll be sorry you bought this woman into our house to ruin our family.”

Len Barnard nodded expressing no emotion. He’d exhausted his emotions tossing around in bed all night while Sheila did her best to comfort him. He turned to James.

“James, delegate your responsibilities to those you’ve been mentoring for some months now. Go home and be present while John moves out and phone the locksmith, we deal with asking he urgently replace all the locks on our house today. Be at home today to supervise this and protect your mother. I’ll attend to everything here to appoint new leadership in the departments. Tomorrow you’ll be elevated to my second in command and be present for every decision I make in future. There will be much work to be done with our lawyers now so I’ll need all the help you can give me.”

He turned to John.

“John, I wish you well in your new life and am sorry you’ve taken this decision. Thanks for telling me of your plans to put us out of business. I have a strong resolve to see that doesn’t happen and while our relationship with our chief competitor you’ll be working for has been harmonious, we’ll now give them a run for their money and may have to shift from private ownership to a publicly listed company to raise capital to give you stiff competition. Someday I hope my eldest son will see the foolishness of his decision. I’ll always love you as a son but can’t trust you’ll care for family interests anymore so will have to keep you at arm’s length. Now go but hand me your business keys and home keys now or I’ll have to request the police to follow that up!”

To be continued.

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