The old jacket with a secret

A story of the relentless power in forgiveness.

Chapter 1

Bill has already lost almost 20kg since his wife died in 2016 and he has no warm clothes. He has been on the streets already for nearly a year since his eviction in January 2019 after. Bill’s emotional journey began with the death of his best friend and business partner Cyril and then two years later his wife Rebecca, who died during childbirth. Rebecca developed Preeclampsia in the sixth month of pregnancy, but it was not detected by the doctors and when the contractions started, the baby was born still and she died within hours afterwards of an internal rupture.

The local shelter has had a donor that gave everyone an envelope with €15 cash and ten food vouchers. Bill feels like there is light in his dark and cold tunnel. He decides to go to a hospice shop to find an affordable jacket to protect him from the cold. He is in luck, even though the shelves are empty, he finds a €10 jacket in his size that is still in a reasonably good condition. The jacket is grey-mottled with lapels and a belt around the waist. It has many pockets, inside and out and he cannot help thinking that this jacket is far too fancy for him.

Bill makes his way to Les Ramblas where he will meet Fernando, his friend, to show him his new possession. He cannot wait to show him, feeling as happy as a child with a new toy. Fernando normally gives Bill his waiter’s meal, which is often his only meal for the day. Then they would traverse the busy Les Ramblas, looking at all the people, enjoy the entertainment and just enjoy each other’s company. But this night would be different, Bill has not bought anything for himself in more than a year, nor has he had any money, since he refused to eat from the garbage and was too proud to beg. Bill would not even take money from his best friend.

Chapter 2

Bill has been waiting for over an hour for Fernando. He has been busy with a large group of patrons and had to wait till they leave before he could go home. Bill is getting frustrated since all he wants to do is share his finding. He removes the jacket to look at it again. He turns it inside out and notice the fine details of the stitching, the intricate woven lapels and pieces of fabric he has no names for. He realizes that he has never observed the art that goes into making clothes, especially this jacket. He is convinced that the quality of this garment must be of the highest standards ever and he is now the proud owner of it. His joy and pride return to him in measures he has not experienced in a long time.

Then he notices the label for the first time. “Finos Textiles y Diseños de Lea” (meaning “Lea’s Fine Textiles and Designs”). Lea is Bill’s younger sister who owns a large manufacturing and retail business in Madrid. She is very successful and rich. But she is also very stingy and rude. This was not always the case, but a two years ago her husband did a secret paternity test and discovered their firstborn is not his. She was already pregnant with their second baby but her husband could not bare to face her and separated from her. Their son moved to her younger sister, Jacky, whilst they work out the details.

Jacky and her husband have a successful tourism business in Madrid and have just had their first baby. She used to be very close to Lea, but after the separation, Lea began working longer hours and neglecting everyone and their relationship took some serious blows. Jacky and her family was very content with the way things were going, but the new temporally addition of her nephew is placing a lot of additional strain on a nursing mother.

The whole Prince family is at the apex of disaster. The death of Rebecca was the final blow, thou the trouble did start a few years before that, but everyone tolerated each other on the account of their parents. They moved to Valencia after their youngest son decided to study music at Berklee Valencia so he could stay with them and they could remain in close contact. He has shown signs of drug abuse before, though they never caught him, but they agreed to pay his education if he remains in their house.

The parents moved to Madrid from South Africa after Johnny was born in 1998 as Christian missionaries. They are still actively involved in their ministries and caters especially for expats and young married couples. Both their daughters married Spaniards, but Bill found a Cape Town girl in Barcelona and fell in love with both the city and her. The family used to be very close, spending most weekends together, and often traveling throughout Europe as a family. But all this changed when Rebecca died.

Chapter 3

Bill is still busy examining the tailored jacket of finest quality. He finds a small slit underneath the breast pocket on the inside of the jacket. It feels stiff, like there is something inside, but the pocket itself is empty. He slides his fingers over the slightly raised area and notices another small pocket, a secret pocket. It seals with a small strip of Velcro, which is why he missed it before. He opens it and pulls out a small stainless steed envelope with beautifully engraved Celtic knots all around the edge of it. His mind races with ideas of what it could be, perhaps money, perhaps a love-letter or perhaps it is empty.

He sits back, puts his jacket back on and stare at this interesting little envelope. He opens it carefully, not sure what to expect, since he has never ever seen any envelope made of metal. Inside is a note. It looks official, with a company emblem, and someone’s signature on. He starts to read it and realize it is his own sister’s words and signature.

To the person who discover this note and now are the owner of this jacket, congratulations! You have purchased the one millionth jacket from Finos Textiles y Diseños de Lea, of which I am the owner.

This token entitles you to a choice of two prizes:

1)   A study grant at a registered university with a guaranteed internship afterwards at my company, or

2)   A couching opportunity with myself and my managing director as your personal couches for three years, plus money to start or expand a business of your choice

3)   Either prize is to the value of €100’000

The letter continued with the contact details and some extra particulars of how the jacket was made and just how special it is. Bill cannot believe what is happening. But then he notices the date of the letter, 6 March 2014, that is the date Cyril died. He wonders if it is mere coincidence or is there more to the story. Could Cyril have been involved with this jacket, or with Lea, or could he be the father of his nephew?

Just then Fernando appears and he gets startled. Bill’s mind is racing with speculation and ideas, he does not stop chatting about the prized metal object of his recent discovery. Fernando does not have a chance to speak, so he continues to carefully follow the rambling Bill. He has completely forgotten about the jacket. The once prized possession is now but a distant memory and lies in a pile on the bench next to them. Finally Bill shuts up and Fernando has a chance to say something.

The main point of their conversation is about Cyril’s involvement in the whole debacle, because Bill remembers a strange behavior in the weeks before his death but could never figure it out. He decides he wants to call Lea and discuss this with her. Fernando offers his cellphone and he calls her there and then. She answers in her typical rude tone and when she discovers that Bill had found the jacket, almost sarcastically demands he tells her what he wants. But he ignores her comments.

Bill is gentle and compassionate and he explains to her that he firstly want to apologize for never realizing what beautiful work she does. He explains to her how he inspected every detail of the jacket and noticed all the fine details and intricate workmanship. She is speechless and cannot believe what she is hearing. But Bill continues and asks her about Cyril and Johnny. There is a long pause on the other side, then he hears a faint sound of what he now thinks is crying, but since he has never heard Lea cry, nor thought is was possible, he is not sure. She invites him to her house and said that she would buy him a plane ticket and he agrees. Bill is very nervous, but Fernando reassures him that his intentions is right and whatever happens, he will be there, waiting and encouraging him when he comes back.

Chapter 4

Bill didn’t get much sleep, but at least the shelter had hot water and he could take a shower before he got onto the plane. Airplane food has never tasted so good, and he made sure he took whatever was offered freely and he packed his backpack, since he was now not sure how he was going to get back to Barcelona and the evening meals Fernando would bring him.

Lea had sent a river to collect him at the airport and the drive to her house was long and nerve racking. Lea has a warm smile on her face when he arrives, and Bill meets his new niece for the first time. They have some tea and after the baby went to sleep, they went to sit on the porch overlooking the stylishly landscaped garden. Lea does not let this moment go by, knowing that baby sleep is very temporary. She asks his why he connected Cyril with the jacket and what the connection is. But Bill is quiet and he just stares at her anticipating her to answer her own questions.

Then, like a driller who has just hit water in the desert, her face explodes with emotions as she burst out into tears. Truth and only truth proceeds from her mouth, much more than what Bill had anticipated. She told him that the jacket was not in fact the one millionth one, but that it was another one she had buried in a storeroom with nine others. She knew she was coming up to the event and wanted to make a collection of special anniversary jackets and give one each to the family members. But she wanted to keep it a secret and decided to ask Cyril to help her, since he was a friend of the family and knew everyone as well as she did.

For months they worked on the styles, sizes and designs and when it was finally done, they celebrated in a familiar style with a bottle of champagne. The joy of the occasion and the wine led to a one night stand that brought little Johnny into the world. She shame had turned into bitterness. She told no one, neither did Cyril, but it led to his heart attack, or at least so she believed.

Next moment Bill gets up, he turns and walks into the garden and gives off a very loud shout. The pain of the last five years resurface, and it is overwhelming. Lea has let off her steam and confessed for the first time her bitterness and resentment, but Bill has never done that. He turns and walks back, now, it is his turn to brake down in tears.

When Cyril died he left Bill with a lot of additional responsibilities and he ended up working sometimes twenty hour days, four, even five times a week. The pressure became too much and the lack of sleep left him grumpy and angry. He would often take it out on Rebecca and the night the was rushed to hospital, he blamed her for her illness, which led to the death of both her and their child. He could not forgive himself and he lost all interest in his business. But more than that, since the family knew how grumpy he had become, he thought that they would also blame him for Rebecca’s death, so he just could not tell them. Six months past before they discovered that she died and he did not tell them.

They lashed out at him and it was at the same time that Lea’s husband discovered that Johnny was not his son, Lea began overworking, neglecting the family and was doing the same as what Bill did. The situation could not be worse and deceit became the normal dialog. The trust was gone, the love disappeared, and the Prince family was broken.

Chapter 5

Bill and Lea confronted all their fears, laid open all their lies, even the ones that seemed not important and vowed to tell the whole family. They devised a plan as foremost to reunite her marriage, if possible and for the next week Bill stayed with his sister as they shared responsibility to contact the rest of the family, one by one, confessing the lies and hypocrisy and deceit.

Then one day, as Lea brought Bill some breakfast, she asks him about the jacket with the special envelope, why he never redeemed the prize. he explained that after she told him that the jacket was made in honor of Cyril, he felt that perhaps she could give the prize, and the jacket to their son Johnny. Tears rolled over her face as she finally understood the sincere love her brother has for her and her well-being. They agreed and began to arrange a family Christmas.

Everyone came, even Lea’s husband and the stage was set. The worse was behind them, but the acceptance was still to be seen. Lea brought out a large case and called everyone together on Christmas eve. She explained to everyone what happened between her and Cyril, how she had blamed herself, how deeply sorry she was for hurting them all, especially her husband and then proceeded to open the case. One for one, each family member received a jacket, designed as a one of a kind and tailored to everyone individually. Tears steamed off everyone’s faces, but this time, it was tears of happiness.

Finally, Bill had his share of misery, but ended the night with some good news. He has decided to get back to what he loves, to bake, and Lea has agreed to finance him until he is back on his feet.

The Prince family was united again. The conqueror was love and the weapon, forgiveness.