but you didn’t want to see what was happening. Jemima was just waiting for the opportunity to get you for herself!’
The corners of his mouth twitched and for a fleeting moment I recognised the man with whom I had fallen in love. A sensation which I’d not felt in all the years I missed him, uncoiled inside me. I’ve touched this man in his most intimate places. And he has touched me.
We made eye contact; something hot arced between us for a split second before giving way to wry humour.
‘No chance. First of all she is my cousin. She always was a sly cow and now she’s an old one. You’ll be gratified to hear she’s been divorced by two husbands and looks like a Shar Pei from sunbathing in Spain.’
I was girlishly pleased to hear it.
‘And what about your husband? Did he accept—the baby?’
‘I never married. I changed my name to Carpenter by deed poll before my child was born.’
Refusing to allow myself to waver, I described the life I created for the two of us, confessing I spun a web of lies so tight they should have choked me. When I finished talking, he turned and stared out into the garden for a long time, before he finally faced me. I met his gaze straight on. Gesturing for me to sit in one of the armchairs, he went over to a tray on which sat a decanter of whisky and poured two shots.
‘I don’t suppose I can blame you for making up a story for her, it’s understandable,’ he acknowledged, handing me a drink.
‘Are Margaret and Randall still alive?’ I held hopes of them being slowly and thoroughly basted in Hell. I flicked a glance at the wall from where the framed faces of his parents gazed triumphantly down on me.
‘No, mother died five years ago, father seven,’ he replied. ‘The conspiracy must have been organised immediately on a massive scale because, as I said, I came home early. Our employees would do what they were told, but our relatives and friends would all have to be advised of the game plan.’ His expression bleak, he looked out the window onto the darkening landscape. I picked up my drink, sipped and closed my eyes, exhausted by the events and emotions of the last twenty four hours.
‘I remember you said your mother left when you were a baby, your father died and relatives brought you up under sufferance. I’m sure that’s why you didn’t consider yourself worthy of my love and allowed my parents to destroy our future. I should have known something wasn’t right, and tried harder to find you, El.’ His voice seemed to come from a long way away.
God forgive me! For just a short while, I’d forgotten Ally’s plight! I jumped to my feet, slopping my drink over my shirt. ‘Ally’s been missing since Friday night!’
‘Ally?’ His jaw dropped.
‘Ally. Ally Carpenter, my–our–daughter!’ I repeated impatiently.
‘The concert pianist? Ally’s my daughter?’
CHAPTER 8
A Significant Decision
Briece
Sunday: 9.30am.
Last night Pam rang with an idea that Ally might be nearby, though she only had a feeling to go on. She arrived shortly after midnight and we drove around the West End, shining a torch in every shadowy doorway, slowing down when we spotted a lone figure walking along the street. We must have scared a few people witless but nobody called the cops. At least we felt we were doing something.
We stopped at several cafes and pubs, then drove to Ally’s place where we knocked on the door and then let ourselves in with Pam’s key. We called out as we turned on the lights, hoping she had returned, gone to bed and hadn’t heard us knocking. We checked the bedrooms and of course, she wasn’t there. Pam tried to clean up a little, saying that Ally needed to come home to a nice house. We washed the few dishes which were sitting on the draining board and tried to cheer ourselves up.
‘I just wish I’d gone to the loo with her. At least she’d still be here.’ Pam looked about to cry.
‘And what could you have done if you’d been with her?
The corners of his mouth twitched and for a fleeting moment I recognised the man with whom I had fallen in love. A sensation which I’d not felt in all the years I missed him, uncoiled inside me. I’ve touched this man in his most intimate places. And he has touched me.
We made eye contact; something hot arced between us for a split second before giving way to wry humour.
‘No chance. First of all she is my cousin. She always was a sly cow and now she’s an old one. You’ll be gratified to hear she’s been divorced by two husbands and looks like a Shar Pei from sunbathing in Spain.’
I was girlishly pleased to hear it.
‘And what about your husband? Did he accept—the baby?’
‘I never married. I changed my name to Carpenter by deed poll before my child was born.’
Refusing to allow myself to waver, I described the life I created for the two of us, confessing I spun a web of lies so tight they should have choked me. When I finished talking, he turned and stared out into the garden for a long time, before he finally faced me. I met his gaze straight on. Gesturing for me to sit in one of the armchairs, he went over to a tray on which sat a decanter of whisky and poured two shots.
‘I don’t suppose I can blame you for making up a story for her, it’s understandable,’ he acknowledged, handing me a drink.
‘Are Margaret and Randall still alive?’ I held hopes of them being slowly and thoroughly basted in Hell. I flicked a glance at the wall from where the framed faces of his parents gazed triumphantly down on me.
‘No, mother died five years ago, father seven,’ he replied. ‘The conspiracy must have been organised immediately on a massive scale because, as I said, I came home early. Our employees would do what they were told, but our relatives and friends would all have to be advised of the game plan.’ His expression bleak, he looked out the window onto the darkening landscape. I picked up my drink, sipped and closed my eyes, exhausted by the events and emotions of the last twenty four hours.
‘I remember you said your mother left when you were a baby, your father died and relatives brought you up under sufferance. I’m sure that’s why you didn’t consider yourself worthy of my love and allowed my parents to destroy our future. I should have known something wasn’t right, and tried harder to find you, El.’ His voice seemed to come from a long way away.
God forgive me! For just a short while, I’d forgotten Ally’s plight! I jumped to my feet, slopping my drink over my shirt. ‘Ally’s been missing since Friday night!’
‘Ally?’ His jaw dropped.
‘Ally. Ally Carpenter, my–our–daughter!’ I repeated impatiently.
‘The concert pianist? Ally’s my daughter?’
CHAPTER 8
A Significant Decision
Briece
Sunday: 9.30am.
Last night Pam rang with an idea that Ally might be nearby, though she only had a feeling to go on. She arrived shortly after midnight and we drove around the West End, shining a torch in every shadowy doorway, slowing down when we spotted a lone figure walking along the street. We must have scared a few people witless but nobody called the cops. At least we felt we were doing something.
We stopped at several cafes and pubs, then drove to Ally’s place where we knocked on the door and then let ourselves in with Pam’s key. We called out as we turned on the lights, hoping she had returned, gone to bed and hadn’t heard us knocking. We checked the bedrooms and of course, she wasn’t there. Pam tried to clean up a little, saying that Ally needed to come home to a nice house. We washed the few dishes which were sitting on the draining board and tried to cheer ourselves up.
‘I just wish I’d gone to the loo with her. At least she’d still be here.’ Pam looked about to cry.
‘And what could you have done if you’d been with her?
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