by Susan Lewis
Liking to think it was telepathy, she excused herself and took the phone out to the hall to sit at the foot of the stairs. ‘Hi, how are you?’ she asked softly.
‘I’m fine,’ he replied. ‘How about you?’
She grimaced inwardly. ‘Where to start?’
‘So maybe this isn’t a good time?’
Surprised by the stiffness of his tone, Penny’s offer to show her photographs of him and Nadia immediately came to her mind. You can see for yourself how close they are.
‘There’s something I have to tell you,’ he said. ‘I’ve been trying to think of the right way …’
Deciding a protracted break-up was the last thing she needed to deal with right now, she said, ‘It’s OK. I already know. You don’t have to explain, just be happy,’ and quickly ending the call she swallowed hard on the emotions twisting her heart, turned off her phone and went back to the kitchen to try to eat some food.
It happened more or less as Gould had predicted. As soon as the American lawyers knew about the baby’s existence they instructed someone from their London office to get straight on to social services. The only surprise was that Penny herself rang to inform Andee of this.
‘Why the hell did you let it happen?’ Andee raged. ‘For once in your life can’t you do the right thing?’
‘Right for who? For you? For Jonathan? What about me and my clients, the Blakemores? I have to consider them …’
‘Before your own son? Before your grandson? He has the right to be with his real parents …’
‘I’m not arguing about this any more. You won’t win this. You can’t, so why don’t you just bring the baby to me, or you’ll be the one responsible for him being taken into care. Think on that; I’m not making it happen, you are,’ and the line went dead.
Ready to explode, Andee somehow resisted the urge to slam the phone against the wall, and used it to call Henry Gibbs instead.
‘OK, it’ll take social services a while to act,’ Henry told her calmly. ‘I know this, because it always does. Do you have a copy of the contract yet?’
‘I’ve requested it, but I’m not confident the person I asked will send it.’
‘Then get me the names of the American lawyers. Jhanvi will take care of it and we’ll see where that ends us up.’
‘But with the time difference between here and Texas …’
‘Don’t worry, it’s likely to be days, not hours, before anyone gets their act together. They’ll need the court’s approval for an emergency care order, and we must try to be ready for them when they apply.’
Having no idea how they were going to manage that, Andee rang Jonathan. ‘Are you sure you don’t have a copy of the contract?’ she asked.
‘I’m sorry. If I’d known it was going to matter …’
‘OK, just tell me the name of the Blakemore’s lawyer.’
To her relief, he said, ‘I don’t know the actual lawyer’s name but it’s a firm in Houston called Feinstein and Beird. They do all the contracts …’
‘That’s great. Now, please don’t any of you leave the house for at least the next two days, OK? I don’t want anyone to know where you are, least of all your mother. Blake and Jenny will bring everything you need, they’ll tell the neighbours you’re guests of Rowzee’s, and I’ll always be at the end of the phone …’
‘She might have it bugged,’ he said anxiously.
‘I think you give her credit for more powers than she has,’ Andee told him, ‘but we know that she’s having me followed, possibly my mother too, so we won’t be able to come ourselves. Have you explained the situation to Juliette’s parents yet?’
‘We’re hoping it’ll get sorted before we have to.’
It was a lovely thought. ‘I think you need to prepare them,’ she cautioned.
Later in the day Andee was once again with Helen Hall when Gould rang.
‘I’ve just had a call from one of our guys in child protection,’ he told her. ‘They’ve been contacted by social services asking if they know anything about a missing baby in a surrogacy case.’
‘Oh Christ!’ Andee muttered. ‘They’re obviously not wasting any time. What did you tell them?’
‘I stalled, said I’d ask my team and get back to them.’
After relating the call to Helen, Andee said to Gould, ‘I really owe you for this. I don’t …’
‘Just tell me what your next move is going to be,’ he cut in.
‘We’re waiting for a copy of the contract to arrive from the States. Without that it’s not possible for the lawyers here to know how to proceed.’
‘Well, the other side obviously already has it, so you’d better make sure they don’t get it in front of a judge before your guys have seen it, or the child will be gone and you’ll be fighting to get him out of care instead of being put into it.’
After ringing off Andee said to Helen, ‘Can the lawyers in Texas drag this out, make sure the contract doesn’t get to us until after the authorities have acted?’
Helen nodded grimly. ‘It’s possible. The judge won’t like it, but if they can show a legally binding contract to say that the child is the subject of a surrogacy case in the United States, the court will probably decide that the child has to be taken into care to prevent the birth parents from disappearing with him.’ She paused, and looked Andee straight in the eye. ‘Even if the contract arrived this minute,’ she said, ‘I don’t see how it’s going to help you. They’ll still take the baby away until the case has been settled, and it’s anyone’s guess how long that will take. It could be years.’
Chapter Nineteen
Two days later with still no sign of a contract, and mercifully no word yet from social services, Andee was in the lobby of the Grand hotel, ready to force her way into Penny’s suite if necessary, when Leo Johnson rang.
‘I’ve just had a tip from a clerk at the family court,’ he told her gravely. ‘The application for an emergency care order is about to go in front of a judge.’
Furious and frightened, Andee thanked him, rang off and immediately called Henry Gibbs. ‘Can you get there?’ she implored. ‘I know we don’t have the contract, but someone has to represent the birth parents.’
‘I’ll do my best,’ he promised. ‘If I can get someone to cover … Where are you now?’
‘About to make another attempt at getting the contract.’
‘If you succeed bring it straight to the court. Otherwise, I’ll be in touch as soon as I have some news.’
After being assured that Michelle Cross was still in the same suite Andee didn’t bother announcing herself, she just took the lift to the tenth floor and hammered on the door.
‘All right, all right,’ Penny snapped as she opened up. ‘Anyone would think there was a fire.’
Andee looked around, found no sign of a lawyer, only a stack of papers on a desk close to the window and a laptop computer showing a screen full of text that clearly wasn’t English.
‘I take it you know there’s a court hearing this morning,’ she said tightly.
Penny’s nod was brief.
‘What’s the matter with you?’ Andee cried, throwing out her hands. ‘Why are you letting this happen?’
Penny regarded her steadily. She appeared far more composed than she had a few days ago. Her hair was neatly styled, her face carefully made up and she was wearing an expensive-looking black pantsuit – as though she were about to appear in court? ‘How many times do we have to go through this?’ she asked coldly. ‘I’m honouring the contract …’
‘Where is it?’ Andee cut in harshly. ‘I need a copy right now.’
‘What makes you think I have it?’
‘For God’s sake, we both know you do …’
‘Even if you’re right, it won’t help you. That child belongs to Abby and Donald Blakemore. The court here will see that …’
‘Our lawyers need to examine it.’
‘They’ll get the opportunity …’
‘You mean
after the baby’s been seized by the authorities?’
‘I’m told that it has to happen that way.’
Suddenly seeing red, Andee grabbed Penny by her shirt front and shoved her against the wall. ‘I want that damned contract now,’ she raged. ‘I’m going to give your grandson the chance to grow up with his real family, even if you won’t.’
‘Violence isn’t going to help you,’ Penny gasped. ‘You don’t have right on your side and if you attack me again I’ll call security.’
‘I’ll call them myself,’ Andee shouted, letting her go. ‘And after that I’ll call the police, the press, the whole damned world to tell them exactly who you are and what you’re doing.’
Penny turned away, took a few steps, and as her head fell forward it was as though the fight drained from her. She said nothing, did nothing, until her laptop signalled the arrival of an email. It was from Selma, Andee noticed, but her mobile started ringing and seeing it was Henry Gibbs she rapidly clicked on.
‘I’m sorry, the order’s been granted,’ he told her, ‘and I’ve been instructed to inform the court of the baby’s whereabouts.’
Andee’s eyes closed as she tried to think. If she hadn’t asked him to go there he wouldn’t be in this position, but it was too late to regret that now. She desperately wanted to refuse the information, or to tell Jonathan and Juliette to run, but she knew very well that defying the court would be just about the worst thing they could do.
‘Andee?’ Gibbs pressed gently. ‘You have to tell me.’
Taking a breath she said, ‘Do you know Rowzee Cayne?’
‘Who doesn’t?’
‘They’re at her house.’
With a sigh he said, ‘I’m really sorry. It’s up to you whether to call and prepare them. If you do, for God’s sake tell them not to run.’
As she rang off Andee spun round, eyes blazing with rage, ready to lay into Penny again.
Penny was at her laptop, typing so furiously it was as though she’d forgotten Andee was in the room.
Slamming the lid down on her hands, Andee seethed, ‘You’ve got your way. They’re about to take the baby …’
‘Stop, just stop!’ Penny cried, clasping her hands to her head.
‘What is it with you?’ Andee raged. ‘You’re making your own son hate you, turning the whole world against you. You say you don’t care what people think of you but I know you do. I know that in there,’ she punched a hand to Penny’s chest, ‘is a heart that’s broken into so many pieces it’s forgotten how to feel, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t capable. You can hide that from yourself, but you can’t hide it from me. So for God’s sake, help your son. Your grandson. Me, your sister …’
Penny shot to her feet, almost pushing Andee over.
As she turned away Andee spun her back again. ‘They’re on their way to get him,’ she cried. ‘He’s an innocent child, days old, and you are just letting it happen.’
Penny’s face was stark, her eyes so clouded by the darkness inside her that it was impossible to know how much was reaching her.
Unable to spend another minute with her, Andee said bitterly, ‘I don’t want you ever to come near me again. Do you hear that? As far as I’m concerned you died at the age of fourteen and you’re still dead.’
After slamming out of the room she raced to the lift, took it to the ground floor and ran out to her car. She’d have to put her foot down now if she was to get to the coach house before the social workers who’d been instructed to collect the baby.
As Andee approached the coach house her heart twisted and sank. She was already too late. Three, no four social workers were remonstrating with Juliette’s parents at the front gate, no one understanding what the other was saying, and fists looking as though they were about to fly.
As Andee leapt out of her car Jonathan came out of the house, closing the front door behind him. ‘They’re trying to take him,’ he shouted at Andee, ‘but we’re not going to let them.’
‘We have an emergency care order,’ one of the social workers told her. ‘If they don’t let him go we’ll have to call the police.’
‘You do that,’ Andee told her. At least it would buy them some time. Taking Jonathan’s hand she held it tightly as she connected to Gould. ‘It’s all kicking off,’ she told him. ‘We’re up at Rowzee’s. Is there anything you can do?’
‘Like what?’ he asked. ‘We can’t go against a court order.’
‘But social services are calling for backup and the Italian parents are about to cut up rough. I need some support.’
‘I’ll see what I can do.’
With Jonathan’s help Andee took hold of Juliette’s parents and steered them back into the house. ‘We’ll wait until the police arrive,’ she told the social workers over her shoulder, and winced as Juliette’s mother screamed at them in Italian. Since it was clearly abusive, Andee quickly closed the door behind them before she could say any more.
Juliette was in the kitchen, holding Alexander and looking so terrified that Andee longed to lie and tell her everything would be all right. Unfortunately, no one had ever accused Penny of forcing Juliette to become a surrogate mother. Juliette had entered into the agreement of her own free will, as had Jonathan, and now here they were.
‘Have you heard anything from your mother’s lawyer, or the lawyers in the States?’ Andee asked Jonathan as he went to put an arm round Juliette.
‘No. No one’s been in touch today, until those people outside turned up.’
‘I’m sorry. I came to warn you, but obviously I didn’t make it in time.’
‘So what is happening?’ Juliette asked in a tormented voice.
Feeling as bad as she’d ever felt when breaking the news of a death, Andee said, ‘I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. You have to hand him over …’
‘No! Never!’ Juliette shouted, holding Alexander tighter and making him cry.
‘We can’t do that, he’s ours,’ Jonathan told her.
‘I understand how you feel,’ Andee responded, as the baby’s screams got louder, ‘but he’s not being taken to the States, at least not yet. He’ll be taken to someone who’s experienced in looking after babies …’
‘But I am breastfeeding,’ Juliette protested furiously. ‘Who is going to feed him?’
‘It’s possible they’ll let you continue,’ Andee said, ‘but only under supervision. We have to get some advice,’ and taking out her phone she connected to Henry Gibbs.
‘Yes, I asked for feeding visits,’ he confirmed, ‘and they’ve been granted.’
‘Thank you. I don’t suppose the contract’s turned up?’
‘No, but it’s not likely to overturn anything at this stage even if it does. Are you with them?’
‘Yes, I am. Social services have called for police backup and a car’s just arrived outside, so I’m guessing it’s them.’
‘Is Blake and Jenny,’ Juliette’s father said, turning back from the window.
Relieved beyond words at the prospect of having two level heads to support her, Andee went to let them in, and came to a sudden stop when she saw that Graeme was with them. To her dismay she felt heat burning her cheeks as her heart lurched like an adolescent’s.
With a quick raise of his eyebrows he passed her and followed Blake along the hall into the kitchen.
‘What the heck’s going on?’ Blake demanded, hefting two bags of shopping on to the island as Jenny brought in a fresh supply of Pampers. ‘Who are those people outside?’
As Andee explained, forcing herself not to look at Graeme, Jenny went straight to Juliette and the baby to wrap them in her arms. ‘Don’t worry, we won’t let them take him,’ she assured her. ‘Will we?’ she pressed Andee.
Wishing she didn’t feel like the villain of the piece, Andee said, ‘I’m afraid we don’t have a choice.’ Her eyes went to Graeme and quickly moved away.
Juliette’s parents started shouting again, rising to a crescendo as though trying to outdo their grandso
n’s yells, and seeming to hold Andee responsible for everything.
Using his reasonable grasp of Italian Graeme did his best to calm them down, but it took a loud knock on the front door to silence them all.
Blake went to answer, with Andee close behind.
‘The police are here,’ a social worker told them. ‘Please don’t make us take him by force.’
Afraid it might well go that way, Andee turned back to Jonathan. ‘For the baby’s sake,’ she implored, ‘please don’t resist. It’ll frighten him and he’s already frightened enough.’
‘I can’t let them do it,’ he cried brokenly. ‘If we let him go now we’ll never see him again.’
‘You have visiting rights,’ she reminded him.
‘But for how long? He needs to be with us. He knows us already.’
‘Oh Jonathan,’ she groaned, touching a hand to his cheek, ‘I can’t tell you how much I wish this wasn’t happening.’
‘Once he goes to America we’ll never see him again.’
‘You don’t know for certain that he’ll go. We’re going to fight for him in the courts …’
‘We won’t win. She’ll make sure we don’t.’
Knowing he was referring to his mother, Andee said, ‘She doesn’t have the power to influence a British court.’
‘But I’m not British, nor is Juliette.’
‘Alexander is,’ she said softly, hoping with all her heart that it would count for something. There was such a long way to go, so much to sort out, but right now they must deal with the police hovering on the doorstep and one of the social workers trying to push her way in.
Juliette’s eyes were so murderous as the woman approached her, and Alexander was screaming so loudly, that Andee only just made out Juliette saying, ‘I will kill him and myself before I let you have him.’
Juliette’s parents began shouting again, and as the social worker tried to take the baby Juliette’s mother would have slammed her over the head with a poker had Graeme not swiftly grabbed it from her hand. Then the police were inside, holding Juliette’s screeching, struggling parents as Juliette, yelling and kicking too, fought to keep hold of her baby.