by Karen Aldous
‘Sorry Ben, I’m not giving this address to anyone. It’s not even mine. Please Ben, I really appreciate everything, but Seb is really scaring me. I have to go.’
Evie hung up. She wiped the cloth once more around the bath. Would Seb have Cally’s phone tapped? She really didn’t know what he was capable of. She shouldn’t have rung Ben, despite what Cally said. Poor Ben, she hated herself for dismissing him especially after all he had done for her and Charlotte. She was still flummoxed as to why Seb would drug her and desert her, unless… unless the spy, the creep, had given him false information. One thing was for sure, Seb owed her one hell of an explanation.
Tip-toeing back into the bedroom, she leaned over and gently caressed Charlotte’s brow with her fingers. ‘What are we going to do, little one? Let’s pray you’ve only inherited your father’s genes for singing. Nighty night, sweet pea.’ She kissed her cheek and tiptoed out the bedroom and back downstairs.
‘Fast asleep,’ she said as eyes peered up around the room.
Her mother clasped her hands. ‘That child is adorable. I’m just so annoyed with myself for not seeing more of her. You’ve done a grand job bring her up, Evie.’
‘That’s right,’ her father said, ‘she is quite a little character. We were just saying, it’s such a shame we haven’t been to see you both. We will now though, won’t we love?’
‘Absolutely.’
Aunt Janet swung one leg over the other. ‘There’s nothing as wonderful as your grandchildren. Where’s your lovelife at, Cally?’
Cally rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t even go there.’
‘I think you girls need to have a night out. It’s still high season in Newquay. All those single surf dudes down here on holiday, looking for nice girls like you.’
Evie bore Cally a glare, gritting her teeth. ‘Why not, could be interesting Cals.’
‘Huh, I imagine they’re the same crowd who frequent Magaluf.’ Cally pulled back her hair.
Aunt Janet tapped her nose. ‘I don’t think you’ll find them single in Padstow. Mostly couples and families, I imagine.’
Cally sighed. ‘I’m sure we’ll try somewhere while we’re here.’
‘Well you’ll find you have plenty of babysitters if you want to go out. I might have to learn to use those nappies again though.’
As her mother spoke longingly about her new-found babysitting opportunities, Evie’s eye was on the bookcase. Not that it was large. She rose to her feet and wandered over, examining the contents. She spotted a few obvious titles for Cornwall – Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, Poldark and The Cornish House. Many of her favourites. She then noticed the collection of local history and walking books. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she turned to her aunt.
‘May I?’
‘Of course, be my guest.’
Evie smiled back at her and took out a guidebook of Cornwall from the shelf. ‘What’s your favourite part of Cornwall?’
‘Ah, well now. Difficult one that, there’s so many lovely places.’
Evie listened as they all discussed the merits of many areas and walks. There was an overwhelming love for everything Cornish. She needed to try another tack.
‘What secrets does Cornwall hold?’
Uncle Brian popped a laugh. ‘How can a place like Cornwall have any secrets? Have you seen the roads here in the summer? It’s positively heaving with people buzzing and racing around. I doubt there’s a square foot which hasn’t been trod or poked.’
‘I can’t wait to explore.’ Evie flicked through the book, inspired by the beautiful photos. Everywhere has secrets, she mused to herself. That would be her challenge for the week. ‘Anyway, what are you guys up to tomorrow?’
Her father leaned across to the coffee table. ‘We’re off to look at a couple of houses.’ He waved some papers and then threw them her way. We’re told they won’t be available until October, but we’re hoping something will turn up soon. Unfortunately, everything’s let for the summer.’
‘Oh, yes, of course.’ Evie read through the first page of property details. ‘That’s a sweet little cottage. Tiny though.’
‘We don’t need or want a big place,’ her father said. ‘Just a nice garden to enjoy and close to a few shops and restaurants. And walks. I love the walking around here.’
Jill pursed her lips and looked doe-eyed at her husband. ‘Well, we want something practical, I mean, for children. If Evie and Charlotte come to visit, we need a nice flat garden, and at least one spare bedroom. Ideally two. It’d be nice if Cally and Evie could stay.’
Steve tapped his fingers and pondered a few moments. ‘You’re right, love. That would be nice.’
Chapter 32
He was almost home. The London underground was packed as usual but he’d got a seat. Ben’s knees bounced as his muscles refused to settle. A signature was all he needed and then they could go full steam ahead with the new script, and the essential casting. If he went to the meeting without that, he would be wasting everyone’s time. Well, it seemed he had no choice. He would have to re-write it as his own. But she so deserved the credit and the fee. Evie had worked so hard on the research and obviously put hard work into the characters. He couldn’t deny her the rights and the fee to her own work. He really should have written out a proper hire contract. At least he would have obtained her permission in writing to use it. Now he felt like he was stealing, betraying her trust. He wondered if Riquet ever felt guilt at using the peasant women’s genius as his own.
He traipsed the wet streets towards his flat. Grey skies and shiny leaves on the plane trees – such a typical August in London. He turned into the crescent and the wind gushed towards him. He pulled his hood tighter around his head, keeping the wind and rain out. Peering out, the grand houses paraded authority and opulence, the park void of human activity. A black Mercedes splashed past him and pulled into the kerb ahead. A man ran out and opened the door, long tanned legs spun round and got out, the woman pulling a cardigan over her hair, waiting, as the male figure dashed beside her, gripping her waist and ducking to avoid the droplets. They raced up the steps to a main door and woman slipped a key into the lock. The male figure turned his head before following her in. Seb Wilde. The door closed behind them.
Ben pressed his hands against his stomach as he coasted past, almost tempted to strut up, bang on the door and challenge the bastard. Disgust burned in his throat. The cad. The scheming, dirty bastard. This was why he wanted Evie and Charlotte concealed, or tossed aside. If only he’d got a snapshot. Naturally, he wanted to tell Evie; to protect her. Tell her not to take any more shit from this man. But now it would sound so contrived. And what if he had jumped to the wrong conclusion and it was purely a professional meeting? A very friendly one… but still, he had no proof.
As Ben reached the end of the crescent, he skipped down the steps to his basement flat. Leaning his case against his leg, he dipped into his pocket for his keys. Opening the door, he reached for the lights then pulled his bags into the hall. He picked up his laptop case and trotted straight to the kitchen. A chill hung in the air. He searched through the small freezer for bread. Pulling out four slices, he placed two in the toaster. Within minutes, the room warmed and the chill dissipated, the comforting aroma of toast streamed through the air. After reaching for a beer in the fridge, he unzipped the case and, placing it on the polished granite breakfast bar, started up his laptop. He opened the file containing his original script and took a swig of beer before opening Evie’s document again. He continued to copy chunks from her work and adding them to his.
Rubbing the middle of his forehead, he closed his eyes. Tension gripped his shoulders and ran down his arms into his fingers. He tapped them on the cold surface. This isn’t right.
What could he do? Rubbing the back of his neck, he considered the options. He could hover in the road and wait for the opportunity to get a shot of Seb Wilde and the woman. Or, crazier still maybe, hide a camera in the bushes opposite the house. Or, even better, go knock and confront him. Ok, thre
e choices, so what are the consequences of each? And should he text Cally?
After a long cliff-side walk, Evie was infused with energy. The sun had barely made an appearance but Evie, Charlotte and Steve’ had wandered down the hill holding Charlotte’s hand, heading for the nearest stretch of golden sand. Steve chatted to his granddaughter, telling her all about the fish he had caught in the bay. Charlotte’s love of fish seemed to maintain her interest as she listened. The choice to walk was much more preferable to viewing houses. She’d been surprised when her father had insisted that Cally go with her mother. He’d always liked to be involved in the important decisions. She did wonder, again, if his illness had mellowed him. She hadn’t seen him cross at all since they arrived.
Arriving back at Aunt Janet and Uncle Brian’s, her mother and Cally were just settling on the warm terrace, watching Brian mow his lawn. They turned their heads as they heard them all come in.
‘Charlotte,’ they both called, Cally opening her arms.
Charlotte ran to her Auntie Cally. Evie glanced at her mother, raising a brow.
Unperturbed, her mother held up a tall glass. ‘I see I have to raise my game. I’ve put some fresh orange and apple juice in the fridge if you want some.’
‘Thanks. Dad, do you want some?’
‘No thank you. I’m going to put the kettle on. Then I want to sit down. Lovely walk, but now I need a rest.’
Evie smiled, it was good he knew his limitations. She filled half of Charlotte’s beaker, topping it with water and then made up a glass with ice and added orange juice for herself.
She joined them on the terrace. ‘So, how did the house-hunting go?’
‘One of them was ok,’ her mother said. ‘On the small side. Not particularly homely, but it was clean and the garden was nice. What about you, Evie?’
Evie’s head jerked in surprise. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Have you been thinking? What are your plans, where will you live?’ her mother asked.
‘I’m not sure yet. I’ll need to go back to France next week and sort things out, I suppose but…’ she shrugged, ‘until I’ve spoken to Seb, sorted out finances, I can honestly say I don’t know. Something I’ve yet to figure out.’
Her mother gave an exaggerated shudder. ‘That man makes me go cold. I’ll never forgive him. You’ll let us know if you need help?’
Evie pulled up a chair and looked down as though inspecting her fingernails. ‘Thanks, but, I’m still extremely angry at the moment, it numbs me to think how long he was going to leave us there. I don’t think it’s really sunk in. I can’t ring him so I need to see him and sort things out but I don’t know where he is… if he’s still in the States, if the police have got him… or what he’ll do next. It’s really scary. I need to get him out of my life. See where we go from there.’
Jill took her fingers and stroked them. ‘I wish we could help. There’s not a lot we can do in our position at the moment. Once we find somewhere, hopefully we’ll have a spare room.’
Evie gazed at her mother’s face. ‘Mum, you and Dad don’t need us burdening you, not with your all your own worries. I’ll work something out. You have enough stress as it is. You find something nice for the two of you.’
A phone bleep sounded. Cally placed Charlotte on the warm terrace floor with a toy mobile and reached into a back pocket in her jeans for her own mobile phone. Jill quickly spotted an opportunity and knelt down beside her granddaughter and began talking about her phone.
‘We’ve been spoiled. The house in Florida had excess space. We’d have had plenty of room. We’re not going to match anything like that. We’ll be lucky to get one bedroom at these prices. There’s always a compromise with a house,’ Steve added as he sat back in his chair, taking a mouthful of tea.
Jill rubbed the back of Charlotte’s hair. ‘I’m not expecting too much. I suppose I’m being a bit fussy thinking about you girls too. But anyway, most of the properties we can’t move into yet. Not until the holiday season has passed.’
Evie tilted her head. ‘Are there cheaper areas? I imagine it’s expensive around here.’
‘I’m sure Janet and Brian can suffer us a few more weeks if they have to.’ Jill said with certainty. ‘I rather like it around here.’
Evie wasn’t so sure about her aunt. Had her mother seen her sister? Frazzled was a word which came to mind. ‘So where is Aunt Janet?’ she asked.
Her mother peered up at her from the floor. ‘Meeting a friend for coffee and shopping, I believe.’
Escaping more like, with all of them intruding on her home, Evie surmised. Five people is a lot in one hit. ‘Anyway, Charlotte, you can have a nap shortly.’
‘Oh, five minutes with Granny, eh Charlotte?’
Evie smiled with a brief nod. ‘Yes, she’s being a good girl.’ It was lovely to watch her mother engage with Charlotte, and vice versa. The sense of family and belonging had been absent in her life for so long, it gave her a satisfying glow inside to be among them again. She glanced at her father, contentedly sipping his tea, her sister, deep in thought. ‘Everything ok?’ she asked.
Cally nodded and gave Evie a vacant stare.
Sensing a concern, Evie said. ‘If Charlotte and Mum are happy, do you fancy a walk?’
Cally rose from her chair. ‘Now that sounds great. I saw a coastal path going up to the cliffs earlier. Do you mind Mum, Dad?
‘Not at all.’ Jill ushered them out with her hand. ‘I’ll let Charlotte play bit longer and I can put her in the cot if she gets grumpy.’
‘She will need a change.’ Evie said and finished off her drink.
Jill threw her a knowing look. ‘I can handle it.’
Cally scuffled past. ‘I’ll go grab my cardi.’
Chapter 33
‘This way.’ Cally pointed to a sign at the bottom of the hill. ‘We’ll follow that sign.’
‘Who was that message from?’
‘I think you guessed.’
‘Ben?’
‘Don’t panic.’ I think he’s a little bit stuck. Something to do with your signature. He needs it because he wants to use your script.’
Evie raised her chin, squinting. ‘But I explained to him.’
‘Well whatever it is, he wants to meet up so that you can sign it so he can use your material. He’s in London.’
‘But he doesn’t know where we are. You didn’t tell him, did you?’
‘I think he thought we were near London. So, I told him Cornwall but not where exactly. We could be anywhere. Anyway, I thought it might dissuade him. I know you don’t want to see him, and he respects that, but presumably this signature is important.’
‘Can’t he email it?’
Cally shot her a look of amazement. ‘Duh! Have you seen any items post-nineties in that house?’
‘What about an internet café?’
‘Do they have scanners? I don’t know. Look, if he wants to drive here – or part of the way – let him. You could borrow Dad’s car.’
Evie shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think it’s a good idea.’
‘Why? Are you afraid your heart will weaken?’
Rolling her eyes, Evie squirmed. ‘That is one thing I can’t do. Cally, to be honest, I can’t allow Seb to track me here. I’d be putting Charlotte and all of you at risk. Nor can I allow Ben here. Seb is capable of anything. I feel totally violated. I don’t know what to do. I’ll have to find another way.’
‘Mmm, that’s understandable but how does that affect Ben?’
‘Look, the more I think about it, the worse it gets. I suppose what’s really concerning me is… what if he’s still having me followed? Or if he’s possibly tailing Ben?’
‘What?’ Cally said, almost breathless from climbing the hill.
‘I know it sounds paranoid but I am really scared. I’m convinced he can only be worried about me and Ben and us triggering a scandal. Why else would he be going to all this trouble? I can’t imagine it was just because I took a part-time job. N
o. He doesn’t want me getting close to someone else, maybe Ben in particular. He obviously knows Ben is working on the film from his spy and he knows Ben. Ben has worked on some of his video shoots. That’s how Ben worked out where I was. He had done a shoot at Seb’s villa.’ Evie bit her lip. ‘I don’t know how well they know each other. I didn’t get the impression Ben knows him particularly well but Seb must have a reason. I can only think it’s a shame; knowing how much he fears his family and the world discovering he has a love child. My guess is, he’s frightened a scandal will erupt and his reputation be tarnished. He is obsessed with protecting his name and image. God, he’s making me obsessed.’
Cally stopped, clutching her stomach and bending to catch her breath. ‘Regardless, we need to know what to do next.’
‘But what I don’t understand is, why can’t he just talk to me? Why is he handling it like this? I haven’t even got my phone to speak to him. Charlotte and I are not just going to disappear for his sake. God, I really need to sort this. I’ll have to go home and face him, but I don’t know if he’ll be there.’ She clenched her hands. ‘I’m now determined to stand up to him though. I’ve even pictured myself facing him, challenging him and watching him buckle, seeing him for the bully and control freak he so clearly is. Ok, inside I’m absolutely petrified. I actually laid awake for ages last night worrying that he would climb into our window and grab Charlotte and me.’
Cally put her arm around Evie’s shoulder as they marched up the final stretch of narrow path. ‘Oh, Evie, no.’
‘I know, it was horrid.’ Evie couldn’t and wouldn’t tell her sister about her dream. That had really freaked her. She had had to try and wake herself several times because Seb had pushed her and Charlotte down on to the sharp rocks and then to a cave on his island. He had thrown them both on rocky sand where a tide was ebbing in and kept his hands tightly gripped on her neck, squeezing every last breath out of her. His eyes glared like the devil’s as she passed out. The last words he sang:
‘Say goodbye to the child as
you reach the junction, the gates,