Years later we bumped into each other at a church social, by know I was a young woman in my early twenties and if I do say so myself, quite attractive with several boyfriends my own age. However, I always found them to be annoyingly immature, whereas older men were more attractive and fascinating to me. Frank and I got talking, and he asked me out to dinner the following day. We were married six months later and moved to London. A year after that, Hannah was born.
Hannah’s birth had been quite difficult, I had to stay in hospital for almost a week. When I got home I was shocked to learn Frank had arranged another trip to Africa. In my naivety, I thought now we had a family, our lives would settle down and he would be around to help me raise our children. Three weeks later, when our baby was just a month old, he packed his bags and left us to fend for ourselves. This set the pattern for the whole of our marriage. He would come back from his missionary work, be home for about a year and then disappear again. During this time, we had two more beautiful daughters.”
“Grace and Martha?”
“Yes, that’s right,” said Catherine, drinking the last drop of tea from her cup. “On one of his trips to India, he didn’t come back alone, he brought a family over with him, Chandra Kapoor, a widower and his two sons. He helped Chandra set up a shop in our area. I was very proud of him, until the day I realised he was a little too interested in Ganesh, the younger son.” Catherine’s eyes were misting over. “I caught him touching him, you see. I won’t go into detail, it was too shocking. I’m sure as a detective, you’ve come upon a lot of unsavoury human beings in your time and certainly, if you had known about Frank, he would have rated high up there.”
Sam understood now why when she was talking to the oldest Kapoor son in his shop, he clammed up when she mentioned Frank. He must have known what had happened to his younger brother. Perhaps Frank even molested him too!
“The vision of the two of them together still haunts me to this day,” Catherine continued, “I managed to drag the boy away, I mean I couldn’t just turn my back on the situation and pretend it wasn’t happening, I would never have forgiven myself. I went to tell Chandra, to warn him to keep his son away from my husband, thankfully, as far as I know, he did from then on. Now I was aware of my husband’s perversion, I couldn’t bear to be around him, his very presence made my blood run cold. Nevertheless, I was still his wife as he reminded me on a daily basis, and as such, he continued to demand his physical rights. After finding him with Ganesh, I was only too happy now when he left on his missionary work. However, I began to question whether he had ulterior motives other than Christian, for these trips.
In the meantime, my daughters were growing fast. Hannah especially missed her father when he was away and was always the one to treat him like a god on his return.”
Oh no, thought Sam, is she about to tell me Frank raped Hannah and Michael came from incest? Suddenly her hands felt clammy, she could feel her heart beating hard in her chest – the tension was almost unbearable.
“With all my girls well established at their respective schools,” went on Catherine, “I managed to get myself a little office job, answering the phone, that sort of thing. That’s where I met Carlos, and we became very good friends, lovers in fact … are you shocked?”
Sam shook her head. “No, not in the least, I think I’m more surprised you didn’t pack your bags and leave your husband. I would have been terrified that Frank might have interfered with the girls.”
Catherine fiddled nervously with the spoon resting in the pale pink saucer in front of her. “You’re right, of course that’s what I should have done, but I tried to hold on to the belief that it was possible the incident with Ganesh was a one-off. Anyway, it was on one of Franks trips to Africa when I realised I was pregnant again …”
Sam gasped and stared at her in disbelief. She had been imagining this moment for a while now, however, Catherine had never been part of her thoughts.
“Are you telling me what I think your telling me? You’re Michael’s mother?”
Catherine blinked away the tears, “Yes, for my sins, I am. When I found out I was pregnant, I was terrified my child would be a boy, and that Frank would be interested in him like he was with Ganesh. I managed to keep my pregnancy secret from my family by wearing layers of clothes, and I didn’t even go to the doctor. I went into labour at home, when the girls were at school. Michael came in to this world on the kitchen floor …” Catherine wiped her eyes. “When I heard his first cry and realised my worst fear had come true, I knew for his sake I couldn’t keep him. I cleaned him up and dressed him and held him for several hours not wanting to let him go, but I believed I had no choice. I had to protect him from the devil I finally admitted to myself my husband had become.”
Sam was dazed, still trying to take it all in. She was actually sitting opposite Michael’s birth mother, the woman who had brought him into the world. What would Michael want her to ask her? She was trying her best to understand Catherine’s motives for giving him up. She appeared to have loved him, but couldn’t keep him because she was scared he would come to harm if she did. It was all so immensely sad.
“Why didn’t you go to the police and report him?” Sam probed eventually. “They would have questioned him about his overseas visits too and arrested him if they found any evidence he was interfering with boys over there.”
“I know I should have done, but the system for getting a conviction is such a long drawn out process. Don’t forget, this was the 70’s. It would have been difficult to get anyone to believe me, especially because Frank was so highly regarded in our community and I knew full well the Kapoor family didn’t want to speak about it. I couldn’t risk my baby’s life. I was in panic mode. Anyway, after I left Michael outside the hospital the police started questioning everyone within its radius. I don’t know why in particular, perhaps it was because we were four women in the house, but they were constantly knocking on my door, asking question after question. While this was all happening, Frank was still overseas, he came home two months later.
A year went by, and Frank was off again, it was soon after that things started to fall apart in a big way. Another missionary he’d been working with, reported he’d caught him with several boys, it was the beginning of the end for Frank. Others came forward – soon it was all over the news. He was arrested in the town where he was working in Africa and held in one of their prisons for a while, before being deported back here. It was a terrible time, the neighbours shunned us and the girls began to refuse to go to school because of the abuse they were getting, so we moved away. Poor Hannah was the worst affected, as she still loved her father and wouldn’t believe the things she was hearing about him. She went off the rails; drank, took drugs, it broke our family. Then, before Frank’s case came to trial, he took the coward’s way out and hanged himself in his cell.”
Sam got up from her seat and moved her chair next to Catherine’s – reaching towards her she put a hand on her arm.
“I understand now why you and the rest of the family haven’t wanted to talk about it, it sounds like you were in a nightmare situation. You’ve changed your name, I’m guessing you got married again?”
Catherine clasped her hands together. “Yes, but before I did, I plucked up the courage to tell my family everything.” She stared directly at Sam. “I did try to find out what had happened to Michael, you know, I really did. I thought there might be a chance I could get him back after Frank’s death, but there were no channels open to me. I think I must have been placed on a black list, as the wife of a paedophile – no one wanted to help me. Believe me, not one day has gone by when I’ve not thought of my baby.”
“I believe you … please tell me, I have to know; was Frank, Michael’s father?”
Catherine chortled, “I was wondering how long it would be before you asked me that question … No, he wasn’t. Carlos, was Michael’s father, who, as it happens, I eventually married.”
Sam inhaled. “I have to admit I’m rel
ieved. Are you and Carlos still together?”
Catherine smiled, “Yes we are, we’re both retired now of course. He was an editor of a Spanish magazine. We spend our days gardening and travelling, all the things you do when you retire.” She reached into her handbag and pulled out a photo. “Here’s a picture of us several years ago on a Spanish beach.”
Sam grasped the photo apprehensively; she couldn’t believe she was actually looking at Michael’s parents. Michael had had his mother’s green eyes, but his father’s dark hair and smile. Yes, definitely his smile. It was such a tragedy he didn’t live long enough to meet them.
“Carlos looks very handsome, you make a lovely couple.”
“Thank you. We spend our winters in Spain; we’ve a small house in the village Carlos grew up in. He would have come with me today, but he thought it was best you and I had a talk first. He would very much like to meet you though if you agree?”
“I will certainly think about it,” replied Sam, pulling out her purse and removing the small picture from behind the clear plastic slot. “As we’re exchanging photos, here’s one of, Michael, just before he died.”
Catherine left out a gasp. Noticeably shaking, she kissed the picture of her son.
“You can keep it, Catherine, to show Carlos.”
“Thank you,” she said softly, choking back the tears. “He looks so much like my husband when he was younger. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“I think I do,” smiled Sam.
“Please,” urged Catherine, “tell me about him, how did my beautiful boy die?”
Sam looked down at her hands and shuffled nervously in her chair, she was about to tell the woman her son was murdered.
“Michael and I were married eight years ago, in the grounds of my family home. When I first met him, he was a journalist for a newspaper, very much like his father, later though he went into television. He lost his life two and half years ago in Tenerife …”
***
The two women sat together quietly, bound to one another in their grief, both thankful they had finally found each other. After exchanging telephone numbers, Sam walked with Catherine to the bus stop from where they said their goodbyes after promising to keep in touch. She didn’t tell her about Harry, after all said and done the woman was still a stranger and she wasn’t quite ready to include her in her son’s life. Maybe later, when she had come to terms with everything Catherine had told her, maybe then she would tell her Michael has a son.
Chapter 33 – A Romantic Evening
September 2017
Summer was almost over; there was already an autumnal chill in the air. So much had happened since she found out Catherine was Michael’s mother and consequently Harry’s grandmother. For one thing, Alex now stayed over several nights a week. Finding him in bed with her one Sunday morning, Harry didn’t appear to be at all traumatised, in fact his response had been very natural. He had flung himself on top of them and snuggled in between, demanding a story, to which Alex obliged. It was the day before Harry’s second birthday.
“So, let me go over the order of play again, I’m picking up the cake at one and then the entertainer at one-thirty, then I’m driving them both to The Old Rectory?” confirmed Alex.
“If that’s OK?” posed Sam.
“Of course it is. I’m just sorry I can’t stay to help you with the preparations, but I must finish that report, or Digger will have me hung, drawn and quartered.” He glanced over at the clock on the bedside table. “It’s gone five, Harry will be asleep for a while yet,” he pointed out as he began to kiss her. Moving his lips around her body, Sam let out a soft cry. She loved how he made love to her. Nevertheless, it was the little things he did that made her feel she was the most important person in his life. She didn’t know how she would cope if he left them now, to say she would be devastated would be an understatement.
Cuddling after their lovemaking, reluctantly Alex finally climbed out of bed and took himself off for a shower, returning minutes later.
“Have you thought any more about what we talked about last night?”
“Do you mean about asking Catherine and Carlos to Harry’s party?”
“Yes. I really don’t understand what you’re frightened of. Digger and I have done thorough checks on them, they are who they say they are.”
“I know and I’m very grateful. Mum’s indicated she’s keen to meet them too.” She sighed, “I don’t know what it is; I guess I’m still coming to terms with the story around Michael’s birth. I will introduce them to Harry one day, when the time’s right.”
Alex sat down on the bed. “Remember how much time you and I wasted by not opening up to each other? And to be honest, if it wasn’t for Josie being able to speak Russian, we probably wouldn’t be here together having this conversation. Don’t let Harry miss out on his grandparents, you might just regret it.”
She shook her head. “I know you’re talking sense, I will tell them about Harry, but there will be so many people at his party, I think it would be too much for him to cope with. Perhaps I’ll ring them in a couple of weeks.”
“Be assured I will remind you. By the way, how do you fancy going out to dinner with me this evening before I go on duty? Only there’s a new Italian restaurant opened not far from the station.”
“Yes great, I love Italian food.”
***
Sam sat in front of her mirror drying her hair; it was so nice to be going out for a meal, rather than having to cook for a change. She’d even managed to get Harry into bed and he was already sleeping peacefully. She opened up her make-up bag and applied shadow and mascara to her eyes. Rooting around the bottom of the bag she found her red lipstick and twisting the tube, she carefully painted her full lips. There, she was ready. Getting to her feet, she checked herself in her long mirror. Two weeks previously, she had met Victoria and Olivia up in London for a shopping extravaganza. After trying on several dresses, she had plumped for this navy blue, lacy number, from a top London store. She just hoped Alex approved.
Hearing the bell at the front door, Sam made her way downstairs. Standing in her porch way, was Sabrina Blake, chewing her last piece of gum. She was the teenage daughter of Josie’s hairdresser friend Linda and had been Harry’s babysitter for several months now.
“You know where everything is Sabrina, and there’s a pizza in the fridge if you want something to eat. I should be back by nine at the latest.”
“That’s fine, thank you Mrs. Adams.”
Hearing Alex’s car, Sam made her way out of the house and down the path to the little wooden gate at the end.
“Wow Sam, you look stunning. New dress?” exclaimed Alex as she manoeuvred herself into the passenger seat.
“Yes, glad you like it.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “I love the woman in it more.”
***
It was a small intimate restaurant, with low lighting and very enthusiastic waiters. They were the only people dining, they guessed because it was so early in the evening. The food was to die for and in between courses, a violinist played at their table, it was all very romantic.
“We’ll have to come again,” said Alex as he paid the bill.
“It’ll be on me next time,” she insisted.
Arriving back at Honeysuckle Cottage, Sam invited Alex in for a coffee.
“How was Harry, Sabrina, did he wake up?”
“No Mrs. Adams, he was an angel as always.”
“Excellent, and thank you,” she said, handing the young girl a ten-pound note.
Closing the front door behind her, Sam made her way to the kitchen and switched on the kettle for coffee. Carrying the two mugs into the sitting room she placed them on the coffee table.
“It’s a shame you’ve got to work tonight,” she said, settling down on the sofa.
Alex was standing with his back to the fireplace, swaying from one foot to the other, his hand repeatedly pushing back his hair. Eventually he moved towards her
and rather than sitting down, he stood in front of her.
“Sam, I’ve not got the best record where women are concerned. If you remember when I first met you, I was just out of a relationship with a woman who’d cheated on me and then there was Ana, of course.” He took her hand in his. “I was going to say this at the restaurant but that damn violinist kept playing.” He looked directly into her eyes. “We’ve known each other for a while now …”
Oh my god, thought Sam, Alex, the love of her life was about to propose, or was she getting the signals wrong again, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time.
She laughed nervously. “Alex, if you’re asking for another coffee, it’s all right I’ve got plenty.”
“No Sam, I don’t want any more coffee thanks, not that the one you made me wasn’t wonderful as always,” he responded uneasily. Reaching into his trouser pocket, he pulled out a little black box, and immediately got down on one knee. Lifting the lid, a solitaire diamond ring, set on a platinum band, shone brightly within the cream satin interior. Clearing his throat, he asked “Sam, my darling Sam, will you marry me, please?”
With flushing cheeks, she gazed at him. “I agree, your track record stinks,” she began, trying her best to control the emotion in her voice, “let’s hope it’s third time lucky. Alex, I wouldn’t want to marry anyone else.”
“So, your answer’s yes?”
“A definite yes!”
Alex punched the air. “And the ring, do you like it?”
“It’s perfect, absolutely perfect,” she said, as he slipped in on to her finger. Pulling her to a stand their lips came together in a long embrace.
“You’ve made me very happy, Samantha Adams, I’m just gutted I’ve got to go to work in a few minutes.”
Faraway Eyes_A fast-paced romantic murder mystery Page 21