by Minna Howard
Verity was not amused and ignored him, starting straight into the next lecture, it being a double period.
‘What do you think of her, this young woman, now she’s been living here with you?’ Delia asked, settled on the sofa with a glass of wine.
‘She’s a very nice person, I admire her for getting on when life has thrown her a bummer,’ Verity said firmly. She’d found a large envelope of forwarded mail from Saskia’s mother’s flat on the doormat when she’d got home, which she’d put on the shelf by the door for Saskia to see. That somehow clinched the fact that this was Saskia’s home, at least until Darren came back for them to set up their own. ‘Oh, very commendable,’ Delia agreed. ‘It was just a bolt from the blue and after so long since Nathan was in Greece. I just can’t think why her mother didn’t let Nathan know at once, if it, or rather she is his.’ She took a large gulp of wine. After filling in time watching the news and a nature programme, they were both relieved when they heard the key in the lock, the front door open and Saskia come in. Delia sat up a bit straighter, looking towards the door as if convinced she’d know at once if her son was being duped. Verity got up, saying she’d see if Saskia wanted a drink but in reality to give her support, but Saskia came straight into the room, still in her coat and scarf, holding the envelope of forwarded letters, which she put on the table, and dropping her bag on the floor. ‘Hello.’ She made a bee line for Delia, holding out her hand and Delia, looking a little bemused, took it.
‘So, you are Saskia, my son’s daughter?’ Delia inspected her critically. ‘You do have the same colour eyes,’ she conceded, ‘but they are fairly common.’
‘My mother told me he was my father before she died, and she wouldn’t lie,’ Saskia said firmly, taking off her coat and going back to the tiny hall to hang it over the banister. She returned and sat down opposite them. She politely refused a drink.
‘All our post,’ she said, starting to distractedly open the package she held on her lap. ‘I do hope you don’t mind me giving your address, but as you know my mother’s flat now belongs to someone else.’ She smiled in Verity’s direction. ‘I’ll change it when Darren comes, and we move on.’
‘Of course not. Please open them if you want to,’ Verity said, thinking it a diversion from Delia’s possible remarks. While Delia gently questioned her about her family background, Saskia, having said she’d just open the packet and go through them later, began to sift through the contents as if she needed something to distract her while Delia interrogated her. Some were obviously letters of condolence, others bills, a couple of postcards, which she glanced at. Last was a letter with a smudged postmark, which she idly opened. It contained a sealed envelope addressed to her mother at her brother’s address. She remembered her saying how she knew he’d never move, so she gave it out to some people she’d liked, telling them she’d always tell him where she was and he’d send it on, which he’d obviously done, to the flat, knowing she was there to pick it up. She opened it and gasped, hand to her mouth, her eyes racing over the words.
Delia and Verity asked what was wrong, Verity getting up to go to her.
‘It can’t be true.’ Saskia was frozen in shock, staring at the letter.
‘Bad news?’ Delia leant forward and took the letter from her. Her expression changed as she read it. ‘It’s from a man who says he is your father and he is certainly not my son.’
TWELVE
This was a joke, a sick joke, Saskia thought, as Delia handed the letter to Verity with a look of triumph. Verity read it in silence before handing it back to her. Saskia, a look of bewilderment on her face, scoured the page again.
Dearest Helen,
I know I behaved appallingly, all those years ago, being so selfish not to stand by you and our child.
When you told me you thought you were pregnant I scarpered, leaving you to deal with it alone.
Last Christmas, I bumped into Sarah Elliot – you remember her? – who was in Greece around the same time. She told me she was in touch with you, though hasn’t seen you for a while. She said you had a grownup daughter who you had brought up alone, as the father had left the island. She thought the child was in her twenties, so it fits in with our time together.
I can only say in my defence that I was young, broke and very self-centred and then was not the time for me to bring up a child. I had so much else I wanted to do. I did feel guilty about it over the years though I told myself it was probably a false alarm.
I was going through some old papers of mine while sorting out my late mother’s house, and I found your brother’s address which you gave me in case you moved on. I hope this will still reach you. I want to see you again and meet my daughter and try and make up for the years I left you to deal with this alone.
My love to you both,
Scott Carson
Saskia dropped the letter on the floor. She could feel Delia’s eyes boring triumphantly into her, no doubt relieved that her beloved son was not responsible for her. For an instant she wondered if she should just get up and leave. If Nathan was not her father, then she had no right to be here. Had her mother really behaved so irresponsibly, sleeping around with various men without taking precautions?
Verity said gently, ‘So you have no idea who this man is?’
‘No, we left Greece when I was about three so I wouldn’t have understood any of this. There were lots of people out there drifting around. I can’t remember any particular one. Anyway, it looks like he scarpered before I was born.’
‘All this can be solved by having a DNA test,’ Delia said. ‘If we find you are this other man’s daughter then you must get in touch with him. At least he seems to be taking responsibility for his behaviour. Better late than never, I suppose. If you don’t mind me saying, I think it a bit much, your mother giving you my son’s surname, if she wasn’t absolutely certain that he was your father.’ Saskia bit back a retort. Verity had been so kind taking her in like this and Nathan had spoken to her a few times on the phone, saying how fond of her mother he’d been and how sorry he was to hear of her death. But now, this letter suggested it might not be true, and she was this other man’s child.
Verity, eager to smooth things down, said, ‘Don’t worry, Saskia, until we know for sure. It’s just so sad your mother’s not here to sort it out for you.’
Delia, who’d had more than her fair share of lovers, ploughed on, sitting up a little straighter as if she was a judge passing sentence. ‘I wonder why she said Nathan was your father, gave you his name, when she’d had this man about the same time. I suppose she saw that my son was the better bet, but all the same.’
‘I think I’ll go upstairs now, if you’ll excuse me. I’ll have a paternity test as soon as I can, then we’ll know for sure.’ Saskia got up to escape Delia’s scorn and her relief that she might not be her granddaughter after all.
‘Stay and have something to eat first,’ Verity said. ‘Supper is almost ready.’
‘No, thank you, I’m fine.’ She escaped upstairs with the offending letter, a feeling of panic fluttering through her, wondering where on earth she could stay if it turned out that Nathan was not her father. Would this other man want to house her while she waited for Darren to come back? She shut her bedroom door and dialled Darren’s number even though it was late and he was probably asleep. After a long time, he answered, his voice tired.
‘Hi babe, what’s up? I’m in bed. Are you okay?’
She felt crushed by his tone of voice. She needed him to listen to her news, wrap her close in his love. ‘It’s just Mum’s post has been handed on and there’s a letter from another man who thinks he is my father.’ She could not stop the words pouring out of her.
‘Slow down. Who is this man? I thought your mother told you who he is and you’re with him now? Look, love, get a test, that will sort it out. Quite a goer, your mum. Sorry, got to get some sleep, I have a very early start tomorrow. Speak very soon.’ He rang off leaving her feeling distraught.
She lay back on her bed,
not knowing what to do, hurt that Darren had not taken her worry seriously. She was certain that Verity, on her own, would not ask her to leave until they knew for sure which man was her father. She thought of Jen who’d been struck by how she had a look of Nathan, so she had come to think of him in that role. But who was this other man? Had her mother given birth to another child? Her mind raced. Did she have a sibling hanging around that she didn’t know existed?
Her mobile rang; it had to be Darren offering more words of comfort. She grabbed it in relief, but it was Ivor.
‘Haven’t see you for a while, been up north on business. How are you?’
The tenderness in his voice brought her near tears. ‘I’ve just had a letter for Mum sent on by my uncle from a man saying he’s my father, well, not specifically…’ She explained the details and about Delia, Nathan’s mother, having arrived to check her out. ‘She’s so relieved her darling boy is probably not my father.’
‘I’m so sorry, Saskia. Listen I’ll come over and rescue you if you like. You can stay here in my flat until it’s sorted. There’s masses of room, we won’t fall over each other.’ His voice was warm, calming her panic.
‘Sweet of you to suggest it, but don’t worry. Verity is very kind, I’m sure she won’t turf me out, despite her dragon of a mother-in-law. Nathan should be home soon and then we’ll do the test.’
‘As you like, though won’t you find it difficult if his mother is staying in the house too, throwing you dirty looks and making remarks?’ he asked kindly.
She was tempted to escape Delia’s scrutiny with Verity struggling to hold the peace. ‘Well … I—’
‘I can come over now and bring you here, just until the mother-in-law has left? It’s important, Saskia, that you stay calm for the baby. That’s what my sister says anyway, and she’s had four, so she should know.’ He laughed. ‘You can go back when Nathan returns. It’s no trouble, the spare bed is made up; we have an ancient cleaner who comes with the house and has a mania about making up beds,’ he joked.
His voice soothed her. Why shouldn’t she stay with him for a few days? It would be handy for work in the restaurant and not too far to the shop near Fulham Broadway tube station. She would not feel as awkward staying with Ivor as she would here under Delia’s scrutiny.
‘It won’t take me long to get to you,’ he went on, ‘and I’m out most of the day working, as you will be, but it’s your choice.’
She imagined Delia interrogating her, making spiteful remarks and throwing her daggered looks while Verity struggled to keep the peace. She couldn’t face it. She felt quite vulnerable now, with her mother gone and, no doubt, being pregnant added to her feelings of insecurity.
‘OK, thanks, Ivor if you’re really sure. It won’t be for long. I hope Nathan will be back soon and it will all be resolved. I’d like to belong to this family – not to Delia, but Verity is lovely, and Nathan has been very friendly on the phone. I’d feel rather daunted now to have to leave them and find somewhere else to stay until Darren gets back.’
‘I’ll come now, don’t worry, it will work out somehow. At least you’re not a child with no choice but to live with this new father.’ He laughed and rang off leaving her feeling happier. He was a good friend and she was fortunate to have him.
She just had to get through the next few months before Darren came back from the States for good and they would find somewhere to live together.
She packed a few things, including a dress she was working on for the shop, and hovered in her room until she heard the doorbell. Grabbing her bag, she ran down to answer it, but Verity got there first.
‘It’s Ivor,’ she said to her as Verity opened the door. ‘I’m going to stay with him for a few days until all this is sorted out. It’s much easier for us all.’ She laid her hand on Verity’s arm.
Verity looked upset. ‘You don’t have to leave us, Saskia. I’m sure it can be sorted out. We’ve no idea who that other man is, and maybe…’ She paused. ‘Maybe he’s nothing to do with you, but whatever the outcome, you’re welcome to stay until your… boyfriend returns.’
‘Thanks, Verity, but I think it’s for the best if I go for a few days, until Nathan returns. That forwarded letter has thrown me. I can’t believe Mum would have lied to me, especially knowing she was dying. She was always so honest.’ She gulped back tears, unsettled by this new development. Could her mother have been so affected at the end by her illness that she’d muddled up the men she’d… known? Though why had she chosen Nathan’s surname for her from when she was born?
Ivor was standing silently in the hall waiting patiently for her to say goodbye.
‘Perhaps that letter is a hoax,’ Verity said brightly, turning to Ivor. ‘Look, why don’t you stay for a drink and we’ll discuss things rationally?’
‘No, thank you, Verity, I think it best if I go with Ivor now. He’s an old friend, we’ve known each other for ages, and he has room. I’ll come back another time.’ She glanced towards the living room half-expecting Delia to come and bombard Ivor with her view of Nathan’s innocence in all this. ‘Darren will be back soon, and we’ll find a place together.’ She bent over and kissed Verity’s cheek. ‘I’ll keep in touch; let me know when Nathan comes home. I’d like to meet him anyway.’
‘Of course.’ Verity glanced towards the living room, then said quietly, ‘Please, don’t take this to heart. She can be… well, overprotective of her darling boy.’
Saskia smiled, pressed her arm and made for the door. Ivor took her bag from her. ‘I’ll look after her,’ he said, ‘and I’m sure everything will sort itself out.’
THIRTEEN
Verity went back into the living room seething at her mother-in-law’s behaviour. She felt shocked by that letter too. Another man claiming Helen’s child. It could easily be a different child, perhaps one she’d miscarried or had adopted. It was only fair to give Saskia the benefit of the doubt, her mother’s seemingly rackety love life was hardly her fault. The dates that Nathan was in Greece with Helen fitted like a jigsaw. Saskia had been given his surname and she’d go with it, until it was proved otherwise. Saskia was hardly responsible for her mother’s love life.
Being used to young people, Verity wanted to help her, admiring her courage while going through such a tempestuous time.
Delia guessed her annoyance with her, her mouth pursed with self-righteousness. ‘You have to be very careful whom you let into your house, dear, especially with Nathan and the boys away.’
‘You didn’t need to make the poor woman feel so unwelcome,’ Verity retorted. ‘The letter from that man saying he might be her father really shocked her. Can’t you imagine being told by your dying mother the name of the man she tells you is your father – she even has his surname – and then finding a letter like that? Her mother died, Delia, and she was not yet fifty. such a hard thing for Saskia to cope with, on top of this father business.’
There were times when she disliked her mother-in-law who had a tendency to insinuate that she was the only person in the right.
Delia looked pained. ‘Her mother sounds as if she had many affairs, no doubt brought on by that sun and sea and holiday atmosphere,’ she said loftily, conveniently forgetting that she managed to have a string of affairs herself, in grey, chilly, Britain.
Verity swallowed a retort, annoyed that she and Delia were now left in the house together without Nathan and Saskia as a buffer between them, and there was still supper to get through.
The doorbell rang long and loud.
‘Perhaps she’s changed her mind,’ Delia said as Verity got up to answer it. Whoever it was, was now rattling the letterbox.
‘Mum, it’s us,’ Toby called out and she opened the door to both her sons, grinning and charging into the house. ‘We got a lift down and have come to see our sister,’ they chorused.
‘Shouldn’t you be at lectures or something?’ Verity’s first thought was of anxiety that something untoward had happened to bring them here.
�
��No, we go back tomorrow. Pete, one of our friends, drove down to a family party and he offered to bring us. Is she here?’ Marius looked round as if Saskia would suddenly appear.
‘No, not just now, but Granny is here,’ Verity said, forgetting in her confusion that Delia had decreed that she wished to be called by her first name as she thought Granny was far too old.
‘So where is our sister?’ Toby asked.
‘Staying with a friend, but you’ll meet her another time. So wonderful to see you both. Are you hungry? We were just about to have supper.’
‘Starving,’ Toby said.
Hearing their voices Delia appeared and embraced them. ‘It’s my fault she’s taken herself off. Gone to stay with a friend and she might not be your sister after all. You just can’t be too careful, there are imposters everywhere,’ she announced blithely.
‘But Dad said she was.’ Toby looked disappointed. ‘He told us it happened when he was in Greece and had a summer affair… before he met Mum,’ he added quickly.
‘But it is not proved,’ Delia said firmly. ‘He has to have a paternity test so we can make sure. I’m sure there were a lot of other young people out there at the time, it could be any one of them. It has to be proved,’ she repeated.
Fed up with it all, Verity went to the kitchen to put the supper on the table and lay another place, leaving Delia to explain about the letter, which was one of the reasons for Saskia’s departure.
Marius came into the kitchen and began to pick at some bread on the side.
Verity said, ‘I’m sorry, I’ve put Delia in your room as Saskia is in the spare room. Her things are still there so can you go in with Toby tonight? The other bed’s made up.’
‘Sure, but what’s she like? Do you think she is a scrounger and if so why? It’s not as if Dad is a millionaire or anything. Or do you think her mother had masses of affairs and there are lots more children? Grandma seems to think she’s not Dad’s.’ He grinned, rather annoying Verity that he was not taking this drama seriously.