In Focus (2009)

by Jacobs, Anna

  Wasn’t she?

  Another tear dropped on to her desk and she fumbled for a tissue. She didn’t feel at all strong today.

  Her brother wasn’t worth crying over, that was certain.

  How could her mother be so forgiving?

  It was ten o’clock by the time Edward pushed his way past the journalists into Pete’s besieged office. Cameras were flashing and he was sure once they found out who he was they’d be after him as well.

  A man in a security uniform barred his way, yelling over his shoulder at someone inside. ‘What about this one?’

  Ilsa looked up. ‘You can let Edward in any time, Des. He’s Pete’s cousin.’

  The man nodded and stepped back for a moment, before immediately taking up his position in front of the door.

  ‘Thank goodness you’re here!’ Ilsa pushed her hair back from her face. ‘It’s been mayhem, people trying to shove their way in. I had to bring Des in to keep them out.’

  Edward grinned. ‘I bet they didn’t get past you, even before he arrived.’

  She allowed herself a near smile. ‘Definitely not.’

  He went to perch on the edge of her desk. ‘You see a lot of what’s going on, Ilsa. Have you any idea how they got hold of this information?’

  She avoided his gaze and began to fiddle with the computer keyboard.

  This was the last reaction he’d expected. ‘Ilsa? Do you know something?’

  ‘I don’t. Well, not exactly.’ She heaved a sigh. ‘Gerry and I both heard you and Pete arguing about his birth mother. We couldn’t help it. You were making no attempt to keep your voices down. But I swear I didn’t say a word to anyone.’

  ‘Do you think Gerry might have?’

  She was still frowning. ‘He doesn’t seem the sort, but who else could it be?’

  ‘Give him a ring and ask him to come here ASAP, will you? Don’t say why.’

  He went into Pete’s office and found his cousin sitting behind the desk, staring glumly down at the newspaper.

  He looked up, surprise and relief on his face as he saw Edward.

  ‘I came to help.’

  ‘Thanks. I can’t seem to think what to do. I’m a bit upset by all this.’

  ‘I’m not surprised. The other papers will be carrying the story tomorrow and will no doubt add their own flourishes unless we do something to stop them.’

  ‘We?’

  ‘I’ll come back to work with you temporarily, then I’ll train my replacement.’

  ‘Maybe we could come to some arrangement. I could pay you more and—’

  Edward thumped the desk. ‘When will you bloody well learn that this isn’t about money?’

  Pete’s voice was sulky. ‘It’s what makes the world go round.’

  ‘Were you able to buy off your sister?’

  Pete hitched his shoulders and began to fiddle with his pencil.

  ‘Or your birth mother?’

  Pete shook his head.

  ‘And you can’t buy me, either. I’m coming back because I’m as near to a brother as you’ve got. If you spin me any lies or don’t do exactly as I tell you, I’ll leave instantly.’

  Pete swallowed hard. ‘Thanks. I’ve – been a bit of a shit, haven’t I?’ Silence, then, ‘But what the hell can we do?’

  ‘With your agreement, I’m going to visit your birth mother to see if she’ll appear with you at a press conference. I’ll need Beth’s help as well. I don’t think she’ll refuse. They’re both decent sorts. Maybe when this is all over you can get to know them properly.’

  Pete looked sad. ‘They won’t want to know me now.’

  ‘They will. They do. But first we have to stop the wild rumours. Your job is to go and see Aunt Sue, make sure she knows what’s happening. Break the news gently if she hasn’t heard.’

  ‘That mob out there will follow me if I go outside.’

  ‘Let them follow you. They’re bound to be camping out at the hospital already, trying to see your mother, but I doubt they’ll have been allowed inside her wing. Don’t say anything to them except “No comment”, but tell them we’ll be making a press statement later.’

  Pete nodded.

  His docility was starting to worry Edward. ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’

  Pete shrugged. ‘I don’t feel – as if I know myself any more.’

  ‘It’s not going to be easy but we’ll get through it. And Pete—’

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Be kind to your birth mother. She doesn’t deserve this.’

  A nod was the only answer.

  ‘Afterwards, let them follow you back to your flat. The concierge will keep them at bay and if you need to get out without being seen, he’ll help you do that, I’m sure.’

  ‘How are you going to escape pursuit when you leave here?’

  ‘I’ll use the fire stairs but we need to create a diversion. Ilsa will hold the fort at the office and contact us if anything important turns up.’ When his cousin didn’t move, he said more sharply, ‘For heaven’s sake, Pete, get up off your backside and start moving.’

  ‘You’d break it to Mum better than me.’

  How many times did he need to tell him? ‘This time you’re going to do your share of the dirty work. I’ve protected you for too long. From now on, you either learn to stand on your own feet or you sink. After you’ve seen Aunt Sue, go and wait at your flat. Do nothing else.’

  ‘You mean I’ve just got to sit around while those sods destroy my reputation?’

  ‘We have to get our act together before we do anything. Your job is to draw their attention. On second thoughts, don’t say “No comment”. Pull out all your charm. Tell them the article was wrong, but refuse to explain how. You’ve had enough practice at charming the press.’

  Pete’s face brightened a little.

  ‘Remember, this depends on the goodwill of your mother and sister. Would it have been so hard to be kind to them?’

  Pete flushed. ‘I was in shock.’

  ‘You could still have been kind. Now, let’s hope the security guy can get me through to the fire door. I’ll—’ He broke off as there were voices in the reception area and Ilsa tapped on the door.

  ‘Gerry’s here to see you.’

  ‘Show him in.’

  The younger man paused in the door, looking as if he hadn’t slept. ‘I’m sorry. It was me who let it out, Pete. I didn’t do it on purpose, though. I was drunk. I’ll resign. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am.’

  It was Pete who answered. ‘Come in and shut the door.’

  When Gerry had done that, he said, ‘If you didn’t do it on purpose, there’s no need to resign. I treated you badly and I’m sorry for that.’

  Edward smiled at him. This was the Pete he knew and liked best. Maybe now Fran was out of the picture, they could get the old Pete back. He turned to Gerry. ‘We really need you to stay here with Ilsa. I don’t want her leaving on her own. All you say to the press is “No comment now, but a statement will be made later in the day at a press conference.” That should hold them for a while.’

  ‘I’ll be happy to do that.’

  ‘I presume you know this Maggie person who wrote the article?’

  ‘Yes. She used to be a friend – well, more than a friend. She isn’t any longer. She was there when I got drunk, after the show.’

  ‘All right. I’ll be in touch.’ He squeezed Gerry’s shoulder briefly and received a grateful look in return. He went out into the office to ask the security guard’s help in getting out of the building.

  The journalists were herded into a small waiting room and told that Mr Newbury would make a brief statement. Edward sent Pete in to them ostensibly to calm them down. While they were focused on his cousin, Edward used the fire stairs to get out of the building, leaving by the rear entrance.

  He hoped his plan would work. It all depended on how kind Beth and her mother were prepared to be. They’d been shabbily treated, but surely they wouldn’t be vindictive?
r />   Nineteen

  Ghita walked to the shops to pick up some fresh fruit and eggs. The little boys, who loved going out for walks, were jabbering away, pointing and asking questions.

  It was as she was passing the newsagent’s that she saw Pete Newbury’s name on the poster and stopped to read the headlines. Oh, no! She bought a paper and read the front page as she stood beside the pram.

  Pulling out her mobile, she rang Jo, but got only the answering service. She left a message then wondered if she should ring Jo’s mother. No, surely Beth would have heard the news by now?

  After she’d made her purchases, Ghita walked back along the street, not noticing anything, too upset about the scandal that had engulfed her kind hostess. Some things were private, not to be shouted from the rooftops, and this was one of them. Journalists like those had a lot to answer for.

  When she arrived at the flats, she found a TV cameraman busy filming a reporter who was speaking earnestly and gesturing to the flats. She tried to walk past quickly, but another man stopped her.

  ‘Do you live in these flats, ma’am?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then you must know Mrs Harding.’

  ‘Who?’ Ghita hoped her face wasn’t betraying her. ‘I’ve not been here long and don’t know many people yet. Has something happened to this woman?’

  ‘Watch the midday news on TV. Thanks.’ He stepped back.

  She hurried inside, breathing a sigh of relief when she’d closed the door of the flat on the world.

  She settled the boys with one of their favourite children’s DVDs, giving them a biscuit and a drink of milk, then rang Beth’s office.

  Sandy answered, and when Ghita explained that it was urgent she speak to Beth, the other woman said bluntly, ‘If it’s about that ghastly article in Best of the News, she knows.’

  ‘Oh. Is there anything I can do to help?’

  ‘Not really, thanks. If I were you, I’d stay home for the rest of the day, though, and don’t say anything to the press.’

  ‘I certainly won’t.’

  Ghita put the phone down with a sigh. You felt so helpless at times like this.

  When Beth’s personal mobile rang, it was Edward again. ‘How’s it going?’ she asked.

  ‘I’ve seen Pete and now I’d like to talk to you. Where are you?’

  ‘Still at the office. I daren’t poke my head out today.’

  ‘Any way you can get out of the building without being followed?’

  ‘Not without an army escort or in heavy disguise.’ Then an idea occurred to her. ‘Talking of disguise, perhaps there is a way.’ She began to smile. ‘I think I’m just going to change myself into a cleaner. I’ve got plenty of our uniforms here. Can you come round to the car park at the rear of the next building, Number thirty-six?’

  ‘Yes.’

  She explained to Sandy what she wanted, and soon they had her kitted out in one of the bright orange uniforms, padded underneath with other uniforms to make her seem much plumper. With a scarf on her head and Sandy’s reading glasses, she was transformed.

  ‘I’d have walked past you myself.’

  Beth tried to focus and found it difficult. ‘The way these glasses magnify everything, I’ll probably bump into things and give myself away.’

  ‘Take a bucket and— No, a portable vacuum cleaner would be best, strapped to your back. Why don’t you vacuum your way along the hall? They’ll be less suspicious if you’re not in a hurry to leave.’

  ‘Brilliant.’ She gave Sandy a hug, switched on the vacuum cleaner and sallied forth.

  As she got outside, the reporters came over to her.

  ‘Do you know Beth Harding?’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘The woman who owns your company.’

  ‘No, dear. I’m just a casual. I deal with my supervisor not the bigwigs. I’m only here today because someone called in sick.’ She looked down the corridor in disgust. ‘Who’s been dropping sweet papers? Who do you think has to pick those up? No consideration, some folk.’

  They moved away as she continued vacuuming and complaining about people’s dirty habits. She was still grumbling as she got into the service lift.

  Even in the underground car park she didn’t drop her persona and continued to pick up bits of rubbish as she walked across it. At the far corner was a door to which only the lessees of suites in the building had a key. It connected to the building next door, which was under the same management. The car park there was used for overflow parking.

  Only when she was through the door did she stop, lean against the other side of it and let out her tension in a long sigh.

  ‘You all right?’

  She jumped in shock because she hadn’t heard him approach, then smiled at Edward. ‘Yes.’

  He grinned. ‘Very glamorous. And haven’t you put on a bit of weight lately?’

  She grimaced. ‘I’m getting overheated from all the padding.’

  ‘I’d still like to kiss you,’ he said suddenly.

  The oxygen seemed to vanish from the air around them as they stared at one another. ‘I’d better not hug you till we’re out of their reach,’ he said regretfully. ‘Come on. I’m parked over here.’

  Before they drove off, she removed her uniform and padding, then crouched down in the back of the vehicle.

  ‘There’s no need for that,’ he said, amused.

  ‘Humour me. You can’t be too careful today. I don’t want to lead them to my mother.’

  ‘How’s she bearing up?’

  ‘She sounded all right on the phone, better than I’d expected, actually, but I want to see her, to be sure.’

  ‘I want to see her too.’

  ‘You do?’

  ‘Yes.’ He peered into the rear-view mirror. ‘You should be all right to sit up now. We’re not being followed. In fact, I’ll pull to the side and you can get into the front.’

  ‘I’d rather stay here till we get to my mother’s. If we stop, someone might notice us.’

  ‘Whatever. Perhaps you could tell me where to go?’

  ‘Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Turn right at the next traffic lights and . . .’

  Pete went to see his mother in hospital quite openly. He was stopped at the entrance to the private wing, where a hospital security officer seemed to be acting as a guard and questioning everyone who wanted to enter.

  As he waited his turn, Pete dredged up a smile and said to the journalists, ‘Look, my mother’s had a stroke. I need to see her before I do anything else. And guys . . . can we leave her out of things, please?’

  They nodded at that, and since he knew several of them and had found them helpful in the past, he said, ‘Thanks,’ with some confidence that they would co-operate.

  ‘When are you going to talk to us, Pete?’ one asked. ‘Can you deny you’re refusing to see your birth mother?’

  ‘We’ll be making a full statement later. For now, I just want to check that this hasn’t upset the mother who brought me up.’

  They started taking photos as he showed his identification to the security officer, who clearly recognised him, but still went through the ritual.

  It was a relief to get the media off his back for a few moments, and Pete paused to savour the quietness of the long corridor, the lack of people nipping at his heels. Then he moved forward to the nurses’ station, smile back in place.

  ‘Hi. I’d like to see my mother, Mrs Newbury.’

  They looked at him curiously but no one commented on the article.

  ‘She’s just been moved to Room Three, Mr Newbury.’

  ‘How is she?’

  ‘Making a good recovery. Don’t upset her.’

  ‘I’ll try not to.’

  He walked in the direction the nurse had indicated and found Room Three. The door was open and he could see his mother lying in bed, staring into space. His heart sank at the sight of a newspaper spread out on the bedcovers.

  ‘Hi, Mum.’

  She looked up and smiled. Her
speech was a little hesitant but clear enough. ‘Pete, darling. I was just reading about you.’ She indicated the newspaper.

  ‘Edward’s helping me deal with that rubbish. You don’t need to worry about it.’ He tried to take the paper away from her, but she put one hand across it to prevent him.

  ‘I want to be involved in whatever you’re doing to counteract this rubbish. This was more my fault than yours, after all. I’ve been thinking how it all came about, why your father went to such lengths. I’d probably have had a nervous breakdown if I hadn’t managed to adopt a child, and that’s the sad truth. But I’d never have stolen another mother’s child like that, never.’

  He sat down beside the bed since it was obvious he’d do more harm than good if he refused to discuss the matter. ‘Do you think Dad knew how they got hold of me?’

  ‘I think he must have known there was something fishy about the adoption, or he’d not have used the identity of the baby who died. But I can’t believe Donald would have condoned a kidnapping. Maybe he guessed afterwards when it hit the news headlines, though, because he grew very sharp-tempered for a time.’ She rubbed her forehead. ‘I was too happy to have you to notice much except you, and I just went along with what he suggested, a fresh start, he said. So we moved and were very happy, both in Australia and after we came back to England.’

  ‘You mustn’t make yourself ill worrying about this.’

  She gave him one of her assessing looks. ‘I’d make myself ill if I tried to avoid thinking about it or if I was worried about you being overprotective towards me.’

  ‘I can’t let them hound you. You didn’t do anything wrong.’

  ‘A wrong was done nonetheless and I want to meet your birth mother and apologize.’

  He gaped at her. ‘Mum, no!’

  ‘If you don’t help me do that, then I’ll do it on my own. And Pete, darling, I want you to apologize to her as well. You must know how much you hurt her, refusing to have anything to do with her.’

  ‘I still don’t want anything to do with her, only . . . I think Edward’s in love with her daughter.’