“No, nothing,” she managed to reply. “What could be wrong?”
“You're sure? You look like you've seen a ghost.”
“I'm fine, really. Just a bit tired, I think,” and the incident passed.
But the next time David was talking to Ben he asked him if Charis was okay…if everything was all right with her.
“Yes, she's fine,” Ben said. “Why do you ask?”
“Nothing really, I thought she looked worried, a bit strained last time I saw her.”
Ben smiled, “Thank you for your concern. Maybe she was a bit tired that day.”
“Yes, that's what she said,” David replied, but remembering the look on Charis' face, he wasn't sure he agreed.
*****
Paul was to start at nursery school in September. Charis had found an excellent privately run Infant School just two streets away. Paul was extremely proud of his new uniform when he tried it on and was eager to be a “big boy”. Fortunately he was a confidant child and neither Ben nor Charis thought he would have trouble getting used to his new regime. Charis walked him to school each morning pushing Emma in the buggy, and then picked him up at lunchtime. He was always full of fun little stories of what he’d done and the new friends he’d made. Ben and Charis both read frequently to the children and Paul was already becoming quite a good reader and adjusted quickly to his new life of a school boy.
Just before Christmas that year they heard from the Maitlands. When their current year's lease was up they wouldn't be renewing as their daughter was expecting a baby in June and they were returning to America. Decision time had come.
Christmas had also come again. Ben and Charis invited Jennifer and David over on Christmas Eve so the children could play with their cousins. They had mince pies and watched the Muppets Christmas Carol on DVD. It was only the second Christmas Day that they’d spent at home, just the four of them, but this year Emma was old enough to really enjoy it. Then on Boxing Day they went to Willow Bend to visit Emily and Giles and all their Hampshire family. They had a delightful time and made it home late that night, the children falling asleep in the car on the way. They tried to enjoy the day without worrying about their future, but as soon as they arrived home they had to seriously consider their options.
Firstly, Ben had long discussions with his partners at St. Anne's. He could either stay where he was or he could leave the partnership, options they hoped would not be realised, or the partnership could expand and open up new Health Centres in different areas of the country, beginning at or near Bath. The last option was obviously the one that he and Charis hoped for - that way they could live at Meadow Lea Hall. Graham appeared to be keen on the last option, too. Allison's family were from Harrogate and that was a serious contender for opening up another Centre. The discussions went on for days, the main concern being financing. The partners had no doubt they would be successful but it would cost a lot of money, especially if they went ahead and opened two centres simultaneously. Ben spent time with his bank manager, then approached his partners with the idea that if they could come up with the financing for the Harrogate centre between them, he (and the bank) would be willing to finance the Bath one on his own. This was one of the few times in his life he was grateful for his inheritance from his father, another time when he’d married and paid to join the partnership in the first place.
It was finally decided that’s what they would do. Frank would still be the senior partner and based in London, Graham would go to Harrogate and Ben to Bath. Frank would have to recruit two new doctors, but Graham and Ben would have to find staff from scratch.
Once it had all been agreed upon, it was off to Bath to find suitable premises to convert into a hospital and health centre. It took three visits before Ben found one that would be perfect. It had recently been used as a hospice so there were plenty of patient rooms, a large kitchen, a dining area, and places that could be used for treatment and offices. It would, however, need to be extended for operating theatres, laboratory, diagnostic equipment, nursery and delivery rooms, plus everything needed re-decorating. Not only was it going to cost a lot of money but they’d need to get planning approval, and it turned out to be several months before they could actually start on the work and think about hiring the new staff. Ben asked Charis to do the interior designing and she thoroughly enjoyed choosing paint and colours, flooring and furniture. But everything took so much time their move would not be until well into the following year.
And then it happened again. She'd had a few months of being free from the fear of Henry. She thought he'd given up. She hoped he’d moved on. She thought she was finally free. And then on their anniversary another card came.
‘You thought I'd forgotten you, didn't you? Never fear, I'm still here and I will get you.’
The nightmares, that had started to ease, began again…much worse than before and just two days later as she was preparing their evening meal, she heard the plop of something being delivered through the front door. Not the post…it’s much too late, but please not another note from Henry. She hurried to pick it up from the floor, tore open the envelope and out dropped a photograph…a photograph of her and the children on the way to Paul's school, accompanied by a note,
‘What a lovely little family – shame if something were to happen to one of them.’
Her whole body shook. She felt sick and thought she was going to faint. But more than that, she felt the anger arise. It swelled within her until it filled her whole being. She pulled the door open and saw him, just as he was leaving the mews courtyard.
She screamed at him as she ran after him, “Henry! Stop!”
He did and turned, saw her coming at him. “You got my note I see?” he sneered, leering at her.
She was amazed at the calm that she felt – her rage was cold and controlled. “Don't you dare threaten my family. Don't you dare to even think of harming my children. You think I can't do anything about you? You think I can't stop you, but you're wrong. I will not let you touch my children. Whatever you think you’ve done to me is one thing, but you will find out that I will fight you to the death if you harm my family.” Her teeth were gritted as she spoke.
He just laughed at her. “You have no power little girl. You stole my inheritance, I just may steal your family.”
Now her anger knew no bounds. She struck him. With more strength than she knew she had she hit him across his face, her fingernails digging into his flesh and drawing blood. He put his hand up to his cheek, touching the stinging flesh. He pulled his fingers away and saw the blood she’d drawn. He was livid. His eyes turned black and Charis could almost see evil.
“You little bitch,” he yelled at her, as he turned and hurried away. “I'll get you for this! You'll pay for this!”
“We'll see who has the power,” she screamed after him. “I'm warning you, Henry! Leave. My. Children. Alone!”
He'd gone. She was left shaking from head to toe. She’d never been more scared in her life. Whatever happened to her was one thing, but her children were sacred - their lives more important and precious to her than anything. And she would fight him the rest of her life, if necessary, to keep them safe.
She continued to stand there and was encompassed with a feeling of strength she hadn't known before and a feeling of determination to somehow end this nightmare once and for all. She wouldn’t allow him to intimidate her again. Henry had retreated after she’d slapped him. She was stronger than he. She’d stood up to him and she’d realised that he was really just a coward. But it didn’t matter. It was going to end…now.
She took a deep breath, turned and started to walk slowly back to her house and noticed Mrs. Everett standing in her doorway.
“Are you all right dear?” she asked.
Charis managed a smile. “I am now,” she said as she walked inside.
This time she had to tell Ben. She wasn’t going to live with the constant fear anymore. It had been eating away at her and destroying her peace.
; Ben was distraught. “Oh, Charis! You should have shared this with me from the beginning! I’m here to take care of you.”
“I thought it would end. I kept thinking it would end. And you were so busy. But it can't go on anymore,” and she allowed herself the luxury of breaking down and sobbing and releasing it all while he held her.
Ben did two things; he phoned his uncle, the King, and he went to see David.
“You were right,” he told him. “Something has been bothering Charis for years now. I should have noticed.” He told David everything. “But I've spoken to my uncle. Maybe he can help with the problem. He seems to think he can.”
And Charis knew that eventually it would be over. One day soon it would end. Ben would hold her close and keep her and the children safe. He would keep his promise.
*****
In August, after the Maitlands had been gone for almost three months, Ben and Charis loaded up their little family and went to Meadow Lea Hall and spent their summer holidays there instead of going to Cornwall. Charis had plans for her home. She wanted some alterations made, mainly to the upstairs, but she also wanted a playroom converted from part of the huge drawing room and next to the kitchen downstairs, and solar panels installed before they moved in. She invited her father's architect friend to come and see if the ideas she had were feasible, and put him in charge of getting the work done.
The holiday and the country air had worked its magic once more. Within a few weeks of returning to London Charis was certain she was pregnant again. Ben still hadn't got his little daughter that looked just like her mother, as Emma was beginning to look more like Jennifer than anyone else, but she was definitely becoming her own little person. She hardly ever stopped talking and was always on the move. She also had a determined streak but as she was a charming and happy little girl, and flirted outrageously with her father. She usually got her own way. The baby – another girl – was due mid-May.
For the first time Charis wasn't worried about dying in childbirth. This time she really believed Ben when he told her everything was fine. Her happiness would have been complete if the horror of Henry had been totally eliminated. She knew he was still around – but she'd seen another news report that he'd recently been chosen to head up an important archaeological expedition, once again in the Middle East. At least he’s in another part of the world for a few months, she’d thought. She should have some peace.
They’d hoped the move to Wiltshire and to the new St. Anne's Hospital would be as soon as school had broken up for the summer holidays, and before the new term began in September. Emma would start in the nursery class, and she and Paul would both go to the little village school that Charis had attended as a child.
The months ticked by and the work on the new hospital and at Meadow Lea Hall continued, both taking longer than anticipated. They visited regularly at weekends, enabling Charis to have discussions with Mrs. Patterson about finding someone to help her in the house. She had no trouble keeping up with their Chelsea home, but Meadow Lea Hall was vastly different. When the alterations were completed there’d be nine bedrooms and six bathrooms, Charis wanted room for family and friends to come and stay often, plus six reception rooms; two large and four smaller (the playroom, a small sitting room and large drawing room, the study, a small dining room off the kitchen and the large dining room), the hall, and an enormous kitchen area.
And then there was the outside. Charis wanted to spend time working in the garden, but she would need someone to help there too, just as Marjorie and George Patterson had done for so many years. And, of course, her first priority was the children, taking them to school and having a new baby to care for. Mrs. Patterson was able to suggest that Charis might like to consider her son Malcolm and his wife Jean. They’d been living in Scotland for many years but their three children were now grown and making lives for themselves. They sought to move south…to be closer to their two grown children who were working in London. The third child had gone to visit the Patterson's other son and his family in Australia. Charis had met Malcolm and Jean and liked them both. It was agreed that they would come and visit and see if it would suit all concerned. The two new bedrooms that Charis was having incorporated into the main house were above the kitchen where the Patterson's used to have their flat, and where the Maitland's Rosa and Amy had slept. So alternative accommodation would need to be found. There was a large loft in the roof area above the four car garage, so Charis had another meeting with her architect and the plans were made to convert it into a flat for them.
Suddenly it was the end of April. Things were moving along nicely with the remodelling and decorating of their two establishments. They’d spent Easter at Willow Bend and spring that year in Hampshire was warm and sunny. The children had a wonderful time playing with their cousins. Emma was nearly three and Paul almost five. On their anniversary the following month they would celebrate being married eight years. How life for Charis had changed during those years. Sometimes, in the evening after the children were in bed, she would sit with Ben and watch him work on his laptop, feeling the new baby move around inside her, knowing that soon she would be here with them and before long they would all be living in her beloved childhood home. How very blessed she felt and how much she adored her wonderful husband. There were still moments when she thought What if he hadn't come? and terror would almost grip her. Then she'd pull herself together. But he did. And Ben would look at her and smile and her insides would turn over and she felt like she had butterflies. He still had the power to make her heart pound harder and they often made love until they fell asleep exhausted in each other's arms.
She woke very early one morning feeling strange. Something was wrong but she didn't know what. She lay there for a moment or two and then she felt it. She was in labour. Was it too early? She still had three more weeks to go. Wait a little while and maybe it will stop. But no. Within minutes it was so strong she cried out with the pain.
Ben awoke. Immediately concerned he asked, “What's wrong?”
“It's the baby! She's coming.”
“You're sure?”
“Oh yes, I'm sure.”
“Okay, let's look and see what's happening.”
Once more Charis was relieved that Ben was with her, to take care of her and to bring their child into the world. Her labour didn’t last very long, but while they were waiting, Ben rubbed her back, held her, wiped her face, held her hand, kissed her forehead and told her when to push until at last their newest daughter arrived.
This time there was no Emily to help so Ben did everything. While Charis held the baby, he attended to her and then took their tiny child and did everything for her, too. Charis watched him, his hands were gentle, so caring, and she loved him beyond words. He wrapped up their little girl, handed her to her mother and then sat beside them on the bed. Charis was so happy, so emotional she couldn't stop the tears from coming.
They decided to name the newest addition to the family Jennifer Charis and call her Jenni. Later in the morning Ben brought Paul and Emma to meet their little sister. They were both intrigued.
“Can I play with her?” asked Emma.
“Not yet, sweetheart,” Charis told her. “She's too little, but you can help me look after her.”
“I will help,” announced Paul, “Cos I know what to do with babies.”
“Boys don't help with babies! Girls do,” Emma stated emphatically.
“I do too!” Paul was getting annoyed. “I helped Mummy when you were a baby.”
“Yes you did,” Charis told him. “And I couldn't have managed without you. You can both help me. I think I will need all the help I can get.” And she hugged her two older children close to her.
Jenni was the child that was going to look like Charis. From the very beginning she had the same colour hair (Ben never had decided exactly what colour that was - sometimes it looked deep gold and other times a soft brown), and she had the same shaped face and dark blue eyes. They were all delighted with her,
completely smitten. If she cried she had immediate attention from her brother and sister.
“I think she's hungry, Mummy.” “Mummy, she needs her nappy changed.” “Can I hold her now please?” Until Charis thought maybe she had too much help. And Ben was as wonderful and helpful with her as he’d been with the other two.
*****
At the end of May, when Jenni was six weeks old, and it was the beginning of half term, and also Ben and Charis' eighth wedding anniversary, they went to Meadow Lea Hall for a week. Ben received a somewhat cryptic e-mail from his uncle wishing them a happy anniversary. It went on to say, ‘I have taken care of your problem. Please give my regards to your lovely wife. Azhar.’
When Ben showed Charis the email, she tilted her head slightly and asked, “Henry?” Ben shrugged his shoulders, unsure what to make of it. But a day or two later there appeared a news item on the BBC, small but very important for Charis.
“In the early hours of yesterday morning a group of militants attacked an archaeological site on the borders of Qumrai and Saudi Arabia. There were a few casualties, but so far only one death has been reported. British archaeologist Henry Haversham is believed to have been beheaded in what witnesses described to have looked like an official execution. His body has not been recovered. So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.”
David rang Ben.
“I've looked into that affair you asked me to,” said David. “From what I have put together, a little over a year ago the King of Qumrai asked that Henry Haversham, specifically him, should head an archaeological expedition to his country. He offered an extremely lucrative deal, I assume to make sure he accepted the offer. Only a fool would have turned it down and Haversham was apparently no fool. There is no doubt that Henry was killed in the attack, or that the King of Qumrai was behind it, but there's no proof and never will be. It was extremely well organised.”
When Ben repeated the conversation to Charis, she burst into tears and sobbed as never before. The years of torture were finally at an end. The menace of Henry gone forever. Thank you Ben, thank you God, thank you Azhar!
Charis Page 22