“As you wish, even if you do seem to have changed your tune somewhat from earlier today. As far as I’m concerned you can do whatever you like as long as Ben and Lauren don’t suffer. Now for goodness sake go back to bed so we can finish the night in peace because tomorrow’s going to be another long, busy day.”
He went then, leaving her staring after him in disbelief. Although she’d meant what she said, knowing she couldn’t ever share him with Marissa or any other woman who came into his life, and so preferring to do without him entirely, she hadn’t expected him to accept her terms so readily. What she’d wanted was to fight him, to force him to agree against his will. She had wanted to prove to herself that the brief surge of desire he’d shown in the Spa was more than just an old memory rekindled. Well he’d very effectively destroyed that dream. It was obvious he didn’t want her at all. Worse, he was relieved she didn’t want to sleep with him.
It brought home to her more than anything else that he was marrying her for the children, so although she climbed obediently back into bed she didn’t close her eyes again.
* * *
“Hi,” Mel pushed open the door and walked into the kitchen where Kerry was dejectedly buttering a slice of toast. She had deliberately stayed in bed until she heard Pierce leave, not wanting to see him again until she had to. Now, after a hot shower, she was preparing a breakfast that she wasn’t going to eat.
“Mel!” She greeted her friend with a gasp of relief. “Have you come to wrestle the lists away from Pierce and take over Melanie’s Kitchen again?”
“Not on your life,” Mel laughed. “I’m too busy enjoying the break before he sets us to work. No! I’ve come to take you in hand. Boss’s orders.”
“I didn’t know I needed taking in hand,” Kerry managed a smile as she pushed another slice of bread into the toaster and spooned coffee granules into two mugs.
“Have you looked in your wardrobe recently Kerry because I have, and unless you’re going to get married in jeans and a sweater then you need help, fast. Now pass the butter will you because I’ve finally got my appetite back.”
She spread butter and marmalade liberally on a slice of toast and then bit off a large mouthful. She eyed Kerry thoughtfully while she chewed it. “Haven’t you got anything to say? Most brides are either over-excited or full of pre-wedding nerves this close to their wedding.”
“Sorry to disappoint you. I’ll try to do better tomorrow,” Kerry sipped her coffee, using the mug as a barrier to hide behind.
“Well at least tell me something about your past. How you met Pierce and all that stuff. Really Kerry, you’re such a dark horse. I wouldn’t be keeping quiet about someone as gorgeous as Pierce Simon.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Kerry stood up and began stacking the empty plates and mugs. “We had a bit of a fling a long time ago and then he came back into my life by chance on Monday. You know the rest.”
“How can you be so matter-of-fact about it all?” Mel wailed. “With someone like Pierce wanting to marry you so badly that he’s not even prepared to wait in case you slip through his fingers again, you should be walking on air. I know Mum and Dad are. At first they were worried you were making a rash decision for all he wrong reasons, but now they know you’ve known him for ages they’re really pleased for you. Apart from the fact that Pierce obviously loves you to bits, it solves everything else as well: your job, your financial problems, even Ben and Lauren. By this time next week they’ll be calling him daddy and will probably have forgotten what life was like before he came along.”
“I guess,” Kerry carried the dishes over to the kitchen counter, keeping her back turned while she attempted to get a grip of herself. Last night’s argument with Pierce had shown her how futile it would be to discuss things with Mel and ask for her advice because he had made the fact she had no choice very clear. Either she married him and kept the children or she lost everything. So somehow she had to dredge up enough enthusiasm to make her friend believe she was glad she was getting married. She couldn’t spoil the small amount of excitement she was bringing to Mel and her parents, not when they had all done so much for her. She didn’t want to worry them either, so with a big effort she turned around and gave her friend a bright smile.
“What’s all this about taking me in hand then?”
“As I said, boss’s orders,” Mel pushed back her chair and stood up. “We’re going on a shopping spree because you don’t have a single dress in your wardrobe. You don’t even have a skirt if you discount that black polyester thing you wear whenever you have to serve food.”
Kerry gave her a startled look as she mentally reviewed the contents of her wardrobe. Mel was right. She owned nothing by jeans and trousers plus a few T-shirts and sweaters. Shut in with the twins she had little use for anything else. Her friend gave a crow of laughter when she saw the expression on her face.
“I’m right aren’t I? And you haven’t even thought about what you’re going to wear when you get married have you? Really Kerry you are the limit. It’s time you started thinking about yourself now Ben and Lauren are growing up. You’d be quite pretty if you ditched that unisex image and grew your hair.”
The twinkle in her friend’s eyes forced a smile from Kerry as she made for the door. “Thanks for the vote of confidence! If I need so much help I guess I’d better let you do your worst. I’ll put myself in your hands for the rest of the day if that’s what it takes to keep you and Pierce happy.”
Mel didn’t need any further prompting. Within minutes they were driving out of the car park in George’s elderly but immaculate Rover. “Dad lent me this because Pierce needed the van. You’d better feel properly honored Kerry because it’s his pride and joy.”
“I am…I do,” Kerry settled into the passenger seat with a sigh. Everyone was being so kind. Mel, George and Mary were treating her like real family. They were so excited and pleased for what they saw as her good fortune so the least she could do was be grateful and not spoil things for them.
* * *
By the end of the afternoon the old Rover was laden down with parcels. Boxes and carrier bags littered the back seat and there were more in the trunk. They were both tired but Mel, at least, was satisfied. Parking outside her parent’s house she chatted happily as they carried the results of their shopping expedition indoors.
“You do realize I’m now on the lookout for a rich husband. Today has given me a taste for money.”
Kerry forced a smile. “If that’s what you want then you’ll snap one up in no time at Greenleas. A club like that attracts wealthy men like ducks to water.”
It was all surface chatter, a continuation of the banter they’d indulged in all day. Kerry had started it once she’d accepted she couldn’t tell her friend the truth about her relationship with Pierce. She had only faltered once and that was when she discovered Pierce was footing the bill. Until then she had thought Mel was giving her a wage advance and because of this, and because after three years of hardship, thrift was ingrained into her, she marched into the nearest chain store and started sorting through a rack of dresses being sold at a reduced price.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Mel hurried in after her and seized her arm. “Pierce said to try Chantal’s first and then go on to First Edition although I can’t imagine how he knows about such things.”
“Pierce?” Kerry stared at her, hoping she’d heard wrong, but Mel just gave an excited nod.
“Yes Pierce. He said to spend whatever it takes. We just have to tell the sales assistants to send the bill to Greenleas.”
“But…I thought it was you…I thought you were giving me an advance on my wages.”
Mel laughed out loud. “If I could afford to give you the sort of advance you need to buy something at Chantal’s, then I wouldn’t be running Melanie’s Kitchen. Come on Kerry. Pierce wants to do this for you so lighten up a bit. It’s going to be fun.”
Seething underneath, Kerry followed her out of the shop. The state
of her wardrobe had nothing to do with Pierce, nor did the sort of clothes she intended to buy. How dare he tell Mel where to shop! She wasn’t about to let him recreate the old Kerry Farrow whatever Mel said. Remembering how he used to look at her when she wore something tight or revealing, she decided to only choose things that covered her from her neck to her ankles.
Then she saw the excitement on Mel’s face and, swallowing her resentment, she shrugged. After all, what were a few clothes to him? She could remember when he’d bought a dozen shirts at a time, or spent several thousand pounds on a watch he didn’t need, so if he wanted to buy his future wife some clothes, he could. She apologized for her initial lack of enthusiasm and threw herself into the fiasco that was her wedding trousseau with every outward indication of enjoyment. The effort took its toll though and she stacked the pile of packages in the hallway with a sigh.
“Mummy!” The whirlwind that was Ben rushed into the hallway and interrupted her thoughts by hurling himself at her legs. “Lookit Pierce gived me!”
He waved a plump wrist in the air and then attempted to find handholds in her jeans and sweater. She laughed as she swung him upwards, burying her face in the soft baby smell of his neck and planting a kiss just beneath his ear. He wriggled free with a frown.
“No! Lookit watch.”
He thrust his arm under her nose and proudly displayed a sturdy plastic watch with both an analogue and a digital display. It had a bright orange button as well, and when he pressed it a very noisy alarm sounded next to her ear.
“Goodness me that’s loud!” She pretended he’d deafened her and kept on smiling until Pierce strolled out from the sitting room holding Lauren’s hand. When she saw him her look was pure venom. So that’s why he’d sent her out with Mel, so he could spend time alone with the children using presents to buy their affection. And he’d pushed his way into George and Mary’s house too. How dare he manipulate her like this! And how dare he push his way into her friends’ lives without a by your leave from her.
“Hello, had a good day?” He included Mel in the question, a slight frown his only indication that he’d noticed Kerry’s reaction.
“Yes thank you.” She knew her reply was far too stiff and unfriendly for someone greeting her future husband and that she should try harder for appearance’s sake but she couldn’t do it. Instead she bent to give Lauren a kiss before he could say anything else.
“You too,” she said as her daughter held up a watch with a bright blue button. Then she hugged her close. Lauren flung her arms around her mother’s neck and held on tight. “Mummy stay here.”
“Yes darling, Mummy’s staying,” Kerry picked her up, feeling guilty she had left the children with George and Mary for so long. It wouldn’t matter so much if they were used to being part of a family but with only Kerry as their base, they needed extra security. It was something she struggled with when it manifested itself in Lauren’s tendency to cling and Ben’s possessiveness.
* * *
The next hour was taken up with the children’s supper and while Ben and Lauren scooped pasta into mouths ringed with tomato sauce, Mary gave everyone a blow-by-blow account of everything they’d done during the day. Eventually, her eyes glazing over, Mel interrupted.
“You’ve held court for long enough Mum. Don’t you want to see what we’ve bought?”
“Of course I do dear,” Mary looked slightly abashed as she met Kerry’s eyes. Instantly Kerry knew what was wrong. Mary’s incessant chatter was a symptom of an uncharacteristic nervousness. She was waiting for Kerry to tell everyone what she had already guessed.
Kerry frowned as she looked across at Pierce. They were in this together so the least he could do was to be there for her, but he was too busy talking to George to notice that anything was amiss. Mel was oblivious too. She was far too occupied with the result of their shopping spree. Unfolding carefully wrapped tissue paper she held up a pale blue dress.
“Look, isn’t this gorgeous? And it’s just right for Kerry’s coloring.” She turned to Pierce with an expression of immense satisfaction. “I took you at your word you know. We’ve spent a fortune.”
He smiled. “With or without Kerry’s cooperation?”
“Mostly with,” Mel chuckled. “At first I thought she was going to be difficult but after the first couple of hours she cut it down to the occasional protest. She could learn to spend money yet!”
“Is that meant to be good news?” The amused glint in Pierce’s eyes was a reminder to Kerry of her original lifestyle and she broke in hurriedly before he was tempted to enlarge on her past.
“There seems to have been an awful lot of discussion going on behind my back. Is there anything else I should know?”
Pierce gave her a level gaze as he saw through her ploy. “Only that I’ve been invited to dinner. I think George intends to put me through the third degree to check that I’m good enough for you.”
“Damn right Sir!” George gave a delighted chuckle as he heaved himself up from his chair with only a small wince as pain shot through his arthritic knee. “That’s why I phoned you and invited you to join us. Kerry’s too much a part of the family for me to give her away to just anyone, isn’t that right Mary?”
“Mmm…” Mary’s eyes were on Kerry. “I don’t think we need to worry about Pierce though. He has all the necessary qualifications…”
She left the sentence unfinished, turned away abruptly and busied herself wiping the smears of sauce from the children’s faces. The others looked puzzled. Mel turned to Kerry.
“Does she know something we don’t?”
“Yes…that Pierce is Ben and Lauren’s father.” Kerry stood up and clutched the back of her chair as she spoke. Her face was flushed and defiant and her voice was too loud as she watched the effect her words had on George and Mel and saw their disbelief fade into confusion.
“Don’t upset yourself my dear. It’s better out,” Mary’s comforting hand on her shoulder was the last straw and she burst into tears.
* * *
“I knew the moment I saw Pierce standing on the doorstep,” Mary accepted a glass of wine from her husband with a self-satisfied smile. She raised it in a toast to where Kerry was standing beside Pierce, trying to look as if she was enjoying the weight of his arm across her shoulders.
At Mel’s insistence she had changed into one of her new outfits although she had balked at anything dressier than a midnight blue sweater and a pair of designer jeans. Casual but elegant, the dark blue flattered her coloring at the same time that it detracted from the slight puffiness around her eyes. She smiled as Mel and George joined in, glad they would never know the whole truth of her marriage to Pierce.
Following her abrupt announcement Pierce had taken charge of the twins and left her to make her peace with her friends, murmuring that everyone would be able to talk more freely without him there. The move had impressed George and he’d said so with great feeling as he turned to Kerry and demanded she tell them everything. And she had told them everything that mattered, even explaining some of her reasons for keeping Pierce in ignorance about Ben and Lauren.
“I didn’t think it was fair to burden him when he was at the peak of his career and had already told me he didn’t want children,” she said.
“You should still have given him the choice,” Mary shook her head decisively. “Think what a shock it’s been for him to discover he has a family. You’re lucky he wants to marry you and look after Ben and Lauren. A lot of men might not have been so forgiving.”
George, who had barely spoken since Kerry’s announcement, shook his head. “Where does love come in all this Kerry? You and Pierce have both talked to us about the importance of a home for the children, and you’ve told us why you left him too. But neither of you has mentioned love. Are you just marrying him for the sake of the children? And what about Pierce? If he didn’t want a family three years ago, why would he want one now? Have you really thought this through my dear because in this day and age being a s
ingle mother is nothing to be ashamed about? Couldn’t you both wait a while… just long enough to be sure of one another?”
That was when Mel, who was still shaking her head over Kerry’s confession, jumped up from her chair and took charge. “Dad, all that’s in the past now. Pierce has asked Kerry to marry him and she’s accepted. She could have said no but she didn’t so we need to congratulate her not give her the third degree. I propose we celebrate the fact that they’ve found one another again and want to make a new life together, not question it. Come on Kerry, into the bedroom with you. Those jeans and the sweater look good but they don’t fit the occasion. It’s time you put on some real glad rags so we can celebrate properly.
They’d all laughed at that and then Mary had bustled out of the room to help Pierce with the children while George took himself off to buy a bottle of champagne. He’d arrived back just in time to see Kerry leaving the spare bedroom wearing a pale blue dress. He gave her an admiring look.
“You’ve got legs then!”
When she giggled nervously he gave her a hug.
“No regrets Kerry? I don’t want to put a damper on the occasion but you are sure you’re doing the right thing aren’t you, because we’re on your side you know. Marriage isn’t always the right answer even though he does seem like a nice chap.”
“I am sure George but thank you anyway,” she hugged him back; very glad he would never know about the threats Pierce had used to get her this far.
Pierce joined them then, the expression on his face leaving Kerry in no doubt he’d heard everything.
“Ben and Lauren want to say goodnight,” he held out his hand. She took it without a word and let him lead her into the bedroom where the twins, drooping with sleep, were lying on their pillows waiting for her. Mary was there too but as soon as she’d finished folding the children’s clothes she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
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