Broken Trust

by Tanya Jean Russell

  ****

  “Knock, knock,” called a female voice, pulling Beth from her hazy doze.

  She opened her eyes to see a slim woman standing in the doorway. Wearing jeans and a twinset, she had dark hair curled around her shoulders and looked unsure as to whether she should be there,

  Chase shifted next to Beth and eased himself up from the bed, walking across the small room. As he bent down and wrapped the woman in a hug, the sharp tang of jealousy shot through Beth, and she had to fight to keep her expression blank. Turning to face Beth, his arm around the woman’s shoulder, Chase had a huge smile on his face.

  “Beth, I’d like you to meet my mum, Lesley. Mum, this is Beth.”

  Lesley stepped away from her son and closer to Beth. “Hello, Beth,” she said with a small smile.

  As Lesley moved closer Beth could see the threads of silver and the lines around her eyes that aged the woman just enough to be Chase’s mother, and she forced a smile in return, knowing her own would be a lot more uncertain than Lesley’s.

  Helping herself to a chair, Lesley sat down before reaching out and gently touching Beth’s arm.

  “What did that horrible man do to you?” she said, her tone shocked as she took in the bruises from where Oliver had dragged Beth by her arms. Her eyes flickered to Beth’s neck, and she gasped. “Oh, you poor thing. How are you feeling?”

  Beth’s gaze swung from Chase to his mother and back. If she’d thought about it she supposed she would have realized she’d have to face Lesley Maddox at some point. After all, she could hardly have a relationship with the man without meeting any of his family, but now face to face with the woman she had no idea what to say to her. After Oliver’s admission, it seemed even more likely her husband had not been to blame for the accident that had driven him to take his own life, yet her family had publicly held him responsible.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, unable to look the other woman in the eye. It seemed she spent a lot of her time apologizing these days. “I know words aren’t enough, but I am truly sorry for everything.”

  Lesley reached over and squeezed her hand.

  “I won’t pretend it’s been easy, but I won’t let you take the blame for what happened,” Lesley said.

  Beth looked up, surprised.

  “I saw the footage of your press conference today,” Lesley said. “I know that you will do what you can to find the truth.”

  Lesley was staring at her with a look so heavy that Beth realized the woman wasn’t so much letting Beth know she wasn’t holding her responsible for her husband’s death, as she was placing the obligation on her to keep her word and reinvestigate things. Beth looked from Lesley to Chase, her mouth hanging open. Chase was standing next to his mother, his hand on her shoulder. He shrugged his shoulders at her silent question.

  “I thought we should tell her together.”

  This had been a cloud over their family for so many years, that the fact Chase would include her in sharing its lifting warmed her, sending her pain into retreat in a way the painkillers hadn’t managed. As the news of her husband’s innocence sank in, Lesley cried and wrapped both Beth and Chase in a hug that Beth never wanted to end.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “Will you sit down, Mum?” Chase said, exasperated. “They’ll be starting in a minute.”

  “I know. I just can’t. How do you do it?” she said, looking down at him fondly.

  “Practice,” he said with a raised eyebrow.

  She finally moved into the seat next to him with another glance to the empty seat on her other side, and clasped her hands on her lap.

  The last few weeks had been hard on them all. After Beth had told him about Oliver’s confession he’d set things in motion to get David Taylor arrested. The investigation that had followed had meant every part of all of their lives had been dug into and rehashed over and over. After being faced with the overwhelming evidence against him and his son, David Taylor had confessed to everything. Thanks to its high profile, his case had been rushed through the courts, and although they hadn’t passed sentence yet, today was the part that really mattered to Chase and his family. The Air Accident Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport were about to make an official statement exonerating his dad.

  Chase had even made himself call his brother to let him know about the event. It had been the first time he’d spoken to Dan since the night he’d found him in bed with his fiancée, but despite everything that had passed between them, it was Dan’s dad, too. Maybe he’d been wrong to think this would matter to Dan as much as it did to him because there was no sign of his brother. As he watched his mum glance at the empty seat next to her yet again, he wished he had been right. She deserved to have both of her boys with her for this.

  The Chief Inspector stepped onto the platform and took his seat behind the long black cloth-covered table set with microphones, and his mum grabbed his hand, squeezing tightly. The first time Chase had watched this man at a press conference he had publicly laid the blame for the air crash at his dad’s feet. Now, years later he had aged, hair more white than brown and his face deepened with wrinkles that hadn’t been there the first time around.

  However, it wasn’t the sight of the familiar man that caught Chase’s attention. It was the sight of Beth, wearing a pale grey skirt suit, helping her father balance his cane as they navigated the steps to join the Chief Inspector. The pair of them moved slowly and solemnly.

  It had been less than half an hour since he’d seen Beth, but his heart beat harder at the sight of her. He didn’t think he’d ever get over needing to be with her, needing to reassure himself she was safe, but it wasn’t just that that made his heart beat faster. He’d refused to make love to her until she was fully recovered, and his body was in the midst of a total rebellion against that decision. The plain grey fabric of her suit shifting across her thighs as she walked was enough to make him remember exactly how they had felt under his hands, remember exactly what it had felt like to feel them wrapped around him as he buried himself so deep inside her she would know she belonged to only him. Shifting awkwardly in his chair, he tried to pull his thoughts from the one and only time he’d had Beth naked and willing beneath him. Sitting next to his mum in a press conference was definitely not the place to think about that.

  Once her dad was sitting down, Beth turned to Chase and gave him a smile so full of promise that it undid any attempt at forgetting how much he wanted her. It was only as she turned to face the Chief Inspector that his eyes were drawn to the lemon scarf she had tied around her neck. The bruises had faded, but she never went out without a scarf now. He knew it was a kind of armor. No matter how strong she was, there was a part of her that couldn’t forget, yet she carried on anyway. He’d never met anyone so brave. She didn’t let anything stop her from doing what she believed was right. He knew she didn’t need him to fight her battles for her, but remembering the bruises that bastard had left all over her made his blood roar through his veins. The sight of Oliver’s fingermarks, turning from purple through to green and then a faded yellow on her arms and throat, had made him wish the man was still alive so he could kill him again. Slowly, this time. His hands tightened into fists, and his mum gasped as he crushed her hands with his.

  He instantly relaxed his grip and turned to her with an apologetic grimace. She gave him a knowing smile and patted his hand before turning her attention back to front of the room. He forced his breathing to steady and concentrated on listening to what the Chief Inspector was saying.

  “Our investigation into the original accident has shown that David Taylor used his operational role at Great Britain Air to ensure insufficient parts were ordered from Maddox Engineering, and that the faulty part which was responsible for the aircraft failure in question was provided by an uncertified individual who was paid through the company accounts at an inflated rate for a secondary part that the aircraft in question did not use. With the confession from Oliver Taylor we were able to seize all docume
ntation belonging to the Taylor family and found the evidence of not only this transaction but also a second transaction of a similar nature that we now know caused the recent air disaster.”

  Chase hadn’t been allowed to participate in the Air Accident Investigation Branch’s work, but thanks to Commander Cheshire they had kept him updated throughout, so he had known what the Chief Inspector was going to say. It didn’t make hearing it mean less though. They had been surprisingly quick finding the truth, working at an incredible pace as they had built the case against David and Oliver Taylor.

  Chase made himself listen to the Chief Inspector as he continued to talk.

  “As a result of these investigations we are pleased to confirm that Stephen Maddox and Maddox Engineering have been cleared of any involvement in the air disaster. We offer our sincere apologies to the Maddox family.”

  The room went crazy with reporters shouting questions. Chase hugged his mum, who had tears streaming down her face. It was finally over. Nothing could bring his dad back, but they had finally done it. They had proven he was innocent.

  He waited for things to calm down so the Chief Inspector could begin the standard Q and A with the assembled reporters, but to his surprise the Chief Inspector nodded to Beth’s father, who cleared his throat and began speaking.

  “On behalf of the Worthington family and Great Britain Air we offer our sincere apologies to both the Maddox family and to all of those who lost loved ones as a result of the horrific actions of the Taylors. Words cannot bring back the people you love, they cannot undo the damage that has been caused, but we offer them anyway. Today we announce the creation of the Maddox Foundation. This foundation will focus on helping people affected by incidents related to air travel with financial support as well as practical support such as fully funded counseling. We hope that this foundation, created in the memory of Stephen Maddox and chaired by his wife, Lesley, will bring some comfort to those who experience tragedy.”

  Chase stared at William, his mouth hanging open. His gaze moved to Beth, whose eyes glittered with tears as she smiled at him. He turned to face his mum, who was openly crying.

  “Did you know about this?” he asked.

  She nodded her response, unable to speak through her tears.

  “How didn’t I know about it?” he asked.

  She tilted her head, and he followed her action to see Beth had moved from her seat and was standing behind him.

  “I wanted it to be a surprise,” she said softly.

  Standing, he pulled her into his arms, and without a thought to the rest of the audience or the cameras that surrounded them he kissed her long and hard, determined to show her just how much she meant to him, just how much her actions meant to him. With one arm around her waist and the other twisted in her hair, he lost himself in everything that made Beth so special.

  A cough behind Beth pulled him back to the present, and reluctantly he lifted his lips from hers, taking a moment to appreciate her flushed skin and dazed expression before moving his gaze to the source of the sound. The moment he saw the tall, dark figure his whole body stiffened, and he had to fight the urge to hide Beth behind him.

  “Dan,” he said, pleased his brother had come after all, but unsure how to deal with him now he had.

  Beth twisted in his arms at the name. She knew all about his brother and his ex-fiancée, so he knew she’d be interested in meeting the man. He just hoped she wasn’t too interested once she met him. The moment he had the thought, he knew he was being childish and stamped it down.

  He realized with a start that Sarah was standing next to him, her hand curled into Dan’s, wedding ring glinting against her dark skin. His eyes drifted to the obvious bump of her stomach, her other hand curling around it protectively. He waited for the anger that they were making a success of their life together to come, for the anger that it was his brother’s child growing inside of her to hit him, but it didn’t. He didn’t even feel the pinch in his chest that usually came whenever he thought of Sarah.

  “Hi, Chase,” she said quietly.

  At her words Beth shifted next to him, moving almost imperceptibly closer. It wasn’t necessary, but her support warmed him. Looking at his brother and Sarah now he realized that all the pain they had caused him was gone. He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to be friends with his brother again, but the tightness that came whenever he or Sarah had come up in conversation with his mum was gone. He realized that he hadn’t loved Sarah for a long time. In fact, now he just didn’t care. That he was able to let go of the hurt and accept that, was completely down to the woman standing next to him.

  “Beth, this is my brother and his wife, Sarah,” he said, introducing them. Tuning out while Beth made small talk with Sarah, he studied his brother. Dan was looking well. Life with Sarah obviously suited him, and Chase was surprised to realize he was pleased for him.

  “Thank you for this. For Dad,” Dan said, his words just for Chase as the women continued to chat.

  Chase looked at his brother, glad the animosity was gone. Dan’s expression was hopeful, as if he wanted to go back to them being as close as they once were. Chase nodded in acknowledgement of the thanks. He wasn’t ready for more yet, but maybe one day. In the meantime, he was glad his brother had come. With a smile he called their mum over to join the little group. The sight of her face lighting up as she saw her boys together made Chase glad he had finally moved on.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Pulling at his collar with his finger, Chase watched William Worthington head to the almost deserted table that was doubling as a bar. The man was still using his cane to walk, but he looked steadier on his feet with every passing day. Chase was just about to go and join him when one of Jonathan’s friends approached William and started talking enthusiastically, his hands flying around as he demonstrated whatever point he was making. Chase sighed in frustration and looked away.

  The ballroom of Beth’s family home had been transformed overnight. The empty room was filled with circular tables and chairs with white fabric covers, and a band, set up on a small raised dais in the corner, played a range of popular songs for the guests to dance to. Mismatched flowers adorned every surface. The whole event certainly didn’t have the polished finish of the original wedding. After all, a wedding pulled together in just a few days couldn’t possibly be the same as one that had taken years to plan, but somehow with just close friends and family there it seemed even more special.

  He wondered for a moment if it was him that was different. When Anne and Jonathan had had their ill-fated first attempt at getting married he had believed that forever didn’t exist. Looking at Beth dancing away with Bree, he smiled. She was the reason he was different; she was the reason he knew forever could happen. Having been given the all clear by the doctors that morning, she had been making the most of her renewed mobility and had danced the night away, her soft pink dress shifting and swaying as she and Bree moved completely out of time with the music that was playing. Neither of them seemed to have any rhythm, but it didn’t stop them having fun. Watching her body move, he felt his own stir in response. She had done her very best to get him to forget his determination not to touch her again until she was fully fit. Her efforts had been a torture of the sweetest kind and it had only been years of military training, and his own secret vow about their future that had given him the willpower to do it, but now, now she was fit, and he couldn’t wait to get her out of that dress.

  He’d have fixed the situation before the wedding if he could have, but he and Dan had been helping their mum move. After a private conversation with Beth, his mum had finally accepted the money Great Britain Air had been trying to give her since the truth had come out. His mum had continued to refuse. After all, money wouldn’t bring her husband back. She had only relented when Beth had talked to her about it. He had no idea what the two most important women in his life had said to each other, only that they had come out crying and hugging. His mum was moving closer to Dan and Sar
ah so she could help with her first grandchild, and he was glad she was getting the fresh start she deserved. Although, he’d rather she hadn’t been getting her fresh start on the day Beth had been given the all clear by the doctors, as whilst he loved his mum, there were things he’d much rather have spent the morning doing than moving furniture.

  Realizing William was alone again, Chase abruptly stood up, and patting his pocket for what felt like the millionth time as he headed over to the man before someone else could collar him.

  “Chase, I hope you’re enjoying this wedding a bit more than the last one,” William said with a wry smile as Chase reached him.

  “Yes, sir, I am.”

  “I thought we’d gotten you over the need to call me ‘sir’,” William said.

  “I have something I need to ask you,” Chase said by way of explanation. Somehow he needed to go back to the formalities for this.

  William gave him a knowing smile.

  “Do you really think I have any say in what she does?” he asked.

  Chase blinked hard.

  “How…” His words trailed off, not sure what he was really asking.

  “I’m a father. I can see these things coming. If you want to marry her she’s the one you should be asking, not me.”

  “I know,” said Chase, “But you are so important to her. I would like to have your blessing.”

  “Chase, I spent the last few years trying to convince her to marry a man who killed hundreds of innocent people and tried to kill our family. I don’t think my blessing counts for much these days,” William said, his face serious.

  “He was a lying bastard, and lying bastards are good at convincing people,” Chase said vehemently. “Your blessing means enough that I don’t want to propose without it.”