by Jonker, Joan
‘It’s a long story, Amelia, and I can’t answer it in a few words. Things were said that hurt, but the fault was on both sides. Today I want to find out if there is any regret on the part of your grandparents, and ask if the rift can be healed.’
‘Oh, I would love to have a granddad and grandmother! That would make me the same as other children. Will they like me, Mother, d’you think?’
‘I don’t think they could help but like you, Amelia, for you were not responsible for the harsh words that were spoken. But I have to be honest with you and say I can’t promise that your grandfather will even agree to see us. I intend to take you to his office, and if he is working today we can take it from there and see what happens.’ Evelyn averted her eyes. She had robbed this young girl of so much. ‘I will tell you that your father came from a very wealthy family, and your name is really Amelia Lister-Sinclair. It was I who dropped the “Lister”, perhaps out of spite, or perhaps because I didn’t want them to find us. It doesn’t really matter now, it is all in the past. I would like to start again with a clean slate.’
For the first time in her life that she could remember, Milly touched her mother’s hand. ‘Can we go now, and see if Granddad likes me?’
Tears were stinging Evelyn’s eyes. Oh, she had a lot of answer for, ruining this child’s life. Please God, Cyril wouldn’t turn them away. ‘Yes, we can go now. Put your coat on, there’s a good girl.’
Cyril Lister-Sinclair swivelled his deep leather chair as he faced Oscar Wentworth across the desk. ‘We had a very quiet Christmas, just a few close friends for dinner. Matilda isn’t one for socialising these days. But it was pleasant enough. The food was good and the wine plentiful. But I can’t forget the Christmases of years ago, when the house would be filled with Charles’ friends and merriment. I know I shouldn’t dwell on the past, but I can’t help it. How was your Christmas? Did the children enjoy themselves?’ He didn’t mean to let a sigh escape but couldn’t stop it. ‘It really is a time for children. For the grown-ups it’s just an excuse to buy new clothes and have parties.’
‘You should have come to ours, Cyril, I did try to persuade you. You are right about children, though, it really is a time for them. Just seeing their eyes when they came downstairs and saw the presents under the tree was like magic. They are still too young to understand, and that is the beauty of it. They are so innocent they really believe Father Christmas came down the chimney and left the presents. Before Gwen had taken the boys to bed the night before, she had left a glass of wine and two mince pies on the table, telling them they were for Father Christmas as he got hungry working so hard.’
‘Gwen is a wonderful mother,’ Cyril said. ‘Kind and loving, just as a mother should be. You are lucky in your marriage, Oscar, you should count your blessings.’
‘I do every day, Cyril, believe me. I am the luckiest man alive.’ Oscar was in two minds whether to tell his friend where he was off to when he left the office. He didn’t want to build his hopes up, as he had done in the past only to disappoint him, but the lead he’d now been given in his quest to find Evelyn and Amelia looked very hopeful indeed, and would put some interest back in the life of the man who appeared to have everything but was sad and lonely, with little happiness in his life.
‘I have some news which I think will interest you, Cyril, regarding the whereabouts of Evelyn and Amelia. I was introduced to someone a few days ago who has quite a high position in the Department of Education. I pretended to let it slip that I was trying to trace an old family friend and her daughter. During the long conversation, I asked him casually how I would find out if a child attended a school in the area, and he said he could do that quite easily if he had details such as surname and date of birth. As this conversation took place at a party, I didn’t like to monopolise the man’s time, so I said I would call to his office some time this week. I’ll be on my way there when I leave here. If I have any news I will call this afternoon. If not I’ll see you tomorrow.’
There was a spark of interest in Cyril’s eyes. ‘That sounds very promising, Oscar, the best lead so far. I would appreciate it if you kept me informed of any news. My thoughts are never far away from them, and the dreadful way I cast them aside.’
‘No, Cyril, I will not have you shouldering all the blame when Gwen and I were of the same mind as yourself. If there is blame to be laid, then my wife and I must share it. However, I do not believe it was all one-sided, Evelyn did herself no favours by adopting the attitude she did. I only hope the years have mellowed her, and she’ll realise there were faults all round.’ Oscar pushed his chair back. ‘I’ll get off, old boy. I want to get to the Education Office before the staff have their lunch break. You can rest assured I will let you know the second I have news for you. It would please me no end to put a smile on your face again and hear the laughter that has been missing for so long.’
‘You don’t know how much your friendship has meant to me over the years, Oscar,’ Cyril said. ‘You have been like a son to me, and that is something I will never forget. Now, go about your business, and my prayers go with you.’
There were six steps up to the offices of C. LISTER-SINCLAIR LTD, and Evelyn and Milly were on the second step when the door opened and a man dashed out. He passed them without a glance, but some instinct made him turn back. He saw a slender woman holding the hand of a young girl.
‘Evelyn?’ Oscar climbed the steps to stand beside the couple. ‘I don’t believe it, Cyril and I have just been talking about you!’
Evelyn had recognised him as soon as he came out of the door, and the sight of him had stopped in her in her tracks. She told herself it was a mistake to have come. ‘Oscar … what a coincidence.’
‘It is more than that.’ He looked down at the little girl and Evelyn heard his sharp intake of breath. For a few seconds he felt he was looking into the face of his old friend Charles. Then he pulled himself together. ‘And this is Amelia, I take it?’
Milly looked up into the smiling face of the unknown man and smiled back. ‘I’m going to see my grandfather. Do you know him?’
Evelyn’s face flushed. ‘We don’t know that for sure, Amelia, he may not be in the office today.’
Oscar bent his knees so that his face was on a level with Milly’s. ‘I’m your Uncle Oscar.’ He held out his hand. ‘How do you do? I’m very pleased to meet you.’
She shook his hand, her pretty face aglow. ‘Are you really my uncle?’
Oscar was tempted to hug her, but afraid it might frighten her. ‘Let us say I’m a step-uncle who has been searching the city for you and your mother.’
Oblivious to the drama taking place, Milly asked, ‘Do you think my grandfather will be pleased to see me and my mother, or will he send us away?’
‘Far from sending you away, my dear, you will be welcomed with open arms. He will be most happy to see both of you.’ Oscar stretched to his full height. ‘Shall we go inside, Evelyn? It is far too cold to stand here.’
The entrance hall to the building was quite large with several doors off it, leading to the offices of the clerical staff. There was also an ornate winding staircase which led to Cyril’s office, and those of his personal secretaries. ‘Shall we talk here for a while before going upstairs?’ Oscar asked. ‘This is going to come as a shock to Cyril, and as his friend I care very much for his welfare. I am, therefore, concerned that the reason for your visit is not such that it will cause him further anguish, for he has suffered greatly over the last eight years?’
Evelyn shook her head. ‘I have not come looking for trouble, far from it. I have come to ask for Mr Lister-Sinclair’s help.’ She glanced down at her daughter. ‘I do not wish to explain right now, it would be a little awkward, but I will explain in detail to him the reason for my being here. I am hoping for his understanding.’ She looked directly into Oscar’s eyes. ‘I believe you married Gwen, I saw the announcement in a paper. I hope she is well and happy, and would like you to convey my best wishes to her.’ Her eyes
dropped. ‘We were very good friends at one time.’
‘And there is no reason why you shouldn’t be friends again. You have never been forgotten, Evelyn, but I hope we are all grown-up enough to realise that each of us must share part of the blame for the turn of events. Don’t you agree?’
‘Yes, I am more than prepared to admit I wasn’t the most easy person to get along with. But someone has come into my life who has changed me greatly from the selfish person I once was.’ With her daughter in mind, she added, ‘You will hear all, eventually, but for now please take my word that I come not to make trouble, but to make peace.’
Oscar held out his hand and Evelyn took it with a tremulous smile. ‘Welcome back, Evelyn, you and Amelia are going to make a lot of people happy. For months I have been scouring the schools in search of your daughter, and was on my way out now to visit the Office of Education. Now I am going to ask a really big favour of you. I would like to be the one to take Amelia into Cyril’s office, without any warning. I have had to disappoint him so many times, I would like to be the one who unites him with his granddaughter. Would you allow me to do that, please?’
Evelyn nodded. Her heartbeat had slowed down now she knew she would be welcome. ‘Of course you can, Oscar. I will wait here for you.’
‘Certainly not! You must come upstairs and I will leave you in the capable hands of Cyril’s secretary. He won’t be able to see you, and Miss Williams is the soul of discretion so you need have no fear. She also makes a very good cup of tea.’ Oscar gazed down at Amelia. ‘You don’t mind coming with me to meet your grandfather, do you? Your mother won’t be far away and she will be in good hands.’
Milly felt as though she was dreaming. It was a lot for a young girl to take in, and she was afraid she was being shown something that would soon be snatched away from her. But the tall man looking down at her had such a kind face, she put her hand into his. ‘I would like to see my grandfather now, please.’
When the rap came on his office door, without lifting his head from the ledger he was checking, Cyril called, ‘Come in.’
‘I’ve brought someone to meet you, Cyril, have you five minutes to spare?’ Oscar was so happy, he could barely contain himself. He walked across the office floor with Amelia’s hand held tightly in his, then pressed her close to the desk while he took a step back.
When Cyril looked up, he was perplexed, until he found himself looking into a pair of green eyes. At first he thought he was going to faint. He held his head in his hands for a few seconds, until he heard a soft voice asking, ‘Don’t you want to see me, Granddad?’
Wiping away tears, Cyril turned his chair sideways and held out his arms. Milly, seeing his tears, walked round the desk and into the outstretched arms. ‘Don’t cry, Granddad. Have you got a handkerchief and I’ll dry your eyes for you?’
Cyril tried to compose himself, but he was far too emotional. The girl reminded him so strongly of the son he had lost. Her colouring, the shape of her nose, most of all the green eyes. To think he had turned his back on this child from the day she was born, calling her mother a liar. He had wasted eight years of both their lives.
‘Granddad, aren’t you going to give me a kiss and say you are glad to see me?’ Milly wiped away the tear that was rolling down his cheek. ‘I didn’t want to make you cry.’
‘I’m crying with happiness, my darling.’ Cyril hugged her close, raining kisses on her face. ‘And now I’ve found you, I’ll never let you go again.’ Over her shoulder he asked Oscar, ‘How did this miracle come about?’
Oscar cleared his throat, for he was very touched by the scene. ‘I was going down the steps while Amelia and Evelyn were coming up.’
‘Where is Evelyn?’
‘She’s having a cup of tea with Miss Williams. I asked if I could bring Amelia in, I didn’t want to miss the moment you found your granddaughter.’
Milly said quietly, ‘I would like you to call me Milly, all my friends call me that. Except Mother, she always calls me Amelia.’
‘Milly!’ Cyril nodded his approval. ‘Yes, I like that name, it suits you.’
‘I’ll have a cup of tea with Evelyn and Miss Williams while you two get acquainted.’ Oscar said. ‘I know Evelyn wants to have a serious talk with you later, Cyril, and I don’t want to interfere so I think it would be best all round if I take Amelia … er, Milly … out for an hour or so. I could take her to meet Gwen, I know my wife would like that.’
‘Then would you bring that chair around the desk so I can sit near my granddaughter for a few minutes first? We have a lot of years to make up.’
When a brown leather chair was placed next to Cyril’s, Milly sat on it and giggled when she found she could swivel from side to side. The sound was like music to the two men listening, both of them remembering that Charles had been a giggler when he was a young boy.
‘I’ll leave you to it for a while. When Evelyn comes in, I’ll take Milly to meet Gwen. I’ll make it an hour, that should be long enough for you both to say what you need to, and to listen to each other.’ As he was crossing the room, Oscar heard Milly asking, ‘You do like me, don’t you, Granddad, you won’t send me away?’
‘I don’t like you, my darling, I love you. And I will never let you go now I’ve found you. And your grandmother will be so happy when she sees you, she will adore you.’
‘I’m a very lucky girl, aren’t I, Granddad?’
‘It is I who am lucky, to have found you after all these years. Come and give your granddad a big kiss and a hug.’
Oscar closed the office door quietly, swallowing the lump in his throat.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Evelyn stood at the top of the staircase, hands resting on the highly polished rail, and watched Amelia going down the outside steps with Oscar. She could hear her daughter’s infectious giggle as she hopped down each step, and Oscar’s laughter. He had been very kind and friendly, never once asking personal questions about her life since they’d last met. She had found it awkward at first being in Miss Williams’ office, for they had met when she was courting Charles and he’d needed to call to the office one day to see his father. But although Miss Williams must have been filled with curiosity, like Oscar she was friendly without prying.
Taking her hand from the rail, Evelyn let out a deep sigh as she turned. She was on her way to face Cyril now, and was feeling nervous and apprehensive. The atmosphere was bound to be emotional, it couldn’t be otherwise, but she hoped her father-in-law’s reception of her would be as friendly as Oscar’s, for her whole future depended on his reaction to what she had to tell him. The sooner she went in and faced him, the sooner her tummy would stop churning and her heartbeat would slow down. So, after running a hand down her skirt to smooth out any creases, and patting her hair, she straightened her shoulders and made for the door that bore his name in gold letters.
When the knock came Cyril jumped to his feet. He was crossing the floor when he called, ‘Come in.’ His arms were outstretched when Evelyn came through the door, and he gripped her shoulders and kissed her cheek. ‘You are very welcome, my dear, it has been such a long time.’
Evelyn was reduced to tears. She really didn’t deserve this kind of welcome. It was her fault this man had been without his granddaughter for so long. She had spent the last few days reviewing her actions, and knew now she had been a selfish bitch. She hadn’t cared for anyone but herself and her greed for a life of luxury. When this man had lost his beloved son and was devastated, she hadn’t tried to console him or even say she was sorry. Neither had she shed a tear for the man who was her husband, too busy feeling sorry for herself and worrying about her own comfort. And she’d kept on feeling sorry for herself for over eight years. It was Philip who’d made her take stock of the person she’d been, and she didn’t like what she saw. She didn’t deserve this man’s kiss or his warm welcome.
‘Sit down, my dear.’ Cyril cupped her elbow until she was seated. ‘Shall I ask my secretary to bring in some refreshme
nt?’
Evelyn nodded. ‘Miss Williams very kindly made me some tea, but I’m afraid my mouth is dry with nerves so another drink would be most welcome.’
Cyril picked up the phone and rang through to his secretary. ‘A pot of tea and some biscuits, please, Miss Williams, and then I don’t want to be disturbed for the rest of the day.’ He replaced the receiver, and smiled. ‘There is no need for nerves, Evelyn, I hope we meet up as friends, with the past forgotten. I cannot tell you how I felt seeing my granddaughter. She is so like Charles. I did you a grave wrong, my dear, and hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me?’
Evelyn shook her head vigorously. ‘I know you have asked that we put the past behind us, but I want you to know that I do realise the type of person I was then, and that was a greedy and selfish woman. All I thought about was myself and my own comfort, and when circumstances changed I blamed everyone else for my plight. I haven’t been a good mother to Amelia because I saw her as the reason I lost my status in society. I can see myself as I was then, and I don’t like what I see. I knew you would want your granddaughter if you saw her, for she is so like Charles, but because I wasn’t happy, I didn’t want anyone else to be either.’ She leaned forward and gripped his arm. ‘But I have changed, Mr Lister-Sinclair, and I regret those lost years. The reason for the change is that I have met someone I have fallen in love with. The only man I have even looked at since Amelia was born. He returns my feelings and wants to marry me, and that is the reason for my coming to you today. I want you to help me.’
They were interrupted then as Miss Williams brought in the tray. ‘Shall I pour, or would you rather do it yourself?’