by Anna Jacobs
He'd tried very hard to keep things amicable between himself and his ex, but now it was time to fight for his daughter. It took a lot to make him this angry, but Kerry had pushed him into his anger zone now.
He frowned as he threaded his way carefully through the busy streets. What he couldn't understand was why Kerry was insisting on taking Lily with her. It wasn't as if she was devoted to the child, though he guessed she loved her in a cool, Kerry kind of way. But she'd often let Cal have Lily for weeks on end when she was in the throes of an affair, as he could prove to the court.
And now that their daughter was twelve - he smiled involuntarily as he mentally amended that to twelve going on ninety - Lily was legally old enough to know her own mind and speak out for herself.
There had to be something else involved here. Kerry never did anything without a reason and her most common motive was money. Well, he was going to find out what was going on, and if it was humanly possible, he was going to get custody of his daughter.
The front doorbell rang just as Mrs Baxter and Lily were about to go out to the car.
'Who's that.' The old lady went and peeped through the dining room window. 'It's your mother and she looks furious.'
'Oh, no! What are we going to do? You won't let her take me back, will you?'
A grin transformed Mrs Baxter's face briefly into that of a much younger woman. 'Definitely not. Do you think you could ride in the car boot for a few streets?'
'Yes. Anything.'
'Good. Go and get into the boot now. I'll answer the door, fob your mother off then drive away. She'll be able to see that you're not in the car with me.' She waited till Lily had gone round to the back door of the garage, then answered the front door. 'Hello.'
Kerry went straight into the attack. 'I think you've got Lily here.'
Mrs Baxter stared at her. 'I did have. She left about half an hour ago.'
'You're admitting it?'
'Yes. I was delighted to help her. I've never seen such an unhappy child - and I don't like the way you and that American have been beating her.'
'We have not been beating her.'
'I've seen you do it.'
'That was just the once. You have no idea how infuriating girls of that age can be.' Kerry scowled at her. 'And she can't have got away this quickly. We'd have seen her.'
'She went over the back wall behind the bushes and ran off down the walkway. Easy to do. There was a bus due, from what she said. Now, if there's nothing else, I have to go out shopping.'
'I don't believe you.'
'That's up to you. I am not dependent on your goodwill, thank goodness.' She tried to close the door and looked down to see what was stopping her. 'Kindly remove your foot from my door.'
Kerry stepped back reluctantly. 'I don't know how Lily got round you, but you haven't heard the last of this.'
Mrs Baxter shut the door in her unwelcome visitor's face and went out to her car. When she drove out of the garage, Kerry was standing in the middle of the drive, arms folded, still looking angry. On a sudden impulse Mrs Baxter clicked the switch to lock all the car doors.
When she got to the gate, she had to stop because Kerry was blocking her way.
The younger woman came round to the side and tried the door, then hammered on the driver's window. 'I want to check the car. Open this door.'
'You can see she's not here,' Mrs Baxter shouted and accelerated off down the street. Her heart was thumping and she was sure that poor child would be black and blue from bouncing about in the boot, but she wasn't handing Lily over to a woman as angry as that.
She went first to the house of a friend she knew to be away and there, screened by the hedge, she got Lily out of the boot and into the back seat. 'You all right?'
'Yes. I heard Mum shouting.'
'She suspects something but she can't say she's seen you in my car. You'd better crouch down till we get out of the area.'
It was all very exciting, like a suspense film, Mrs Baxter thought as she drove off again. Who'd ever have thought she'd get involved in something like this? She'd been a bit of a devil when she was younger, she remembered suddenly. Where did it all go, that feistiness? 'You all right back there?' she called.
'I'm fine, Mrs Baxter.'
But even with her ageing eyesight, she could see in the rear-view mirror that Lily's cheeks were wet again. 'You'll be all right,' she said gently. 'We'll soon be meeting your father.'
It took nearly an hour to get to the rendezvous and until they got on to the motorway, Lily refused to get up off the floor. When they pulled into the services on the M40, Mrs Baxter looked for the motorbike.
'It's over there to the right,' Lily said. Her voice went up an octave. 'He's there! He's really there!'
'Remember what I said. Don't get out of the car and make a scene. Someone will be bound to remember it.' She pulled in right next to the big shiny bike. 'Let him come to us and you stay in the car till you've got that helmet on.'
'Who'd have thought you'd make such a good conspirator,' Lily gave her a watery smile.
'An old woman like me,' Mrs Baxter teased, then smiled at her. 'Chin up. You don't want to upset him, do you?'
Cal brought a second helmet and leather jacket across and crouched beside the car to give Lily a quick hug. 'You all right, darling?'
'I am now.'
'Put this on before you get out. That red hair of yours is a bit of a give-away. I'm glad it's stopped raining or it'd have been a miserable journey.' He turned to Mrs Baxter. 'I can't thank you enough for helping Lily.'
'They've been beating her. I never could stand people who thump children.'
He gaped at her. 'That's not like Kerry!'
'I saw it with my own eyes - more than once. Don't let them take her back.' She shook his hand and reached into her handbag for a piece of paper. 'This is my phone number. I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know that you're all right. You do have somewhere to go?'
'I think so. If not, I'll find somewhere else. Believe me, I won't let them hurt Lily again.'
'Dear me, the weekend is going to seem very tame now.' But she was talking to herself.
As the deep growl of the engine pulsed away into the distance, Mrs Baxter locked her car and went towards the cafe area. 'A cup of strong coffee and a cake, I think. I've certainly earned them.' She smiled, pleased with herself.
Mitch insisted on taking a quick walk up on the tops before they set off, going on his own because Judith's knee still ached if she challenged it too much. He came back half an hour later with glowing cheeks.
'That was great! I haven't been out in the countryside since you left home. Dad is such an urban animal and Gran's not into walking.'
'Glad you enjoyed it. Now, if you'll tidy yourself up quickly, we'll set off.' Judith loved her son's enthusiasm for anything and everything, and it occurred to her, not for the first time, that he was completely uninhibited in her company, which he never was with his father.
They arrived at Saltern House in the late morning and as they drove through the big gateway, Mitch turned his head from side to side, trying to see everything at once. When the house came in full sight, framed by large old trees and flowerbeds overflowing with colour, he whistled. 'It's beautiful. I like traditional houses much more than Dad's place.'
'Me too. Now remember, no staring at her.'
He groaned. 'Mum, you've already said that a million times.'
'Because it's important.'
The door opened and Andy came out to greet them. He kissed Judith's cheek, shook hands with Mitch and made no secret of the fact that he was studying the boy with great interest.
'I see that red hair prevails in this generation too. Your cousin Kate from Australia arrived yesterday and the resemblance is amazing. You could be brother and sister.'
'I didn't know I even had a cousin Kate. Dad never talked about his brother.'
' You'll meet her later. Now, come in, do. Maeve is waiting impatiently to see you.'
As
they walked into the sitting room, he held Judith back and let Mitch go first.
Maeve was sitting near the window, very upright but looking frail. Her hair was starting to grow back now, but it was more like silver down at the moment. She stared at Mitch not trying to hide her surprise. 'You look just like your father when he was that age!' She indicated her own hair with a smile. 'I used to have red hair as well. You'll probably go grey quite young, redheads often do, so make the most of it while you can.' She patted the window seat beside her. 'Come and talk to me. Judith, will you lend me Mitch for an hour?'
'Of course.' She walked out with Andy.
He smiled at her. 'Come and meet Kate.'
In the sitting room Maeve leaned back and studied Mitch. 'You're the second of your generation to come and visit me this week. Makes me wish I'd had children.'
'Why didn't you?'
'Couldn't. And I didn't want to adopt.'
'Dad's more than made up for your lack. Did you know his girlfriend is expecting? And he's nearly sixty!'
'No, I didn't know. Goodness, that's another to add to my list. Did you know he has an illegitimate daughter called Lily?'
'I knew about her vaguely, not what she was called, though. How old is she?'
'Twelve. I don't know much more about her, but I shall.' She led him on to talk about himself and his hopes, nodding encouragement and asking an occasional question.
He found it easy to talk to her, enjoying her astute answers and comments, the way she treated him as an adult. 'You've more sense about business than Dad, Aunt Maeve. Is it all right to call you that? Good. Dad goes off at tangents for no reason and he likes to throw his money around. If he hadn't been so lucky early on, he'd not have made it in business nowadays. And he leaves too much to Raymond Tate. I don't like that man.'
When Lena popped her head round the door to remind Maeve that it was time for a rest, they were both disappointed.
'I'm sorry to say she's right,' Maeve admitted. 'I'll see you before you go, Mitch - and you'll come another time, I hope.'
'I hope so too.'
He was quiet as they walked out into the hall and before she went upstairs, he suddenly gave her a hug. 'I wish I'd known you years ago, Aunt Maeve.'
She smiled at him, but her eyes were bright with unshed tears. 'So do I. Don't ever start a family feud. It isn't worth it.'
'You don't have to keep it going, if you don't want to.'
She looked at him and murmured, 'Out of the mouths . . .' Then she walked slowly up the stairs.
Mitch followed the sound of voices and found his mother with Andy and someone who had to be his cousin in the conservatory. 'Is that tea - and are those scones going begging?'
'It'd be more polite to say hello to your cousin Kate first,' Judith chided him.
He grinned at the young woman sitting near a palm tree. 'I didn't mean to sound rude, but I'm absolutely famished. Hello, cousin Kate.' He went over to shake her hand. 'I see you've got the family hair.'
'Have any others of our generation got it? My brother hasn't.'
'My half-sisters haven't, either. They've got brown hair. Apparently my other half-sister has red hair, though I've never met her. She's called Lily.'
'I don't think she knows she's a Corrigan,' Judith said. 'She's been brought up thinking another man was her father. And Des never tried to see her.'
Mitch looked at his mother in surprise. 'Do you know her?'
'I've never met her, but I know her father - the one who brought her up.'
He noticed that she flushed as she spoke, and wondered why. Then Kate said something and he turned to answer her with a smile and ask his own questions. 'What's Australia like? It's high on my list of places to visit.'
They held an animated conversation, during which time he finished all the scones.
'You'll not have any appetite for lunch,' Judith-scolded.
'Watch me.'
Kate leaned her head back with a sigh. 'I'm sorry, but I fade pretty quickly still.' She saw Mitch looking puzzled and explained, 'I've got ME. Maeve sent me to a specialist and even after the first visit, I'm feeling better, but I've a long way to go still.'
'That's rotten luck. A friend of mine had it.'
'Why don't we leave you in peace for a few minutes and walk round the gardens?' Judith suggested. 'I've never seen such beautiful displays of flowers.'
'There's a Japanese garden round the side. It's a lovely place to sit and think.'
'I'll show you where it is,' Andy offered.
They met Kate again for lunch and it was a lively meal. After that both Kate and Mitch went to sit with Maeve. From the laughter echoing in that room, they were all enjoying themselves.
'It'll tire Maeve, but it'll do her good, too,'Andy said. 'Pity Mitch can't come and stay for a while. That'd really cheer her up. She always did get on well with our younger workers.'
'Des would throw a fit if he knew we'd been here today.'
'It's about time he and Maeve buried the hatchet, Kate's father as well. Life's too short for feuding.'
Twenty-One
Greater Manchester: busy roads thread like ribbons through a posy of small towns, with only the signposts to show where one ends and the next begins.
On the way home, Mitch was very quiet. 'Are you all right?' Judith asked.
'Yes. I was just thinking about Aunt Maeve. It's rotten that she's so ill. I really like her and now I'll not have time to get to know her properly before she dies. She was telling us about her childhood - and Dad's. He won't ever talk about that sort of thing.'
'She probably still has a few months left. You can come up and visit her any time you want. I'll always drive you over.'
'We both know what Dad'll say to that, the fuss he'll make.' He didn't say 'the threats' but they both knew Des would use any means he could to get his own way.
'We'll do it somehow,' she said softly as they drove through the village. 'I haven't enjoyed a day out so much for a very long time.'
'Me neither. And Kate seems OK, though she's a bit quiet. She's very thin and pale, isn't she?'
'She's been ill for several months.'
As they were pulling into the drive of her house Judith braked suddenly. 'Cal's here!'
'Wow, look at that!' Mitch was staring at the big motor cycle, but at her words he turned to stare at her instead. 'Who's Cal?'
'A friend. I - um - hadn't expected to see him this weekend. And don't look at me like that!'
'Like what?'
'All knowing.'
'Mum, if you've found yourself a guy, that's cool as far as I'm concerned.'
'I haven't. I mean, I'm not sure. It's early days yet.' Even as she was speaking Cal walked out of the rear quarters he'd used when her aunt was alive and started towards them. 'You go inside and let me speak to him in private first.'
Mitch grabbed her forearm and held her back for a second or two. 'Don't send him away because of me. It's about time you found someone to love. It's been over between you and Dad for a while, even I could tell that.'
She patted his hand, but in spite of his encouragement, she felt flustered as she got out of the car. She introduced her son to her lover and watched them assess each other for a few seconds before Mitch turned away. After waiting till the kitchen door had closed behind him, she turned to look questioningly at Cal.
'I didn't know you had your son with you. The thing is . . . I've got Lily with me. She's run away from her mother and we had to leave in a hurry. I didn't know where else to take her to keep her safe.'
'Keep her safe?' She stared at him. 'What do you mean?'
'They were going to take her forcibly out of the country and when she refused to go, that sod my wife is shacked up with said he'd tranquilize her. He's got a private jet and as far as I can tell, no morals at all.'
Judith stared at him open-mouthed. 'You're certain she hasn't made this up?'
'I'd stake my life on it.' He looked over his shoulder as if checking that his daughter wasn'
t within earshot. 'She's very upset. They've been thumping her, keeping her a prisoner, bullying her.' There was a catch in his voice as he added, 'She's normally so lively and cheeky.'
'Oh, Cal'
'I know I'm presuming on our friendship, only they'd never find her here . . . But if that's too much to ask, at least let us stay for tonight in the shed and we'll leave first thing in the morning.'
She hated to think of a child being treated like that. 'Don't be silly. I'm happy to have you both stay, but there's just one thing: Maeve has told Mitch about his half-sister Lily. Does she know who her real father is?'
Cal stared at her aghast. 'No.'
'Well, what do you want to do? If you're staying, you'll have to tell her about Des before you bring her in. And I'll have to tell Mitch she's the Lily. It's a good thing Des has stopped having me watched or who knows what he'd have done about the situation.'
Cal ran one hand through his hair. 'Hell, this is even more complicated than I'd expected.' Then he looked at Judith, his eyes softening. 'I'm sorry for neglecting you this week. It's been - bad. I did try to phone you yesterday, but all I got was an answering service, so I emailed you instead. Did you get my message?'
'I haven't had time to read my emails. Mitch and I only got back from London yesterday evening and we've been out all day today.'
'Then in that case, perhaps I'd better remind you of one important thing.'
She didn't protest when he pulled her to him and gave her a long, lingering kiss which warmed her to the core. She held him for a minute, searching his face and feeling as if she'd found some sort of answer to her unspoken question in the warmth of his gaze. But when he pulled away, she let him go, because this wasn't the time for them, they both had children to look after. 'I reckon if we can get through crises like this together, we can get through anything.'
His gaze remained steady, the smile didn't fade. 'That's a good thought.' He caressed her cheek briefly with the knuckles of his right hand then took a step backwards. 'I'll go and tell Lily, then bring her in from the shed.'
She walked slowly inside to Mitch, hoping he'd understand.
Des spent Friday afternoon with Raymond Tate and his accountant, John Welby, trying to find ways to slash his personal and business expenditure dramatically to get them over the cashflow problems they'd face during the next year or two.