by Anna Jacobs
'Mum did?''
'Yes. She does love you in her own way, you know. I have good news, Lily-Pilly. Your mother told me she's prepared to give me custody - for your sake, not because she wants to. But she needs to see you first.'
'She'll get mad at me.'
'I don't think she will. But if she does, I'll bundle her out quick smart.' He made two fists, waved them in the air and tried to look macho.
Lily was surprised into a gurgle of laughter. 'You couldn't fight your way out of a paper bag, Dad.'
'For you, I'd try.' He gave her another hug. 'I think you'll have to face her sometime, darling. But you can have the psychologist or a lawyer or whoever you want with you when you do. Your mother's gone home and I'll ring her when we've decided on a time.'
She sighed and sagged against him. For a few moments they just sat there, then she said in a husky voice, which sounded to be near tears, 'It's been bad, hasn't it?'
'Yes, darling. But the bad part's almost over now.'
'I hope so. I don't want to feel like this again as long as I live. I was so frightened I'd lose you, Dad.'
He cuddled her for a long time, then said, 'Right. That's enough soppy stuff.'
She gave him a tearful smile and sat up straighten
'What have you got to wear that looks good? We want to knock your mother's socks off this afternoon.'
'I've only got old jeans and tops here.'
'Then I think we should go shopping and buy you some new clothes.'
A smile crept over her face. 'Could Judith come and help us?'
'She'll be busy, darling. She's got a funeral to plan.'
'I forgot about her husband.'
'Don't forget about him. He was your father.'
'No, he wasn't.'
Cal was glad to see that stubborn look back on her face, to hear her speaking more like her old self.
She looked at him sideways, a smile on her face now. 'I like Judith. Are you going to marry her?'
'I hope so.'
'That's wicked. It means I'll see Mitch all the time. I never thought I'd get a brother.'
'And two sisters.'
'Yeah. Cool, isn't it?'
'Definitely cool. Now, how about washing your face and I'll just have a word with Andy. He'll help us arrange the meeting.'
Maeve stared at the specialist in shock. 'Are you sure?' 'Yes.' She tried to hold them back, but the tears wouldn't be denied and she suddenly began sobbing. He left the hospital room, where she'd been resting after an arduous round of tests. A nurse slipped in and began patting her back.
Maeve pulled away. 'Can't you - leave me alone?'
'Not while you're so upset, Miss Corrigan.'
'Haven't I a right to be upset?'
'You have indeed. Look, I'll wait just outside the door if it'll make you feel better. Take your time.'
Maeve cried more quietly then lay back, feeling washed out, bewildered, for once not in control of herself.
It was over an hour before she felt ready to face the world, an hour during which the kindly nurse several times peered into her room, giving her an encouraging smile.
Maeve wished desperately that she could get away from nurses and well-meaning friends for a few days and take some time to get used to her news. But she couldn't, she knew that. There was Des's funeral to face, Lily's future to sort out, and other plans to be made.
Peter came into the big office and sat uncomfortably on the edge of a chair.
'Well,' Welby prompted, 'what did you find?'
'I spoke to the new tenant. Mr Tate hasn't lived at that address for several months.'
'What?'
'He moved out, told everyone he'd bought himself a house, didn't leave a forwarding address but no mail ever arrived for him. So I rang Personnel, thinking they'd have his new address. They said he hadn't told them he'd moved.' Peter looked from one to the other. 'So I came back.'
'Keep this to yourself,' Welby muttered. 'Thank you. You've done well.' When the door had closed, he turned to Judith. 'This doesn't look good.' He stared round the room. 'I wonder what he was looking for last night? I wish that woman hadn't cleared everything up.' He went to the door. 'Pamela, can you tell me the names of the files that were out of place this morning?'
'There were a lot of papers scattered around. I can remember some of them.'
'Thank you. Can you do that now, write them down? If you have to look in the filing cabinets to jog your memory, do it.
We'll go somewhere else. Just don't tell anyone else what's going on. We'll go into Tate's office.' He gestured to Judith to follow him.
Once they were sitting in another luxurious office, John sighed and began to fiddle with his pen. 'I hope I'm wrong, but it sounds as if he's - well, this has all the signs of embezzlement. Tate has introduced a lot of new business lately through the new company, and we've paid out some large amounts of money. That's why I insisted on an audit of those accounts, something we were going to start on today. Des okayed them, but I'm not sure whether he looked into them or just took Tate's word that they were OK. That may be why he's gone missing. It sounds as if he's been planning it for months, moving house so secretively, siphoning money off He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. 'You read about such cases, but you don't expect to be involved in one.'
'I still can't believe it.'
'I hope I'm wrong, but if I'm not, we'll have to call in the fraud squad.' He gave a quick shake of his head. 'I'm afraid that lately Des has been more interested in long lunches and his mistress, and he's been leaving too much to other people.'
She sat for a moment or two, then stood up. 'I'll be no use here. I'm going to ask a friend for help. In the meantime, do what you can, John. I'm grateful you're here.'
Outside she hailed a taxi and went straight to the hotel. Maeve or Andy were the only people she could think of to advise her.
When she got there, she met Cal and Lily at the entrance, about to go out shopping. One look at her face and he turned back.
'What's the matter?'
She explained. 'I've got to see Maeve.'
'This is her day for the big tests. Andy's gone to fetch her back, but she'll be very tired.'
'I'd forgotten. What am I going to do?'
'Doesn't sound as if you can do much at all. Are you worrying about your own money? If so, you don't need to. I earn a fair amount, enough to support both of us, and I can easily earn more.'
She smiled at him and for a moment the world seemed to recede as she kissed his cheek. 'I love you, Cal Richmond.'
Then she realized they were standing in the hotel lobby, with the concierge smiling at them from behind his nearby desk, and Cal's daughter beaming at them from nearby.
'Don't mind me,' Lily said. 'I approve. Kiss her again, Dad, if you like. I'm not in a hurry.'
Cal laughed and tousled her hair. 'We'd better go back up with Judith. She might need help.'
'That's OK. Mum's seen me in these things anyway.' She looked at Judith. 'We were going to get me something special to wear for my meeting with her this afternoon.'
'In that case, since Maeve isn't here, let me come with you. There's a boutique just down the road that has some very with-it clothes.'
As they walked along the street, it felt to her as if they were already a family. It was a good feeling, something to give her hope for the future in the midst of all this trouble.
When Maeve got back to her room, Kate was waiting for her.
'Where's Lily?'
'Out with her dad. She's meeting her mother this afternoon - Andy arranged for it to take place at the lawyer's rooms. Didn't he tell you? They've gone to buy her something smart to wear.'
'She's all right?'
'Her mother says Cal can have custody. As for Lily, she brightens up the minute her father appears.'
'Good.'
'How are you, Aunt Maeve? You look exhausted.'
'I am a bit tired. I'll just have a lie down, I think.'
When she'd gone into her bedroom, K
ate looked at Andy. 'She looks as if she's been crying.'
'Don't tell her you guessed. She'd hate that. I assume the test results weren't good, but I didn't ask her because it was obvious she didn't want to talk. We've known her chances weren't good for a while and if anyone can cope with bad news, she can. Give her a little time. What about you? How are you feeling today?'
'Not too bad, a bit washed out after the transfusion, but they said I would be today.'
Half an hour later there was a knock on the door and Lily came back, accompanied by her father and Judith, carrying a couple of plastic bags with elegant gold labels on them. 'Is Aunt Maeve back? I've got some really cool new clothes to show her.'
'She's a bit tired, probably dozing,' Andy said. 'Can it wait?'
'Oh. Yes. She's all right, isn't she? I mean, the tests didn't show anything bad, did they?'
'I don't know. She hasn't said. But it's all very tiring for her.'
'OK. I'm going to change.' She vanished into her room with the bags.
'In the meantime,' Judith said, 'I wonder if I can ask your advice, Andy . . .'
That afternoon, Kerry looked at Wayne and grimaced. 'I'm feeling nervous about meeting my own daughter. Is that stupid or what?'
'Want me to come with you?'
'Better not. We don't want Lily to feel threatened.'
He let out a scornful snort. 'That young woman should feel threatened, the way she's treated you.'
Kerry knew she'd never convince him differently. He saw things in black and white and to him, a child owed obedience to its parents, whatever they decided about its future. She didn't mind. It gave him strength and she was tired of being the strong one.
When she got to the lawyer's offices, she put up her chin and marched inside.
They showed her into a room with a large oval table. Lily was sitting at one of the longer sides, flanked by Cal and the lawyer, with another man sitting at the head of the table.
It was he who stood up. 'If you'd like to sit opposite your daughter, Ms Foster? I'm Jerome Thane, Lily's counsellor, and she's asked me to facilitate this session.'
Kerry did as she was told, shocked at how thin and worn her daughter was, how dark the rings round her eyes were. She didn't know what to say, except, 'Hi, Lily.'
'Hi, Mum.'
'I like your top. It's new, isn't it?'
'Dad and Judith bought it for me yesterday.'
'Judith?'
'Mitch's mother.'
'I'd like to meet Mitch again under happier circumstances one day.'
Lily nodded, still looking wary.
Kerry looked across at Cal and abandoned formality. 'Let's get it over with. Look, Lily, you can live with your dad from now on. I won't nag you any more about coming to America.'
'What about Wayne?'
'He'll do as I wish where you're concerned.'
Lily let out a huge sigh. 'Cross your heart.'
Blushing slightly, Kerry crossed her heart, muttering, 'It's something we do.'
'It's a good thing to do,' Jerome said in that soft, careful tone counsellors often use.
Lily sniffed, tried to hold it together but failed and began to cry. 'I can't believe it's all over,' she sobbed against her father's chest. 'I can't believe I'm safe.'
'Safe!' That word hurt Kerry. She caught Jerome's watchful gaze and a hot protest died unspoken.
'She'll be all right,' he said. 'It's just relief. Better leave it at that for today.'
The lawyer stood up. 'I have some papers for you to sign, Ms Foster, if you'll come into my office?'
She nodded but didn't stand up to leave for a moment or two. As she watched Cal pat Lily on the back and murmur to her, she felt a pang of envy and anger sear through her, but it was no use giving in to it. Forcing a smile to her face, she said, 'I'm still hoping you'll come and visit me in America, Lily.'
Lily raised her head but the wary look was back on her face.
'We'll discuss that later,' Cal said. 'Maybe Judith and I can bring her out to visit you some time. I like America.'
'Judith again?'
'She and I are an item.'
'Congratulations. About time you found someone. If ever a man had domesticated tattooed on his soul, you do.' She stood up. 'Well, I have to get going. I'll email you and send you photos of our new home, Lily. You will keep in touch?'
Lily stood up and nodded as Cal whispered something to her. She came round the table, looked at her mother uncertainly, then gave her a quick hug.
Kerry pulled her daughter back into her arms and made it a long hug, then set her at arm's length. 'You will keep in touch?' she asked again.
'Yes, Mum.'
'I do love you.'
'I love you, Mum, but I don't want to move away from Dad.'
'I know. You've made that very clear.' She blinked furiously. 'Well, I haven't all day. I'll pack your things and send them across to your Dad's. Where are these papers I need to sign?'
She and the lawyer walked out together.
'She was crying again,' Lily said wonderingly. 'Mum! She never cries.'
'Maybe she cares about you more than you realize,' Cal suggested.
Lily nodded. 'I know she cares, but she wants me to be like her and I'm not. Can we go back to the hotel now? Please, Dad. I want to pack my bag and come home.' She turned to the counsellor. 'Thank you for helping me, Jerome.'
'I'll see you soon. I think we've a few things to talk about still.'
'Yes, whatever. Dad?' She tugged at her father's arm.
'Judith's staying with us,' he said as they packed her clothes at the hotel.
She paused and looked at him. 'Will she mind me being there?' Her voice quavered. 'Do you need to be alone together?'
'Not if you need me. Would you like me to ask her to move out for a few days, to give you time to settle in?'
She hesitated.
'I'm sure Judith will understand.'
He gave her another hug and she sighed as she rested against him.
'I don't want to mess things up for you, but if we can just hang out together for a bit, I'll know it's real.'
Twenty-Seven
A gentle breeze blows across the cemetery. Faded plastic flowers stand in stiff salute on nearby graves and in the distance black limousines sit quietly respectful in a tidy row.
As the mourners walked away from the grave, Judith found herself next to Cal, who'd been invited to bring Lily, at Maeve's suggestion.
'How are things?'
'Better. She's not as jumpy, and is starting to boss me around like she used to.'
She looked behind to where Lily and her son were walking. 'That's good. I think she's more comfort to Mitch than anyone else at the moment. They seem like brother and sister already.' Mitch had been hungry for kin and he'd got his wish. He was surrounded by relatives now, as well as having three sisters.
'Funerals are so depressing,' Hilary muttered as they all got into the limousine. 'I don't know why we put ourselves through this.'
'Because we want to say goodbye properly,' Tiffany said.
She looked strained today, Judith thought. It was sad that she was now left to bear and raise Des's child alone.
As they filed into the hotel, Andy summoned a wheelchair for Maeve, who pulled a face at him but sank down on it. She was looking exhausted but was very much the matriarch of the family on this occasion. Beside her, Leo seemed colourless, though he was pleasant enough, as was his wife.
On the functions floor they were directed to an elegant room with a few small tables, and a lavish buffet. There was no sign of Maeve.
When they were all there, Andy came in and clapped his hands for everyone's attention. 'I hope you'll excuse Maeve, but she needs a rest now. She hopes you enjoy the meal and invites you to join her for a financial discussion at three o'clock. We have a sitting room booked and you can go there after you've eaten.'
Which was enough to keep people talking as they ate the superb food.
'What's that you
ng woman doing here today? I gather she was Des's mistress. It's a bit off inviting her,' Leo muttered to his wife.
Mark overheard them. 'Apart from the fact that Tiffany was going to marry Des, she's carrying his child. She has a right to join the mourners, don't you think?'
Leo goggled at him. 'How many children did my brother have?'
Mark smiled. 'Four that we know of and this baby.'
'I never did understand what women saw in him.'
Mark decided to change the subject. 'Don't you think your daughter is looking better?'
Jean nodded. 'Better than she's looked for ages.' She nudged her husband. 'Isn't she, Leo?'
His expression softened as he caught Kate's eye. 'Yes. I'm glad you're on the mend, love.'
She returned her father's smile. She knew that was as near as she'd get to an apology for his behaviour towards her, but somehow she didn't care. Today she hadn't woken foggy-brained. That filled her with joy and hope. She had about fifteen tablets to take every day now to boost her immune system and start leaching some chemical overloads from her system, but she'd take a hundred tablets a day if it'd get her better.
Judith put some food on her plate and tried to force down a few mouthfuls, then gave up the attempt and pushed the remaining bits and pieces neatly into a pile at the side. She was more interested in watching Mitch, sitting at a nearby table with his three sisters, all of them talking animatedly.
'Aren't you eating?' Cal asked.
'I'm not hungry.' She gestured. 'Look at them. It's lovely to see the next generation so full of life at a time like this, isn't it?'
'Yes.' He hesitated. Since she'd moved back to her mother's they hadn't really had a chance to talk because Lily had been very demanding. 'Have you sorted things out at the business, found any sign of Tate?'
She shook her head. 'No. The police are involved now, but the accountant thinks we'll have to file for bankruptcy. Tate embezzled a lot of the firm's money and he seems to have planned his escape very cleverly. If that happens, Mitch won't get his dream of going to Harvard, and I'll have to find a job to help pay his way through university. Then there's my mother. Des gave her an allowance and bought that house she's living in, but it's part of the estate and she'll probably have to move back to her old unit, which is a poky little place.'