“Promise me you won’t make a decision until after the result of the paternity test,” Lydia urged her.
“O.K., it’s only a few days away,” she stared vacantly ahead her mind buzzing with negative thoughts.
“Where’s Jake?” she asked.
“He’s gone home to pack a case, he’s going to Malta to talk things over with Maria,” Lydia cringed at the mention of her name.
“Why can’t he just do it on the phone?”
“I don’t know, but I think he wants to see his daughter which is understandable,” she frowned.
“Let’s hope he comes back,” Marney raised her eyebrows.
“Of course he will,” she glared at her sister.
“I’m going to take Heidi upstairs, she’s got chocolate all over her clothes.”
Marney stood up and lifted her daughter from her seat.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Marney paused, “I met someone,” she turned to leave.
Those few words struck fear and panic in Lydia and she called out.
“Come back here.”
Marney stood in the doorway.
“You’ve only been to the nursing home,” Lydia shook her head.
“I know, but you can find love anywhere sis,” she smirked.
“Tell me then,” Lydia demanded to know.
“I’ve already told you, he’s a nurse.”
“That’s a bit timid for you.”
“I know, but he’s gorgeous and he’s phoning me at the weekend so can you babysit?”
“He might not get in touch,” Lydia pointed out.
“He will,” Marney darted out of the room before her sister had time to fire more questions at her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
On the morning of the paternity test, Marney lay awake staring at the ceiling trying to banish all negative thoughts from her mind. Today was the beginning of the truth, a truth Marney was desperate to know. Part of her wanted to hide away from reality, but a bigger part was compelling her forward to the future. Dragging herself out of bed, she headed to the bathroom and turned on the shower. After dressing, she left her sleeping daughter in her cot and crept quietly down the stairs not wanting to wake Lydia. In the kitchen, Lydia was already seated at the table sipping a cup of tea.
“I thought you were still asleep?” Marney said flicking the kettle on.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she replied with a yawn.
“I’ll be glad when all this over, it’s driving me crazy.” Marney joined her sister at the table.
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to take Heidi away for a few days.”
“When were you thinking?” Lydia looked across the table.
“Next Sunday? It was a question rather than a statement.
“I’ll come with you if you want,” Lydia smiled.
“Of course, but what about the café?”
“It can wait. All our debts are paid and there’s plenty of money left from Jake’s loan.”
“You’re not in the right frame of mind to work with the public, and now Jake’s away I can’t manage on my own. A holiday is just what we need,” she stood up and walked away.
“I need to get ready; what time are we leaving?” she paused in the doorway.
“Half past ten,” she glanced at the clock.
“Do you know where the clinic is?” Lydia asked.
“It’s in the grounds of the nursing home but it’s privately owned.”
“O.K. I’ll be down in half an hour,” Lydia left the room.
Listening to the clock ticking in the silence, Marney felt her heart rate increase at the thought of what was about to occur. She wasn’t concerned about the procedure, it was the waiting for the results. The sound of Heid’s cries interrupted Marney’s thoughts, and she made her way up the stairs.
“Are you ready Lydia we’re going to be late,” Marney called up the stairs her voice quivering with emotion.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Lydia replied slipping on a shoe at the top of the stairs.
Five minutes later, Marney reversed her car out of the drive and began the twenty-minute journey.
“You should have let me drive sis, you seem very anxious,” Lydia spoke gently.
“I’m fine, the way you drive makes me nervous,” she attempted to smile.
Deciding not to reply, the journey continued in silence until Marney parked the car by the side of the clinic and dropped the keys into her handbag.
“Come on angel,” she took Heidi from her car seat and secured her in the pushchair.
“This way,” she called over her shoulder to her sister who hurried to keep up with her.
Pushing open the double doors of the recently built clinic, Marney took a deep breath and stepped inside. After speaking briefly to an elderly receptionist, she took a seat next to Lydia and began to fidget in her seat.
“She’s not very friendly,” Marney glanced in the direction of the receptionist who was typing on a keyboard and didn’t look up.
“You’d think they’d be friendlier when you’re paying a lot of money for private treatment,” Marney whispered.
“I suppose so,” Lydia didn’t comment any further, but cast her eye over the receptionists’ appearance. She was probably in her middle sixties but looked older. Her peppered grey hair was scrapped back into an untidy bun on the top of her head and her face was devoid of make-up. Her clothes, consisting of a black skirt and cream blouse, were serviceable rather than fashionable.
“They need a younger person on the desk.” She threw another disconcerting glance in the elderly receptionists’ direction.
“Calm down sis, you’re rambling,” Lydia placed a comforting hand on her sister’s shoulder.
“God, why do we have to wait so long?” Marney sprang to her feet and took Heidi from her pushchair.
“It’s only been a few minutes Marney,” Lydia whispered.
“It feels longer than that,” she re-took her seat with Heidi on her knee.
“Miss Stephens,” the receptionist spoke. Marney leapt to her feet and approached the desk.
“If you’d care to follow me,” she walked briskly along a carpeted corridor at the end of which, she knocked on a door.
“Come in,” a male voice bellowed in the silence.
Ushering the group through the open door, the receptionist turned and left.
After a brief introduction from the doctor, Lydia was asked to take a seat in the waiting room as Marney and Heidi, escorted by a nurse, were directed to an adjoining room. After what seemed like an eternity, Marney reappeared with a somewhat more relaxed expression on her face. The doctor who had carried out the test shook her hand and smiled as she turned to speak to Lydia.
“Let’s go home,” she pushed Heidi towards the door with Lydia following closely behind.
As they approached the entrance, Lydia spoke.
“How did it go?”
“Pretty straight forward really. The doctor took the swab from Heidi’s cheek and explained what the test involved and how long the results take to come through.”
They had reached the carpark and Marney folded the pushchair and placed it in the boot before turning to face her sister. After she had strapped Heidi in her seat she spoke.
“The paternity test only takes a few days, I could even know the results tomorrow. The other test takes a bit longer.” She slammed the car door and looked up at her sister.
“That’s good news,” Lydia forced a smile.
“Is it?” Marney took her seat behind the wheel and turned the key in the ignition.
Sensing her sister’s angst, Lydia turned to look out of the window as her mobile phone rang.
Rummaging through her bag she smiled as see she saw Jakes’ name flash across the screen.
“Hi Jake, how’s your trip?” she asked.
“As bad as expected. The hotel is crap, the in-laws are hostile, but the wines’ good,” he sounded despondent.
“When will you be back?�
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“Sooner than I expected; Maria is being very unreasonable, I’m booked on a flight tomorrow morning,” he explained.
“That’s great, I mean you coming home tomorrow, not about Maria.”
“I know what you mean love. I must go I’ve got to see Maria before I leave.”
“O.K. bye, ring me when you land,” the call ended.
“That was Jake,” she turned to Marney.
“I guessed that,” she flared her nostrils and sighed.
“He’s coming back tomorrow,” Lydia smiled refusing to be intimidated by her sister’s hostility.
“That’s nice,” Marney’s tone softened slightly.
They had reached home and Marney turned into the drive and brought the car to a halt.
“I’m sorry I snapped at you sis; I feel so anxious. The rest of Heidi’s life will be influenced by these test results, and I can’t stop thinking about Earnest,” she was close to tears.
“I know Marney, and I do understand but try not to worry. It’ll all be fine,” she attempted to reassure her.
“How can it be fine Lyds? If Phillips is the father, Heidi will be the child of a murderer. I can’t get it out of my head,” she opened the car door and took her sleeping daughter into the house. Lydia following closely behind, picked up the morning’s post and kicked off her shoes as her sister took Heidi to her cot. Dropping them onto the table, she flicked on the kettle and took a seat. Picking up the post, she discarded the obvious junk mail and flyers and picked up a hand- written letter which caused her stomach to churn and her heart rate quicken. Turning the letter over in her hand she hesitated before opening it. The short hand-written note began.
Dear Lydia,
I have some good news for you. I have been transferred to an open prison not too far from you. This is now my third week and I will soon be eligible for work in the community prior to my release at some time in the future. Life in an open prison is far better than confinement in a cell. I would love to see you when I am released you are in my thoughts day and night. It is because of you that I have managed to cope with imprisonment. Time goes by slowly in this place but hopefully, employment will improve my sense of fulfilment. I look forward to seeing you and Marney very soon.
Thinking of you always Tom.
“What a conceited bastard!” Lydia called out as Marney appeared in the doorway
“Who is?” Marney smiled.
“Him, bloody him,” she slid the offending letter across the table.
Picking it up, Marney began to read. After a few minutes, she looked up.
“I see what you mean,” she cringed as she scanned the letter.
“What are you going to do Lyds?”
“Write to him and tell him exactly what will happen to him if he comes anywhere near this house,” clenched her fists and swallowed hard.
“What will happen to him?” Marney took a seat.
“I haven’t decided yet, but it won’t be nice,” she breathed deeply.
“Don’t do anything stupid sis; just take the letter to the police and let them deal with him.”
“They won’t do anything, he hasn’t threatened me. I don’t know the laws concerning released prisoners and their victims, but there must be some law that stops him from contacting me,” she picked up the letter and screwed it into a tight ball.
“That’s evidence Lyds, don’t throw it away,” Marney unscrewed the letter and smoothed it with her hands on the surface of the table.
“Do you think I should phone the prison?”
“I do Lyds, you could arrange to meet Tom.”
Lydia’s mouth dropped open.
“What are you talking about?”
“Restorative justice. Criminals meet their victims face to face to stop them re-offending. It can also help victims get closure, so they can move on with their lives.”
“How do you know this?”
“I googled it.” Marney smiled.
“Of course you did. I don’t need to meet him, I had a relationship with him remember. I want to know if there is some way to stop him from writing to me, there must be some law.”
“It’s not about law sis, it’s about emotions and forgiveness.”
“Have you heard yourself Marney?” Lydia shook her head and threw the letter in the bin.
“I was just saying, that’s all.”
“Well don’t say anything else.”
Marney shrugged her shoulders and proceeded to make a cup of tea.
“You could always contact victim support, they might be able to give you some advice,” Marney brought a tea tray to the table and sat down.
“I don’t think so Marney, I don’t need support. I’ve moved on. The best thing I can do is write a letter to him and let him know where he stands,” she stood up and took the letter out of the bin. The sisters sat in silence drinking their tea and contemplating their individual predicaments until Marney broke the silence.
“Have you got any plans for the rest of the day?”
“No not really, I’m going to write this letter and then perhaps we could go to the café and check it over. We’re going to have to re-open shortly.”
“O.K. I’m going to get changed.” Marney stood up and left the room.
Taking a notepad and pen from a drawer, Lydia began to write.
Dear Tom.
“No, he’s not dear,” she spoke aloud and screwed the paper up.
Tom,
This will be the only time I write to you. I am not interested in you or your miserable life. You took my son from me, a fact that I have now accepted, but not forgiven you for. I have now moved on and plan to marry again in the near future. Do not write to me again. After I am married I will be moving to a different part of the country. If you make any attempt to contact me either by letter or phone I will inform the police.
Lydia Stephens.
Folding the letter, she slipped it into an envelope and copied the address from the screwed-up paper as Marney entered the room carrying Heidi in her arms.
“I’ve done it,” she smiled.
“Done what?”
“Written the letter. After lunch we’ll go to the cafe and I can get it in the post and get him out of my life.”
“Do you think he’ll take any notice sis?” Marney asked placing Heidi on the floor.
“I think so, I’ve told him I’m getting married and moving away.”
“You’re not, are you?”
“What getting married, or moving away?” Lydia teased.
“Moving away.”
“Of course not; do you fancy a sandwich?” Lydia stood up.
“Yeah, I’ll give you a hand.”
Ten minutes later they sat down to eat lunch. Marney was more relaxed and Lydia was convinced her letter to Tom Anderson would deter him from any further correspondent, but Tom Anderson was very persistent and deluded and was not going to take no for an answer.
CHAPTER TWENTY
When the sisters arrived at the café later that afternoon, Lydia felt her spirits lift as she turned the key in the lock and pushed open the door. A pile of letters lay scattered across the floor and she scooped them up and dropped them into her bag.
“I’ve missed this place,” Lydia smiled glancing around.
“I’m not sure if I have,” her sister sighed.
“Don’t you miss the customers and the gossip,” Lydia took a seat.
“A little,” she replied securing Heidi in her pushchair.
“I’m looking forward to re-opening; I’ll put a sign in the window,” Lydia replied taking the letters from her bag.
“Two for you, the rest for me,” she passed the post across the table, tore open an envelope and began to read a hand-written letter.
“Oh my God; I don’t believe this,” the colour drained from her face as she stared across the table.
“What’s wrong sis.”
“Everything,” her voice quivered, and her hands trembled.
“Let me
see the letter Lyds.” She snatched it from her trembling hand and began to read.
“This can’t be true; no way,” she jumped to her feet and began to pace around the limited floor space.
“No one was there that day Marney, I’m certain,” Lydia choked back the tears and swallowed hard.
“Well this person claims he was,” she stabbed the letter and sighed.
“We don’t know if it’s a man Marney, it’s not signed.”
“Is there a date on the letter?”
“No, but there’s a phone number. What are we going to do Lyds?”
“I don’t know. Why would anyone leave it for over a year if they had incriminating information?” she breathed deeply.
“I’ll soon find out.” Marney snatched her phone from her bag and keyed in the number.
“What are you doing?” Lydia reached out to stop her but Marney stepped backwards. Breathing heavily and trembling in anticipation, she paced nervously around awaiting a reply.
She was about to end the call when a man’s voice answered.
“Hello,” he replied bluntly.
“You sent a letter to my sister Lydia; who are you?” she demanded to know.
Marney listened for several minutes, then spoke.
“Oh really. I don’t know where you’ve got your information from, but you’ve got the wrong person,” her tone was aggressive.
“Why should I believe you?” Marney continued.
What he said next caused her to cry out in fear as she stared towards the door where a man dressed in dark clothes and a hooded jacket, was peering in at her through the glass.
“Oh my god,” she dropped her phone to the floor and dashed forward to lock the door. Before she could turn the key, the man thrust the door with his shoulder and stepped inside. Lydia sprang to her feet, grabbed a knife from the cutlery trolley and dropped it into her handbag.
“Get out of here now, or I’ll call the police,” Lydia threatened, but the intruder moved slowly towards her as Marney picked up her phone and ran.
“You know you won’t do that,” he continued to inch forward until Lydia could make out his features. His gaunt expression was one of desperation causing her to take a step backwards as a musty smell wafted from his filthy clothes. She estimated he was in his late twenties. Facially, he had a sharp nose, deep set brown eyes and stubble on his chin. His overall appearance was one of shabbiness giving her the impression he lived on the streets.
The Truth: sequel to I Will Find You Page 15