by Jane Corrie
of an exasperated Derek, and not one of them would have enjoyed the holiday.
Mary had agreed to this arrangement since, as Derek had pointed out, he rarely saw her alone, not even in the evenings when he called on them, as Paul would inevitably make some demand on her attention from the well worn excuse of 'could I have a drink of water,' down to another oldie, that he couldn't sleep. Mary might have been a little more strict with him had she not known that under these pathetic little excuses to gain her attention lay a. much deeper cause, a sense of insecurity that had only come into being since Derek had entered their lives.
She smoothed her wide skirt over her knees. There was no denying that Paul was afraid for the future; he did not like Derek, and to be strictly honest, Derek had done nothing to erase his dislike, and certainly nothing to bring them into a closer understanding of each other. When they were together, Mary found she had to constantly watch points and act as a buffer between them, but she had never ceased to hope that one day something would happen to break the deadlock between them. It was during the holiday periods that she had pinned this rather forlorn hope. However, the previous year's fiasco had not given her much expectation of this, and had resulted in Derek insisting that Paul gave them some peace and harassed someone else.
Mary's worried glance rested on the small desk calendar on the bureau in front of her. It was now early July; and Derek had arranged for them to go on holiday the first week of August. That meant that she would not be able to accept the invitation from Rafael Alvarados until the middle of August, for she would need a week or
two to arrange things her end. Her frown 'deepened. There wouldn't be much time for a long visit, as the school term began in the first week of September and she would have to be back for that.
She got up to make herself a cup of coffee; so that was that, she thought. It was the third week in August or nothing, unless they paid a visit during the Christmas recess. She shook her head impatiently at the thought. Of course they couldn't go away for Christmas, it was unthinkable, and Derek would certainly have something to say about that. It would have to be the third week in August, or sometime next year. As she waited for the coffee percolater to start simmering, she had a feeling that Rafael Alvarados might have other ideas on the subject, but there was nothing he could do about it. She had a living to earn, and there was no way that she would allow Paul to remain in Spain without her, if such a suggestion was forwarded.
As she drank her coffee she felt a sense of foreboding, and wished that Derek were there to assure her in his usual bluff way that she had nothing to worry about, but three nights a week he gave private coaching lessons to budding mathematics students, and she would not see him until Thursday. Normally he would slip down to see her, during the day, and she would have lunch with him, but this week his mother had made a prior claim, presenting him with a list of odd jobs to be done about the house, and wanting them done before he went away on holiday. She had done the same last year, and Mary suspected that it was just a ploy to keep him by her side. It was extremely annoying yet somehow pathetic, and was something else Mary would have to learn to cope with in time.
The following day the same feeling of uncertainty
haunted her as she carried out the usual household chores, but she was relieved of Paul's highspirited presence, not to mention his excited comments at the thought of going to Spain, by Michael, his bosom pal, presenting himself at the door and asking if Paul could go on a picnic with them. Mary inwardly blessed her friend Sarah for the kind thought, and willingly gave her permission.
Paul arrived back just after six and Mary was gratified to see that he was quite worn out. He could hardly stay awake long enough to eat his supper, and she knew she would have no worry about him playing up later that evening when Rafael 'Alvarados called on her, and for this she was grateful.
As she looked down at his tousled dark head lying on the pillow, she wondered if he had forgotten that his uncle was due to pay them a visit that evening, but even If he had remembered, his obvious enjoyment of his day out had taken its natural course and he was oblivious to everything but the need to sleep.
She picked up his shorts, now streaked with mud in places, as were his socks and shoes, clear evidence of unrestrained happy activity, and placing the clothes in the laundry basket, she carried his shoes down to the kitchen to make them presentable for wear the following morning.
When this was done she went to her room and changed out of the old jumper and tweed skirt that she wore for household chores into a cotton dress, her thoughts all the time on the coming visit. It was when she ,was just giving herself a last minute took in the mirror that she suddenly recalled Rafael Alvarados's look of puzzlement as he had studied her during that interview, Sand it suddenly struck her that he was obvi
ously wondering just what his brother Enrique had seen In her. As her eyes met her own reflection, Mary gave a little grimace. Sheila had been the beauty of the family, and Mary not even an also ran'. Her features were regular but plain, her face just a little on the long side, and her full lips just a little too wide. Her thick chestnut hair was nothing out of the ordinary, although naturally wavy. Her wide grey eyes were her best feature, although she would not have agreed with this deduction; to her way of thinking she was just plain Mary Allis with no claim on the Venus stakes, and that suited her nicely.
At least it had until now; she could not alter her looks, neither could she expect to carry out her plan of deception without coming up against numerous barriers. It was not going to be easy, and it was going to be harder still when faced by Paul's grandfather who was, according to Rafael Alvarados, a sick man.
The thought made Mary quake inside.. She wouldn't be able to go through with it, not ifhe was a kind man. She wouldn't be able to keep up the deception then, but would tell him the truth. If he was a good man, he would understand the reason for her reception, and surely he would not hold it against her. He would know that it was Paul's happiness she was concerned with, and if he was happy, then so was she.
Having somewhat stifled her conscience on this front, she went downstairs and awaited her visitor.
The doorbell rang prompt at eight o'clock, and Mary wondered if he had been standing outside the house waiting until the hands of his watch had pointed to eight, and then rung the bell, he was so punctual, and with a fluttery feeling inside her stomach she went to answer the door and admit him.
As she showed him into her small sittingroom she was once again struck by his height, and his immaculate appearance. His dark blue town suit fitted his powerful body with such elegance that it must have been tailor made. His sky blue shirt emphasised his hard tanned features and his blue black hair, so like Paul's, was brushed back from his forehead, yet Mary knew exactly what it would look like if left to its own devices and would fall over his forehead. The thought made her feel intensely uncomfortable and she didn't know why. Paul was so like him, these comparisons were inevitable, yet she didn't like them and hastily thrust the thought out of her mind.
With studious politeness he indicated that she should enter the room first, and then followed her, and for . a moment or two after they had seated themselves there was a kind of tenseness between them and Mary saw him glance briefly round the room, and wondered what he made of what, from his point of view, must be a very
humble abode.
`You have talked the matter over with your fiancé?' he asked.
Mary gave a start. She hadn't, of course but it did not matter, for the decision remained entirely hers and whatever she decided, Derek would go along with her. However, she did not say , this, but just nodded, then said quickly, 'I'm afraid we can only visit your home in late August, and then only for a week.' On seeing the quick frown this brought from him, she hurried on, `I'm a teacher, you see, and I'll have to be back for work during the first week of September there's also,' she carried on before he could interrupt her, 'the fact that we'd planned a holiday at the beginning of August,
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br /> Derek is taking me on a tour and, all the arrangements are made.'
As she said this she suddenly realised that she had not mentioned the arrangements for Paul, and if Rafael Alvarados knew that Paul was not going to accompany them, he might very well suggest taking him to Spain for that week, which was something, Mary did not want to happen, so she hastily added Paul's name, 'That is, Paul and I, wondering if her telltale flush had given her away and miserably wishing she could tell the truth.. It was surprising the amount of lies one had to tell, even on small things, and she had no taste for it.
She couldn't see what else she could add, although it was clear that Rafael Alvarados was displeased, and' it occurred to her that he must think them very unfeeling where his father was concerned, so she felt obliged to add; 'We could come early next year, say, the Easter break, if that would be convenient?'
Rafael Alvarados did not answer immediately but looked down at his long slim fingers resting on the arm of his chair, and Mary had a feeling that he was not finding it easy to contain his thoughts on the matter that were plainly causing him some annoyance. 'I do understand it is difficult for you, he said in his deep voice, 'but I hope you will see how difficult it will be for my father to understand that he will not be seeing the child for at least a month, and then only for a week.' He looked back at Mary. 'I did tell you that he was ill, did I not?' Mary nodded, wondering what was coming next. 'And I think I also explained that a lot of his illness is due,' he shrugged his powerful shoulders, 'shall we say, to a kind of lethargy. In other words, he badly needs an interest in life.'
His brows lifted in an impatient manner. 'I can't put
it any other way, but I am certain,' his eyes bored into Mary's, 'that once he has seen the child who is so like Enrique, there is a great chance of him recovering his health. He is an old man, Miss Allis.' As before, this address was given as an unspoken question and Mary slightly inclined her head to show him that he had addressed her correctly. 'At least,' he went on, 'I hope he will fare as well as any man of his age. I am not saying he has fallen into a state of utter dejection and is malingering. He is a sick man, I can assure you of this, but in all of us there must be something to keep us going. Some reason, if you like, why we should want to get better. My father has not got that reason, or at least he hadn't, until now. Now that we have found Enrique's son, there is every chance of his enjoying the twilight of his life, but time is of the essence.'
He stopped suddenly and Mary realised that in a way he was pleading with her, and it was a role that did not come easy to him. She felt a stab of remorse as indeed he had meant her to, and she remembered what he had said about trying to find them all those years ago and couldn't see how she could refuse to fall in with whatever he had in mind.
She looked away quickly from his strong face and his dark eyes that seemed to bore right into hers, and clenched her hands together tightly. 'I see,' she said quietly, and moistened her lips before adding, 'Perhaps if you'll give me a week to make arrangements this end,' she hesitated, 'it might be possible to fit in a visit this month, but we shall have to be back by the first week of August for the holiday I mentioned to you earlier.'
'Thank you,' he said in a manner that showed his satisfaction with this reply. 'I am much obliged to you, and I can assure you of a very warm welcome from my
father.' He stood up and felt in his jacket pocket and produced a wallet from which he took a card and handed it to her. 'If you run up against any snags, please let me know. Your passport is in order?' he asked abruptly.
Mary gave a quick `yes'; she had taken Paul on a school outing to France the previous year. At this, he; said crisply, 'Good! Well, if there is anything else you need, just contact me. I shall hold, myself in readiness to escort you to my home. If you would contact to as soon as you are ready, I shall book the plane reservations and advise my father of the date of our arrival.'
That, it appeared, was that, and as Mary went to the door with him, she thought what an odd man he was. There must have been much he had wanted to know about them, yet he was obviously not going to seek the answers at that stage of their acquaintance. This suited her admirably as she would not have relished an inquisition on the past until she had got a few answers ready,
As she shook hands with him before his departure, she noticed that there was no sign of his car and presumed he had left it further up the street where the road was wider and would not cause an obstruction.
She had just returned to the sitting room when the front door bell pealed again, and thinking Rafael Alvarados had forgotten something, she went to answer it and found Derek on the doorstep. He gave her a puzzled look as he entered and asked curiously, 'Who was that man that just left? Looked a city type to me. Are you thinking of taking out more insurance?'
Mary gave a wry grin. 'It's a long story,' she said, following him into the sitting room. 'I didn't expect you this evening. Get through early, did you?' she asked.
He gave a grimace. 'There's a do on at the college, and no one thought to remind me that there'd be a skeleton attendance, so I packed the rest of them off to join in the festivities. They were longing to be off anyway.'
Mary told Derek, of the surprising turn of events of the previous day, and he intervened every now and again with an astonished, 'Good lord!' and when she had finished he rubbed a hand through his brown hair in an abstracted fashion.
When she told him of her decision to take Paul .to Spain some time the following week, she half expected him to protest or at least ponder on the advisability of rushing into things, but he said nothing, and in a way seemed pleased rather than displeased over the news.
'Well, that's normal, isn't it? I mean, they would want to see him, wouldn't they? I didn't get a good look at his uncle, only saw the back of him really, and he looks like Paul, you say?'
`Very much so,' replied Mary slowly, feeling slightly chagrined at Derek's calm way of taking her absence from the scene for what might turn out to be almost a month. 'Well, facially, at any rate,' she went on. 'There was no mistaking the fact that they were related, yet I think that's where the resemblance ends. From what I saw of his uncle, Rafael Atvarados, I formed the impression that he was not as easygoing as his brother was. In fact, he's quite a hard man, I would say.'
Derek shrugged as if her observations were of no con sequence. 'They're not like us, are they? He is Spanish, after all,' he added, as if that explained everything.
Mary bristled at this cool summing up, and in some indefinable way knew that he had classed Paul in the
same category. However, there was no point in dwelling on that now. "Anyway, we'll be back for our holiday in August,' she told him. 'I made a point of insisting on that.'
Derek gave her an assessing look. 'Suppose they want to keep him there? the old man's pining for the son he's lost, I should think there's a good chance of them offering to keep him. Let's see,' he went on musingly, 'you'll be there almost a month, won't you? Time enough for him to get to know the boy—and if he takes a shine to him—Look here,' he added swiftly, 'if things are going well, don't worry about coming back for our tour, we can always take it some other time.'
`Some other time?' echoed Mary, although it wasn't the holiday that filled her thoughts, it was his hope; and that was exactly what it was, that they would take Paul off her hands, but she swallowed the urge to shout at him that she would allow no such thing and concentrated on the holiday. 'When? We're due back at school in September, remember?'
'Oh, Easter, perhaps. There'll be plenty of time in the future,' he answered laconically.
Mary's teeth clenched together. After Paul had gone, was what he meant. 'If you're relying on the Alvarados family taking Paul I can tell you here and now that I Have no intention of accepting such an offer, if they make it; and I'm surprised at you for even thinking that I might. Paul belongs to me, he always will do,' she added fervently.
'Oh, come now,' replied Derek in what she recognised as his soothing voice, 'let's us
e a little bit of sense here, Mary. After all, I gather they're quite well off, aren't they?.
Mary gave him a steady look. 'What's that got to do with it?' she demanded.
He gave a slight grimace. 'Quite a lot, I should have thought,' he said. 'It's his inheritance, isn't it—or at least it will be, if things go well. If you insist on keeping him tied to your apron strings he may very well lose it. Have you thought of that?' he demanded irritably.
Mary looked away quickly. 'Perhaps,' she answered slowly, 'but it depends on Paul, doesn't it? and whether he's happy or not—and he is happy, Derek.'
He made a noise that sounded like a snort of impatience. 'Well, of course he is, at the moment,' he snapped. 'You spoil him, Mary. I've always told you that, but later on—well, things won't quite be the same.'
Mary stared at him. 'What exactly do you mean by that?' she asked quietly.
'You know very well what I'm getting at,' he replied stiffly. 'I've never really had this out with you before. I've just let things go on; but I'm telling you now that if they do want to keep the boy I think it would be the best thing that could happen for all of us.'
`You mean let him go—just like that—because they're rich and I'm not that's what it amounts to, doesn't it?' she cried, her voice slightly breaking even at the thought.
'I didn't mean that,' he answered hastily, 'not quite in that way. What I'm trying to say is, you must have seen that I don't get on with the boy. Oh, I've tried, but somehow we seem to be on different wavelengths. What I want you to think about is you and me, and our future.'