by Mark Stanley
"You Mark that's what."
I was more confused than normal; I always seem to be confused by women.
"They haven't seen you semi naked Mark and I think your physique has...impressed them."
I looked down but I really couldn't see what the problem was and so I shrugged and jumped.
A long lunch was followed by a mini Olympics, Burns verses Stanley's, but they never had a chance. Even with some very suspect Victoria marking of the water-skiing element it was always going to be slaughter.
"We'll mix the teams up tomorrow." I said as a conciliatory offer.
"Yeah, we'll have Lulu!" Was the Burns response and to be fair it wasn't a bad call. Lulu, excels in everything, in or out of water, she's extraordinary with a big future ahead. Fifteen in a few weeks and she is blossoming as only young people can and is even more beautiful than Daphne. I hugged my daughter and kissed her head.
"She's not available!"
In the bedroom, about to get changed for dinner, having had a mini sex Olympics with my increasingly pregnant wife.
"All of a sudden...you're just suddenly pregnant."
"No Billy, I've been pregnant for six months, now it's just fat!"
"Stupid child, Daphne was bigger than you on all three occasions and you're carrying twins."
"And don't I know it." She began laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"My Mother and Lucia looking at you when you came up in your swimmers earlier today, God they we're so envious!"
"Excuse me have I missed something again?"
She looked at me shaking her head.
"You really don't see yourself the way everyone else sees you Billy. This incredibly handsome man with a ripped and I mean a ripped body to match. Move over Daniel Craig there's a new kid on the block."
"What are you talking about!"
"You, you donkey! You have so little self-awareness, all six pack with toned muscles rippling, you look incredible and that's me your wife talking and I see you all of the time."
I smiled as I left to go for my own shower, remembering my brief but exciting liaison with Lucia, something that I hoped the Brompton's would never disclose to anyone, but especially to Victoria.
Everyday followed a similar pattern, not because I said it had to, far from it, I would be happy doing anything as long as it didn't involve snow. So every day was water based and there are never complaints from me or anyone else, the only downside is that every time the Melissa gets to within sight of shore so that we can go onto a beach or visit one of the many excellent beach bars which seem to be everywhere in the Caribbean, we're immediately chased by paparazzi. This has two side effects, the first is that the CPO’s get all nervous and on edge, the second is that Victoria gets pissed at the intrusion. She never used to but since the attack and everything else whilst we’re not reclusive, far from it, she's become very circumspect with me and the children, so much so that visits are curtailed if the CPO’s can't persuade the paps to leave us alone. This generally means that we let them get some photos and then they go but it doesn't always work and if they don't wish to oblige...well we leave. The CPO’s are generally amenable, very much so when it's just us playing and them watching over us, either on jet-skis or from the speedboat but I guess they are...menacing to outsiders, that's their job. There is something comforting, at least for me, with the guys around and we do treat them well because they are without exception good guys and a pleasure to have around. We pay all of the bills associated with their work, which are considerable, but they really earn it. What had bought on this talk about the CPO’s? The chats that Victoria and I have been having, which have been sometimes long and often fractious and at other times, short and upsetting, for both of us. Coombes from MI5 had scared the shit out of Victoria and I was gunning for him. Fancy telling a pregnant wife that her husband would, in all likelihood, if captured be...beheaded what a fucking idiot.
Danny and Melissa have been consummate hosts, affable and warm-hearted from the moment everyone had arrived and always smiling. It must have been a real chore, as I expected to find out when I was cornered, late in the day preceding New Year's Eve...
"You all seem to be well relaxed Mark and Christmas has been such fun."
"I am and thank you for all of your hospitality."
Danny waved it away. "You're family now dear boy, what's ours is yours and vice versa...we hope?"
"Of course."
"We hear great things about your work at the UN? They say that they've never met anyone as tireless and as diligent as you have been but now we have this upsetting news about your nemesis?"
"Indeed, I'm having ongoing discussions with Victoria. As you can imagine she's less than pleased by the developments."
"As are we Mark but the purpose of your appointment to the UN was to get your profile raised on an International level, you being beheaded only will only get posthumous recognition of your talents and is of no use to us so we have to look at where we're going to go. Melissa and I have discussed between us and then with Victoria and we think that given the change in circumstances, you must with reluctance, resign."
"No, I'm not doing that. I took the Presidency on for a single term and I fully intend to see it through and I'm discussing with Tom Wilson and Paul Coombs ways that we might mitigate the dangers but that doesn't include resigning."
"It's not your decision."
"I think you'll find that it is."
"No, ultimately it's ours."
"What Danny is trying to say, in a slightly clumsy way Mark is that we are concerned for your well-being and whether the UN job is conducive to one's health. Victoria tells us that you're due to visit a large amount of countries in Africa in the New Year?"
"Starting next month Melissa, I'm going around with the begging bowl but as an organisation it's wasting millions. Do you know that due to some archaic mechanism, workers in New York one of the most expensive cities in the World get paid eighty thousand dollars a year and yet workers in Nairobi, which is in comparison cheap, they get the same when the annual wage is only a few hundred dollars? I've had numerous meetings and I'm determined that during my tenure, I will stop this disparity and I start next month. After I return there will be another schedule of projects that I need to visit and I can't do that and see what progress has been made and how much more that needs to be done from the UK."
"But Mark we understand those visits will include, lawless areas, Somalia, Yemen and then onto Palestinian refugee camps?"
"They all need help Melissa and whilst I'll be guided by discussions with Coombes, the UN and the Foreign Office, I can't be ruled by them or the job becomes untenable."
They looked at each other. My reaction had probably only endorsed what they had already come to realise, that I would do their bidding, but on my terms. We were joined by Victoria who seems to instinctively know when I'm in trouble.
"What's going on?"
"Hello darling. We were just discussing the ongoing security arrangements with Mark vis–à–vis, the UN?"
She looked at me before she sat.
"He won't resign he puts duty and his word above his family."
"That's not true and never suggest such a thing. You and the children are far and away my whole life and I won't hear you saying such scurrilous things. If I resign then in many ways they win but it won't stop the attack, if indeed there is one, it'll just happen somewhere else. Look I don't want to continue the fight, what I will promise is that I will take onboard everybody's views and if that means that I have to abandon the schedule then I will because I don't want to take unnecessary risks either."
"Fine words, if you will promise to deliver them then I'll cease the fight as well but if you renege, just one iota, I'll have your balls in a vice."
I think even Danny and Melissa were shocked by the comment. They had viewed their daughter slightly differently to everyone else. I think they had both been aware of the change when Victoria had a minor explosion in the South of
France and since then they had tried very hard to mend fences as they viewed her as integral to their own plans.
"I can see no way forward other than that proposed by Mark and we will have to trust his and the security services judgement on where is deemed safe, don't you agree Victoria?"
She looked at me in the way that only she has.
"Yes."
But I was on notice.
"Before we go onto the afternoon activities can I express Melissa's and my own delight at the two deals that you've bought in Mark? Getting that rogue Corrigan to bend was nothing short of a minor miracle and at a substantial discount to boot. And then you land Tulip Estates which I've coveted for years with never any real hope of securing, but you, you come in and they fall at your feet."
"Right place, right time." Was my explanation, which was picked up on by Melissa.
"Oh please not false modesty Mark! You know what a remarkable man you are and false modesty is not one of your most alluring traits. A year ago you lay in a hospital bed close to death and now you're back and how. Married, expectant adoring wife, adoring public, saviour of the UN programme, and now adoring in-laws, not that we needed you to deliver such a spectacular first few weeks in charge but we're very grateful that Victoria was so sensible in grabbing you."
I smiled at the eulogy not believing her effusiveness was anything more than a sop.
New Years Eve and we had been invited to a black tie dinner dance, back in Barbados, with my old friend Kevin de Bruine, but first we had invited him and his children out to the Melissa to join in with our games. Kevin is a great supporter of the charity which is developing new specialist facilities in Buckinghamshire. It was primarily for ex-servicemen and women but now, the whole brief had expanded. Kevin was the entertainment officer for the main fundraising event, the big ball, which carried our own sub-title of, 'don't forget your chequebook'. This year’s event had been spectacular not least because Kevin had procured Madonna to perform her greatest hits and we had raised an enormous amount, again.
Victoria and I stood at the rail, as Kevin with his family in a speedboat, made the trip out to the Melissa, as he got closer it was plain to see that he had bought his latest squeeze, the one that he'd had with him when last we'd seen him in London.
"Oh Christ Billy, he's bought the plank with him!"
The plank is actually a rising Hollywood actress that's being, nurtured, at least that's Kevin's description of why he's with her. She's also young, Kevin's the same age as me but this girl, 'Amber, like in the jewel', is only four years older than Lulu, it wasn't just that she's young she's also stupid and that was something that Victoria hates in anyone especially someone who wants to be her 'best friend forever'.
"Don't smile Billy."
She had attached herself to Victoria in London and wouldn't let go, much to Victoria's annoyance. We stood at the rail, waving as they approached and waited for them to come on board. As she did, 'Amber, like in the jewel' squealed and ran to embrace Victoria.
"Hi best friend forever! My you're looking really fat!"
Even I'm sometimes surprised by Victoria, like now, how she didn't smash her in the face I will never know.
"Lot's of babies baking Amber honey." Kevin spoke in a really affected Southern drawl to mimic 'Amber, like in the jewel'. Imagine Matthew McConaughey...there you go. Kevin's two children, a girl and a boy are and even Kevin agrees…brats. Left alone with the Stanley family they wouldn't survive a day let alone a weekend.
"Hi Cortland, Atticus, ready for some fun?" Asked Victoria, trying to be friendly. Atticus was obviously named after 'Atticus Finch - To Kill a Mockingbird' fame but Cortland? Victoria thought you only named dogs Cortland.
"Do you have Wi-Fi?"
"Atticus we've come to play on the water not 'Angry Birds'."
Kevin gave an embarrassed smile but if my children ever give me a look anything close to the one that Atticus shot Kevin, there would be serious trouble.
"This sucks, you suck and this whole holiday sucks."
"Charming, shall we let the men take the children Amber and you and I can go and find Lucia and my Mother, they're really excited about spending time with you Amber, lots of time."
The morning passed, happily enough. Kevin's kids were just bored and I think that once Craig had dunked them and they were as wet as everyone else, they loosened up and actually seemed to enjoy the morning. At lunch we rejoined everyone else and I inwardly laughed when I saw the faces of Lucia and Melissa as Amber regaled them of her life.
"...And I said to Georgie, well I never call George Clooney, George, I said to Georgie..."
"Shall we sit down here to give the ladies some room?"
"No, you'll sit here." Victoria smacking the seat, next to her, demonstrating, as if anyone could be unsure, who wears the trousers in this family?
"Perhaps you can save some of your fascinating recollections for this afternoon Amber, I'm sure we'll so enjoy hearing more, won't we Mummy, Lucia?"
Lucia and Melissa looked as if they were about to be taken terribly and unavoidably sick.
The afternoon followed much the same pattern as the morning and as they returned to their own base we waved them a fond goodbye until this evening.
"Billy, if you think that you're dumping plank onto me, Lucia and Mummy, you're so wrong, isn't he?"
"Mark, that girl is cruelly depriving a village somewhere of an idiot."
"If she were twice as smart as she is now, she'd be absolutely stupid and Victoria's right we're not nurse-maiding her tonight are we Lucia?"
"I mentioned that amber is a resin and not a jewel, but she blithely ignored me, should have saved my breath."
Despite the foreboding, the party was great fun and hugely enjoyable. Kevin's a great host and 'Amber, like in the jewel', was busy making sure that all of the guests were well catered for. Shortly after midnight we made our excuses and left, having had a fine time. As we got back to the boat, I saw a very agitated Tom beckoning to me. I excused myself and went over, as he guided me even further away.
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry Lord Mark, but you're ex-wife has been found dead."
Chapter 15 - January 2016
It wasn't a bleak day in anything other than mood because the sun shone down on a bitterly cold January day but the sky was blue as the wind blew at a strength that made one pleased that it wasn’t to be a burial at sea.
"As cold as a witches left tit."
Was Ludo’s rather apt take on the day.
We had returned to the UK as a matter of urgency. The children were understandably distraught and we had no hesitation about getting them onto the plane and back to Surrey, for they needed time and space to grieve and that was best accomplished at home in familiar surroundings. Daphne's death was so utterly tragic and preventable. She had died of a heart attack bought on by an overdose of prescription drugs. It had, thankfully for the children's sake, been deemed 'death by misadventure' and I needed to thank Danny for ensuring that 'suicide' wasn't mentioned on the death certificate. Of course no one could truly know what was in Daphne's mind when she swallowed the pills. Was it just confusion that led to the overdose? That's what had been said by the Doctor, called as an expert witness as well as David, her husband. The body was released and the funeral arrangements put into place. Of course this was all done by me and Victoria, David was completely useless, it was a family trait, because poor Flora their toddler was now living with us, temporarily, as David nor his brother nor his parents felt capable.
"Fucking wankers!"
Was Victoria's description as we took her in but a more delightful child would be hard to find for she had all of the best bits of Daphne and thankfully very little of David.
We had chosen the Parish church in Weybridge for the service, not only is it the church that we had had all of the children christened in; it is also large enough to accommodate the mourners. The vicar was reasonably new and no one seemed to know him but he had handled everything ve
ry efficiently and had been lovely with the older children, offering comfort and a shoulder to cry on.
The hymn finished and the vicar looked at me. I dutifully rose and made my way to the pulpit so that I could give the Eulogy. Why me? I'm only the ex-husband, it should have been David but, as with everything else, including his child, he had walked away. I looked down on a packed church. Daphne had been hugely popular as a friend as well as a great Mother and a shopkeeper, known by many, loved by all.
"I came here today, with a well-rehearsed speech, but on reflection a totally inappropriate one, as I realised when I saw all of you, waiting to pay your respects." I looked down at the children and smiled, to try and give them some strength.
"Daphne, wasn't a sombre person. She loved life and loved living, that's what makes today so tragic. She leaves behind, not only distraught children, ex-husband, current husband, but you, her friends. Daphne was a fun individual, full of vibrancy and she would have hated today, hated it. If she's looking down, we haven't done you justice Daphne and for this I'm so sorry. This is an invitation that she would, given a choice, politely, but firmly refused. Four wonderful children who she groomed and nurtured, and extolled to enjoy life, to seize everyday and to ensure that they get the most out of each and every day. To work hard and to play equally hard, to not have regrets because something might have been done better, if only. A business that she took from a baby to a very accomplished teenager, in an area in which she loved, what women wouldn't, shoes and handbags!"
There were smiles and I felt myself warming to the task.
"The loss of Daphne is tragic, because she's dead." I shrugged. "But more than that you won't be invited to the best fancy dress party of the year." More smiles as the mourners remembered. "I look and I see many smiling faces and I too can remember you and your outfits, outrageous and outlandish and that only covers me." Now there was laughter. "I remember one; it must have been ten years or more ago, when she came dressed as Madonna in the Gaultier outfit, all fishnets, corset and pointy bra. She looked wonderful but best of all she dressed Lulu up as a 'mini me' but she couldn't get a bra and so she stuck two ice cream cone moulds onto a tiny top and painted then gold!" Now the laughter was consuming everyone as the memories came flooding back.