In Focus (2009) Page 11

  ‘Beth?’

  She became aware that Edward was standing next to her, holding out a tissue. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Give me a few minutes to find out about DNA testing.’

  She stayed where she was while he made a few phone calls then heard him come across to her again. Not till he was standing next to her did she turn, and this time she had her emotions under control. Well, she’d stopped crying, at least, but shock and sorrow at his reception of her news were still churning round in her stomach, making her feel sick.

  ‘We can go and get your side of the test done now, if you’ve the time.’

  ‘I’ve plenty of time.’

  ‘Look, Beth, I’m sorry he treated you like that. It was a shock to him. Pete’s not normally so . . . rude.’

  ‘I’m not lying, Edward.’

  ‘No. I don’t think you are. Once you’ve proved you’re right, we’ll figure something out. It won’t be easy, though.’

  She let him put an arm round her shoulders. ‘I never expected it to be. What’s his mother like?’

  ‘I’m very fond of my Aunt Sue. She’s gentle and kind, loves Pete too much, perhaps.’

  ‘And his father?’

  ‘He was a strong man who usually got what he wanted in business. He made a fair amount of money, then lost it again in bad investments later in his life. They were very happy together and I think Aunt Sue still misses him a lot. And your mother? You said she’d had a breakdown after your brother disappeared.’

  ‘Yes. She was on anti-depressants for most of my childhood. She’s picked herself up in the past couple of decades, has a job and a small house of her own. But she lives quietly, keeps herself to herself, finds it hard to get close to anyone. She really needs closure, Edward.’

  ‘I don’t really have to ask, but you will keep this to yourself, won’t you? Whatever we find out.’

  ‘Do you think I want to broadcast the news that I have a brother as rude as that? I don’t need his money. I earn enough of my own, thank you very much.’

  ‘I’m sure you do. But Pete’s been in a bad mood all morning, which isn’t like him, so something else must be upsetting him.’

  As Edward gave her a quick hug, she turned in his arms and stared at him, putting up one hand to caress his cheek. ‘I’m sorry you’ve been forced into the mediator role.’

  ‘So am I. It’s what Pete pays me for, but with you, it’s different.’

  ‘Is it?’

  ‘You know it is. I want to see more of you. I don’t want this coming between us.’

  She had to ask, ‘Do you think I’m lying?’

  ‘No.’ He bent to kiss her cheek. ‘Right then. If you’re ready, let’s get this DNA test over with.’

  ‘You’ll be careful with the photo of my little brother?’

  ‘I promise.’

  He took her hand as they walked out and after hesitating for a moment in surprise, she let him. She was feeling fragile under her bravado, and its warmth and strength comforted her greatly. She wasn’t used to having support. It was . . . nice. More than nice. Wonderful.

  The DNA test wasn’t as simple as Beth had expected. She was questioned about when she’d last eaten or drunk, asked to rinse her mouth out with water, and had to provide two samples from the inside of her mouth.

  Edward paid extra for a speedier test result, promising to bring Pete in to give a sample.

  When they went outside he stopped. She thought he was going to reach out to her again, but after a moment’s hesitation he dug his hands in his pockets.

  She was disappointed.

  ‘Shall I take you home, Beth?’

  ‘No. I’d better go back to work.’

  ‘No chance of another date now that I know what’s upsetting you?’

  She tried to be sensible, but it was difficult. ‘Let’s see how this comes out first, Edward. And if you’re to get samples from Pete, you’d better stop him drinking alcohol or coffee with his lunch.’

  ‘Hell, you’re right.’ He pulled out his mobile phone, waved goodbye as she got into a taxi and was soon talking urgently into it.

  She smiled wryly. What had they all done before mobile phones? Even as she was thinking that, hers rang and she pulled it out.

  Pete met Edward outside the clinic.

  ‘You’ve not had any coffee or alcohol?’ Edward asked.

  ‘No. I told you on the phone, I was walking by the river, trying to get my head round all this. Though if you’d rung me half an hour later, I might have started on the wine. I’d just decided to call it a day and go home.’

  ‘Were you going to tell Fran?’

  ‘No. The less she knows the better.’ He saw Edward stare at him, as if trying to work out what that meant.

  ‘I thought things were improving between you.’

  Pete turned away from the clinic and began to walk slowly along the street. ‘Then you were being overly optimistic. I’ve been having her followed. The guy who came to the office this morning is a private investigator. She’s still seeing that French fellow.’ He waited for some response and when his cousin remained silent, said, ‘I’m going to divorce her now I have proof she’s been unfaithful. I’ve not been near another woman since we got married. I kept my vows.’

  Edward said nothing, but clearly that surprised him.

  Pete glared at his cousin. ‘You don’t believe me, do you? Well, it’s the truth. If you think I’ve the time or energy to service all the little dears who offer themselves to me, then you can think again.’

  ‘Sorry. Whatever you say.’

  ‘It’ll be bad enough getting divorced. What if the media gets hold of the news about my parents? You know what they can be like when they start digging for dirt. The last thing I need at the moment is another scandal.’

  ‘Does it need to get out?’

  Pete wished his cousin would sometimes lose that calm voice and show more emotion. ‘It definitely won’t get out from me, but I can’t control what your lady friend does, can I? She could rake in a fortune if she went to the media.’

  Pete got his wish as Edward stopped walking and spoke sharply. ‘You’re being unjust. Beth isn’t like that.’

  ‘How do you know?’

  ‘I just do.’

  ‘You’ve fallen for her, haven’t you?’

  Edward shrugged and began walking again. ‘I’m certainly attracted, but it’s early days.’

  ‘You want to steer clear of entanglements with women. I can’t believe how much I’m going to have to pay to get rid of Fran.’

  ‘Is that how you think of it, Pete, getting rid of her?’

  ‘What else? I’ll pay a modest amount to get rid of Beth, too – unless you can sweet-talk her into keeping quiet about all this. If she’s a cleaner, she won’t be rolling in money. Fifty thousand pounds should fix her, seventy-five max.’

  Edward stopped and grabbed his arm. ‘Stop saying things like that. She does not want money. Her mother has been upset for over thirty years and needs closure. I reckon Beth does, too. The way she talks about the kidnapping shows that the hurt went deep.’

  Pete stared at his cousin, not liking what he was hearing. ‘Has it occurred to you that if we bring this out into the open, they might send Mum to prison for kidnapping?’

  ‘Don’t be stupid. If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Aunt Sue didn’t kidnap anyone. She probably doesn’t even know there’s a problem.’

  ‘If I was taken at the age of three, she’ll know she didn’t bear me, won’t she? Why the hell didn’t they tell me I was adopted?’

  ‘You’ll have to ask her.’

  Pete stopped at the door but before he could say anything else, someone tried to get past him, so he stepped back.

  To his annoyance, the woman stopped to look at him. ‘Aren’t you Pete Newbury?’

  He summoned up the friendly guy who ran the show, something he could usually do at will. It had never been as hard as it was today. Grimly holding a smile that felt
as if it was glued to his face, he chatted for a moment or two, then to his relief she left.

  As they entered the building, he said in a low voice, ‘You go to the reception and tell them I want to be kept out of sight and I’ll sue if they tell anyone about the tests.’

  ‘I’ve already told them that but they assured me everything is kept strictly confidential. A lot of their work is for the courts.’

  ‘Let’s get it over with, then.’

  When Jo got home from work, she found Ghita a mass of nerves. Several little dishes of food were set out ready and the two small boys were dressed in clean clothes.

  Jo hugged her friend and went next door to change, putting on her best clothes, a long skirt and a pretty top in toning colours. They weren’t particularly in fashion or even new, having come from a charity shop, but the muted shades of green were flattering.

  When she went back, they waited, trying to keep the boys entertained.

  It was a relief when someone knocked on the door. She made a shooing motion to Ghita, who was shaking visibly as she went to open it.

  Her father stood there, his face as stern as last time, and behind him stood a woman who looked so like Ghita it was a shock to Jo. This was what her friend would look like in a couple of decades.

  ‘Please come in,’ Ghita said.

  They took off their shoes and would have left them outside, but Jo picked them up and put them just inside the door. ‘It’s safer that way.’

  Ghita gestured towards Jo. ‘This is my friend, Jo, who is now like a sister to me.’

  But her mother’s eyes were fixed on Kaleel, and after a quick nod of greeting to Jo, she took a step towards him, pushing aside her husband’s hand when he would have restrained her. She bent to give the little boy a quick kiss, stroking his dark hair and smiling at him as she produced a small toy.

  Ghita moved forward. ‘This is your grandma. Say thank you for the present.’

  Jo could see Mikey waiting for his present, so pulled him to her and whispered, ‘You can have a present when we go home.’ He looked at her solemnly, then stayed close, as if aware of the strong emotions raging around them.

  When her husband cleared his throat for the second time, Ghita’s mother dragged her attention away from her grandchild and turned to her daughter. ‘He looks very like your brother Nuriel did as a child.’ She looked at Jo apologetically. ‘Your son, too, is a fine boy.’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Haddad.’

  The father folded his arms and stood there as if determined to stay apart from this, but Jo noticed his eyes kept going to his grandson.

  ‘Won’t you sit down, Father?’ Ghita indicated the one armchair.

  He did so, sitting stiffly upright, and his wife sat on the sagging sofa.

  Food was offered and for once, the two little boys were so overawed they sat down on their towels without protest. Keeping quiet, they picked up their snacks tidily from small plates.

  The visit lasted only half an hour, which upset Jo. To spend only thirty minutes with your daughter when you’d not seen her for more than three years seemed heartless.

  When they’d gone, Ghita burst into tears and plumped down on the sofa, sobbing her heart out. Upset, Kaleel tried to get his mother’s attention but though she hugged him close, it was a while before she managed to stop weeping.

  ‘They didn’t stay long,’ Jo said.

  ‘I knew they wouldn’t. My mother held her grandson, though. I think she understands how I feel about him. However I got him, he is my son.’

  Jo wasn’t sure Ghita’s parents understand much about their daughter’s present life, but didn’t say that. She helped eat up the food then stayed till the boys were both nearly asleep, before going back to her flat and putting her son to bed.

  She sat in front of the television, but couldn’t have said what was on. It took her a while to figure out what was upsetting her about the meeting: Mrs Haddad had cuddled her grandson but she hadn’t touched her daughter.

  Jo couldn’t help comparing the visible love shown by her own mother, for all the awkwardness of their meeting, with the stiff visit that had just played out.

  But was she ready to ask her mother for help, even so?

  Beth was woken by the phone ringing at seven o’clock on Friday morning. She jerked upright in the bed, wondering . . . hoping . . .

  ‘Mum? It’s me.’

  ‘Jo? Are you all right?’

  ‘Yes. Sorry to ring at this hour, but I have to go to work. You used to wake up early.’

  ‘I still do.’

  ‘Look . . . are you busy this evening?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘How about I bring Mikey round to meet you after work?’

  Beth closed her eyes and tried to swallow the huge lump in her throat that was stopping her from making any intelligible response.

  ‘Mum?’

  ‘Sorry. I was just . . . so happy. Yes. Yes, please do come round. What time do you finish work? Do you want me to pick you up?’

  ‘No. Ghita will bring Mikey to meet me after work and there’s a bus that will bring us to your place. You can drive us home afterwards, though, if you don’t mind. It’ll be safer.’

  ‘I’ll have some tea ready. What does he like?’

  ‘He eats anything. So do I these days.’

  It was a while before Beth realized she was still clutching the phone and it was buzzing loudly. She set it back in its cradle and went to make herself a cup of tea.

  After nine o’clock she tried ringing Edward to find out if he’d got the results of the DNA tests, but the receptionist said Edward was out and she didn’t know when he’d be back.

  ‘Ask him to ring me, please.’

  ‘I will if he comes back.’

  How could she settle down to anything till she knew the results? Surely Pete would treat her and her mother differently when he realized she was telling the truth, that he was her brother.

  She couldn’t settle to anything. The waiting was killing her.

  Linda was relieved to find the office at the building yard unoccupied on the Friday morning. It had been a fraught week. Once the locks had been fixed, Nat had gone home. And she’d missed him.

  He hadn’t mentioned his stay at her house, except for once asking if she’d had any more trouble. But she was more conscious of him than she’d ever been.

  On her desk was a note. ‘Out at a meeting all morning. You’re lunching with me at Nonna Marianna’s at one o’clock. I’ve already booked.’

  She didn’t want to go, was afraid of being too intimate with him. No, she was lying to herself. She did want to go, but she wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do. Yet she knew if she pretended to be ill and went home early, Nat would come after her to check that she was all right.

  Only she wasn’t all right, hadn’t felt all right since the mugging, not because of the attack, but because of Nat, comforting her, helping her, staying with her – and reminding her of feelings she’d not experienced for many years.

  She locked her handbag inside the cupboard and tried to settle to work. There was always plenty to do. But she couldn’t concentrate, kept watching the old-fashioned wall clock whose fingers were jerking round inexorably towards one o’clock.

  At half past twelve, she heard his car and froze, even though she knew it was silly to be afraid of Nat. She couldn’t move, could only wait for him to come into the office.

  He stopped in the doorway and stared at her across the room. ‘Oh, Linda. My dear, you look like someone waiting for the executioner. Am I that frightening?’

  The warmth of his voice, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled at her, made her fears seem suddenly foolish.

  ‘No. It’s not you, Nat. It’s me.’

  ‘Time you started living again, don’t you think? I’ve waited long enough for you to come to life. I’m lonely, Linda. And so are you, I think.’

  He moved over, took her hand and pulled her round the desk. He gave her a quick
hug, not letting go of her hand as he took a step backwards again. ‘Any messages that can’t wait?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Good. Let’s go and have a long, leisurely lunch. We deserve it.’

  He kept hold of her hand all the way to the car and she found she liked the warmth of his touch just as much as the familiar warmth of his smile.

  It had been a long time since she’d wanted a man to touch her. Dare she get involved with Nat?

  She smiled at that thought. Did she have a choice?

  Although she knew Nat would leave her alone if she said she wasn’t interested, she couldn’t lie to him. She did fancy him – very much – scary though that was.

  Nine

  Beth spent most of the day at the office, catching up on paperwork, then left part way through the afternoon. She’d told Sandy about her daughter coming back into her life, and her friend had been happy to cover for her at work.

  On the way home she called at a rather nice delicatessen that had opened recently to buy a few bits and pieces for tea, agonizing over what would please a three-year-old boy.

  Next door was a toy shop and she lingered over the displays, wondering what to buy for Mikey. In the end the assistant helped her choose a book popular with children that age, one with brightly-coloured pictures of children playing various games. She could change it if her grandson already had a copy.

  As the time for Jo’s visit drew nearer, Beth couldn’t concentrate on anything. The food was ready, the flat immaculate and she’d changed into casual clothes, not wanting to make Jo feel shabby. She’d noticed how well-worn her daughter’s clothes were.

  She began pacing up and down her living room, going to stare out of the window every few minutes, even though she knew it was too soon for them to arrive.

  When she finally saw a young woman coming towards the flats pushing a child’s buggy, she froze, suddenly terrified this might go wrong, that she might lose her daughter all over again.

  She didn’t think she could bear that.

  ‘Don’t be stupid!’ she said aloud. It seemed too impersonal to let Jo ring the doorbell and speak to her on the intercom, so she snatched her keys. Since the lift was being used, she ran down the three flights of stairs to the foyer to let them in, arriving slightly breathless.