‘Yes…Christopher telephoned me’ Harriet says abruptly as Kester tries to explain the reason for his visit.
‘Dad, telephoned you?’ Kester groans ‘I really wanted to speak to you first before he mentioned it’
‘Why could you not come to me and let me know what you were about to do?’ she asks, her chin jutting.
‘I am…I’m here now’
‘I meant about going to your father’
‘Firstly because…I believe it is going to affect him most of all. I owed him that courtesy…’ Kester says, taking the stopper from a decanter ‘And secondly, it was on the way back from seeing this Jack Beauchamp, a circular trip. It would have made no sense to come back here and then have to go out again to see him’
‘And I could not have come with you?’ Harriet says imperiously ‘We should have seen him together’
‘Harriet…’ Kester starts with a barely concealed sigh ‘I think you’re being a little unreasonable. This was between me and my father..’
‘Yes…my son! I should have been told…told once you had made that decision’ Harriet insists with an indignant toss of her head.
‘Harriet…I was in no state for a rational talk. This wasn’t just about affairs that my mother might or might not have had. This was something a lot bigger….something that happened to me. The only thing in my head was getting to Jack Beauchamp as soon as I could’
‘Hmm….and why did the man not talk to me?’ Harriet continues as if she has not heard him ‘He was here under false pretences. It was ME he was looking for according to Mrs. Applewhite, not you’
‘Harriet…what on earth is the matter with you?’ Kester says irritably. ‘Yes, he was looking for you…because you would know where I was. It’s ME he wanted to get some sort of permission from. Besides….you sent him away with a flea in his ear according to him AND Jeannie, so the question is yours to answer. He didn’t talk to you because you refused to speak with him. It was Jeannie who told him I lived here too and he waited for me’
‘Hah!’
‘And what is that supposed to mean?’
‘Mrs. Brown is becoming rather too involved in our personal affairs’ Harriet sniffs haughtily.
Kester groans and turns from the sideboard to where Harriet sits in her armchair waiting for her glass of sherry ‘Harriet, if you can’t be honest with yourself, be honest with me. I know you have had a falling out and I know that Jeannie is on the point of leaving. What I’m hearing now is you acting as if it is both your idea and that you are glad about it. If that is true, then I am very disappointed in you’
‘Who are you to say whether or not you are disappointed in me?’ she asks, taking her glass with a curt nod and looking pointedly at her watch and then at Kester’s glass.
‘Someone who cares very much what goes on in your life and who knows Jeannie to be a friend’ Kester says, sitting down and taking a swallow from his whiskey. ‘I also know that Jeannie is refusing your apologies, so please…don’t take me for a fool. Her leaving is not your idea and not something that you want either…despite what you said to her’
‘You know?’ Harriet says archly.
‘Yes, I do’
‘Then you also know about…’ Her back straightens defensively.
‘About you having upset Helen in some way, yes I do but how that came about or what was said, Helen refuses to say. She has accepted your apology and as far as she is concerned, as far as we are both concerned, that’s an end to it. What I don’t want’ Kester says, a finger pointing from the hand that holds his glass ‘Is for you to pretend that all this with Jeannie doesn’t bother you at all. I know different. Jeannie has been a good friend to you’ He takes another sip.
Harriet stares into her glass. ‘I know…and I have apologised most sincerely for what happened’
‘It must have upset her a great deal, telling her to leave’
‘I think it was more to do with what passed between Helen and me. Helen can and has forgiven me…but it would seem that Jeannie cannot’ she hides her hurt in a sharp retort.
‘Without knowing what was said, I can’t comment on that’ Kester gets up to help himself to more whiskey and decides to take the decanter back to the sofa with him. ‘Would you like me to speak to her?’ he offers.
‘I hardly think…’ Harriet eyes the decanter.
‘Leave it with me…’ he says, raising his glass and drinking. He wipes his lips and sets the glass gown on the lamp table beside him. ‘Now…getting back to what I’m about to do. I know it is going to cause a lot of upset…but I hope you will understand my reasons for wanting to go ahead’
‘Oh, I understand your reasons and if Christopher has no objections, then neither do I’ Harriet says firmly.
‘It’s more than that. Dad didn’t mention anything else?’ Kester asks carefully.
‘He told me that your mother mistreated you…but I knew that to be true otherwise I would not have brought you here’
‘It was worse than even you would have suspected. Had you known what I do now, what I have remembered, it wouldn’t just have been a case of bringing me here, you would have notified Social Services and the police. It wasn’t mistreatment, it was out and out abuse’
‘Oh, Kester’ Harriet puts her hand to her throat.
‘I don’t want you feeling that you have let me down in any way’ Kester stretches his hand across the space between them and holds her hand. ‘I didn’t remember any of it until recently…so you have nothing to reproach yourself for’ he says softly ‘Things are going to come out that will shock and distress you but remember that for me, it’s in the past. I’m dealing with the memory of it but if I hadn’t had your love and understanding for the whole of my life, I may not have been able to do that. Okay?’ He smiles fondly and slips from his seat to kneel at her feet. ‘It could get very nasty…I want you to be prepared for that too’
‘Nastier than it has been already?’ Harriet blinks back tears, seeing him adopt the same position as he had done many times as a child. She maintains the illusion by stroking the hair at the side of his head.
‘Quite probably. She is not going to take this lying down, you know that’ He dips his head.
‘Kester…’ she says, lifting his chin and brushing her thumb against his cheek. ‘I have waited so long to be able to successfully put that woman in her place that I am prepared to fight tooth and nail to make sure that comes about’
‘You are?’
‘I have never been one to shirk my responsibilities and as I see it, my responsibility now is to ensure that she is shown to be the woman she truly is…and if, in some small way, that makes up for whatever you went through, then I shall at long last be satisfied’ She leans forward and plants a kiss on his forehead.
Tawny House, Manor Road
Chapter Sixteen
Orchard Barn
‘Chris?’ Lynn wanders from the sitting room, across the hall and into the kitchen. ‘Where have you got to?’ She says to herself and turns and walks back again, pausing at the bottom of the stairs. ‘Chris, are you up there?’ she calls, shrugging when she gets no answer. She pads through the dining room and into the conservatory to look out over the garden. She hears the front door open and slam and heavy footsteps running up the stairs.
‘Chris? I’m down here’ she calls, walking back into the hall.
‘Shit!’ Chris growls.
‘Well, thank you’
‘I thought you said you’d decided to have a bath instead?’ He flushes guiltily at being caught out.
‘I did and I have….but what’s that got to do with anything? Where have you been?’
‘I thought I’d have time…’
‘To do what?’ She tries to peer around him to where his hands are hidden behind his back.
‘I didn’t think you’d realise I was gone’
‘And you didn’t think I’d be worried when I realised you had?’ Lynn cocks an eyebrow. ‘It’s a good job I didn’t have a funny turn in the bath or something’ she says coolly.
Chris blanches. ‘You didn’t, did you?’
‘No…but I’ve gone from you standing guard and watching my every move to being abandoned in thirty seconds flat!’ Lynn digs her hands in the pockets of her robe and scowls.
‘I didn’t abandon you…I..er..had to go out’
‘For what? What have you got behind your back and why were you rushing upstairs with whatever it is?’
‘Because that’s where I thought you’d be’
‘Well, I’m not. I’m here…so will you please come down and tell me what’s going on’
‘What’s going on…is an apology’
‘For?’
‘Lynn…I’m sorry’ Chris says as he walks down the stairs.
‘It didn’t matter’ Lynne face softens ‘I told you that’
‘No….for taking you for granted…taking it for granted…when it might not be what you want at all’ He brings his hands from behind his back and presents her with a single unwrapped red rose. ‘A peace offering, it’s not the best of specimens but it was the best I could do in the time…they don’t have a great selection down that…’
‘Chr-is!’ Lynn scolds and takes the rose.
‘Sorry…yes….I’m rambling…bit nervous’
‘You?’ She looks up in surprise.
‘Yes…because I need to know…I need to know and I’m afraid I’m not going to like what you’re going to say. I assumed it would happen…which was arrogant to say the least…but we do fit, don’t we? Like two pieces of the same puzzle…so I took it for granted that…when I am free…that’s what would happen’
‘Hmm?’ Lynn concentrates on smelling the bloom.
‘I shouldn’t have done that’
‘No?’ Her eyebrows raise questioningly.
‘No. Just because I am here now….and just because you are having my baby, it doesn’t necessarily follow that….’
‘Hmm?’ She gently touches the petals and brings the rose to her nose again to hide her efforts in stifling a smile.
‘That you wouldn’t want things to carry on as they are’
‘True’ she shrugs nonchalantly.
Chris combs his fingers through his hair and stands with his hand at the back of his head, eyeing her awkwardly. ‘Being with you after…after her…it’s like getting into a warm bath after freezing your cods off on set’
‘Nice analogy’ Lynn rolls her eyes.
‘I’m happy…Happier than I’ve ever been. I presumed you were. I shouldn’t have taken that as read’
‘Perhaps not’ she confirms, pressing her lips together.
‘You’re making me suffer aren’t you?’ Chris dimples and looks at her from under lowered brows.
‘Uh huh’
‘Lynn…I am in love for the first time in my life’
‘With me?’
‘Of course with you….You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?’
‘Uh uh’ She shakes her head, her eyes glittering with amusement.
‘Well, I am…in love that is….an old man who has no right…shouldn’t have any expectation….’
‘You’re not old’ she disputes.
‘A lot older than you’
‘Not that much’
‘Shush up’ Chris grumbles, a film of perspiration forming on his top lip.
‘Pardon?’
‘Help me out here’ he pleads.
‘No way’
‘I’ve got more baggage than a left luggage office, bugger all to offer you except what we’ve got already…but I do love you’ he says desperately ‘and nothing will change that, no matter what your answer is’
‘Answer?’ Lynn tilts her head inquiringly.
‘Yes, answer’ He blows a breath upwards to cool his face.
‘Chris…would you be happier with a script?’ Lynn teases.
‘No…I can do this’ he replies, holding up a hand for silence.
‘Then can you get on with it? …I’m getting cold. I only popped down to…’
‘You’re cold?’ Chris appears to notice her robe for the first time. ‘God, I’m sorry…yes…go and get dressed…. We can do this later’
‘No we can-NOT’ Lynn says firmly, folding her arms.
‘Are you winding me up again?’
‘Would I?’
‘Yes…yes, you would’
‘Hmm’ Her eyes narrow.
‘Is it enough?’
‘Is what enough?’
‘Enough that I love you…does it make up for all the other crap you’d have to take on if we got married?’
Lynn laughs. ‘Is that your idea of a proposal?’
‘Noooo!’ Chris groans and throws his hands in the air and turns away. ’Hell…that’s not what I meant to say at all!’
‘Chris, look at me…’ Lynn clicks her fingers until she has his full attention. ‘Right…say after me…’Lynn you are the best thing since sliced bread’
‘You are’ Chris nods.
‘No….Say it’
‘I will not, it’s daft’ he grins and lifts a finger to indicate she should wait. ‘I’ve got it now, okay?’
‘Okay’
Chris clears his throat and takes a deep breath. ‘Everything I’ve said before…I do love you…and now I know what it is to be in love, I don’t want it to end. I am happier now than I have ever been, despite everything..’
‘Despite everything?’
‘Don’t interrupt. You know what I mean….All I could see in the future was me and you together…and I took it for granted that that would involve marriage…I know I shouldn’t have done. I saw the winning post and was there before I’d run the race….Lynn…it can’t be soon…and it’s not going to happen before…’
‘God, you don’t half waffle’ Lynn mutters.
‘I know…I do when I’m nervous…but shush a sec…Lynn…will you marry me? Will you? Say yes…please…’ He moves to put his arms around her. ‘Bugger!’ he swears as the doorbell rings and points an outstretched arm at her as he goes to answer the door. ‘Stay there, don’t move’
‘But, Chris, I’m standing here in my dressing gown!’ Lynn protests.
‘I don’t care…you stay there’ he points his finger more emphatically.
‘I care..’ she pouts as Chris swings the door open.
‘Good afternoon Mister James’
‘Inspector Gray…er..yes…wait a minute!’ Chris directs his pointing finger at him instead. ‘…I’ve got something important going on’
‘And this is rather important too…’ The Inspector looks bemused.
‘Wait damn you!’ Chris snaps and leaves him standing on the doorstep while he hurries back to Lynn ‘Lynn…will you…will you please…will you marry me? When all this crap is over and I’m a free man…will you marry me?’
‘Chris!’ Lynn hisses ‘You’ve just given him yet another motive’ She glances at the Inspector.
‘Right now, I don’t care a lot. Come on. I’ll even visit you in the nick’ he jokes
‘Not funny’ Lynn huffs.
‘If it’s any help…it won’t be coming to that…not now’ Inspector Gray beams from the threshold.
They both turn. ‘It won’t?’ they chorus.
‘No, sir’ he says, coming into the hall and turning to close the front door behind him. ‘It won’t…’ He nods a greeting ‘Miss Newsome…Lynn…’ He jerks his head towards Chris and winks. ‘The man’s waiting for an answer you know’
