Relatively Innocent, page 25
part #1 of Colchester Law World Book 3 Series
But how to answer Cassandra’s query?
“Well neither do you say anything about your parents.”
“Yes but mine are both dead. Short life but a happy one seems to be my family motto. And what about Tony’s family? They must be thrilled too!”
Thus Sarah was spared imparting any information about her less than successful relationship with her parents, or the slightly odd fact that she’d actually taken this last few weeks to going to their house and sitting in her car nearby and just watching their comings and goings. She was never actually tempted to go and knock on the door. As long as she left it like this, she could imagine a possible loving reunion, a welcoming home of the lost daughter, not a recriminatory haranguing, an admonitory tirade. Having a child of one’s own, she reflected, did odd things to one, allowed soppiness to enter where hardness and self protection had previously resided. She would for now make do with her dreams.
“Sorry? What did you just say?” she asked Cassandra.
“Tony’s family?”
“Oh yes. They’re delighted. We’ve been several times. She’s apparently hoped for ages, his mum, that Tony would settle down. I suppose it was my fault he didn’t really.”
Tony’s mum was terrific. The most forgiving person in the world. Sarah couldn’t stop agonising about her first meeting with her when she’d actually told her to piss off! How could she have? The woman now apparently loved her all the same. It brought tears to her eyes just thinking about it. Emotions, deep and soft and even, seemed to be not far below the surface in almost any situation she encountered these days.
For some reason she couldn’t fathom, she found herself flinging her arms around Cassandra’s scrawny neck and weeping uncontrollably into her Embassy Regal perfumed, permed, henna’d hair. It was like caressing a straw bale that had been dipped in red paint and then left in a pub for several weeks before the smoking ban had been introduced.
They were back inside in the hallway. “There, there,” said Cassandra, casting about over Sarah’s shoulder at the expensive fixtures and fittings and picturing the extensive grounds they had meandered through. Some women did fall on their feet!
“WELL I’M SURE someone will want to buy your place soon even if the present lot back out.”
Sarah and Cassandra were putting away huge the Subway style sandwiches Sarah had made and filled with just about everything. And Cassandra was gulping large glasses of Chardonnay to help hers down.
“I don’t know. Naylor’s place is up for sale too and that’s not selling either. And he hasn’t had any illegal work done on his property.”
“No. He’s just gone out and caused mayhem and frightened little girls out of their wits and ….”
“Yes but buyers don’t know about that.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll be OK!”
“It must be a big relief to have those charges against you dropped. Especially now you’re in the family way. Going to that lab for finger printing was so exciting though. It was like something out of CSI. Ooh that dreamy Spanish doctor. He could take my temperature any time. D’you know I rather got the impression he might well have accepted if I’d offered.”
“His name wasn’t Carlos by any chance was it?”
“Yeah. Actually it was. Oh. I think I hear Duncan coming back.”
And indeed there was a whirring of wheels and a crunching of gears faintly audible and Duncan’s knowing, handsome face soon presented itself at the back door, a smile half playing these days about his lips.
“Thank you Duncan,” said Sarah a little emotionally. “You’re a miracle-worker.”
“Oh,” he looked embarrassed but pleased, “I just try to bring light where there’s dark, feeling where there’s….nothing. You know.”
“Well. You’re amazing. Thank you. From both of us. Me and Tony.”
“Come on then,” said Cassandra. “I need to get out of here so I can have another fag or ten!”
CASSANDRA’S HOUSE sale wasn’t the only one running into problems. Alison’s buy to let sale had stalled and that had held up the sale of the matrimonial home because the mortgage lenders were the same for both properties, and the lenders had unexpectedly demanded that both mortgages had to be discharged at the same time. As the lenders were entitled to do. Otherwise Tony's money could have paid off the mortgage debt on the matrimonial home.
Initially the tenants wanted to buy the house and that seemed like a good idea and much less hassle. But in the end they weren't able to secure the mortgage they needed. They tried for a massive reduction in the sale price but Alison couldn't let the house go for their offer price or it would disrupt all her calculations. Then the tenants got rather stroppy. They wouldn't discuss a leaving date and magically managed not to be available every time the agents wanted to show round prospective purchasers therefore Alison had to give them notice. Once it was vacant, the house had to be subjected to a major clean up and some decorating before it could attract a buyer quickly.
All this took about ten weeks and during that time Alison lost the sale of the matrimonial home. Everything was back on track again by the end of May but that only left six more months before the baby was due and Alison and Andrew did so want to move and get settled before then. Andrew, who had taken to touring the streets in the areas of interest to them, noticed that the For Sale board was up again outside Cassandra’s house and they went for a viewing.
The mess in the house was quite breath-taking. The students did no housework or cleaning at all and Duncan, spending most of his spare time with his girlfriend, wasn't able to keep up with it. But at least the students were due to move out in July. The garage-bedsit was something else too and its lack of statutory consent would cause a headache for most buyers from the point of view of their mortgage lenders. Alison decided however that she could get over that problem in her position as the partner of a firm of solicitors, though she and Andrew still used the garage issue to make the lowest offer they dared. They were over the moon when Cassandra bit their hands off.
They crossed their fingers and hoped it could all be through within three or four months.
“TONY. WOULD YOU like to go for a little walk outside while the potatoes are cooking.”
“Of course my darling.” Sarah had become accustomed again to all the terms of endearment he habitually used and found it incredible that they had previously so irritated her.
“Come on then. Boots on.” He sat her down near the back door and pulled on her wellies then his own.
It was a warm May evening and they walked hand in hand for a time enjoying the sunshine before plunging into the wood. It was that time of day when the birds were singing their hearts out, proclaiming their territories at the end of another day. Soon the dark would descend and it would go quiet and still.
They stopped in a clearing.
“Tony. I was thinking about going back to live at my old house.” Sarah was looking at a squirrel climbing up the vertical trunk of an oak tree, noting its spasmodic on-off gait and its rolling wave-like body and tail action. She didn't notice how pale Tony had grown. He let go of her hand.
“So. When were you thinking of doing that?” Something in his voice caught her attention and she looked at him. His face was deadly serious.
“What’s the matter Tony? Is there something wrong?”
“You’re going to leave me. I should say there’s something wrong. Yes.”
“No. No. Tony. How could you think that? I meant both of us. I mean I’m asking, not telling obviously. It depends if you want to. And not necessarily permanently. Just for a time. Oh Tony. I’m sorry I put it so badly.” And she put her arms round his middle and her head on his chest.
He breathed out, his fists unclenched, his heart started beating properly again and he put his arms around her.
Sarah saw that his eyes were full of tears. She bit her lip. She hadn't known he was quite so insecure. Well that probably made two of them. Whatever he said to her, she couldn’t and never would discount the possibility that her years of appalling behaviour towards him would cause him to turn against her one day. Or that, having at last secured her, he’d get sick of her and realise she wasn't what he wanted after all.
“Tony, maybe we should talk about this some time. You know. Try to convince the other that it’s permanent. That I’m never going to leave you and you won't leave me. You won't will you?” She looked up at him and he smiled softly down at her.
“No I won't and yes a talk would be good actually. I’ll go wherever you want. This house isn't very home-like. I’ve always felt it’s a bit like living in an ultra-modern hotel or on board an intergalactic space ship. I could certainly cope with a move to yours.”
“Oh. Well that’s great. I didn't think you’d probably want to. We’d better go in. The spuds’ll just about be done.”
“Right. We can discuss it over dinner and toast any decisions we make with the elderflower fizz I brought back with me.”
EPILOGUE
September
SARAH HAD BEEN searching high and low for weeks for a number of CDs and just couldn't find them anywhere. Now the baby was only a few weeks away, she’d unconsciously started nesting, fussing over things, trying to get things straight. Tony was highly amused and touched by this behaviour and they laughed about it together when he pointed out what was happening. But she still couldn't help doing it. She had a feeling she may have lent them to Cassandra. She knew Cassandra had left loads of stuff behind, not bothering to try to sell it all on ebay or get someone in to clear the house. Typical Cassandra. She was just lucky the new owners hadn't made a fuss about so much rubbish.
Duncan had moved the majority of the furniture worth having to the flat he was renting with his girlfriend. He had cleared and tidied up the main house itself and as soon as contracts had been exchanged, Cassandra had just packed up what she wanted from her garage-cum-bedsit and taken off to Thailand. Apparently property prices were ridiculously low there and it was possible to live very well on a shoestring.
The new owners had moved in next door a few days ago. Sarah knew it was the police officer DI Hunter and presumably his wife or girlfriend. Sarah hadn't got a good look at the wife/girlfriend during their move or earlier during their viewing and measuring up visits. She was pretty reluctant to go round there given her earlier arrests and interrogations. She didn't of course know that it was Andrew who had surreptitiously fed information to her solicitor Hugh which had led to the other neighbour Naylor being arrested and charged and the charges against her being dropped. Still less that the information that led to the investigation had come originally from DI Hunter’s wife/girlfriend.
But her urge to get things all sorted before the baby was born wouldn't let her ignore the possibility that her CDs and quite possibly some of her other stuff too was sitting next door in the garage-cum-bedsit.
ANDREW HAD HEARD someone knock on the door and was coming down to investigate. It was a rare day off for him. It was bedlam at the station recently with one incident after another. He was certainly going to take all of the paternity leave due to him when it started in a few weeks’ time. He had been upstairs, already in the process of decorating the main bedroom. He thought that when they’d got this house sorted out, he never wanted to see another paint brush ever again.
As he trotted down the stairs, he heard noise coming from the garage. It was the most unholy mess in there and they were still deciding whether to reinstate it as a garage, do a proper conversion into living accommodation or just leave it as it was, an annexe converted informally and without the proper statutory consents. He walked in on the two women. Both heavily pregnant. Standing staring silently at each other.
Eventually Alison said, “My sister. Andrew, I can't believe it, this is my sister.”
Sarah frowned, not taking in the words. “You’re the sales person aren't you?”
“The what?”
“I saw you the other day. Visiting my parents’ house. I thought you were selling something or canvassing for a political party or something like that. I don't know. You just looked quite official.”
“No. I’m their daughter. But they had to give me up for adoption as they were so young when I was born. I’ve only just made contact with them. I’ve seen photos of you all over the house.”
“Could I sit down,” said Sarah white as a sheet. Andrew hurried to place a chair next to her. Looking at them both together now, he wondered how he’d never noticed the likeness before. Similar height, similar small features. Same eye colour. Hair quite different now Alison had hers longer and high-lighted.
He supposed it was because he was so wrapped up in Alison, he saw something different than everyone else did. The things he loved about her wouldn't necessarily be obvious to anyone else. They weren't that clear to him either for that matter. He just knew there was some core her that he was irresistibly attracted to that you couldn't see or touch or hear but it was there. It wasn't really like a human or any other being at all. More of a theme, a current, a power. And he was sure now that it had made itself known to him over a decade ago, the impression of which had entered deep into him and remained there pulling him back to her. He would have to tell her all this some time.
But in the here and now and physical, someone had to say something. He said the first thing that came into his head:
“Er, when’s your baby due Sarah?”
“In about four weeks,” Sarah said quietly. She swallowed, wishing that Tony was here. He would know how to cope with this monumental news and support her through it.
“Oh almost the same as ours though we’re a bit behind you.”
“Sarah,” said Alison. “Sarah, my sister.” She had started to cry and had sat down as well. “Sarah.”
Sarah looked as though she might faint.
Oh God, thought Andrew. One in tears, the other catatonic. Let’s hope they don't both go into premature labour from the shock.
The man, he remembered, had been called Tony.
“Sarah, should we call Tony?”
“What?” said Sarah looking up at him. “Oh. Yes that’s a good idea.” She fumbled in her cardigan pocket for her phone, scrolled for a moment and hit call. She looked up at Andrew again.
“Would you mind talking to him. I feel sick.” She held the phone out with one hand and put her face in the other.
He quickly took the phone and it answered almost instantly.
“You OK Sarah?” said Tony.
“Actually it’s not Sarah. It’s….er….Andrew….DI Hunter.” He cut quickly into the bluster at the other end. “It’s all right. Sarah’s OK. She hasn’t been arrested or anything. It’s nothing to do with that. You’ve probably seen I’m your new neighbour. It’s just that there’s a bit of a situation here. It’s all right. Everyone’s all right. It’s just that we’ve just had some news that affects….us all really. I don't know if you could come back here.”
He walked out into the garden by the side door and told Tony briefly what had occurred.
“It’s an incredible coincidence that they should end up next door to each other like this….No there’s no mistake. I’m a hundred per cent certain….OK. See you soon. Er we’re next door in our garage.”
He wondered what he’d find when he went back in but there was no change. Alison was weeping silently and Sarah was staring into space open mouthed. Well at least no waters appeared to have broken. No sign of any contractions.
TONY WALKED INTO the garage and looked about him frowning at the state of it. He said hello to Alison and Andrew and went over and put his hand on Sarah’s shoulder. She placed her hand on top of his looking gratefully up at him.
“It’s good news isn't it?” he said to her smiling.
“I….yes I suppose so. I’m just overwhelmed. I had no idea. I knew there was someone, probably a girl, but I didn't know any more than that.”
“They told me,” said Alison tearfully, “that they’d never got over having to give me up, that it’s affected the whole of the rest of their lives. They were made to by their parents. She was only fourteen and he was fifteen. Her father wanted her to have an abortion but she was too far gone by the time anyone found out she was pregnant. So I suppose I’m lucky to be here at all. They know they weren’t very good parents to you. They’re desperate to see you Sarah and try to make it up.”
Andrew was stunned. She hadn't told him any of this. She hadn't said much at all since she’d made her first visit to her biological parents the day before yesterday, having been moved to make contact now she was having a baby of her own. She certainly hadn't said anything about a sister. He’d intended to have a proper chat with her about it as soon as he got at least a half day to relax and spend with her. But he’d been so tied up with work just now they’d barely had time to kiss each other goodnight the last two days and deliver a peck on each other’s cheek yesterday morning before he left to go to work. And today he was up early hoping to finish the majority of the master bedroom in just one day. Then at least they’d have a decent room to sleep in.
“Cousins,” said Alison, crying harder again. Everyone looked at her. “They’re going to be little cousins.”
At last the spell broke for Sarah and she smiled at Alison through her own tears. She looked at Alison.
“Sorry. What’s your name? I didn't catch it. My sister.” She, too, couldn't stop weeping now.
“Alison.”
“Well aren't you going to give your sister a hug,” said Tony. Wiping a tear away he helped Sarah up. Andrew put his hand under Alison’s arm and the two women walked the few paces towards each other, embraced and looked in amazement at each other, taking in every detail.
