Millionaire's Woman

by Helen Brooks

  ‘Are you all right, Kate?’

  ‘I’m fine. Sorry I gave you such a fright. I’d promise not to do it again, if I could.’

  ‘I don’t mind! I was just worried you might fall on the stairs.’

  ‘It’s never happened yet,’ Kate assured her briskly. ‘Right then, your turn in the bath.’

  There was much discussion as to the appropriate wear for lunch at Mill House but knowing that Jo would inevitably spend time with Bran in the garden, Kate advised jeans and sweaters again for both of them and for Jo a chunky navy fleece with a hood in case it was chilly later on. Jo spent the morning making more cakes for Jack and, once these were iced and carefully packed in a plastic box, she begged to take off for Mill House.

  ‘Jack won’t mind if we’re a bit early, will he?’

  ‘You just want to see Bran,’ accused Kate, laughing.

  ‘True.’ Jo’s eyes danced. ‘But you want to see Jack!’

  When Kate turned down the drive to Mill House Jo’s eyes were like saucers.

  ‘Gosh, you were right,’ she breathed in awe. ‘It is a big garden.’ She bit her lip, frowning.

  ‘What’s up now?’

  Jo’s knuckles were white as she gripped the box of cakes. ‘If Jack is this rich I can’t give him cakes as a present.’

  ‘I can assure you,’ said Kate with conviction, ‘that he would like nothing better. Anyone can go out and buy something—like me. But you made him something with your own fair hands. Mega Brownie points for that, believe me.’

  Jo relaxed, then said ‘Wow!’ as the house came into view. ‘What a place—oh, and look, there’s Mr Logan with Bran.’ She put the box on the floor and was out of the car almost before Kate switched off the ignition. ‘Hi, Mr Logan, hello Bran.’

  Tom helped Kate from the car, smiling as he watched his granddaughter frolicking with the excited dog. ‘How are you, my love?’

  ‘As well as can be expected,’ she said wryly, kissing him, then smiled radiantly as Jack came out of the house, a look in his eyes that warmed her right down to her toes. ‘Good morning. How are you?’

  ‘All the better for seeing you,’ he assured her, and put his arm round her as he kissed her.

  Joanna abandoned the dog to run to him. ‘Hello, Jack. Happy Easter.’

  ‘Likewise. Do I get a kiss too?’

  Joanna promptly obliged, then turned to Tom Logan and reached up to kiss his cheek. ‘Happy Easter, Mr Logan.’

  ‘And a Happy Easter to you, sweetheart,’ he said, clearing his throat. ‘Let’s go inside. Molly wants to meet you. It’s all right, Jo,’ he added, eyes twinkling. ‘Bran can come too.’

  ‘I’ve got to get something from the car first,’ she said and ran to get her box of cakes. ‘It’s a little Easter present for you, Jack,’ she said diffidently, taking off the lid.

  He stood very still for a moment as he saw the cakes. Then he handed the box to his father and hugged Jo close. ‘Thank you, pet. That’s the nicest present I’ve ever had.’

  ‘It certainly puts mine in the shade,’ said Kate, resigned, and handed him one of the carrier bags she took out of the car. ‘I’ve got one for you too, Tom.’

  There was much laughter as the men received large chocolate Easter eggs with Tom written on one in white icing, and Jack on the other.

  ‘But you have to share with me,’ warned Kate. ‘I love chocolate.’

  ‘She certainly does,’ said Jo as they went into the house. ‘Kate ate more than half the box you gave me, Jack.’

  ‘It’s amazing she stays so slim,’ he said, shaking his head, and smiled as he went into the kitchen. ‘Molly, you’ve met Kate of course, but this is Joanna.’

  ‘Hello, Miss Durant.’ Molly wiped her hand on her apron and held it out, smiling. ‘Hi, Joanna. I hear you went to a party last night. Did you have a good time?’

  ‘I certainly did. Nice to meet you, Molly.’ Jo shook the hand and sniffed the air. ‘Wow! Something smells wonderful.’

  ‘I hope you like turkey.’ Molly turned to Kate. ‘I’ve laid the table in here because the boss said it would be easier for you. Everything’s ready. The turkey’s in the warming oven with the vegetables, but the gravy should be heated through before you dish up.’

  Kate handed her a carrier bag. ‘Thank you, Molly. This is for you—just a little joke present to mark the occasion.’

  The girl flushed with pleasure, stammering her thanks as she received a chocolate egg inscribed Molly and, after instructions about ice cream in the freezer and a plate of treats for Bran in the refrigerator, the young cook wished them all a happy day and went home to her family.

  ‘I’ll show you the rest of the house after lunch, Jo,’ said Jack, ‘but I think we’d better eat now if the meal’s ready.’

  ‘You pour the wine, and I’ll carve,’ said his father, as Kate turned the heat up under the gravy. He took the turkey from the warming oven and put it on the table, then handed the oven gloves to Joanna. ‘You can put the vegetable dishes on the table, love.’

  Kate had been utterly convinced beforehand that she wouldn’t be able to eat a thing, but in Jack’s large, welcoming kitchen, with Jo so obviously enjoying herself, she relaxed and tucked into turkey and stuffing and roast potatoes with as much gusto as her child, who obviously considered Bran’s presence in his bed the crowning touch to the meal.

  ‘So tell us about the party,’ said Jack, when Jo was into a second helping.

  ‘It was just brilliant! In London I always felt like the odd one out at neighbours’ parties because I’m away at school. But Josh and Leo made sure I knew everyone right from the start and they were all friendly so I had a really good time.’

  ‘Did you dance a lot?’ asked Tom.

  ‘They don’t dance, Dad,’ teased Jack. ‘They just prance around together.’

  ‘We do dance,’ said Jo indignantly, and smiled at him sweetly. ‘It’s just different from the minuets and things they did in your day.’

  ‘Toucheé,’ chuckled Tom Logan as Jack threw back his head and laughed, utterly delighted with his daughter.

  ‘Cheeky!’ said Kate, grinning.

  ‘Josh and Leo asked if I could go to the cinema with them on Tuesday,’ announced Jo, with a sideways look at Kate. ‘Mrs Carey will bring them in and their dad will collect them from Park Crescent afterwards. If that’s all right with you?’

  Not daring to meet Jack’s eyes, Kate agreed that it would be perfectly all right.

  ‘Thanks, Kate. I met lots of people last night but I like Josh and Leo best,’ added Jo. ‘Because they’re adopted, like me, I suppose. Did you know Mrs Carey was a twin?’ she asked Jack.

  ‘No—no, I didn’t,’ he said, and swallowed the rest of his wine.

  ‘They prefer one of the parents to be a twin if they want to adopt twins,’ Joanna informed the company at large.

  Kate exchanged a wild look with Jack. ‘Whendid Elizabeth tell you that you were adopted, Jo?’

  ‘A long time ago, when I was in nursery school. She said other mothers had to take whatever baby God gave them, but she’d chosen me because I was special.’ Joanna eyed her in surprise. ‘You must have known about it.’

  ‘Yes,’ managed Kate. ‘I knew. But Elizabeth never mentioned that she’d told you.’

  Tom Logan shifted uneasily in his seat, and Kate smiled at him reassuringly. ‘You look tired.’

  ‘I didn’t sleep much last night. Overdid the golf again,’ he said unconvincingly.

  ‘Jo didn’t sleep enough last night, either,’ said Kate as she got up to clear away plates. ‘She found me walking in my sleep, so we had tea and hot chocolate in the middle of the night to recover.’

  ‘It was all right,’ said Jo, picking up a vegetable dish. ‘Mummy told me that Kate did that sometimes, so I knew what was happening.’

  ‘Pretty scary for you, just the same,’ said Jack, meeting Kate’s eyes.

  ‘I’ve got something for you, Joanna,’ said Tom, getting up. ‘Come
with me—yes, Bran, you can come too.’

  Jo went with him eagerly, the dog padding after her, and Jack got up and caught Kate to him.

  ‘I’ll send Dad home and then we sit down with Jo. If she knows she’s adopted she might as well know the rest of it.’

  Kate put her head on his shoulder. ‘You’re right. I’ll just load the dishwasher and clear up, then maybe we can walk in the garden. It might be easier outside.’

  ‘It won’t be easy anywhere,’ said Jack heavily, ‘but it has to be done.’

  Between them they managed to make the kitchen tidy by the time Jo came back with Tom, carrying a huge Easter egg. She put it on the table and went straight to Kate to throw her arms round her, burrowing her face into her shoulder.

  ‘I showed Joanna some photographs,’ said Tom, his eyes meeting his son’s. ‘But I left the explanations to you.’

  ‘Dad-—’ began Jack wrathfully, but Kate shook her head.

  ‘I’m glad you did, Tom.’ She put Jo away from her and looked into the dazed elfin face searchingly. ‘Jack and I need to tell you a story, darling, to explain why you look just like the girl in the photograph.’ Kate looked up. ‘You needn’t stay, Tom.’

  ‘I started it, so of course I’ll stay.’

  ‘Then let’s take Bran out into the garden,’ suggested Jack. ‘We’ll make our confessions in the sunshine.’

  ‘Confessions?’ said Jo fearfully, looking from his face to Kate’s.

  Once outside the four of them paced along the gravel paths and around the millpond while Kate told Joanna her story. When she came to the part where she heard that Jack had married someone else, he took over and told his daughter how he’d been a fool to even look at another woman, let alone get into a situation where he felt he had to marry her.

  ‘But you had to take responsibility for the baby,’ said Jo, going straight to the heart of the matter.

  ‘Exactly. But not only was the baby born too soon to survive, it turned out that I couldn’t have been the father, so Dawn agreed to a divorce.’

  ‘But what happened to your baby, Kate?’ asked Jo. Then, seeing the look in Kate’s eyes, she breathed in sharply, an incredulous look dawning in her own. ‘Oh. You mean—’ She swallowed hard. ‘I’m the baby?’

  ‘Yes,darling. Elizabeth persuaded me to let her bring you up because I was on my own and was quite ill for a while after you were born. Also I had to work and she could look after you better than I could.’ Kate took in a deep, shaky breath. ‘But it broke my heart to part with you.’

  ‘And you look like the girl in the photograph because she’s my mother,’ said Jack with such obvious difficulty that Jo’s lip trembled in sympathy. ‘I’ve only just found out that I have the incredible luck to have a daughter, but Kate couldn’t bear to tell you the truth because you’re still grieving for the only parents you ever knew.’

  Joanna stopped by a carved stone bench. ‘I need to sit down.’

  ‘Me, too,’ said Tom, and took her hand to draw her down beside him.

  Joanna fondled Bran as she looked up at Kate and Jack, who were leaning against each other for support. ‘You know, I was going to look for my real mother one day, as long as you didn’t mind, Kate.’

  ‘Now you don’t have to,’ said her grandfather.

  ‘No, I don’t.’ Jo was silent for a long time, but at last she stood up and flung her arms round Kate. ‘Now I know why I’ve always felt so close to you. But I used to try and hide it so Mum wouldn’t be hurt.’

  ‘And I tried my best just to be Auntie,’ said Kate unsteadily, ‘but it was so hard. I could hardly bear it sometimes. I hated it when they sent you away to school. The day they took you off to Manor House I cried my eyes out.’

  Jack had been very silent during this exchange, but Kate could feel the tension in his body. She was about to put him out of his misery and ask Joanna how she felt about him when her child detached herself and held out her hand to him.

  ‘I’ve only just met you so this is pretty weird.’ She smiled shakily. ‘But I’m sure I’ll get used to you as my father pretty quickly now I know.’

  ‘If this was a film,’ said Kate, trying to introduce a lighter note into the situation since Jack was near to tears as he grasped his daughter’s hand, ‘you would run into his arms and cry “Daddy!”’

  To her relief Jo chuckled. ‘You’ve been watching too many TV movies.’

  ‘I’d like it very much, just the same,’ said Jack huskily.

  ‘OK then,’ said Jo, smiling at him, and stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek as he put his arms round her and hugged her close. ‘So what do I call you now?’ she asked.

  ‘Jack works for me,’ he said promptly.

  Jo nodded. ‘Me, too.’ She turned to Kate questioningly.

  ‘I’m still the same old Kate, darling.’

  ‘But I,’ said Tom Logan, getting up from his seat, ‘will only answer to Grandpa. OK?’

  ‘OK,’ agreed Jo, looked dazed. ‘Gosh, this is all a lot to take in.’

  ‘Let’s go inside,’ said Jack. ‘Bran needs his dinner.’

  ‘And I need some tea,’ said Kate, suddenly weak at the knees from excess of emotion. ‘While I enjoy a cup or two with Grandpa in front of the fire, perhaps you’d like to show Jo round the house, Jack.’

  He assured her he was only too delighted and, after Jo had the pleasure of giving Bran his meal she went off with Jack. Kate watched them go with eyes which suddenly filled with tears. Tom Logan put his arms round her.

  ‘There, there, darling, no need to cry. I was quite right, you know. Joanna is a mature enough child to understand.’

  ‘And to forgive?’

  ‘She doesn’t see any need for forgiveness, Kate.’

  Kate drew away to blow her nose and smiled up at him, comforted. ‘I hope you’re right.’

  ‘Of course I am. Now, you make the tea and I’ll carry the tray.’

  When Jack and Joanna joined them in the living room Tom Logan smiled at them.

  ‘Sorry, but I couldn’t wait for you; I started on the cakes.’

  ‘Then I’d better get stuck in before they vanish,’ said Jack, filling a plate.

  ‘What did you think of the house, Jo?’ asked Kate.

  Jo looked up from stroking Bran. ‘It’s fantastic. Jack said he did it all himself.’

  ‘I had some help,’ he admitted, grinning, and sat down by Kate. ‘But the concept, the design and the interior décor is all my own work. I used to haunt the place while it was being restored. Some of the brickies and carpenters thought I was a pain in the neck.’

  ‘But you had to see it was done properly,’ said Jo in approval. ‘Just like Kate and her house.’

  Jack nodded. ‘Talking of which, Jo, I think you ought to know that I want to marry Kate as soon as possible.’

  ‘I have to agree because I’ve already turned him down twice,’ Kate explained. ‘He might never ask me again.’ She smiled at Jo. ‘Are you going to congratulate us?’

  ‘Pretty weird, congratulating my own parents!’ Jo smiled and bent to kiss Kate and Jack in turn. ‘But I do—’ She frowned suddenly. ‘Does this mean you’re going to sell your house, Kate, and come to live here?’

  ‘Close,’ said Kate. ‘We’re both coming to live here, if that’s all right with you, Jo, and I’m going to make Aunt Edith’s house over to you. If you’re agreeable we’ll let it out and you can have the rent money for your college fund. Do you want some tea?’

  ‘No, thanks,’ said Jo, stunned, and looked at Jack. ‘Do you have a Coke or something?’

  ‘Molly stocked me up, so I’m sure she thought of it. Go and forage in the kitchen, help yourself.’

  ‘I’ll come with you, Jo,’ said Tom, and laughed. ‘Look, Bran’s coming too. You’ve made a hit there, love.’

  When they were alone Kate turned to Jack anxiously. ‘How do you feel?’

  ‘Fantastic.’ He let out a deep breath. ‘I just want to sit here with you and fall apart wi
th relief. She took it so well, didn’t she?’

  ‘Amazingly well.’

  Jack rubbed his cheek against her hair. ‘How do you think she’ll react if I suggest adopting her officially?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. If she wants to stay Joanna Sutton, you may have to live with that.’

  ‘I can do it. At this moment in time I can do anything,’ he said, and turned her face up to his to kiss her.

  ‘Oops, don’t look, Bran!’ said Joanna, interrupting them. ‘Be careful, Grandpa,’ she warned, turning to Tom. ‘Make sure you knock on doors from now on.’

  He laughed and ruffled her hair. ‘I had plenty of practice at that when they were young, believe me!’

  ‘Right,’ said Jack, getting up. ‘Now we are all present again I have a certain omission to make good. Everyone received a present today except Kate.’ He took a box from his pocket and went down on one knee in front of her. ‘Here we go again. For the third time of asking, Katherine Margaret Durant, will you be my wife?’

  ‘Oh, yes, please,’ she said, so fervently Joanna giggled.

  ‘Don’t try to give it back again,’ said Jack sternly as he slid his mother’s ring on Kate’s finger.

  ‘No chance,’ she assured him and waggled her fingers at Jo as she bent to examine the ring. ‘This belonged to your grandmother—the girl in the photograph.’

  ‘It’s so pretty! I don’t know how you could bear to part with it last time,’ said Jo, examining the posy of diamonds, and smiled at Jack. ‘My name’s Margaret, too.’

  His eyes flew to Kate who nodded. ‘I told you I laid down the law about the names. So she is Joanna, which is the nearest I could get to your baptismal name of John, and Margaret after your mother.’

  Seeing that his son was momentarily deprived of words, Tom Logan blew his nose loudly. ‘Right then. Now Joanna knows the truth, when are you two going to tie the knot?’

  ‘I hadn’t thought that far,’ said Kate, eying her daughter uneasily.

  ‘I had,’ said Jack with feeling.

  ‘If you get a special licence,’ said Jo matter-of-factly, ‘you could get married just before I go back to school, then you wouldn’t have to worry about me while you were away on your honeymoon.’ She grinned broadly as her parents stared at her open-mouthed. ‘You’re not getting any younger, so why hang about?’