Disputed Love

by Margaret Carr

  Then something soft and warm slid over her shoulder and she nearly screamed out in fright as Jack whispered, ‘Where are we, Belle? I’m frightened.’

  ‘So was I sweetheart, so was I. How long have you been standing there in the dark?’

  She switched on the bedside lamp.

  ‘For ages. I didn’t know if it was you.’

  ‘Of course it was me, silly. Who did you think it was?’

  ‘It’s all different, Belle. Where are we?’

  He climbed into the bed and Belle hugged him close.

  ‘We’re in London, with your daddy.’

  * * *

  In the morning, when Jeffrey knocked on Belle’s bedroom door, there was no reply. After several more knocks he went in meaning to tell her he couldn’t find Jack. He saw her lying with one arm protectively over the boy who was curled in close beside her. He stood there for several moments his eyes clouded with pain, then silently withdrew.

  Jack was still asleep when Belle woke and slipped quietly out of bed. She had a quick shower in the luxurious bathroom then dressed in a warm turquoise sweater, navy skirt and flat shoes. The kitchen was empty but a kettle whistled quietly on the stove and the delicious smell of fried bacon permeated the air.

  ‘Hungry?’ Jeffrey asked from behind her. ‘Jack not awake yet?’

  ‘Not yet. It will take him a while to settle again. He’s had so much upheaval in his young life I’m afraid to think what extra pressure another move will put on him. Where do you keep the coffee?’

  Jeffrey came around the table and, taking hold of her shoulders, urged her into a chair.

  ‘I’ll make you breakfast in a minute but first I want you to listen to what I have to say.’

  He moved over to the stove and stood with his back to it as he started to speak. The sleeves of his yellow checked shirt were rolled up above his elbows showing the strength of firm forearms. His hands were pushed down into the pockets of his brown cord trousers and the walking boots on his feet showed that he had already been outside.

  ‘The Ketterings’ claim was dismissed four days ago,’ he said without looking at her, ‘which was why they must have decided on desperate measures and tried to have Jack kidnapped. Kettering, it turns out, has been left a substantial fortune by a distant relative but he can only claim it after the birth of an heir. His wife cannot have children and the will stipulates that if he tries to claim it by adoption or divorce the money goes to another cousin who is younger but already has several children.’

  He looked up then with a wry smile.

  ‘All this came out in the hearing which was why he had tried so hard to avoid a legal confrontation. On the other hand I was given full control of my ex-wife’s estate and Jack’s custody.’

  Belle’s mouth opened with the intention of raging at him for the pain and worry he had caused her over the last few days, when a sudden thought drove all else from her mind.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ she hesitated. ‘If its all over, why am I here?’

  ‘Because I asked you to marry me and you said yes.’

  Belle found great difficulty in believing what she was hearing.

  ‘You said Jack wasn’t safe in Portugal.’

  ‘Well, they may have tried to kidnap him again.’

  ‘We had to prove that we could provide Jack with a stable environment?’

  ‘Which we can if we marry and become a real family.’

  Belle was shaking her head as her deep, disturbed gaze met the piercing gold flash of his.

  ‘I don’t understand. You asked me to marry you because you needed me. Now it turns out you didn’t need me at all, there was no urgency.’

  He came forward slowly and raised her to her feet.

  ‘Are you telling me you don’t want to stay with Jack?’

  ‘No, I mean, of course I want to stay with Jack.’

  Belle’s heart was skipping beats, while her head begged for answers she hardly dared believe.

  ‘Then it’s me you don’t want,’ he said.

  Belle raised her hand to his gaunt cheek. He caught it in his own then brought it to his mouth. His lips were warm in the palm of her hand.

  ‘I love you,’ she whispered and was drawn into a close embrace.

  ‘And I love you,’ he said, before his lips claimed hers in a kiss that left her in no doubt. ‘Now come and see your wedding present,’ he said, after convincing her of how much he wanted her to stay.

  Arm in arm, they crossed to the door and moved out into a beautiful walled garden. In the centre of an arbour at the bottom of the garden stood the black marble girl. Belle smiled as he explained to her how she had inspired him to work again, given him back a purpose in life. And with Jack there, too, he had the stability to push on and build a new, successful life for the three of them.