‘My rose bushes.’
‘Small detail.’
‘Small, but vital. So, tell me about Dan.’
The rain was pouring now. ‘All quiet on the western front. Dan has moved out of the flat and in with his parents. He rarely goes out except to do a bit of shopping for his mum and generally win the son-of-the-year award.’
Solomon cleared his throat. ‘To be fair, the competition wasn’t stiff.’
‘True. But this past week, I’ve watched him hugging his mum and cooking and washing the dishes.’
‘Sweet,’ Solomon said, and cleared his throat. ‘According to Joel, there’s nothing going on between him and Naomi. But I don’t trust our brother. Keep watching Dan. You can give him all your attention with Nathan gone.’
‘That would be my pleasure. Dan’s easy on the eye. He looked hot at Nathan’s funeral yesterday in his black suit and tie.’
‘This is business, Charlie.’
‘You’re a fine one to talk.’ A short pause. Vincent said nothing. ‘Why can’t I have Dan?’
‘No,’ Vincent said firmly. ‘You’re eight years older than Dan and you’re not his type.’
‘Just let me –’
‘No, Charlie. I don’t want Dan anywhere near Naomi. And Naomi is very much a part of my plans.’
Charlie sighed. ‘Why do you always get first pick?’
Vincent laughed. ‘King’s privilege. I’m top of the chain.’
‘Which ruins my fun, you realise?’ The rain was falling very fiercely now. Visibility was compromised. ‘So, no wedding bells for Joel yet?’
‘Not yet.’ Vincent was becoming harder to hear. ‘But like everything, Charlie, it’s only a matter of time.’
<><><>
Rain pelted the glass. Lightning blazed outside. Thunder roared in response. Camilla stood and walked to the window and closed the curtains, as if it might reduce the noise. Siobhan had stiffened with terror in the presence of the puppy, so Annabel had returned Shadow to his barred home in one corner of the kitchen.
Naomi followed Annabel out of the room and found her in the hall.
‘Annie, I need a word.’
‘Now?’
‘Yeah. It won’t take long.’ Naomi took Annabel’s arm and led her through to her old piano room. Her piano would be arriving later that week, along with the rest of the furniture.
‘Great to see Mum and Dad together,’ Annabel said. ‘They’ve finally booked a break together.’
‘Yeah. But Dad doesn’t seem himself. He’s so withdrawn.’
‘They just need time to heal. So, what’s up?’
Naomi grinned. ‘I can’t hold this in anymore. I have to tell you that I’m engaged.’
Annabel’s jaw fell open. ‘To who?’
Naomi laughed. ‘To Dan.’
‘Dan? What? Since when?’
‘Recently. Look, we’ve kept it quiet for a good reason, but I just had to tell someone. It’s driving me mad keeping it to myself. I want to tell the world that I love Dan and that I’m marrying him, but . . .’
‘But what? Nathan’s gone. What the problem?’
Naomi lowered her voice. ‘Vincent Solomon is the problem. Annie, I haven’t told you what’s been going on because I didn’t want to worry you, but basically, Solomon will hurt Dan if he knows.’
‘Hurt him? Why?’
‘Because he’s in love with me and what he decides he wants, he thinks he can have.’
Annabel frowned. ‘Tell him to take a running jump.’
‘You don’t understand. Anyway, Dan and I are getting married in the Maldives on my birthday.’
Annabel’s jaw gaped open. ‘This year?’
‘Yes.’
Annabel dragged her hair off her face. ‘Don’t you think you’re rushing things a bit?’
‘No, Annie. I’d marry Dan tomorrow if I could. I just need to finish this college year and make some plans, then I’ve been given permission to take a year out. Dan and I will settle in London or even abroad for a while. Dan’s just won his appeal.’
Annabel lunged forward for a hug. ‘That’s fantastic.’
‘I know. He got the decision yesterday just after Nathan’s funeral, which was nice. He’ll be reinstated as a doctor, so he can finish his training, plus he’s been awarded a chunk of money for damages etc. It couldn’t have come at a better time.’
‘Some good news at last.’
‘Dan needed it. So – please, please say that you’ll be my bridesmaid, and promise me you’ll tell no one about Dan and I, not even Mum and Dad.’
‘I promise,’ she said uncertainly. ‘Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?’
‘One hundred per cent.’
Annabel hugged Naomi again and kissed her cheek. ‘Well of course I’ll be your bridesmaid. Try and stop me. But I’m not being a spare part out there. I’ll have to take Joel with me.’
‘I anticipated that. Just please tell him not to tell anyone about the wedding. I don’t want to put our lives in jeopardy. Trust me, it is that serious.’
‘Who would Joel tell? He lives in Newcastle.’
‘Even so!’
‘OK, I’ve got it. Top secret.’
‘Absolutely.’ Annabel grabbed Naomi’s left hand. ‘No ring?’
‘I didn’t want one. He gave me my necklace back as an engagement present, but I lost it in Nathan’s car and they never recovered it. But he bought me a star, Annie.’
Naomi explained and Annabel decided that she wanted one too. ‘That’s so cool.’
‘And I bought Dan a second car.’
‘Why?’
‘Because Solomon is spying on him. Dan knows he’s being followed at the moment.’
Annabel gasped. ‘Really?’
‘Yes. He parks his old car on the drive at his parents’, and the car I bought him is parked on the street behind where he lives. That’s how we’re seeing each other at the moment. He lets himself out of the back late at night and goes over the fence and through a passageway to get to the other car. We’re meeting at ridiculous times, but Solomon isn’t stalking me. I’ve asked him not to, and so far I think he’s complied.’
‘You’re scaring me.’
‘He’s a scary guy, that’s why we’re taking no chances. But I don’t want to spook him by changing my routine. So I’m getting on with my life and so far, so good.’
‘You need protection, both of you.’
‘From the police? That’s the last thing we need.’
‘Watch out, OK?’
‘Course I will. Come on, we’d better get back in there. Tell Joel in your own time, and swear him to absolute secrecy. There’ll only be the four of us, so Joel will have to be the best man.’
Naomi grabbed Annabel’s arm and led her out of the room and through the comforting familiarity of the hall, where the portrait of the two of them still hung above the little table. Her eyes lingered on the painting as she passed it, and she realised that it was the first time in years she’d paid it any attention. And she thought how odd it was that the hundreds of little journeys past that painting hadn’t made it more vibrant, but had rendered it invisible to her instead.
Her star was invisible except in the night sky, where it would burn next to Dan’s for a billion years among a trillion others, orbiting around each other. Constant. Timeless. Untouchable.
Epilogue
(Late October – the same year)
It was the first cold spell of autumn. The grass had stiffened with frost. The crisp, white shirt that Vincent Solomon pulled from the particular wardrobe that contained nothing but white shirts, was new and bought especially for the occasion. He put it on and stepped into dark trousers and black leather shoes. His brother was getting married soon and he wouldn’t be at the wedding. The least he could do was buy a new shirt and wear it where he was.
Solomon went methodically to the kitchen to make strong coffee. The strength on the packet said five out of five. Breakfast didn’t appeal, so he car
ried his mug through to his card room and automatically locked the door behind him.
Solomon sat at his laptop and tracked the plane carrying his half-brother and the Hamilton twins. By tomorrow, Annabel would be his sister-in-law, or half sister-in-law. Was there any such thing? He smiled and sipped coffee until the plane descended and was about ten minutes away from touchdown at Male airport.
‘Showtime,’ he muttered, standing up and collecting his mug. Shame he couldn’t be at the wedding himself, but he’d make an awkward guest considering that Annabel believed that Joel was an only child.
Solomon wandered to the kitchen and poured himself another mug of coffee and looked over the back lawn, which was tipped with white. His thoughts wandered for a few minutes, until he grabbed his mug and returned to his card room for the latest report. The plane had just landed at Male. All was well.
Solomon sat down. Twenty minutes passed and then his phone rang. Charlie, of course, on location. She’d been in the Maldives two days ahead of time.
‘Charlie. I hope you’re enjoying a flavour of paradise –’
‘Vincent.’ Her tone was sentence-stopping in its urgency.
‘What is it?’
‘We have a problem.’
He sat rigidly in his chair. ‘Namely?’
‘They’ve just got off the plane. Annabel and Joel. Naomi and Dan Stone.’
The world ceased to rotate. The sun withdrew its light for a moment and everything seemed distant and surreal. ‘I’m sorry, what?’
‘Dan Stone is here. With Naomi.’
A pause. ‘That’s impossible,’ he breathed.
‘I’m afraid it’s true.’
‘But she was taking her Irish friend. I had Chambers watch the house yesterday. She left with a case and got in a taxi.’
‘Well, she didn’t come here, I can assure you of that.’
Solomon could feel his pulse in his temple. His muscles had become rigid and unworkable. ‘Joel has betrayed us,’ he whispered in disbelief. ‘Our own brother, Charlie. This trip has been booked for months and Dan’s name never came up. How the hell has this happened?’ He slammed a fist on the desk and wondered if his hand would disintegrate into a thousand pieces. He felt breakable and hated the feeling.
A quiet response. ‘I’ve no idea.’
‘I thought you were tracking Dan. I trusted you.’
‘I watched Dan closely for months, you know that. He worked, he shopped, he visited Nathan’s grave with his mother, what can I tell you?’
Solomon said, ‘If Dan has laid a finger on Naomi, I swear to you now, I will kill him with my own hands. How dare he?’ He yelled in an eruption of temper. Charlie was silent on the other end of the phone. ‘I’m coming out there,’ he said, ripping the cuff links away and rolling his sleeves up once. ‘First plane today and I’m out of here. Make sure they don’t spend the night together, you hear me? I don’t care what you have to do to ensure they’re not together tonight.’
‘Vincent, you’ll have to face the probability that it’s happened already.’
‘No. No,’ Solomon said, because the suggestion was unimaginably atrocious.
‘Vincent, listen,’ Charlie said. ‘There’s nothing you can do now.’
‘No, you listen. I don’t comprehend powerlessness, and I never surrender. Don’t you know me at all?’
‘Of course – ’
‘How the hell did this happen, Charlie?’ he blasted again.
Charlie took time to respond. ‘We’ve been played by Joel. Big time.’
‘I’ll deal with him later. So Dan wants to take me on, does he? There’s only going to be one winner. Dan ought to know my game. I thought he had more sense.’
‘Vincent –’
‘I’ll oversee this myself. I shouldn’t have trusted anyone, including you.’
Solomon cut the call and stood up then sat down again and lunged for his Apple Mac, spilling coffee over his desk. Steamy black liquid flowed towards a pile of papers and Solomon didn’t notice. Coffee seeped through the stained paper and a dark stream headed for his new shirt sleeve as it lay across the desk. And even when his sleeve blotted the coffee and white cotton turned to brown and dry became wet, Solomon didn’t flinch.
But five minutes later, he’d learned that the next flight to Male via Dubai, wasn’t full. And minutes after that, Solomon had booked a flight and was reaching for his safe. He withdrew his passport and a slab of money. And then he noticed spilled coffee and a brown sleeve. He took off the shirt, dumped it in the bin, and hurried upstairs to pack a case.
<><><>
Naomi stood under the archway of flowers, linking arms with Annabel. Dan and Joel were waiting metres away.
‘I want to tell you something.’ Annabel’s voice had a hint of apology, but not urgency.
‘OK.’ Naomi stopped looking at Dan and focussed short-distance on Annabel’s eyes. ‘What is it?’
The wind tossed Annabel’s hair about and plastered a few strands to her lips. ‘It can wait until afterwards. This is your moment and by the looks of things Dan can’t wait to get on with it.’
Naomi laughed. ‘Sure?’
‘Yeah. Remind me to tell you later, OK?’
‘OK.’ Naomi’s smile faded. ‘Annie?’
‘Yeah?’
‘I couldn’t have got through the nightmare of the past year without you.’
Annabel’s eyes watered. She looked away. ‘Save your speech for Dan.’
‘I’m trying to tell you that I’m glad you’re my sister.’
Annabel dabbed one corner of her eye. ‘And I’m trying not to ruin my makeup.’
‘Let’s hope Mum will forgive me for this.’
‘Forgive us. We’re in this together, the four of us, OK? You’re not alone.’
Naomi glanced at Dan, who beamed a dazzling smile right at her. He held out a hand and beckoned to her.
It was time.
Then something occurred to Naomi in a flash that was as blinding as the sun. She turned her attention to Annabel again and studied her closely. Her face was pale despite the beginnings of a suntan. Her eyes looked heavy and tired despite a lot of sleep.
Naomi caught her breath. ‘You’re pregnant.’
Annabel’s eyes misted with tears. ‘How do you know that?’
‘I’ve no idea.’ She looked Annabel up and down. ‘You’ve been so sleepy lately.’ They stood listening to the wind and to the gentle lapping of water on sand. ‘We’re twins. I can see it in your face now I’m looking. You look different.’
‘I’m about seven weeks pregnant. It was a total shock, but we’re so happy.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I’ve only known three weeks. Joel swore me to secrecy until it was a bit safer. Can you manage another surprise?’
Naomi laughed. ‘What else?’
‘Joel’s got his way. We’re getting married.’
‘What?’ Naomi laughed. ‘You, getting married? I don’t believe it. When?’
‘Tomorrow. Here. Same time and place. We rushed it through and didn’t know if we’d get everything together in time so we told no one. Anyway, I haven’t even bought a dress. I thought that maybe we could swap places and dresses before I get too big. How are you fixed?’
Naomi glanced at Dan and noticed his quizzical gaze, which asked about the hold-up without words.
‘This is crazy,’ Naomi said, hugging Annabel. ‘You’re going to be a mum.’
‘I know. I can’t believe it.’ Annabel said, dabbing her eyes. ‘So will you be my bridesmaid or not?’
A wave of emotion swept over Naomi. ‘Of course I will,’ she said, and they hugged again.
‘That’s a relief.’ Annabel sniffed. ‘Like I said, we’re in this together.’
Then Naomi took Annabel’s hand and led her and her tiny unborn child across powder white sands, to the sound of distant music.
The sound was a welcoming committee awaiting the arrival of a plane. Overhead, a seaplane
was descending from the sky. It would ski on the ocean until it closed in on the island. And then the door would open and someone would secure the plane to the jetty with a rope. And while native rhythms sung a happy beat, a little crowd of people would bleed from the plane with luggage and plans, and rapidly disperse.
The end
Notes from the author
I couldn’t leave without thanking you for spending part of your life reading The Darkness Visible. I hope you enjoyed it. Please take a further minute to rate and review my book on Amazon. As a self-published author, I know that the readers and reviewers will become the real publishers of this book and I thank you in advance.
All the place names in this book are real. The Royal College of Music is a real music college in Manchester UK. Here are a few pictures so that you can put an image to the description.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=the+royal+northern+college+of+music&safe=off&biw=1366&bih=682&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sLchVYaqKeac7gbM-IDQDA&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&dpr=1
Hartshead Pike is a real monument on a very real hill. I’ve climbed it a number of times and it’s steep! Here’s what the monument looks like:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartshead_Pike
Rachmaninoff’s Elegie is a beautiful piece of music. A favourite of mine. If you want to take a further five glorious minutes out of your life sometime, then here is a link to Youtube where you can listen to a recording of Rachmaninoff – the maestro himself – playing his own work. Rachmaninoff died in 1943 and recorded many of his compositions before he departed. How fortunate we are!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrOp4TeG100
Please feel free to get in touch. I love to hear from readers. The best way of receiving updates is by liking my Facebook page. I don’t have a website. Here’s where you can find me:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tori-de-Clare/185620708284147?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/toride_de
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7184950.Tori_de_Clare
The Darkness Visible Page 43
