Double Cheque

by Heather MacQuarrie

  Chapter 8

  Grant was speechless. He handed the letter to Imogen and sat back against the cushion with a huge sigh. Imogen started to read.

  Dear Grant,

  Let me first apologise to you and your lovely girlfriend for the unfriendly reception you received from me in July. I can only excuse myself on the grounds that I was taken completely off guard and did not have sufficient time to think rationally about the situation. It has probably come as an even bigger shock to me than it did to you because you would obviously have known that you had a father out there somewhere whereas I had no inkling that I was missing a son. But it is no excuse in reality. My behaviour was abominable and I am very ashamed.

  It’s hard for me to put this into words. There is something I have never spoken about except with Lauren but we have decided that, in the circumstances, you have a right to know. Before Lauren and I got married fifteen years ago, she was in a brief relationship with my brother, Scott. He didn’t know that she was pregnant with his child when he emigrated to Canada and by the time James was born Lauren was with me. We just passed James off as our own. He even looks like me which isn’t surprising since Scott and I are twins. If Scott ever suspected anything he didn’t say. He wasn’t interested in having a family.

  In May 2003 Scott came home for a holiday and played a cruel joke on us. On his last night we both had too much to drink and I fell asleep on the sofa. Scott crept up to the bedroom and pretended to be me. Lauren was initially taken in and you can guess what happened. He swore afterwards that he wouldn’t have let things get out of hand but that she had taken the lead and had seduced him. Lauren herself admitted that it had been wholly consensual. When Henry was subsequently born in February we had to accept that he too was Scott’s son. Lauren certainly hadn’t been pregnant prior to that night and we didn’t have relations for at least a month or two after it.

  Not long after Henry’s birth Lauren suffered a serious illness which resulted in her having to undergo a hysterectomy. Thankfully she fully recovered in every other way and is in good health now but obviously it meant that she couldn’t have any more children.

  I love James and Henry as my own and we are a happy family. But can you even begin to imagine how I feel, knowing that you are out there but estranged from me? You are my very own flesh and blood, my one and only biological son. I was so confused when I met you and Lauren felt extremely threatened but we have talked and we have let it sink in and I know one thing for sure – I want you in my life, Grant.

  I know that your life is with your mother over there in Ireland and that you probably have brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins of your own. My friend, Dougie, was able to tell me that your mother recently got married so you even have a ‘father’. But you came searching for me and that gives me hope. Please give me another chance.

  My father (your grandfather) will be eighty years old on 30th September. We are having a party for him on the Saturday, that’s the following day, 1st October. I would be thrilled if you and Imogen could come and meet everyone. I have enclosed a card with my contact details and address. Please let me know one way or the other. I await your reply with hopeful anticipation.

  Once again I apologise for the poor welcome I gave you before. I hope you will give me the opportunity to make it up to you.

  With love

  Cameron Ferguson

  Ps I hope you will accept the enclosed cheque to cover your expenses if you do decide to come.

  Imogen finished reading and handed the letter back to her fiancé. “Wow!” she said.

  “I have a grandfather,” murmured Grant.

  Imogen knew that Grant had been very close to his maternal grandfather, who had died from a sudden heart attack about seven years ago. He had spoken about him often.

  “I still have a grandfather,” he repeated now. “I never even thought about that. It was just the guy, Cameron, with his wife and kids. I never pictured a whole family in the background.”

  “It’s a pretty sincere apology,” Imogen ventured timorously, not wanting to influence him.

  “It is,” Grant agreed.

  “He’s been very honest. He didn’t need to tell you those things.”

  “I’d like to go. To the party. Will you come with me?”

  “Of course I’ll come with you. I’ll support you whatever you decide to do.”

  Grant looked again at the sheet of paper in his hand. “Gosh,” he exclaimed, “it’s just a few days away. To think that I should have had this two weeks ago but just tossed it in the fire!”

  “You’ve burnt the cheque,” Imogen added with a chuckle. “I wonder how much it was for.”

  “And the card he mentioned with his address and so on.”

  Grant took a few moments to quietly reflect on the revelations he had so carelessly cast aside. And he pictured the man waiting anxiously, day after day, for some kind of acknowledgement that his apology had been accepted. He felt a bit of a heel.

  “The friend that he mentions, Dougie,” he suddenly blurted out. “Do you remember we met him?”

  “Yes, of course. We went to his house and he arranged the meeting in the pub. I liked him.”

  “He’s having an affair with Sam’s mother. Sam told me today during the game.”

  “Patricia?”

  “Dougie knows her as Patty, the very person who led us to him in the first place.”

  “So your mum’s friend, Patty and Sam’s mother, Patricia are one and the same person!”

  “Yep.”

  “And she’s sleeping with Douglas McKendrick?”

  “Apparently so.”

  “Well, I suppose it’s none of our business,” Imogen mused, bringing Grant back to their own dilemma. “Are you going to contact Cameron?”

  “I don’t know what to say to him.”

  “Just tell him we’ll come to the party and get the address.”

  “Should I talk to Mum and Mark first?”

  “I don’t think you should spread what was in that letter, not yet anyway. I think it’s probably private.”

  “I promised them I’d have nothing more to do with Cameron Ferguson.”

  “Just tell them you’ve changed your mind. The man is your father. It won’t change anything between you and your mum. Mark will understand.”

  Catherine had married Mark, the father of her younger daughter, Robyn, just three months ago.

  In the end Grant sent an email. He did want to become acquainted with his father now, and meet his grandfather, but he wasn’t quite ready to put his thoughts into coherent words. He simply thanked Cameron for the letter and the invitation and asked for the address, adding that he and Imogen would be pleased to attend.

  ***

  Jasmine had the most wonderful feeling of contentment as she lay in her new bed listening to the unfamiliar sounds around her and staring into the darkness which enveloped her at a touch of the lamp on the little chest of drawers by her elbow. So many mixed emotions vied for pride of place in her mind. She had warned off that Scottish man. Surely he would see sense and leave her mother alone. Sam had also warned him off and had made it clear to their mum that he expected her to end the affair forthwith. Sam himself had just phoned to say that he and Tania had found a flat and would be moving in before the end of the week. And Molly was having a ball. So, harmony in the family all round. But most of all Jasmine was revelling in a sensation she had never before experienced in her twenty-four years. Her heart was fluttering, her whole body tingling with excitement. It had been so sudden, so unexpected. But she had just spent a couple of hours in the company of someone very special. She wanted him with every bone in her body, she wanted to feel his kiss on her lips, his hand in hers, his body wrapped around her own. She longed to give herself to him with wild and reckless abandon. Never mind that a major stumbling block lay ahead if she were to
pursue this goal; she would just have to overcome it. Where there’s a will, there’s a way and after tonight she was determined to have him, no matter who thought otherwise or tried to advise against it. Jasmine had fallen in love.

  Chapter 9

  Both Grant and Imogen managed to clear their weekend schedules so that they could travel to Scotland on Friday night, attend the party on Saturday and return home on Sunday afternoon. Although he hadn’t admitted it, even to himself, Grant had in truth been gutted by his father’s rejection when he searched him out two months ago. He was very excited about subsequent developments. Catherine and Mark had been shocked at first but had assured him in the end that they would not be offended and that he had every right to get to know his father if that was what he wanted. He had their blessing. So Friday evening found them both at the airport, boarding a flight for Edinburgh.

  ***

  Back in Belfast Sam and Tania were having an engagement-cum-housewarming celebration with Sam’s sister, Jasmine, and Tania’s brother, Lawrence, and his fiancée, Maggie. Judy and Edward, just home from their holiday in Lanzarote, had willingly agreed to keep Stevie overnight so that the young people would be free to have a few drinks and enjoy themselves. Whilst Tania was in the kitchen preparing some snacks and the two men were chatting about what was happening in the world of sport, Jasmine and Maggie were getting to know one another and finding that they had a lot in common.

  “I love painting too,” Maggie enthused when Jasmine told her she was using her spare bedroom as a studio. “I mainly do landscapes and seascapes.”

  “Portraits and still-life are more my type of thing,” Jasmine answered, “but I have done a few landscapes.”

  “Do you sell your pictures?”

  “Hopefully some day,” Jasmine laughed. “What a super way to make a living, but no, not at the moment. I just do them for family and friends. I work as a receptionist in a dental practice. What about you?”

  “I’ve sold a couple but same as you, really. It’s just a hobby. I’m a teacher for my real job.”

  “What age-group?”

  “Year 6. Nine and ten year olds.”

  “I don’t think I’d have the patience for that,” Jasmine admitted. “Children are all right one at a time.”

  Maggie talked a bit more about her teaching and mentioned the fact that she had only just secured a full-time post. Up until now she had done temporary work, subbing for absent teachers, and had also taken some adult evening classes in aspects of literacy. Her friend, Jillian, had actually written an article about her classes for a magazine she produces and Maggie was convinced it had helped her get to the top of the queue.

  “I just moved into a new flat last weekend,” Jasmine revealed quizzically, “and my neighbour upstairs is called Jillian. She’s the editor of a magazine.”

  “Could be the same girl. Jillian’s best friend lived in the downstairs apartment. Her name was Imogen.”

  “Yes, that’s her. I’m in that apartment now. Imogen has moved in with her boyfriend.”

  Maggie nodded her head and smiled.

  “Small world,” they both said in unison.

  For a few moments Jasmine’s mind remained on Jillian’s flat and the wonderful evening she had spent there the very day she moved in, the overwhelming sensation of lasciviousness and desire that had filled her dreams ever since. Then she shook herself back to the present.

  “Well then, you know where I live,” she said to Maggie. “Pop in anytime.”

  “I will,” Maggie replied. “I can’t wait to see your studio. I’m so jealous.”

  Tania appeared at that point and beckoned them all towards the kitchen where she had set out various hot and cold tapas dishes. “Help yourselves,” she instructed, handing out plates. The food looked delicious and smelt amazing. They all tucked in hungrily.

  ***

  Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, Grant and Imogen were checking in to their hotel.

  “I can scarcely believe this is happening,” Grant proclaimed.

  “I’m really happy for you,” Imogen smiled as they trundled their bags along the green and black tartan carpeted floor towards the lift and up to the second storey. “I know it hurt you more than you were letting on when we came over here the last time.”

  “I still find it hard to fathom. I mean, he said he had never told anyone else those secrets about the two boys. He didn’t make it clear whether they themselves know about Scott being their father or whether Scott is aware of the truth or not.”

  “Or whether Scott is travelling home for the party,” Imogen added. “It is his father’s eightieth too.”

  “Canada’s a long way off.”

  “Not really. Not in this day and age. Not for a special occasion.”

  Grant unlocked the door to their room and they both gasped. It was enormous and kitted out with every luxury imaginable. Their eyes were drawn to a bottle of Champagne sitting in an ice-bucket on a central table along with two flutes and a welcome card. Imogen picked up the card and opened it.

  Welcome to Scotland, Grant and Imogen.

  Since my original letter got destroyed, I am assuming that the cheque I sent you to cover expenses also went up in smoke. I hope, therefore, that you will accept this room upgrade and dinner tonight in the restaurant as a gift from me. Everything has been paid for in advance.

  I can’t wait to see you both tomorrow. Thank you for coming.

  Cameron

  “How did he even know where we were staying?” Imogen mused as she handed the card to Grant.

  “Well,” her fiancé reasoned, “he knew that we stayed here the last time so he probably just assumed we’d come back to the same place and then checked at reception.”

  “And made sure we didn’t lose out on the missing cheque.”

  “Yes, we’ve been double checked.”

  “Ha ha, that’s double chequed,” grinned Imogen, spelling it out. “It’s a very kind gesture.”

  “It is,” Grant agreed appreciatively. “Let’s freshen up and go down for that free dinner. We’ll have the Champagne afterwards.”

  “Or a glass now and another one afterwards?”

  “Why not? Good idea.”

  Grant popped the cork and poured the cool, bubbly liquid into the two flutes. Imogen stopped him when hers was only a quarter full. “A few sips won’t do me any harm,” she reminded him, “or the baby. But certainly not a full glass.”

  Amidst all the excitement and anticipation of meeting his father and grandfather the next day, Grant realised that he had momentarily forgotten that he was on the brink of fatherhood himself. “Of course, sorry,” he answered, shamefacedly but then redeemed himself by adding, “It’s just that you look so healthy and so beautiful. And it is early days. There’s nothing showing yet.”

  Imogen laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not offended,” she assured him. “This weekend is all about you and your dad and that’s the way it should be. I’ll stay in the background. No-one needs to know about this yet.” She patted her tummy as she spoke.

  “Our secret,” he agreed, “just like our plans for next weekend.”

  She just smiled and nodded.

  “You haven’t changed your mind? It’s not too late if you want to do it the traditional way like Jillian and Bradley.”

  “Absolutely not,” Imogen reaffirmed. “We’ll just go away on Thursday and come back married on Monday. I don’t want any fuss.”

  They shared a passionate kiss. It was the way they both wanted to do it.

  “Let’s have dinner now,” Grant said happily as the kiss ended and they continued to smile into one another’s eyes, their expressions full of love. “I’m starving.”

  Imogen insisted on taking a few minutes to freshen up and get changed and then they headed down to the restaurant where they were treated like celebrities. It was beco
ming clear to them that Cameron Ferguson had left nothing to chance in ensuring that they would have a night to remember. And that’s exactly what they had. It was perfect.

  Chapter 10

  Kenneth and Patricia should have been on their way to Barcelona. The flights were booked. A five star hotel awaited them. Their cases were packed. Kenneth would be fifty-five on Monday and they would celebrate his birthday in style. Until he dropped the bombshell. “We’re not going. I just cancelled the taxi.”

  Patricia stared at him dumbfounded. And then she noticed that he had her phone in his hand. She bit her lip and started to tremble.

  “I called in at your office today,” Kenneth divulged, struggling to keep his voice from shaking. “I congratulated your colleagues on the success of the Edinburgh exhibition. They didn’t know what I was talking about.”

  Patricia felt the blood rush to her head. She knew that her face must be bright pink. She had to think quickly. “It’s not what you think, Casey,” she blundered.

  “No? Well then, maybe you could explain why you have been lying to me.”

  “It’s Cathy,” she bluffed. “Cathy asked me to deliver a letter for her, to a friend in Scotland.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Kenneth thundered. “Is that really the best you can come up with?”

  “It’s true. It has something to do with her son, Grant. His father lives in Scotland but it’s very hush hush. That’s why I didn’t say anything about it to you.”

  “You’ve used Cathy as an alibi once too often, Patricia.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  Kenneth just held out the phone. “This started to ring while you were upstairs. Who is Mia?”

  “Mia?”

  “Yes, Mia. You’re just stalling for time but there’s no point. I already know who she is.”

  “Well of course you do. You met her when she was a little girl. She’s Lucinda’s daughter. You surely remember my friend, Lucinda, who died.”