by Melissa Hill
“Right,” the young man said, realizing that the majority of his audience did not hold scientific backgrounds in molecular biology and therefore were unimpressed by such an explanation. “In any case, I think I’m going to write a paper on it. Maybe I can get it published.”
The solicitor cleared his throat. “I hope it goes without saying, Ms. O’Hara, that Scott deeply regrets the distress caused to you and your daughter as a result of further complications from the virus he transmitted. But I am here today primarily to protect his interests, given the seriousness of the current court proceedings despite the fact that there is no issue of negligence on Scott’s part or the university’s—”
I put my hand up, stopping him from saying any more. “That won’t be necessary. Of course I don’t intend to hold Scott liable,” I assured, feeling sick to my stomach that people saw me as “that person,” someone who would sue everyone in sight for the slightest wrongdoing.
But, like it or not, I had become that person, I realized, looking askance at Madeleine and Tom Cooper, who were both watching me closely, relief written all over their faces.
And who could blame them?
When, in the end, I had gotten it all so terribly wrong.
“Obviously my client and I will need some time to discuss this new development.” I felt Declan’s hand at my elbow as he addressed the Coopers and the judge.
But, as far as I was concerned, there was nothing to discuss. I’d made a huge mistake, had cast aspersions and made serious accusations toward people—my own neighbors—that had proven utterly false. Because I was aware of the Coopers’ vaccination stance, I’d made a huge assumption, automatically blaming their daughter for visiting misfortune on mine when it had been the other way around.
The other way around.
Oh, God, did this mean that the Coopers were now going to come back and countersue me, for not only infecting Clara, but for the unbelievable suffering and disruption they’d endured over the last year and more?
The very idea made me feel dizzy.
“Kate, are you OK?” Declan asked as he led me into another side room off the judge’s chambers no bigger than a broom closet, and I wondered idly if the room existed for this very purpose—to house people who took frivolous cases before the court and needed to reflect on their idiocy.
“Of course I’m not OK. Didn’t you hear what was just said, see that guy on-screen actually infect Rosie?”
“Well, from a medical point of view, and certainly from a legal one, that’s not conclusive...”
“Oh, come on, Declan, we both know this is a mess, a complete disaster! The judge has no choice but to dismiss the case now. In fairness, I wouldn’t blame him if, after all this, he wanted to put me in jail.”
“I can assure you, Kate, there’s no way something like that will happen—” he began, but I knew he was unable to truly grasp the extent of my despair. How could anyone?
“What am I going to do?” I whispered, my voice sounding frail even to myself.
How would I get over this? Not only had I made a monumental mistake, which had already cost me a huge amount emotionally—to say nothing of financially—caused needless hassle and heartbreak to another perfectly innocent family, but, in the end, it had all been for nothing.
“It’s a shock, I know,” Declan replied, his tone reassuring as always. I looked at him then, thinking about what a wonderful man he was and how incredible he’d been throughout all of this in so many ways: the case, keeping my spirits up while Rosie was still in the hospital, being a shoulder to cry on, as well as helping us tackle many day-to-day domestic concerns since she came home.
In short, he’d gotten me through everything.
And I could only imagine how much my problems had cost him personally and professionally—how he’d given up so much of the legal practice’s resources, as well as forgone so many regular paid cases, and indeed his own personal time and energy, to help me out.
How would I ever repay him?
“I don’t know what to say to you except sorry,” I began. “I’m so sorry for dragging you into all this. It never crossed my mind for a second that Clara might not have been the source of infection. I was so dogged about it...”
He waved my apologies away. “Try not to think about that now, Kate. There’s no point going down that road. We could only work with the information we had to hand.”
“But we can’t pretend that this isn’t a huge disaster in every way. When I think of your fees...and all the bills for Rosie’s care...”
The world was starting to swim before my eyes. I had no idea what I was going to do to make things right. An apology to all parties concerned would be a start, of course, but after that? I had no idea.
All along I’d believed (prayed) that this trial would be the light at the end of the tunnel, and that if I just kept working toward it, everything would work out for the better.
I could never have imagined that the light would turn out to be the headlights of a fast-approaching train.
52
“In what has presented itself as a startling turn of events on week two of O’Hara v. Cooper, I am standing outside High Court buildings this Monday lunchtime among a crowd that is still in shock over this morning’s abrupt dismissal of the case—a lawsuit that has divided the nation and given rise to strong opinions from all sides in the controversial vaccination debate.
“It is being reported that some new information came to light over the weekend that effectively invalidated all claims in the legal proceedings against Tom and Madeleine Cooper issued last year by Kate O’Hara on behalf of her daughter, Rosie.
“With us now to illuminate these new findings are City College biology student Scott Ferguson and his solicitor, John Fleming. Gentlemen, thank you both for agreeing to talk to Sky News...”
* * *
Judge Dowling was gracious enough to allow the group of former plaintiffs and defendants to leave the court building through a service entrance out back. Dealing with the media frenzy out front would have been way too much, especially as all parties were still managing their shock and trying to absorb what had just happened.
Madeleine was reeling all weekend from Scott’s revelations, and had been so eager for the judge to learn the glorious truth that would get her and Tom off the hook on Monday morning that she hadn’t properly considered how Kate would react.
But, she warned her husband and Matt Townsend, there would be no triumphant courtroom posturing over Kate’s mistake; hence her insistence that the legal team introduce Scott in private.
In this situation, Madeleine realized sadly, nobody won.
For her part, Kate had informed the judge that she wanted to drop the case and wasn’t going to drag it out any longer. Yes, she had suffered a loss of income and other hardships, and she and Rosie would continue to live in an altered reality, but what had happened was no one’s fault, it was just nature doing what it did.
Viruses evolved and spread, people got sick.
“I’m so sorry,” she kept saying to Madeleine, clearly distraught. “I was so certain...”
“You weren’t to know. Try not to think too much about that now, and just go home to Rosie,” she soothed, while behind her she felt the weight of Tom’s incredulous stare.
“She’s bloody lucky we’re not going to take her goddamn lawsuit and throw the very same charges back in her face,” her husband fumed as all parties quietly made their way outside to the waiting cars.
But it was not the time for remonstration or gloating.
Up ahead, Declan opened the door of their car so Kate could climb in. However, just as she was about to enter, she turned back to look at the vehicle that had pulled up behind it, where she and Tom waited for their lift home.
Madeleine paused then to meet Kate’s eyes. The t
wo women held each other’s gaze for just a moment, and something passed between them. All at once it seemed to communicate a mixture of regret, forgiveness but not quite acceptance, Madeleine realized. It might have been resignation that, yes, this whole ordeal might be over, but there were still other struggles that needed to be addressed within their small community and within each of their respective families.
There were still issues that both she and Kate had to face.
The time for placing blame was over. Now it was time to address a new reality.
53
A week later, Madeleine was standing in her kitchen, loading the dishwasher, and reflecting on her life—and her family’s life—over the course of the past year and a half.
Everything felt so...odd.
The case had been so abruptly dismissed that she was still trying to process what had happened. It had only been days since that meeting in the judge’s chambers, yet it felt like an eternity.
However, at least life seemed to be returning to normal.
The press coverage had subsided, thank goodness, or finally they had decided that Kate and Madeleine’s feud was yesterday’s news. Yes, a few journalists were still calling, looking for a comment, but the majority now seemed to be focusing on just how “at risk” the general public was for transmitting highly communicable diseases, and just how dangerous places like the RDS, the various museums or other so-called “child friendly” places happened to be.
In the wake of the dismissal, Matt had broached the possibility with Tom about potentially issuing counter proceedings against Kate or indeed the university authorities, but Madeleine had very quickly shut that idea right down. She’d had enough legalities and so had their family; their lives had been upended in the worst way and they needed to get back to normal. Thankfully, Tom had agreed with her, joking that maybe now would be an ideal time to buy stock in a company that produced highly effective hand sanitizers. Madeleine had appreciated his attempt at humor—it was a step toward returning to normality.
Yes, they had bills to pay and challenges to face and definitely fences to mend as they tried to get family life back on track, but she was confident that they had withstood the storm. She and her Tom had faced without doubt the most challenging time of their married life together, but they would prevail.
However, she also knew that in order for that to become a reality, she needed to reassess some priorities. So she decided that from now on, she wanted to remain focused on being a mum privately and forget all about the public side.
There was no point in worrying about her public image if her private life was a disaster. Madeleine was just going to focus on her family and be happy. She was well aware of how close she had come to losing everything.
Pressing Start on the dishwasher, her ears perked up at the sound of a car pulling into the driveway outside. Leaning forward to peer out the window, she thought it interesting that she didn’t feel in the least bit surprised when she saw Kate O’Hara getting out of a battered-looking car.
Wiping her hands on a dish towel, Madeleine headed to the front door, not waiting for the other woman to ring the doorbell. She stepped out into the cool autumn air.
Kate, who had been walking up the front path, stopped in her tracks and eyed her warily, like an animal who had just been spotted by a predator.
But Madeleine offered a small smile. “It’s OK,” she said, easily plopping down on the leaf-covered front steps. Regardless of how she felt, she knew Tom wasn’t quite at the stage where he’d want Kate O’Hara comfortably ensconced in their front room. This would have to do for now. “I won’t bite.”
Kate approached the steps and sat down next to her. Neither of them spoke for a beat, but then Madeleine did. “I was wondering when you would come.”
“How did you know I would?” Kate asked, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.
“I just did.”
Another beat of silence passed.
“Is your husband here?” asked Kate.
Madeleine shook her head. “No, he’s back at work. It’s weird how quickly life picks up where it left off, isn’t it?” Then she winced, suddenly realizing that Kate’s and Rosie’s lives were still far from being back to normal. “Sorry about that,” she said quietly.
“No worries,” said Kate. “We’re managing. We will manage.”
Turning to Madeleine, she ran her hands through her hair. “I knew I needed to come over here. I knew I needed to tell you again I’m truly sorry—for all of this. I was so, so wrong. And I was too embarrassed to face you until now.”
But Madeleine was already shaking her head. “But you didn’t know that you were wrong. No one could have predicted how this would turn out. I certainly couldn’t have.” She offered a small laugh. “You know, I was thinking I really have Gemma Moore to thank, in light of everything. If it hadn’t been for her issue with me, she might never have stuck that microphone in your face, and Scott would never have made the connection or had anything to do with us. Life is weird sometimes.”
Kate nodded, looking downcast. “It’s a bit overwhelming to think about, actually. And when I think that I was blaming you for something that wasn’t even your fault, and dragging your family over the coals...” She stopped, her voice choking. “Madeleine, I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am for what I put you and your family through. There are...no words.”
Placing a comforting hand on her arm, Madeleine leaned in to her. “I know it wasn’t all you, either. And yes, I was angry about it, especially when I really didn’t believe I’d done anything wrong. But I’m pretty certain that you had other people in your ear.” She didn’t say Christine’s name, but she didn’t need to. “I also know that many people in Knockroe have very strong opinions about me and my family, and our parenting decisions over the years. You’ve been through the wringer over the last while yourself, and I can’t even begin to put myself in your place. But, you and I, we’ve only done the things we did because we both love our kids, and it’s our job to keep them safe. How is Rosie now?”
Kate smiled. “She’s still Rosie, and yes, she still has a lot of work ahead of her, we both do. She’s showing great progress, though. We have a brilliant caregiver who helps out, but, well, we probably are going to make some changes with that now. I need to find a way to get back to work, and I also have to consider moving.”
Madeleine nodded sympathetically. “Will you stay in Knockroe?”
Shrugging, Kate admitted, “I don’t honestly know. There are a lot of uncertainties at the moment.”
“And your solicitor?” she inquired with raised eyebrows. It was clear what she was implying, but Kate only shrugged, deferring the question.
Accepting this, Madeleine said, “If there is anything I can do to help, I hope you would let me know.”
Shaking her head incredulously, Kate said, “Actually, I think that’s my job to say that and offer the same to you.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Kate continued on, “Well, it’s all because of me that you and your husband ran up what I am sure is a sizable legal bill. And I wanted to tell you that maybe I can’t pay everything all at once, but I plan to take full responsibility for that.”
Madeleine looked at Kate with an open mouth. “You must be joking. Please, while I appreciate your attempt to make amends, I have to say that we certainly don’t expect this of you. You have other things to worry about.”
“But you can’t be expected to pay out all that money for...” Kate insisted, but Madeleine shook her head.
“It’ll be fine, honestly. Believe it or not, I’ve had offers to write a book about all this.” She smiled at the irony. Her Mad Mum tome might have been put on the back burner, but since the trial ended, there’d been a slew of newspapers and publishers lining up for Madeleine’s take on h
er treatment by the media and the public, in the wake of what turned out to be false allegations. “You don’t mind, do you? Obviously I’ll consult with you on all aspects concerning Rosie and—”
“Lucy was right.” Kate laughed through her tears. “You are a good person. And I’m so sorry I didn’t believe her or take the time to call you back all those times you tried to talk to me before...everything. I wish I hadn’t been so stubborn.”
At this, Madeleine could only nod sadly. “Me, too.”
54
As I left Madeleine’s house, I had to admit that the weight I had been carrying around like an anvil for the past week had been lifted off my shoulders.
Of course, I had been totally genuine in my offer of paying the Coopers’ legal bill, but it was also a huge relief to know that the offer was declined. I knew I would be struggling to climb out of my own debt hole for quite some time and I really hadn’t had a notion how I would pay their bills, too. But I knew I had to offer.
Driving the couple of miles across Knockroe that separated the Cooper house from my own, I realized something else was nagging me now, though.
Declan. He was on my mind constantly, and while he and I had communicated a little since the trial ended, we hadn’t talked face-to-face since he’d dropped me home from the courthouse that Monday morning.
If I was being honest, I missed him—I had grown so used to having him around that the sudden absence stung on some level. I knew he and Alison were working on getting the practice back in order after the mayhem of O’Hara v. Cooper, just as I was trying to establish a new normal in my home, but that didn’t erase him from my thoughts.
Yes, I was attracted to him, I might as well admit that. And given the few...awkward moments we’d shared, especially in recent weeks, I was pretty confident that the feeling was mutual. But was I ready for a relationship if the prospect of one was even in the offing?
I had become so used to being on my own, and with all the upheavals Rosie and I had experienced, would it even be fair to Declan if he did want to be with me? Was it right for him to be involved with, or more correctly shackled to, someone with as much baggage as I? Did I even remember how to share my life with someone?
