by Sharon Booth
'I think someone's got it in for me,' she said, her voice bitter, 'and I can guess who it is.'
'Who?' Eliot pulled her onto his lap, his arms going about her waist. 'No one would have it in for you. How could they?'
'You're blind to her,' Eden muttered. 'You both are. Don't look at me like that,' she snapped, glaring at Jed. 'I know she's your sister, but even so. You're as daft as he is when it comes to Emerald.'
'Emerald would never do this!' Jed sounded astounded that she could even think it. 'Look, I know the other night was heavy —'
'Yeah, and now these appear.' Eden tapped the screen in disgust. 'Amazing, isn't it?'
Eliot sighed. 'Don't take this the wrong way, love, but — well, there's no chance the reviews could be genuine grievances? I mean, happen the farmyard does get a bit noisy sometimes, what with the dogs and the kids and all the comings and goings. Happen the sound carries more than we realised?'
Eden glared at him. 'Right. Thanks for that. And I suppose I don't clean them well enough either? And all those bathrooms and toilets just aren't good enough for our demanding guests? Great to know whose side you're on.'
'Eden,' Eliot said calmly, 'I weren't saying that. I were just —'
'You were just sticking the blame on me. Anything, rather than accuse your precious Emerald.' She jumped to her feet as a loud knock on the door mercifully interrupted the scene. 'No doubt that's another complaint,' she said, hurrying out of the kitchen.
Jed raised an eyebrow as Eliot looked at him in despair.
'I don't know what's up with her lately,' Eliot confessed. 'Happen I were right. She's overworked, that's what it is.'
They fell silent as the sound of raised voices could be heard in the hallway, then with one accord they headed after Eden to see what on earth was going on now.
'It's a brand-new fridge freezer,' Eden was protesting. 'I don't see how it can possibly have broken down.'
'What's going on?' Eliot demanded, seeing two middle-aged men standing on the doorstep, a bag of clearly-defrosted food in their hands, dripping water all over the floor.
'Apparently, the fridge-freezer in the small barn isn't working,' Eden muttered.
'There's no apparently about it,' one of the men assured them. 'I didn't come over here to pull a fast one,' he added, sounding quite indignant. 'I wasn't even demanding compensation. I only came to tell her before we left for the day because I knew she'd need to get it fixed. I certainly didn't expect to be accused of lying.'
'I didn't say you were lying,' Eden said, rubbing her forehead wearily. 'I just asked you if you were sure you hadn't accidentally unplugged it or something?'
'I can assure you, we didn't touch the socket at all,' the other man said.
'I'm right sorry about that,' Eliot said. 'We'll refund the cost of all that food, of course.'
'I'll head over and take a look at the fridge-freezer,' Jed offered.
The first man handed Eliot the bag. 'Twelve pounds forty-seven,' he stated. 'I can look for the receipt if you like.'
'No need for that,' Eliot assured him. He put the bag on the step and hurried into the kitchen, returning moments later with his wallet. 'Fifteen pounds there,' he said, handing over two notes.
'Of course,' said the man, 'now we'll have to buy breakfast in the village, too. Most inconvenient.'
Eliot risked a glance at Eden. She looked ready to explode. Hastily, he handed over another note. 'For your breakfasts. The King's Head does a full English for a fiver. Enjoy.'
The two men nodded. 'Thank you, that's very decent of you.'
'Isn't it just?' Eden said, her arms folded.
Jed steered her away as Eliot took care of the bag of defrosting food.
'What a bloody con!' she snapped as he returned to the kitchen. 'Twenty-five quid out of our profits! They've practically stayed here for free.'
'Couldn't be helped,' Eliot said, 'and which would you prefer? Paying them off or another nasty review on yon website?'
As Eden glared at him, Jed announced that he would check over the fridge-freezer and made a hasty retreat.
'I told you this would be too much for you,' Eliot began, then shut up as Eden whirled round, looking livid.
'It's not too much for me! What's too much for me is that you're completely oblivious to how devious that little bitch upstairs is. You really think this is a coincidence? Why can't you see what she's really like?'
'Eden, you're not thinking straight. Why would she do summat like this, eh? And I suppose you're gunna tell me next that she sabotaged the electrics or summat?'
'I wouldn't put anything past her,' Eden muttered.
Jed came back into the kitchen. 'All done,' he said. 'I fixed it.'
'What were it?' Eliot said, not daring to look at Eden.
'The fuse had gone. I changed it and it's working fine now.'
'It was a brand-new fuse!' Eden protested. 'It's not possible for it to go so soon.'
Jed shrugged. 'Must've been faulty.'
'Sure it was, on a new appliance.' Her tone was heavy with sarcasm.
Her implication hung in the air. What would someone like Emerald know about fuses, Eliot wondered. Nothing, that's what. Eden were barking up the wrong tree about this. He could understand why she was upset but she was adding two and two and making a million, as far as he could see. It was as he'd said all along — she had too much to do and it was getting to her. Why had he ever believed her when she'd insisted she could cope?
'There's a letter for you,' Jed added, handing Eliot a thick, white envelope.
Eliot recognised that stationery and his stomach lurched in fear. His eyes met Eden's and he saw the same emotion in them that he was feeling. What now?
The kitchen fell silent as he read the letter, the words leaping off the page and attacking him with their venom.
'Well? What do they say?' Eden's voice was shaky, and Eliot gave her a despairing look.
'Want me to get the DNA test organised or they'll be taking steps to enforce it.' He threw the letter across the table. 'They must've decided to pile the pressure on. So much for Cain's intervention.'
'I'm real sorry, guys. What are you gonna do?' Jed dropped into a chair, eyeing Eliot worriedly. 'You do know you're gonna have to comply, right? They'll want absolute proof that George is Fuller's kid and they're gonna make sure they get it. There's no getting out of this.'
No getting out of it at all, Eliot acknowledged to himself. No escape. The net was closing. But, by God, he'd go down fighting.
****
Eden's stomach churned as she bundled George into her car and fastened him into his car seat. She'd never felt guiltier in her life — well, not since the last time she'd lied to and betrayed Eliot because of a Fuller. God, she was a horrible person. If he found out, he would be furious.
I've got no choice, she persuaded herself. The truth was, Deborah was clearly prepared to sink to despicably low levels and Eliot was far too honest and decent to compete. He would be torn apart by the Fullers. Reading the letter from the solicitor that Monday morning, she'd realised that Deborah had acted quickly to assure her that, if she didn't agree to her plan, things would get very bad for them indeed. It had then occurred to her that maybe Deborah was responsible for the horrible reviews, rather than Emerald. She wouldn't put anything past her. How much worse could things get? The truth was, with that family she suspected they could get a lot worse, and she had finally reached the conclusion that it was up to her to try to appease them by agreeing to Deborah's terms.
She'd called Thwaite Park, her hands trembling as she waited for someone to answer the phone. Her tremors were as much born of anger as nerves. She hated the fact that she'd been reduced to this, but it would have to be her that tried to reach a compromise. Eliot never would.
Frankly, she couldn't imagine the day that Eliot would ever agree to James having access to George, but he would soon have no choice. If she agreed to Deborah seeing her grandson, it might halt legal proceedings and th
e battle for sole custody. At the very least, it would buy the Harlands some time.
Deborah had agreed to meet her at the bunk barn again, and Eden had waited for her, giving her a curt nod upon her arrival and ushering her into the dining room.
She could see Deborah looking around her, clearly impressed by the oak flooring, and the cream painted walls, broken up with the odd patch of bare stone that revealed the age and character of the building. Overhead, thick oak beams criss-crossed the room, another reminder that this barn had stood for centuries, despite its contemporary furnishings. French doors opened out onto a small garden, with the car park and fields beyond.
Deborah should be impressed. A lot of thought and money had gone into making the barns a viable business, while retaining their character. She would show the Fullers that there was far more to her family than they dreamed of.
Eden indicated a table. Deborah sat, and Eden pulled out a chair and sat opposite her.
'We got your solicitor's letter.' Her voice was accusing, but she couldn't help it.
'Eden.' Deborah leaned forward and fixed her with a sympathetic look. 'I do understand how difficult this has all been, really I do. It's come as a real shock to me. I had no idea I had a grandchild until a few weeks ago. You can imagine how I felt.'
'I suppose so,' Eden admitted. 'But that's no reason to set the lawyers on us.'
'No,' Deborah conceded. 'In hindsight, I should have approached you both first in person. It was foolish of me to get the solicitors involved straightaway. I see now that it turned Eliot against me from the start.'
'To be honest,' Eden said, 'I doubt he'd have listened if you'd come here in person, but you could have done it anyway. Given him a chance, some warning.' She swallowed, blinking away tears. 'I don't think you realise what this is doing to him. How much he loves George. How much we all love him. Eliot has two daughters, and they have no idea about any of this. How do you think they'll feel if we have to explain that their mother had an affair with your son? That George has a different dad?'
'I know that,' Deborah said. 'I understand.'
'And have you thought about George in all this?' Eden's voice had risen. The more she tried to explain to Deborah the more her own panic increased. 'Can you imagine what it would be like for him? Eliot's the only dad he's ever known. Fleetsthorpe is his home. How can you even think of taking him away from us? From his home, his parents, his sisters? To live with strangers!'
Deborah flinched. 'We're hardly strangers. We're blood relatives.'
'You're strangers to him! The only Fuller he knows is Beth. And what about Beth, while we're at it? Have you asked her how she'd feel about taking George on? Because, I'll tell you now, she won't do it. She'd never do that to Eliot, or to George.'
'And what her husband wants doesn't count?'
'Did she count when he was having sex with Eliot's wife?'
Deborah took a deep breath. 'Touché. Look, you said you wanted to see me. Surely, it's not just to rehash this argument?'
Eden massaged her temples. 'Eliot will never forgive me if I do this. If I let you see George without telling him, I mean. He'll be furious if he finds out.'
'So, you're going to let me see him?' Deborah's face lit up. 'It's for Eliot's own good, Eden. We'll just make sure he doesn't find out. Like I said, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. It's in your hands now.'
'Great.' Eden shook her head. 'I've been in this position before. I can see who your son takes after.'
Deborah looked wounded, as if it was an insult, which it was. Clearly, she didn't take kindly to being compared with James, which was pretty revealing in itself. Not that it helped her now.
'I suppose I have no choice then,' Eden said heavily.
'You'll let me meet him? When? Today? Tomorrow?'
Eden stood up. 'I'm supposed to be dropping him off at the childminder's tomorrow morning at nine. If you meet me in Ravensbridge at the playground, around nine o'clock, I'll let you see him for an hour, and I'll tell the childminder we'll be there at ten. Hang on,' she added, as Deborah began to gush her thanks. 'There are two conditions. One, you don't tell anyone about this, and I mean anyone, even Beth. Two, you don't tell George you're his grandmother. In fact, as far as he's concerned, you're a lady who happens to be at the park and strikes up a conversation with us. That's vital. George would tell Eliot immediately, and so you can't give the meeting any more significance than a casual encounter in the playground. Right?'
Deborah nodded eagerly. Eden had a feeling she would have agreed to anything. 'Right.'
Eden stood and led Deborah to the door. 'Then we're done,' she said. 'Now, if you'll excuse me, I have tea to cook for my family.'
She'd practically pushed Deborah out of the barn, feeling sick to her stomach, and she hadn't been able to look at Eliot last night. She felt like a traitor, and only the hope that she was doing the right thing for them all had given her the strength to resist picking up the phone and telling Mrs Fuller that she could stick it.
She almost died of fright as she backed out of the car and collided with Eliot. What the hell was he doing here?
'Thought I'd come and see how you were doing this morning, since you were that quiet last night,' he said, waving at George, who was sitting placidly in the back seat. 'Where's Ophelia?'
'Here.' Ophelia came running up to the car, her school bag over her shoulder. She attended the primary school in Ravensbridge, and every morning Eden dropped her off before taking George to the childminder. After lunch, Mrs Thompson would take George to nursery, then Eden would collect him, along with Ophelia, at the end of the school day. Libby, meanwhile, had progressed to secondary school in Kirkby Skimmer, and caught the school bus every morning. It picked her up from the end of the farm track and dropped her off every afternoon, saving Eden a long trek.
'Have a good day at school, love.' Eliot dropped a kiss on his daughter's cheek and she pulled a face.
'It's not likely, is it? Still, only five weeks to the summer holidays.'
Eliot laughed. 'You've only just gone back after half term!'
Ophelia grinned and climbed into the front seat beside Eden, who was fumbling with her seat belt.
Eliot leaned into the car, his brow puckered. 'Are you all right?'
She gulped, sure her face was burning. 'Why shouldn't I be?'
'Well, you've been a bit off lately. Not yourself like. You're not sickening for owt?'
Eden cast a desperate look around the farmyard, unwilling to lie to his face. 'I told you, I'm just worried about the business.'
'Obviously.' He shrugged. 'But you know, don't you, that Emerald didn't do them things? The fuse were just faulty, and happen we were unlucky with some guests, that's all.'
Eden bit her lip and choked down a response. Whether it was Emerald or Deborah who was responsible, she loathed them both. She nodded.
Eliot hesitated then said, 'Okay, well if you're sure you're okay, I'll leave you to it.'
He leaned into the car, blowing a kiss at his son. 'See you later, Georgie. Have a nice day at Mrs Thompson's.'
George waved, and Eden started the car, without even telling Ophelia to fasten her seat belt, such was her haste to get away. She felt disgusted by her behaviour. She would have to talk to Deborah Fuller. Try to make her see that this wasn't fair, and there had to be another solution. She couldn't be expected to lie to Eliot like this. It was breaking her heart.
'Ophelia, seat belt, love! Don't I even get a goodbye kiss, Eden?' Eliot's tone was challenging as she put the car into gear.
'What? Oh, yeah. Yes of course.' Eden tilted her face towards him, her eyes fixed on the windscreen. If he saw her expression of misery and guilt, he would rumble her at once.
Eliot hesitated, then planted a quick kiss on her cheek. 'I'll see you when you get back,' he said.
'Okey dokey,' she replied, with as much cheerfulness as she could muster. 'See you then.'
She shut the window as he stepped away, and without anoth
er glance at him, she headed out of the farmyard.
The journey to Ravensbridge seemed to take forever. Eden kept glancing at the clock on the dashboard, half hoping that she would be late, and Deborah would leave, half terrified that she would miss her and cause an acceleration in the Fullers' determination to proceed with a legal claim. Ophelia and George chattered on and on, but Eden had no idea what they were talking about.
Approaching Camacker, she cast a teary glance at St Mary's, her mind dwelling on the vows that she and Eliot were about to make to each other and wondering exactly how she could reconcile them with her current deceitful behaviour.
I'll have to tell him, she thought in anguish. I can't keep this from him. It's too big!
As she reached Ravensbridge, Eden was almost convinced. Whatever happened today with Deborah Fuller, she would have to confess all to Eliot. It was crazy to go behind his back. Yes, he would no doubt have a fit that she'd done it, and there would be hell to pay, and he'd probably be even more determined to keep the Fullers away from George, but really, did it matter? The main thing was, George was Eliot's son, and if he didn't want the boy to have contact, then that was his business. She should support him. Whatever the decisions made, they were supposed to be a team, and they should work together and face the consequences together.
She dropped Ophelia outside the school gates, wishing her a good day, then drove off, her mind whirling. Pulling into the car park at the playground, Eden made up her mind. There was no way Deborah Fuller was meeting George. She would have to tell her so and hope to goodness she didn't cause a scene.
Turning off her engine, she sat for a few moments, scanning the playground for a sign of the woman. She couldn't see her and checking the clock she realised it was ten-past nine. Deborah was late, which surprised her. Unless — unless she'd already been and gone. But surely, if she was so desperate to see George, she would have given her longer than that?
'Can I go on the swings?' George asked, clearly wondering why he was sitting in the back of a car when there was a whole playground full of adventures just outside.
