It was a revelation to see the situation through Nick’s eyes. He could understand now why Nick had hounded him about his lifestyle when he’d moved to London. His father must have thought that he had been going completely off the rails when he’d read all that stuff in the press, and he, being stubborn, had done nothing to correct that impression.
He realised that he needed to speak to his father and resolve some of the issues that had sprung up over the years. It was Annabel’s christening on Sunday, and that would be the perfect opportunity. It was time he made his peace with his father so they could both move on.
The decision seemed to lift his mood. Jack whizzed through the rest of the morning. He stopped for lunch, then did a stint in Theatre. It was quite a complicated case to repair damage caused when a skin cancer had been removed from an elderly woman’s face. Effectively, it involved him giving the woman a face lift to avoid her face looking asymmetrical. When he had explained it to her, she’d been delighted at the thought of ending up looking several years younger.
As he worked away, Jack found himself smiling at the thought that something good had come out of a potential tragedy. It filled him with a renewed hope that he could do the same for Freddie—turn his son’s life around and make him happy. If he could do that, he would feel that he had achieved something truly worthwhile.
His heart gave a sudden flip, because after that he could think about himself and what he needed. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t have to stay away from Alison for very long.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
ALISON studied herself in the mirror. It was Sunday morning, the day of Annabel’s christening. She had got Sam ready first and left him watching a DVD, with strict instructions not to get himself dirty. Although she didn’t usually spend a lot of time on her appearance, she’d wanted to make a special effort that day because Jack would be there.
She sighed. She knew how foolish it was to want to impress him. Leaving aside the fact that she’d decided to keep her distance from him, she had little hope of competing with the women he had known in the past. They certainly wouldn’t have been wearing a dress that had been bought three years ago in a sale, neither would they have washed and dried their own hair. They probably had minions whose only purpose in life was to help them dazzle everyone when they went out!
She swung round, impatient with herself for behaving in such a ridiculous fashion. She was a grown woman and she should be past the age where she felt the need to impress people. As long as she looked presentable, that was the main thing.
She collected Sam and set off on foot for the church, because her car was at the garage, being serviced. Lucy had told her the christening would be held after the morning service finished, and she had timed her arrival to coincide with that. There were a lot of people milling about when she got there, so she led Sam to a quiet spot to wait for the rest of the party. Lucy and Ben arrived first with baby Annabel. They had Ben’s cousin with them as she was one of the godmothers. Alison admired Annabel’s christening robe, a gorgeous confection of cotton lawn and hand-made lace which, Lucy explained, had been handed down through the family.
Nick arrived next with Kate Althorp, the other godmother, hard on his heels. Kate had her son Jeremiah with her, and he immediately came over to play with Sam. There was no sign of Jack, and Alison felt her tension rising as she waited for him to appear. He was Annabel’s godfather, and she couldn’t imagine that he wouldn’t show up. However, as the minutes ticked past, she could feel herself growing increasingly anxious. What if something had happened to him or Freddie?
The churchwarden had just asked everyone to move inside the church when he arrived. He looked grim as he hurried up the path with Freddie in his arms.
‘Sorry I’m late,’ he apologised, kissing Lucy on the cheek. ‘We had a minor crisis and that held me up.’
‘You got here and that’s the main thing,’ Lucy said cheerfully. She went to kiss Freddie, but the little boy immediately started screaming and she backed away.
‘Sorry.’ Jack apologised, his face looking very strained as he tried to quieten his son. ‘He’s really out of sorts today. Heaven knows what he’ll be like when we go into the church. He’ll probably scream the place down.’
Alison could hear the worry in his voice and knew that she had to do something to help. Leading Sam forward, she smiled at Freddie.
‘Hi, Freddie. Would you like to play with Sam while your daddy helps Auntie Lucy?’ She opened her bag and took out a couple of Sam’s toy cars. ‘You and Sam can play races with these cars if you want to.’
Freddie immediately stopped crying. The idea obviously met with his approval because he started struggling to be put down. Jack smiled at her as he placed him on his feet, and she felt something warm rush through her when she saw the gratitude in his eyes.
‘Thank you so much. I’ve been tearing my hair out, imagining what was going to happen during the service. Are you sure you don’t mind, though? It doesn’t seem fair that you should be stuck outside.’
‘Of course I don’t mind.’ She returned his smile, hoping he couldn’t tell how glad she was to see him. Although it had been only a week since she’d seen him, she had missed him terribly. ‘You go and do your bit. Freddie will be quite safe with me.’
‘I know he will.’
Stepping forward, he dropped a kiss on her cheek, then hurried after Lucy. Alison took a deep breath when she felt ripples of heat start to spread throughout her body. It was just a token kiss stemming from gratitude, she told herself sternly. It certainly wasn’t anything to get excited about.
Fortunately Sam demanded her attention at that point. He was thrilled to bits when he discovered that he wouldn’t have to sit quietly in a pew. He and Freddie knelt down on the path and began a noisy game of chase with the toy cars. Alison smiled as she watched them. Although Freddie never said anything, he and Sam seemed able to communicate perfectly well.
An hour later everyone began to troop back out of the church. Ben and Lucy were having a christening party at their house, and most of the guests headed off in that direction. The church was almost empty when Jack came rushing outside, full of apologies.
‘Sorry, sorry! Lucy wanted us to have our photos taken while we were all together.’
‘It’s fine, don’t worry,’ Alison assured him. ‘Freddie’s been fine. He hasn’t cried once, in fact.’
‘It must be your magic touch.’ Jack sounded weary as he looked at his son. ‘I’ve no idea what upset him today. I was upstairs getting ready when I heard him screaming, and he was inconsolable by the time I got to him. I honestly thought I’d have to phone Lucy and tell her I couldn’t make it.’
‘I wonder what upset him,’ Alison said, frowning. ‘What was he doing at the time?’
‘Watching a film on the DVD player.’ He shrugged. ‘It was just a cartoon I bought on my way home from work on Friday. I can’t see it was that which upset him.’
‘Unless he’d seen it before and associated it with his mother,’ she suggested, and Jack frowned.
‘I never thought about that, although I know there were a stack of DVDs in the house when India died.’ When he saw her surprise he elaborated. ‘Her solicitor gave me an inventory of India’s belongings after her house was cleared, and I remember noticing there were hundreds of DVDs on it. Everything was left to Freddie, so I had most of it put into storage. I didn’t see the point of keeping things like DVDs, though, so I told the solicitor to give them to charity. Maybe I should have gone through them first.’
‘You can’t cover everything, Jack. Things are bound to crop up that remind Freddie of the past. You can’t blame yourself because you don’t know about them.’
‘I suppose not.’
‘There’s no suppose about it. You’re doing a wonderful job under very difficult circumstances and you have to remember that.’
‘Yes, miss,’ he replied with a grin.
Alison grimaced. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so bossy
.’
‘Oh, I don’t mind. I’m just glad that you’ve come up with such a sensible explanation for what happened. It stops me wondering what I’ve done wrong.’
‘You’ve done nothing wrong. You’re doing everything you can for Freddie.’
‘Thank you.’ Reaching out, he squeezed her hand. ‘I really appreciate you saying that.’
‘It’s no more than the truth.’
Alison moved away when she felt a shimmer of heat ripple through her again. She couldn’t believe how sensitive she was around him. Every time Jack touched her she reacted, and it was unsettling to know the effect he had on her. She gathered up the toy cars, then shooed the boys towards the lych gate. Jack paused under the thatched roof that covered the gateway.
‘Do you need a lift to Lucy’s? I can’t see your car anywhere about.’
‘It’s at the garage, being serviced,’ she admitted reluctantly, because she wasn’t sure if it would be wise to accept his offer.
‘I know we agreed to keep our distance, Alison, but it’s only a lift,’ he pointed out.
‘I know,’ she said quietly.
‘But?’
‘But one thing can lead to another if we’re not careful.’
‘Then we shall be extremely careful. Cross my heart and hope to die,’ he added, making a cross over his heart.
She chuckled. ‘That’s going a bit far, don’t you think?’
‘Not if it puts your mind at rest.’ He smiled at her. ‘I’ve missed you this past week. Dropping Freddie off at nursery isn’t nearly as much fun when you’re not there to chat to.’
‘Oh, get away with you,’ she chided, inwardly delighted by the comment, although it was the last thing she should have been.
Fortunately, Jack let it drop as he escorted her and Sam to his car. They got the boys settled and drove the short distance to Tregorran House, where Lucy and Ben lived. The rest of the party had beaten them to it, so they decided to park in the lane to save blocking anyone in. Alison gasped as she got out of the car.
‘I’d forgotten how gorgeous this place is. Just look at that view. It’s stunning whichever way you look.’
She turned and drank it all in. The house had been built close to the cliff top and the view across the sea from the front garden was breathtaking. It had been a working farm originally, and the house was surrounded by fields. She could see cattle grazing in one of the fields close by—big Guernsey cows with red and white coats that gleamed in the sunshine. In another field the first spring lambs were frolicking around their mothers on spindly little legs.
‘I wish I could afford a house like this,’ she said wistfully. ‘It’s the perfect place to raise a child, isn’t it?’
‘It is.’
Alison frowned when she heard the roughness in Jack’s voice. ‘You’re not still fretting about Freddie, are you? He’s fine, Jack. Honestly, he is.’ She laid her hand on his arm, wanting in some small way to offer him her support. She couldn’t bear to think that he was worrying himself to death when there was no need.
‘I’m sure you’re right. Ignore me. I’m just a worry-wart.’
He gave her a quick smile before he moved away. Alison sighed softly, wondering if she’d overstepped the mark. It really wasn’t her place to keep on offering him advice, was it?
She helped Sam out of the car and took him inside. They used the back door, which led straight into the kitchen. Lucy welcomed them with glasses of champagne for the adults and fruit juice for the children. Alison thanked her, then went through to the sitting room, where most of the guests had congregated close to the buffet table. She let Sam choose what he wanted to eat and got him settled on a stool in the corner out of everyone’s way, then went back to fill a plate for herself.
Jack was talking to his father and a strikingly attractive auburn-haired woman whom Alison had never seen before. It was obvious from their body language that she and Jack knew one another, and Alison couldn’t help wondering who she was. An old flame of Jack’s perhaps? Or a new conquest?
She took a sip of her champagne, but it tasted as flat as tap water all of a sudden. Jack had claimed that he wasn’t in the market for a relationship last weekend, but maybe he hadn’t been entirely truthful. He might not be interested in having a relationship with her, but he didn’t appear to have any such reservations when it came to other women.
Pain lanced through her as she turned so that she couldn’t see them. She had been right to steer clear of Jack. He was nothing but trouble.
Jack could barely contain his relief when he spotted Alex Ross talking to his father. He desperately needed to get back on track after what had happened outside, and he couldn’t think of a better way of doing it than by talking to Alex and Nick. Did Alison have any idea what she did to him? he wondered as he led Freddie across the room. He sincerely hoped not. If she had even the faintest inkling of what he’d been thinking just now, she probably wouldn’t speak to him again!
Jack’s teeth snapped together when he felt desire surge through him once more. The sight of Alison standing in the sunlight with her blonde hair blowing gently in the breeze was one he was going to have the devil of a job to shift. What made it all the more scary was that she hadn’t been trying to seduce him. She’d simply been admiring the view, oblivious to the fact that he’d been admiring her. It was her total lack of artifice that affected him so much. While other women he’d met had capitalised on their looks, she seemed genuinely unaware of her own beauty.
‘Jack! I had no idea you were going to be here today until I saw you in church. Why didn’t you tell me that you and Ben are related by marriage?’
Jack drummed up a smile as Alex greeted him in her usual forthright manner. ‘It never cropped up.’ He nodded to Nick. ‘It was a lovely service, wasn’t it, Dad?’
‘It was,’ Nick agreed, smiling at Freddie. ‘And how are you today, Freddie? Have you been a good boy?’
Jack was amazed when Freddie nodded, and even more amazed when his father delved into his pocket and came up with a bag of chocolate buttons. He shook his head when his son eagerly accepted them. ‘I never thought I’d see the day when you handed out sweets. It was Mum who always gave us any treats.’
Nick shrugged. ‘It’s a granddad’s privilege to spoil his grandchildren.’
‘Really?’ Jack laughed. ‘I’d better warn Lucy to be on the lookout for such subversive behaviour when Annabel gets a bit older.’
Alex smiled. ‘I think it’s lovely that you all live so close to each other. It must be a huge relief to you especially, Jack, having your family around to help you with Freddie.’
‘It is. It’s the reason I came back to Penhally Bay. Knowing that I could ask Lucy for help if I came unstuck was a big incentive.’
‘And not just Lucy,’ Alex said, glancing pointedly at Nick.
‘No, of course not.’ Jack took a deep breath, knowing this was the moment he’d been working up to. ‘Having Dad around is a great help as well. I really value his support.’
Nick didn’t say anything, so Jack couldn’t tell how he felt about the comment. He was glad that he’d made it, though, because it was time he tried to build some bridges between them. The conversation moved on to more general topics after that, and Jack was surprised when Alex told them that she had been looking at sites to build a new clinic in the area. It appeared that she had been approached by a consortium that was keen to break into the lucrative cosmetic surgery market, and Rock had been chosen as a possible location.
Nick shook his head. ‘It’s not private health care we need here, but more investment in local services. St Piran Hospital struggles to balance its books year after year and it needs extra funding.’
‘I’m sure that’s true,’ Alex said calmly. ‘However, it’s a completely separate issue. The clinic would offer a range of services not available on the NHS.’
‘Tummy tucks and breast enlargements, you mean?’ Nick said scornfully.
‘Along with a host of ot
her treatments, yes.’ Alex shrugged. ‘There’s a huge demand nowadays because people want to look their best.’
‘Even though they’re placing themselves at risk by undergoing what is effectively major surgery.’
Jack could tell that his father was growing increasingly irate and hurriedly stepped in. ‘So long as people are made aware of the risks, they can make an informed decision.’
‘So you’re in favour of this clinic, are you?’ Nick snapped.
‘I’m not against it. It’s a question of personal choice, in my view,’ Jack said.
‘And no doubt you’ll be happy to work in the place if it does get off the ground.’ Nick smiled tightly. ‘Why am I not surprised? It’s only what I would have expected.’
Jack could feel his temper soar, but he didn’t retaliate. ‘You might not know me as well as you think, Dad. Now, if you’ll both excuse me, I’ll get Freddie something to eat.’
He led Freddie away, wondering why he had bothered to try to make his peace with his father when Nick seemed determined to think the worst of him. Lucy caught up with him at the buffet and shook her head.
‘Don’t tell me that you and Dad have had another argument.’
‘I didn’t argue. There’s no point. Dad thinks he knows everything about me so why should I bother trying to change his mind?’
‘He misses Mum and that’s why he’s so testy,’ Lucy said softly.
‘We all miss Mum, but we have to try and carry on as she would expect us to do,’ Jack said shortly.
‘I know that, but it’s different for Dad. He’s lost the woman he loved and expected to spend his life with.’ Lucy glanced over at Ben, who was holding baby Annabel, and shivered. ‘I can’t imagine how awful it would be if anything happened to Ben. I don’t even want to try.’
‘Nothing is going to happen to Ben,’ Jack said firmly, giving her a hug. The last thing he wanted to do was to spoil this special day for her. ‘Anyway, if you nag Ben as much as you nag me then he will make sure he takes good care of himself just to stop you giving him earache!’
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