A Small Town Affair

by Chrissie Loveday

  ‘As if they’re not already,’ she replied with a grimace. ‘But thanks for the advice.’

  A few days later, she telephoned her mother.

  ‘Mummy? I think I need to come home. Can you let me know if it will be all right. When you’ve spoken to Daddy of course.’

  ‘He knows already. I told him over Christmas. I think he’s getting used to it now. Naturally, he blew his top when he heard of the circumstances but you will be welcome here. There’s something else you should know. Jenny has got engaged. She didn’t want to tell you for fear of upsetting you but I said I’d tell you when I spoke to you.’

  ‘Silly girl. She should have told me. I’m happy for her. I’ll give her a call.’

  ‘When do you think you’ll come?’

  ‘I’ll finish this week out and come down at the beginning of next. Thanks for everything Mummy.’

  ‘You’re still my daughter. I don’t want you to think everything will be all right from now on. There are too many broken bridges to rebuild.’

  ‘I know. I’ll see you soon.’ She gave notice to James who looked relieved.

  ‘You’ve worked hard but I am pleased you are going home. You couldn’t continue working here with a new baby.’

  It was impossibly difficult to leave Cornwall. Georgie felt as if she was cutting off every link to Jay and the happiness she had known. Where was he now? What was he doing with his life? Perhaps he had taken up a life of real crime and could even be in prison. Nothing had ever been heard of her sports car again. Whatever his part in the theft, she had heard no more. Sadly, she packed her things and drove away. She had been given gifts of baby things by the staff and good wishes had gone with her. She had been touched by the sincerity but couldn’t help wondering if it was because of who she was.

  Nervously, Georgie went into the home she had known all her life. It was one of the most difficult things she had to do during this whole thing. Her mother greeted her with the same warmth she had been used to all her life.

  ‘I hope you had a good journey dear,’ she said.

  ‘Not bad. It seemed long way.’

  ‘You look tired.’

  ‘I am. I was tired before I left and the journey on top of it was a bit much. I’d like to go to my room and freshen up, if that’s all right. I suppose Daddy isn’t back yet?’

  ‘No. He’s away this evening so we’ll have time to catch up. You look as if it isn’t too long to go.’

  ‘It’s due in March. Around the middle of the month, we think.’

  ‘Oh dear. I suppose we shall have to organise doctors and hospitals and things.’

  ‘I suppose so. I have been seeing a midwife and following her advice.’

  ‘And you’ve had no more contact with the father?’

  ‘Nothing. Have you heard anything about the car theft?’

  ‘Nothing at all. As far as I know, nobody was charged. An unsolved crime, I’m afraid. Anyhow, go and get yourself sorted out. Dinner will be ready in hour.’

  It felt like being a guest in some stranger’s home, Georgie thought. This was going to be a difficult time. At least she didn’t have to face her father just yet. She looked round her pretty bedroom and smiled at seeing her things again. She opened her wardrobe and looked at the long rails of clothes, she had almost forgotten. Nothing was going to fit her for the next few weeks. Would she ever feel like wearing them again? Would there ever be occasions she would use them? She unpacked her collection of things from Cornwall and hung them up. The baby clothes, she put into a drawer and closed it firmly. She didn’t want to think about it just yet.

  ‘Dinner’s ready,’ her mother said, knocking on the door before opening it.

  ‘Thanks Mummy. Just coming.’

  Gradually, the tension was easing as the two women drew closer.

  ‘Do you know what it is yet?’ her mother asked. ‘I know they seem able to tell these days.’

  ‘It’s a boy. I hoped that might please Daddy. A new Hetherington male in the dynasty.’

  ‘But it’s not a Hetherington, is it? That’s the whole problem.’

  ‘He will be. There’s no point acknowledging the father is there? He didn’t want to know.’

  ‘Come on. Eat up. You need proper nutrition.’

  ‘Of course. I’ve been very careful so far. After the first few weeks, anyway.’

  ‘Guy’s been asking after you. He wants to come and see you.’

  ‘Really? I’d have thought I’d be the last person he wanted to see.’

  ‘He’s very fond of you. He knows about the baby and being the generous soul he is, he still wants to see you.’

  ‘This terrible scarlet woman, you mean?’

  ‘No need to be like that. He’s coming for drinks tomorrow evening. Daddy won’t be back for another day or two but he called earlier to see if you were home.’

  Once she was on her own again, Georgie reflected on the evening. So, Guy was still around and wanted to see her. She couldn’t help but wonder why. Surely he couldn’t still want to marry her? He had taken her rejection very well at the time, almost as if he expected it. Now she was carrying another man’s baby, he’d be an idiot to consider marrying her. Perhaps he was as business minded as her father and thought the merger between their families was worth it. Was that any good reason to marry someone? Not in her book.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Guy arrived at the house promptly at six o’clock, as arranged. He was dressed in his dark business suit with a discreet silk tie and matching shirt. Georgie greeted him nervously, not sure whether to shake his hand or kiss his cheek. He leaned forward and kissed her.

  ‘Good to see you again, Georgie. You’re looking very well.’

  ‘Thank you. Nice to see you,’ she added politely.

  ‘I .. I was glad to hear you were returning home. I missed you.’ She didn’t know how to reply and busied herself pouring drinks. Her mother came into the room.

  ‘Oh good. You’ve organised the drinks. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you. Crisis in the kitchen but all is now well. So how are you getting on Guy? All going smoothly at the Westland group?’

  ‘Not bad. Though we’re somewhat down on profits at the moment. Recession is biting us hard.’

  Georgie was half listening as the conversation droned on with business, business and more business. If they were married, life would be one long discussion of profits and losses: how to improve facilities ... it would be like their parents’ marriages. Boring and tedious with only one thing in common. She watched her mother reacting with the man and could see that they were friends and almost like colleagues.

  ‘So what do you think Georgie?’ her mother asked suddenly.

  ‘Sorry? I was miles away.’

  ‘Guy was asking f you’d like to go out for dinner with him?’

  ‘Thank you but I thought you had dinner organised here.’

  ‘Tomorrow?’ Guy asked.

  ‘Of course she would, wouldn’t you darling?’

  ‘Thank you. That’s very kind of you.’ She didn’t know how to refuse. It was as if her entire thought process had turned to mush. She just knew she would spend the next day wondering how to get out of it. He left at seven precisely. What a well organised life he led.

  Mrs Hetherington insisted on taking Georgie shopping the next day.

  ‘You can’t keep wearing those jeans and scruffy shirt. Haven’t you got anything else?’

  ‘Just the business suit I was wearing for work. It is a bit tight now.’

  ‘Well you can’t go out with Guy looking like a rag bag. We’ll go to that nice boutique place we used to use. I’m sure they’ll come up with something.’

  ‘If you like. But it’s only a few more weeks till my old things will fit again. I don’t want to waste money.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. You’re home now. You don’t have to skimp and scrape any more. And we shall have to start looking for baby things. Oh dear, it’s becoming more and more real each day. I’m go
ing to become a grandmother. I simply wasn’t expecting it to happen quite so soon.’

  ‘I can always go away again and find somewhere to live and spare you the shame of it all.’

  ‘Don’t be silly dear. I don’t think you realise how much support you’ll need.’ Georgie shrugged and allowed herself to be led into the shop. She felt disinterested in the clothes she was shown and didn’t even look at the price tags. If her mother wanted to organise it, she would let her. It was all back to normal ... she was being manipulated just as she always had been.

  ‘Can we go home now please? I’m feeling rather tired.’

  With a frown, her mother agreed and collected the carrier bags to take back to the car.

  ‘I thought we might look in the baby department. You need to consider things like cots and prams and a hundred and one other things. And we need to decide which room we shall make into a nursery. We shall have to engage some sort of nursemaid too, so she will also need a room nearby.’

  ‘Oh for goodness sake Mummy. I can pick up a second hand pram when I need it. I’ve got some baby clothes the staff gave me before I left. That’s enough to be going on with. I don’t want a nursemaid either. I’ll look after my baby.’

  She went to her room for the rest of the afternoon. Feeling slightly guilty about her behaviour, she got ready for her dinner with Guy and put on one of the new dresses her mother had bought.

  It was a tense meal. Guy did his best to avoid mentioning the baby growing inside her. When they had eaten their dessert, he reached into his pocket and laid a small box in front of her.

  ‘What’s this?’ she asked, her heart beginning to beat painfully.

  ‘Open it and see.’ He was smiling and reached over to open it for her, when she sat staring at the box without moving. ‘I still want to marry you. If we do it soon, nobody will ever realise it isn’t my child. I’ll bring it up as my own and I promise I won’t ask any questions.’

  ‘Oh Guy, you are such a nice man. Thank you for asking me and it’s very generous of you under the circumstances.’

  ‘I’m not listening to the “but” that’s coming. All our parents agree it is the best solution for you and the baby. I’m very fond of you Georgie. We’ve practically grown up together so there’s no doubt we get on well. I hope you’ll take the ring and wear it.’ He took it out of the box and slipped it onto her finger.

  ‘It’s very pretty,’ she said at last. ‘Thank you.’

  That was it. Evidently, they were now engaged. Where were the violins? The racing heart beats? The romance? The love?

  ‘Come on. Let’s go back home.’

  When they arrived, she saw her father’s car parked outside. She closed her eyes, knowing she was about to face the roaring tiger that was her father when things weren’t going his way. Guy took her hand and led her inside. He smiled and nodded to the reception committee comprising both her parents and Guy’s. He held out Georgie’s left hand to display the engagement ring. Champagne were popped and he celebration and congratulations began.

  Georgie seemed to be somewhere floating above the assembly, remote and out of it all.

  ‘We’re thinking of a small private ceremony very soon and we can have a proper celebration in a few months.’

  ‘After the bastard is born you mean?’ Georgie’s words were flung out of nowhere, her emotions in shreds. She rushed from the room, leaving everyone standing in confusion.

  ‘Leave her,’ Mrs Hetherington said. ‘I suspect it’s the hormones reacting. You must remember what it was like,’ she nodded towards Guy’s mother.

  Far from accepting congratulations and celebrating, she felt life was filled with impending disaster. She was being organised into a safe marriage with undoubtedly, a generous man who really cared. She couldn’t bear to hurt him, the man she felt as close to as a brother. But marrying him would be so wrong for both of them. When Jay’s son was born, he would have dark hair, remarkable green (or were they brown?) eyes. Everyone would know immediately he couldn’t be the child of two blond, blue eyed parents. The baby moved as if to confirm it was a boy ... Jay’s boy. She lay face down on her bed, her body wracked by sobs. Will this misery ever end she asked herself over and over?

  The date for the wedding had been set for the following week. The first of February was agreed by the four parents and Guy. Georgie said little and allowed herself to be taken to buy a dress for the ceremony and settle for a meal at local restaurant. Her friend Jenny would be there and the parents but nobody else. A grand party was arranged for the end of March when guests from everywhere would arrive at the largest of the hotels for a party to end all parties.

  ‘You’re happy with this?’ Jenny asked the night before the wedding day. ‘Only you look as if you’re going to the guillotine rather than the registry office.’

  ‘Or Jane Eyre about to discover the mad woman in the attic. Only I’m the mad woman.’

  ‘You don’t have to go through with it you know.’

  ‘You just try thwarting my parents. Daddy has actually treated me almost as human since the engagement. He’s got his way, don’t you see? A satisfactory business arrangement. No, I’ll have to go through with it. I had my fling and tasted what love is all about. Now I have to suffer the consequences.’

  ‘Oh Georgie. I’m so sorry.’ He hugged her friend and wished with all her heart that this wedding day could be everything Georgie had dreamed of.

  The ceremony, such as it was, would take place at midday. It seemed many people had heard about it and her mother came into her room with a large heap of letters and cards. She went through them in a desultory fashion. There was a large envelope with the insignia of the Cornish Hetherington Hotel. She opened it, expecting a card signed by members of the staff but instead, with a compliments slip, there was a sealed letter. The compliments slip stated that the letter had been hand delivered the previous week and was being forwarded in case it was of importance. Her hands shook as she recognised Jay’s writing. She hesitated, wondering if she should tear it up or open it.

  “My Darling Georgie,” she read. Tears filled her eyes and she could scarcely see rest of the words.

  “I realise you probably don’t want to read this or have any contact me but I have to explain things to you. I wanted and prayed to see you face to face but I could never find you. I tried to look for you at the hotel but they wouldn’t tell me if you were even there. I am sending this in the hope that it will reach you eventually. I tried to call but I was told your number could not accept my call. You must hate me so very much. But there are reasons for my behaviour. Reasons you will undoubtedly find hard to understand. I am now going to work in Hertfordshire , just so that I might possibly be closer to you and even see you again. If you have continued with the pregnancy, it must be nearing the time when our child is due. I’m begging you to speak to me. I want to know how you are and if you can forgive me in any way, I’d like to be a part of the baby’s life.

  Please, I’m begging you, call me and allow me to explain something of what was happening to me at the time. I know I lied to you but please consider, you also were guilty of lying to me.

  I love you Georgie. I love you with all my heart.

  Jay. XXX”

  Jenny came into the room and sat on the bed.

  ‘What’s wrong love? Why are you crying?’ Georgie handed her the letter and she read it quickly. ‘Wow. Talk about timing. Can you believe it? Fancy it arriving this morning of all times. It was dated a week ago.’

  ‘It was sent on from the hotel. I don’t know what to do.’

  ‘Do you want to listen to him or shouldn’t you rip it up and get on with the day as planned.’

  ‘He loves me Jenny. He says he still loves me.’

  ‘Of course he does. You haven’t learned a thing have you? Remember what everyone has said to you. He discovered who you really are and everything changed.’

  ‘He said he loved me way before he knew who I am.’

  ‘You’re sur
e of that?’

  ‘Of course I am.’

  ‘If you say so. But it’s too late now. Unless you let everyone down here, you’re marrying Guy in four hours.’

  Georgie flung back the bedclothes and reached for her phone. She dialled Jay’s number and sat back down on the bed.

  ‘There’s a whole four hours for me to listen to what he says.’ Jenny left the room discreetly. She hesitated. Should she report the latest turn of events to Mrs Hetherington? Or let things take their course? She decided not to interfere.

  ‘Jay? It’s me.’

  ‘Oh Georgie. Thank God. Thank you for calling. I’ve been waiting all these days and had almost given up on ever hearing from you.’

  ‘I’ve only just got your letter.’

  ‘How are you?’

  ‘We’re both well.’

  ‘Both? Does that mean you’ve had our child?’

  ‘Not yet. I have a few weeks to go. But he’s growing nicely. I’m in good health and everything is normal.’

  ‘Oh Georgie,’ he said again. ‘I’m so delighted. Can we meet soon? I need to tell you everything.’

  ‘It will have to be very soon. I’m getting married this morning.’

  ‘Married? Who on earth are you marrying?’

  ‘Guy of course. The dynastic arrangement I once told you about.’

  ‘You can’t Georgie. You mustn’t marry him. Where are you? I’m coming over right away. I’m only a few miles from your home. I assume that’s where you are.’

  ‘I’ll meet you. There’s a little wood on the side of the road near the house. About a mile away. I’ll wait there in half an hour.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  Georgie showered and dressed in her old jeans and a loose top. Everyone was in the dining room eating breakfast but she sneaked past the door without being seen. She drove out as quietly as she could, knowing that they would try to stop her if she was seen. Her heart was beating wildly as she pulled into the track off the road and waited. Would he find the place from her sparse instructions? She couldn’t bear it if she missed after all this time. She stood near the road, ready to dodge back if anyone came looking for her. Jenny would be certain to know why she had left the house and undoubtedly, they’d organise a search party once they knew. She saw a small van coming towards her and stared to see if it could be Jay. He gave a wave and drove to where she had indicated. He parked beside her car. He rushed to her the moment he stopped and pulled her into his arms. She felt as if her legs could no longer support her as the emotions surged through her body. This was what love should be like.