Tell Me No Lies

by Shirley Wine

  Victoria huffed out an impatient breath.

  ‘I’m not some hothouse flower in need of coddling and protection. Connor is my son, and I will go with you to bring him home from hospital.’ She lifted her chin in emphasis. ‘I will not give that objectionable woman the satisfaction of thinking I’m running scared.’

  A gleam of approval softened Keir’s austere expression. ‘We will leave by the public entrance.’

  The memory of the media scrum made her wince, but Keir had issued an unmistakable challenge and this fired her resolve. ‘I have always regarded my son as a blessing and I refuse to hide him away, or give anyone cause to think otherwise.’

  ‘That’s the spirit. The hospital is expecting us and will notify security.’ He turned to leave and paused in the doorway. ‘And Victoria? Wear something to set the press on their ear.’

  She chuckled and her spirits lifted at this sally. This was so much more like the thoughtful man she’d once known, and suddenly the future didn’t seem so bleak. Hope sat lightly on her shoulder. Would Connor’s innocence work its magic on his father and soften Keir’s scarred heart?

  Victoria’s heart sank as she caught sight of the phalanx of reporters and cameramen outside the hospital entrance. Police officers and security staff patrolled the area, keeping the press back from the entrance.

  Despite Keir’s embargo, it was obvious that someone had tipped off the media that Keir Donovan’s love child was about to be discharged.

  For the past week Holly had managed to get Victoria in to see Connor while also dodging the press, but today Keir had decided they would bring the chauffeur-driven car to collect their son.

  Keir let out a colourful expletive when they returned to the ground floor after collecting Connor. ‘We’re not taking him out through that scrum.’

  He shepherded Victoria and Connor back into an open lift, pulled out his cell and made a quick call as he pressed the button to send the lift back up to the main floor.

  ‘What do we do now?’ Victoria asked.

  He led the way to the seats near the cafe. ‘I’ve called Holly. She’ll text me when she’s near another pick-up point.’

  ‘What about the car?’

  ‘I’ll text the driver to wait there as a decoy until we’re safely away from here.’

  Connor huddled close to her side, obviously frightened. One look at his pale face and wide, scared eyes and Victoria’s anger grew. She refused to stand by and allow her child be harassed.

  Keir’s cell phone bleeped a message.

  ‘Holly is about five minutes from pulling up outside accident and emergency.’ He scooped Connor up in his arms. ‘Let’s move it, before the press figure out we’ve given them the slip.’

  Victoria was almost running to keep up with Keir’s brisk stride. Her relief when she saw Holly pull up was short-lived.

  They were ambushed by two reporters as they made their way across the forecourt to the car, its flashlights blazing.

  ‘This way, Ms Scanlan—When’s the wedding—Is this your son, Donovan—Have you spoken to Ms Strathmore—How did she react when she learned you’d fathered a child with a teenage girl—’

  ‘No comment.’ Keir pulled Connor even closer, tightening his other arm around her shoulders.

  Connor cowered against Keir’s chest.

  Holly was out of the car and had the rear door open.

  One of the men thrust a microphone in Connor’s face. ‘How do you like having a daddy?’

  ‘Touch my boy and I’ll shove that thing down your throat.’ Keir was pure, lethal menace. ‘Do you get your kicks out of scaring little kids?’

  The reporter took a hasty step back and Holly moved between the man and Keir. The reporter had the sense to back off, but that didn’t stop the rapid-fire click of his camera. As she was getting into the car, Victoria caught an intrusive question that Keir totally ignored.

  ‘Donovan? Can you confirm the rumour that the board of Donovans wants your resignation as CEO?’

  Victoria’s gaze swung toward the voice, but before she could utter a word Holly had her in the car and the door shut behind them.

  Is Keir’s position with Donovans under threat?

  When the harassment frightened her child and threatened her man’s position, Victoria decided it was more than time to fight back.

  ‘Good work, Holly,’ Keir said as he strapped Connor in the booster seat as she pulled away from the curb.

  ‘Just doing my job, boss. Sorry about those two goons.’

  ‘They’ll soon get tired of it.’ He reached across Connor and caught Victoria’s hand and squeezed it.

  She gave him a scathing glance. ‘Isn’t there anything we can do? Is that reporter right? Is this circus impacting on your position at Donovans?’

  Keir hesitated and shrugged. ‘Let me worry about my job.’

  His hesitation confirmed her suspicion, and determination mingled with her anger. She was not prepared to wait it out. She would find some way to put a stop to this persecution even if it meant taking the fight to Davina Strathmore.

  ‘Would issuing a statement help?’

  ‘Saying what?’ he asked, a harsh undertone in his voice. ‘The only thing to stop this would be to announce a wedding date, and you’ve nixed that option.’

  ‘Would that make a difference?’ Victoria couldn’t see how Keir announcing that they intended to marry would stop this vindictive vendetta.

  ‘It would certainly weigh heavily with the Donovans’ board.’

  The weariness in his bleak admission had her taking a ragged breath. The burden of guilt grew heavier. If Keir was asked to resign—it was untenable.

  ‘Don’t let it worry you.’

  ‘How can it not worry me?’ She laid her hand over his. ‘What I can’t understand is why Donovans is coming after you.’

  ‘It’s threefold. There’s the scandal surrounding my parents. I’ve already had one failed marriage, and now the board has learned I have a son that it appears I’ve walked away from.’

  She found his dry observation far from reassuring, and no matter which way she looked at it, there was no easy way out. Connor moved restlessly in his seat and she turned her attention to him.

  ‘I want to get out,’ he said plaintively, playing with the seat straps.

  ‘It won’t be long, sweetheart. We’ll soon be home.’ Even as she spoke, Victoria was surprised at how easily she’d accepted Keir’s house as being her and Connor’s home.

  Was it time she put aside her scruples? Accept that their future lay together and work on forging a family unit instead of holding out for some idealised declaration from Keir? The break-in at her apartment and the ongoing scrutiny of the media ensured she couldn’t keep Connor safe, or herself safe for that matter.

  It was a new and unwelcome sensation.

  She now had to face the reality that neither she, nor her adored child, could slip back into the blessed anonymity they’d previously enjoyed. She’d joined the ranks of those who needed to be protected from the curious and the unscrupulous. As the car drove through the electronically controlled gates of Dunstan, she eased out a relieved sigh.

  As she looked at Keir’s profile she knew that, while she’d chafed at the situation, she’d not considered this nightmare from his perspective. She leaned across Connor and laid a hand on Keir’s. He raised an eyebrow in question.

  ‘I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much grief.’

  ‘So am I.’ He frowned and laid a hand over hers. ‘This whole situation has been mismanaged.’

  Her protest at Keir’s understatement was cut off when Connor’s wail jerked her attention from her own nightmare.

  ‘You said we were going home.’ The little boy’s lower lip trembled ominously. ‘This isn’t our home.’

  Why hadn’t she anticipated this reaction? What sort of mother did that make her?

  ‘This is my home, Connor.’ Keir was calm and assured as he unstrapped Connor. ‘Now that I’ve found you, you
want to live with me, don’t you?’

  Connor’s lower lip jutted as he looked from Victoria to Keir, his face filled with suspicion. ‘My mum, too?’

  ‘Your mum, too.’ Keir lifted the little boy out onto the forecourt. ‘Is that okay with you?’

  Connor nodded, but his chin wobbled. Victoria’s heart ached at his bewilderment. It was impossible for anyone to explain to a little boy that he couldn’t go back to the home or the life he’d always known because he was no longer safe.

  Keir crouched down beside Connor, giving him his full attention. ‘You and your mother are living with me because I have high fences around my home to keep you safe. There are too many bad men outside who want to hurt you.’

  ‘Stop, Keir!’

  Victoria laid a hand on his arm and scooped the trembling child close in a hug. She didn’t want Connor terrified. She needed to explain in a way he would understand.

  ‘We’re living with your daddy so we can learn how to be a family. Would you like that?’ She watched Connor absorb this, relieved when she saw acceptance in his expression. ‘Your daddy has prepared a room for you here at his house.’

  Victoria waited to give Connor time to take this in.

  ‘There are some new toys there for you,’ she said encouragingly. ‘Do you want to see your room and your new toys, and show them to Monkee?’

  Victoria was so thankful that Connor had taken his beloved monkey with him to Daphne’s. Had he lost the bedraggled stuffed toy he dragged with him everywhere—it didn’t bear thinking on.

  The distraction worked and Connor’s expression changed to one of cautious eagerness. ‘Okay.’

  Keir opened the front door and together they walked inside the big house. Victoria was too aware of the silent child at her side. What would he make of this space, and would he be as intimidated as she’d been at first?

  ‘It’s big.’ Connor looked from her to his father.

  ‘More room to play in,’ Keir assured him gruffly.

  ‘There’s stairs.’

  ‘Don’t let me catch you sliding down that bannister.’ Keir laughed softly. ‘At least until you are a good deal older.’

  ‘Can I?’ Connor’s expression was suddenly animated.

  ‘Definitely not! Don’t put ideas in his head.’ Victoria turned to Keir laughing. ‘This is the kid who used a towel for a cape and tried to emulate Superman.’

  Keir stopped and looked at his son. ‘Did you?’

  ‘Yes he did, and you broke your arm, didn’t you, kiddo?’

  ‘Yeah.’ He gave a despondent sigh. ‘And Mum says I’m not ’lowed to jump off high things anymore.’

  ‘And quite right, too.’ Keir gave her a shrewd look. ‘Where did he try this gravity-defying feat?’

  ‘He jumped off the carport roof.’

  ‘Good Lord.’

  ‘Make the most of his unnatural quietness now, Keir,’ she said sotto voce. ‘Your son can be hell on wheels.’

  Keir looked at her, grinning and shaking his head. ‘Bring it on.’

  For once she was in complete agreement. As they walked up the stairs together, Victoria knew she would welcome the return of Connor’s adventurous spirit. This subdued, often tearful little boy was too much like an alien creature.

  Keir opened the door into the room they’d prepared for Connor.

  Connor hung back and she crouched down, her hands firm on his shoulders.

  ‘Where’s my bed?’ His bottom lip jutted ominously.

  ‘Your bed was old and worn out, so your dad and I bought you a new one.’

  Victoria held her breath, praying he would accept the changes. He was querulous and still convalescent, and instead of going back to the familiar comfort of his old home and playthings, he was surrounded by change.

  She glanced up at Keir leaning against the doorframe, silently watching. His smile was encouraging, and she was pleased he made no move to crowd Connor.

  ‘Why don’t you show Monkee your new bed?’ She smoothed a lock of sable hair back from Connor’s forehead. ‘And later you can bring him to see my new room.’

  ‘You have a new room too?’

  ‘I do indeed.’

  She stood and, holding her little boy’s hand, coaxed Connor forward. The room was simple in layout and the furniture sturdy enough to withstand robust play.

  It had taken considerable tact to persuade Keir not to go overboard.

  ‘I can afford the very best.’

  ‘I know you can,’ Victoria willed Keir to understand, ‘but Connor’s only five, and with so many unavoidable changes, let’s hold off on the unnecessary ones.’

  ‘You don’t want me to give him toys?’

  ‘Look at this from Connor’s perspective. This is a strange place to him and so much bigger than he’s used to. He won’t have any of his familiar clothes, furniture or toys, and if you add to this unavoidable change a mountain of new toys, he’ll be overwhelmed.’

  Keir hesitated then reluctantly agreed. ‘I hadn’t looked at it like that.’

  ‘Why not buy him one present, something a little boy is sure to like, and this way he’ll have time to settle in and something new to play with that will soon create a familiar memory.’

  ‘I’ve no idea what he’d like.’

  Victoria laughed and touched his arm. ‘Sure you do, Keir. Are you saying you’re so old that you can’t remember what you dreamed of getting when you were Connor’s age?’

  Watching Connor’s hesitancy now, Victoria was relieved that Keir had listened to her.

  It had taken time, but shopping online she’d managed to duplicate a few of Connor’s favourite toys and books that had been lost. She had to admit to being curious about the large parcel sitting in the centre of Connor’s new bed.

  ‘What’s in this?’ Connor honed in on the big box and gave it a solid rattle.

  ‘It’s a present for you from your dad.’

  ‘Can I open it?’

  ‘Of course.’ She glanced at Keir. ‘Why not ask your dad to lift it onto the floor and help you open it?’

  Victoria held her breath, releasing it in a soft, relieved sigh when Connor ran across to Keir, caught his hand and towed him toward the bed. The re-emergence of Connor’s natural exuberance, and his impatience as Keir lifted the heavy box onto the floor, filled her with an overwhelming relief.

  Keir crouched beside Connor and big, gentle hands helped little ones open the parcel. When they peeled the box lid back, Connor let out a screech. ‘Look Mummy, it’s a humungous truck.’

  Keir helped the little boy lift the dump truck out of the box and Connor pushed it over to her. She ruffled a hand through his hair. ‘What do you say?’

  Connor didn’t hesitate. He ran over and leaped at Keir, hugging him. ‘Thanks, Dad.’

  Keir closed his eyes and hugged his son.

  Connor bounced away and picked up his old, bedraggled monkey, showing his faithful companion the new truck and everything else in this new room, his previous tearfulness forgotten.

  And Victoria knew that Connor would settle here.

  For the first time in these past few crazy weeks, peace seeped into her heart. At Dunstan her son would be able to explore and grow and have fun in the safety and security that was every child’s birthright.

  She glanced at Keir.

  The naked yearning in his expression as he watched his son play increased Victoria’s resentment and anger over her father’s deception. She caught Keir’s hand and twined her fingers through his. He glanced down at her, startled.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ She squeezed his fingers in hers, realising for the first time the absolute rightness of sharing this moment with the father of her child.

  ‘About what?’ He quirked an expressive eyebrow.

  ‘That you’ve been denied Connor’s early years,’ she said in a soft voice. ‘I tried every avenue I could think of to find you when I learned I was pregnant.’

  For long fraught moments he studied her, emotion shadowing
his dark eyes. As she met his searching gaze she waited, unaccountably nervous. When he nodded in acceptance, her relief eased the cold chill that seemed to be lodged perpetually around her heart. Perhaps it was time she accepted Keir’s proposal.

  ‘Now that Connor’s here, we do need to think about the future. I don’t want to confuse him.’

  ‘Is it only him you don’t want to confuse?’

  Am I using my son as an excuse?

  Keir guided her to the wide, cushioned window seat and she sat down. He sat beside her, his long legs outstretched and crossed at the ankles.

  ‘Connor and I can’t return to our old life.’

  ‘That’s been a given from the moment this story broke.’

  ‘I just wish it would all go away.’

  ‘Wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which one fills first.’

  She laughed, but the sound had a decided break.

  Connor broke the moment, racing a fire-engine across the floor and running it up and into her lap. ‘Vroom—vroom—look, Mummy, I found this in the box.’

  ‘It’s a super one, isn’t it?’ Victoria’s unsteady hand stroked across Connor’s head, her fingers gentling where new growth bristled on the patch that had been shaved for his operation. She would deal with the devil himself to ensure this child came to no harm. Connor scooted across the rug and she looked up at Keir. ‘I’ve changed my mind.’

  ‘You’ll marry me?’

  ‘Yes,’ she whispered, finding it exceedingly difficult to say the word.

  ‘What about needing my undying love?’

  His dry mockery sent fiery heat into her cheeks, but she refused to look away or back down. She tried to quiet her troubled mind, but the doubts were stubbornly persistent. At that moment she wished she had the ability to look into the future because her life and Connor’s were involved in this decision, and if she got it wrong …

  ‘I’ll settle for being safe,’ she said at last. ‘And ensuring our little boy stays safe.’

  For long, silent moments they looked at each other. Whatever Keir saw in her face must have satisfied him.

  ‘Now that I can promise you, Victoria.’