The Diamond Dad

by Lucy Gordon

  Garth became acutely aware that his wife was watching him from the doorway and at this pronouncement her eyebrows gave a cynical lift.

  'How do you know that?' Garth demanded after a moment.

  'Because Kendall says so.'

  'But no plans have been pub- That is-he can't be certain what Melkham intends unless he's seen plans.'

  'Kendall says he doesn't have to see them. He says he knows shops and offices have got to be there, because it won't be fi-' Adrian hesitated and spoke the next words slowly, 'financially viable without them. And he says the man behind it all never does anything except for money.'

  'But perhaps he's got that wrong,' Garth suggested, a slight edge on his voice.

  'I don't think so,' Adrian said, frowning. 'Kendall knows everything. He says-'

  'Yes, fine,' Garth interrupted him restively. He felt he might do something desperate if he had to hear any more of what 'Kendall said'.

  Cindy bounded in, full of delight over her brother's television appearance, and the two of them went away together to tell Barker all about it. Faye remained in the doorway, watching her husband's brooding face. At last he looked up and their eyes met.

  'Shops and offices, huh?' she echoed mockingly. 'Fancy that!'

  'You know nothing about how these things are done,' he growled.

  'But Kendall does, doesn't he? That's why you really hate him, because he's the one person you can't fool.'

  'Rubbish! It's because he's stealing my son. He's going to be very sorry about that. Adrian's having a foot in both camps can work for me, as well as against me.'

  'Garth, if you make use of what that child has just told you, he'll never speak to you again,' Faye said in alarm.

  'Sentimental nonsense! The sooner he learns about the real world the better.'

  'And what do you think he'll do? The moment he knows what you're up to, he'll warn Kendall.'

  'Don't you understand? It doesn't make any difference. Let Kendall know that I've found out. He can't stop me.'

  'All right,' Faye said quietly. 'Go ahead. Use what you learned today to defeat Kendall. Let Adrian find out that you tricked him into betraying his friend. Then get yourself another son, because you'll have lost this one for ever.'

  'I'm not that much of a fool. I won't alienate Adrian, but I can't just let it go at this. I've got too much money tied up in that site.'

  'Then why didn't you check the legal position before you bought it?'

  'I have lawyers whose job it is to do just that and, believe me, heads will roll.' He rose from the sofa. 'I'm going to make some phone calls in the study.'

  Faye returned to work at her computer, trying to shrug mentally and tell herself that if Garth wanted to make his son totally disillusioned with him, it wasn't her fault. Perhaps Adrian really did need to discover how low his lather could sink.

  But the thought of the little boy's pain kept intruding and made it impossible to concentrate. His unhappy face was there before her inner eye, but it kept getting mixed up with Garth's face. Her husband was heading for disaster and he couldn't see it. But when it was too late and Adrian wanted nothing more to do with him, then his suffering would begin.

  It was his own fault, her reasonable mind argued. He'd put their marriage on the basis of a business deal. It was time he learned the true cost of business.

  If only her heart could be reasonable! It ached for her child's pain, and somehow Garth's pain was in there too, complicating everything.

  She worked late, forcing herself to concentrate on figures that meant nothing beside her inner turmoil. At last she got up and went downstairs. She must make at least one more effort to help Garth see what he was doing.

  But the study was in darkness. Faye could hear movement coming from his little monastic bedroom, but she stopped with her hand on the knob. Garth slept naked and, however much they'd quarrelled in the past, the sight of his head on the pillow, tousled and vulnerable- looking, had always been able to melt her heart. She couldn't bring herself to go in there.

  Guiltily she realized that she'd been too preoccupied to notice the passage of time and she hadn't said goodnight to the children. She looked in on Adrian, kissed him in his sleep and crept out. But she could hear a soft murmuring from Cindy's room, as though the child was talking to someone.

  'I thought so,' she said, looking around the door.

  Barker was sprawled on the bed, contending with Cindy for the available space. 'Out, dog!' she commanded. 'No sleeping in here!'

  Barker eyed her, and stayed where he was.

  'Off!' Faye insisted, pointing to the door.

  'Oh, please let him stay, Mummy,' Cindy begged.

  'Not a chance. Apart from the fact that it's unhygienic, where would you sleep? You're clinging on to the edge as it is.'

  'I don't mind clinging on to the edge-'

  'Cindy, I'm not arguing about this. Barker has to go. Come along, make him get off.'

  Cindy slid her toes beneath Barker and wriggled them, which was usually enough to make him jump down. Not this time. Cindy wriggled her toes again, but he only regarded her reproachfully. She wriggled harder, and he merely settled down more deeply.

  'He doesn't want to,' Cindy said unarguably. 'It took him ages to get up. He walked around and around the bed as if he wasn't sure he could do it.'

  'Oh, you are an awkward animal!' Faye sighed, putting her arms around him and heaving. Barker tried to take root, but the bedspread was slippery and he slid helplessly off onto the floor. He landed heavily and let out a squeal of pain.

  'Mummy, Mummy, you hurt him!' Cindy said, jumping out of bed and throwing her arms about Barker's neck. 'You hurt him, you hurt him,' she repeated in tears.

  'Darling, I didn't mean to,' Faye protested, almost as distressed as the child, for Barker was now making a pitiful wailing noise. 'Oh, you poor old boy! What did I do? I'm so sorry.'

  Garth and Adrian came in, alerted by the noise.

  Adrian tried to entice the dog to his feet with a titbit, but Barker seemed unable to move, even for food. That was when they knew something was really wrong.

  'Mummy!' Cindy cried hysterically.

  'All right, I know who can help,' Faye assured her.

  Garth followed her into her bedroom, but when she reached for the telephone he stopped her. 'Who are you calling?'

  'Kendall. He's a vet.'

  'Barker is registered with an excellent animal hospi- tal.'

  'But it's late at night. He's in pain. He can't wait until morning.'

  'He won't have to. They have a night service. I'll call them.'

  'And take the poor animal there in the car, when he's like this? Oh, no! If I call Ken he'll come and see him here.'

  He seized her wrist, his eyes blazing. 'Faye, that man is my enemy and hell will freeze over before I ask him for help, let alone have him in this house. I'll call the vet and get someone out here.'

  He made the call at once and after a few moments handed Faye the phone. 'You'd better explain,' he said.

  Faye described what had happened and the night duty vet, a pleasant-sounding woman called Miss McGeorge, said, 'That sounds familiar. If I'm right it's not serious, but I'll know more when I've seen him. Expect me in ten minutes.'

  'She's coming,' Faye said as she hung up.

  'So there's no need for your friend.'

  'As it happens, no!' She eyed him accusingly. 'Would you really have let that poor dog suffer till morning lather than ask Kendall?' 'You obviously think I would.'

  'Hell will freeze over-' she reminded him.

  'Look, I don't know what I'd have done.'

  'Even for Cindy?'

  'I told you, I don't know,' he snapped.

  Miss McGeorge arrived soon, listened to the story, then gently coaxed Barker to his feet.

  'His back legs seemed a little stiff this afternoon,' Faye said self-reproachfully. 'I wish I'd called you then, but I wasn't quite sure.'

  Miss McGeorge took hold of one of Barker's
back legs and waggled it slightly. From under the thick fur came the sound of a sharp crack.

  'Just as I thought,' she said. 'He's got a touch of arthritis. It tends to happen to elderly dogs.'

  'Can you make it go away?' Cindy asked anxiously.

  'I can make his pain go away,' Miss McGeorge promised. 'I can't cure the arthritis, but I'll give him an injection that will make it stop hurting for tonight. Bring him to the surgery on Monday and I'll decide what pills he needs.'

  Her cheerful manner had its effect and soon after she'd given the injection and departed, Barker was visibly better. The children coaxed him back to his basket, settled him for the night and were finally persuaded to return to bed.

  Faye slept for an hour, then instinct prompted her to rise and go quietly downstairs to the place where Barker's basket was kept.

  'And what are you two doing down here?' she asked unnecessarily.

  Two small faces looked up guiltily, then quickly assumed innocent expressions.

  'We were checking that he's all right, Mummy,' Adrian said, adding cheekily, 'Just like you.'

  Cindy tactfully smothered her giggle and Faye said, 'All right, funny man, how is he?'

  'He's just been out into the garden,' Cindy said. 'I think he's all right.'

  'What's going on?' Garth asked sleepily, appearing in his dressing gown.

  They all explained and he knelt down to scratch the invalid's head. Cindy and Adrian offered biscuits, which were accepted, and Garth observed, 'He's going to make the most of this.'

  'Daddy,' Cindy reproached him. 'That's not kind.'

  'It's a plain statement of fact. Now his pain's gone he's loving the attention.'

  'But you will take him back to the vet for his pills?' she asked worriedly.

  'Of course I will.'

  'He means that / will,' Faye said lightly. 'Daddy has to be at work.'

  Garth shrugged. 'If we can set off first thing, I don't mind being an hour late.'

  The children looked gratified and Adrian said, 'Thanks for calling the vet, Daddy. Is it very expensive if they come out late?'

  'Never mind that.'

  'But I can help, from my pocket money.'

  'So can I,' Cindy volunteered eagerly.

  Garth ruffled her hair. 'You've already had next week's in advance, both of you. You're too young to start getting into debt. Let me take care of Barker.'

  Adrian grinned. 'Thanks, Dad.'

  Garth grinned back and suddenly they looked uncannily alike, although they didn't share a single feature.

  For one brief moment there was understanding between them. Then it passed and they both became self- conscious.

  'Off to bed, now,' Garth said.

  Faye tried to catch his eye and send him the silent message, 'See how much you've gained. Don't risk losing it.' But then she realized that he was determined not to look at her and she turned away, heavy-hearted.

  He was as good as his word, going to work late on Monday morning in order to chauffeur Barker to the vet. But that night he returned home later than ever and Faye guessed that it was the legal challenge over the Outland that took up so much time.

  She even considered calling Kendall herself to warn him what was in the wind. But, as Garth had said, it was already too late, and it would have felt uneasily like conspiring with Kendall against the man who was still her husband.

  All Tuesday she was braced for a call from Kendall, angry because Garth had met the deadline. But Tuesday passed into Wednesday and Kendall didn't telephone either herself or Adrian. She couldn't raise the subject with Garth, as he'd stayed at his office over Tuesday night.

  On Wednesday afternoon she returned from school with the children to find a message from Kendall on her answer machine, telling them to watch the local news. There was no more information and it was hard to tell from his voice whether he was pleased or disappointed.

  The very first item on the news was about the Outland and there was Kendall, smiling and talking about a significant victory.

  'Now that the deadline has passed we have no more to fear from Melkham Construction,' he said. 'This is a freat day for the countryside.'

  An announcer appeared on the screen. 'Melkham, of course, is no more than a wholly owned subsidiary of Clayton Properties, the fast growing empire of Garth Clayton. We tried to contact Mr Clayton to ask how he Iclt about being beaten to the post, but he wasn't available for comment…'

  Adrian turned slowly and stared at Faye. 'He means Daddy, doesn't he?'

  'That's right,' Faye said. She sat very still, knowing that she was the only one who'd heard Garth's arrival. She was aware of him crossing the hall to stand just outside the open door, listening to every word.

  'But- I told him-' Adrian stammered. 'I gave the whole game away- He could have-' He paled as he realized the full implications.

  'Yes, he could have made use of what you said,' Faye agreed. 'But that would have been dishonourable, and your father wouldn't do it.'

  "Course he wouldn't,' Cindy said scornfully to her brother. 'Daddy would never do anything mean or dis- dishorrible!'

  Adrian was deep in thought. 'Mummy,' he said at last, 'Uncle Ken is one of the good guys, isn't he?'

  'Definitely.'

  'And Daddy's quite different to Uncle Ken. But Daddy's one of the good guys too.' His forehead creased. 'Isn't he?'

  'There's more than one kind of good guy,' Faye explained. 'There's Uncle Ken's kind, and Daddy's kind. But they're both good.'

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Garth back away into the shadows. She longed to talk to him, to tell him how happy she was that he'd put his son's feelings before his profits. But that must wait.

  A moment later the front door opened and closed noisily and Garth's cheerful call of 'Where is everyone?' made Cindy and Adrian rush into the hall. Cindy threw herself joyously into his arms. Adrian held off a little, studying his father with a puzzled frown. But at last he, too, snuggled against him.

  Nobody mentioned the matter until the children were going to bed. Then Adrian looked Garth full in the face and said quietly, 'Thanks, Dad.'

  'You can always trust me,' Garth said, returning his son's gaze.

  Adrian nodded before mounting the stairs with Cindy. He didn't speak but, as he turned away, Faye just glimpsed his smile.

  'Thank you from me, too,' she said, laying a hand on Garth's arm.

  He looked elated, as he'd sometimes looked before when he'd found the key to a tricky situation.

  'It should be me thanking you,' he said. 'I was about to make the biggest blunder of all time and you stopped me. I'm grateful, and for the things you said to them about me. I appreciate fair dealing.'

  There was something not quite right in his voice, a hint of calculation that troubled her. But she tried again.

  'I hate you and Kendall being enemies-'

  'In the circumstances, we could hardly be anything else.'

  'But couldn't we say that the battle's finally over?'

  His air of elation was undimmed. 'Of course it's not over. It's just moved into a new phase. I know my enemy now. He's a subtle man and I was blundering about. But not any more. Now I've learned subtlety too.'

  'And just what does that mean?'

  'You can hardly expect me to tell you when you have one foot in the enemy camp.'

  'Meaning you don't trust me?' she asked, letting her hand fall away from him. 'Despite our differences, I think I've earned better than that from you, Garth.'

  'I told you, I appreciate your coming to my defence just now. You're a decent person, Faye, I know that. It's just that I never entirely trust my business partners. Now, I have a lot of work to do. Unless you want me for something?'

  'Not a thing,' she assured him in a toneless voice.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  'Daddy, you will look after poor Barker, won't you?'

  'I've already promised I will.'

  'Yes, but really?’

  'Really. My word on it.'


  It was time for Cindy and Adrian to go to the school camp in Cornwall but, on the morning of departure, Cindy had qualms about leaving her friend.

  'He's not very well,' she explained for the tenth time. 'He was limping last night and I think his legs are hurting again.'

  'Then I'll take him to the vet,' Garth assured her.

  'This morning?'

  'This morning.'

  'You won't make him wait?'

  'Cindy, get into the car!'

  'But you won't make him wait, will you?'

  'I won't make him wait.'

  'You're sure?'

  'I'm sure.'

  'Sure sure?'

  'Cindy, I'll take him to the vet.' Garth was beginning to sound frazzled.

  'Promise?'

  'Get into the car.'

  'Promise?'

  Garth tore his hair. 'I promise, I promise. Now, get into the car, both of you, or we'll be late and they'll go without you.'

  But she couldn't depart without reassuring Barker that he would be all right because Daddy had promised.

  'Cindy, I'm leaving in exactly one minute,' Garth said, at the end of his tether. 'With you or without you.'

  Both children kissed Faye and scrambled into the car. As they drove away Faye was sure she could hear Cindy's voice faintly, saying, 'Daddy, you're sure you won't forget…?'

  She enjoyed a private chuckle. As Garth had said, he was handling his task with subtlety. He'd even gone to watch Adrian playing football. His team had made it to the final of the inter-schools trophy and the whole family had been there for Adrian's big day.

  Everyone had enjoyed it enormously, and when Cindy had kissed her father goodnight at the foot of the stairs she'd whispered, 'Thank you for coming, Daddy. You made it really special.'

  'Hey, what about Mummy?' he'd queried. 'She was there too.'

  'That's different. Mummy's always there.'

  Faye had overheard this exchange from the kitchen and had come out, smiling quizzically at Garth.

  'Don't take that the wrong way,' he'd said hastily.

  'How should I take it?'

  'She didn't mean to put you down.' Through his awkwardness she had detected the attempt at kindness.

  'I didn't take it that way. Garth, Cindy has just said the nicest thing about me that any child can say about a parent. I promise you, I don't feel put down.'