The Diamond Dad

by Lucy Gordon

'No, I couldn't,' she said firmly. 'This is a matter of life and death and I've no time to waste.'

  'All right, Mrs Clayton, but you won't mind if I call him first-'

  'You won't get through. He's not talking to anyone. Besides,' she added with a casualness she was far from feeling, 'I just wish I could be a fly on the wall if you manage to haul him out of a big meeting to ask him if his wife's a liar.' She even managed a laugh. 'Still, it's your head on the block.'

  'Yes, it is,' he said thoughtfully. 'Oh, well, I suppose if you tell me it's all right-'

  'I do. The responsibility is all mine. I'll be there in half an hour. Please have the engine running.' She hung up and leaned against the wall, drained and shaking from tension. That had been her speaking, gauche, shy Faye who'd once looked out at the world from under Garth's shadow. Now that seemed a very long time ago.

  A suggestion that the children should go home was instantly vetoed. Neither of them would leave their friend. Faye called Nancy and told her to come to the surgery.

  'It's not Daddy's fault,' she told the children. 'There's been a misunderstanding and I'm going up there to sort it out.'

  She only wished she felt as confident as she sounded.

  She left the moment Nancy arrived and began the drive to the airport. Her stomach was churning with nerves. She had no idea what was waiting for her in Newcastle. Garth had tried to block out his family again, and when she gatecrashed his meeting he would be furious. If only she didn't fail! If only she could keep her nerve long enough to confront him!

  An efficient machine took over as soon as she arrived. Someone took her car to park it. Someone else told her Bill was ready to leave at once. The engine was running just as she'd said, and in a few minutes they were airborne.

  'There'll be a car waiting the moment we land,' Bill said.

  'Thank you, Bill. You're very efficient.'

  'That's what Mr Clayton says,' Bill said gloomily. 'What he'll say to me after today I don't like to think.'

  'But I told you this was with his blessing.'

  'That's right, you did,' he said in a voice of deep gloom.

  'You just stick to it that you believed me. I'll take the flak.'

  As he'd promised, the car was there and in a few moments she was delivered at the headquarters of Garth's clients. A man on the front desk politely enquired her business.

  'I have to see Mr Clayton. I'm his wife, and it's extremely urgent.'

  The confident way she spoke had its effect. The man showed her the lift and said, 'Top floor, madam.'

  One hurdle over.

  On the top floor there was a young woman at a reception desk who rose and tried to block her way.

  'I'm sorry, but my instructions are to let nobody through,' she said, smiling but implacable.

  Faye also smiled. 'If you don't let me through I shall scream the place down,' she said.

  'Then I should have to call Security,' the receptionist said.

  'Do so,' Faye said almost amiably. She felt cool and in control. To call anyone, the receptionist would have to move out of her way.

  Too late the young woman realized this and for a split second she hesitated between the desk and Faye. That instant was enough. Faye moved her aside and swept on. Over her shoulder she could hear the receptionist telephoning someone and hurried lest security guards should appear.

  But it was Lysandra who came out and stood in her path. She was holding a file across her chest, as though in defence, and she looked very much in command. But then Faye's heightened senses made her acutely aware of the other woman's pallor and unease. Suddenly Lysandra wasn't confident any more. Her knuckles were white where they grasped the file and she was angry and afraid.

  'Let me pass,' Faye told her quietly.

  'Absolutely not! Garth says he doesn't want to be bothered by disturbances now-'

  'Well he's going to be whether he wants to or not. Now, I'll tell you for the last time, get out of my way.'

  Lysandra seemed to take root in the ground and for a moment Faye's new-found courage almost failed. Then she remembered Cindy's frantic sobs and Adrian's white-faced tension and knew that nothing was going to stop her.

  Moving so fast that she almost couldn't follow it herself, she seized the file Lysandra was holding and sent it whirling across the floor. Lysandra gasped with outrage, made a small lunge then thought better of it. But it was too late. Faye took hold of her shoulders, swung her around and marched on.

  A set of double doors loomed before her. Faye took a deep breath and was through them before she had time to think. She found herself in a large room, dominated by a long table, around which sat a dozen men. At the far end, deep in paperwork, sat Garth, so engrossed that he knew nothing until a silence fell. The other men stared, nonplussed, as the pale, distraught-looking woman strode into the room and walked to the head of the table.

  At last Garth looked up, astonishment on his face as he saw his wife. 'Faye? What are you doing here?'

  'Are you really surprised to see me, after the message you sent?'

  'What message?'

  'Don't pretend not to know what I mean,' she said angrily. 'I came to talk to you, and that's what I'm going to do.'

  'Then we'll go next door,' he said calmly. 'Excuse me a moment, gentlemen.'

  He took her arm and drew her through a side door into a little room. When they were alone his urbane manner fell away and she could see that he was coldly angry.

  'Now, perhaps you'll tell me what you mean by bursting in and speaking to me like that in front of my colleagues,' he said in a tight voice.

  'I wouldn't have needed to if you'd deigned to speak to me on the phone,' Faye said fiercely. 'Why don't you tell me what you mean by sending your daughter a message by Lysandra Bates that you were too busy to talk to her.'

  'What the devil are you talking about?'

  'Oh, please, Garth! Don't pretend ignorance. It's all been an act, hasn't it? Letting Cindy think she meant something to you, then brushing her aside when she needs you most. You've broken her heart, but why should you care as long as business isn't disturbed?'

  'What do you mean?' he interrupted. 'Why does she need me? What's happened?'

  'Barker's had a massive heart attack. He's dying!'

  He closed his eyes. 'Oh, dear God! No!'

  'I told you he was very ill when I called.'

  'When did you call? This is the first I've heard of it. Who did you speak to?'

  'Lysandra. She said you were out and I left a message for you, saying Barker was ill and please call me back urgently, but you never did. So Cindy called, and that woman said she was sure Cindy'd understand why you couldn't talk to her. But she doesn't. She was sure you could cure him. She thought you could do anything in the world-always assuming she can get in touch to ask you.'

  'Faye, I'm telling you I knew nothing of this. Lysandra never passed any message on to me and I'm damned well going to find out why.'

  He wrenched open the door. Lysandra was just outside, a nervous smile on her face. Now Faye understood why the other woman had been so alarmed at her appearance.

  'What's this about a message from my wife that never reached me?' Garth demanded.

  'I knew you didn't want to be interrupted,' Lysandra said smoothly.

  'I never gave you authority to block out my wife,' he snapped.

  'I'm sorry if I misunderstood your instructions, Mr Clayton. I thought I was acting for the best.'

  'Were you acting for the best when you told Cindy that her father wouldn't speak to her?' Faye demanded. 'That wasn't a misunderstanding. It was a lie.'

  'I agree,' Garth said, regarding Lysandra coldly. 'I gather that my eight-year-old daughter telephoned, herself, and you actually refused to put her on to me. How dared you do such a thing?'

  Under the black look he was giving her, even the super-cool Lysandra quailed.

  'I'm-I'm sorry,' she stammered. 'I assure you such a thing will never happen again.'

  'It certainly w
on't, because you don't work for me any more,' Garth said flatly. 'Don't even set foot in the office again. I'll have your things sent on to you.'

  Lysandra gasped. 'Garth-you can't mean that.'

  'I can and I do. Get out of my sight.'

  She placed a hand on his arm. 'Please, can we discuss this-alone?' She glanced significantly at Faye.

  He shook her off. 'We have nothing to discuss alone. We never did, but I couldn't make you realize that. You were efficient at your job. That was my sole interest in you.'

  Lysandra's face became distorted. 'You'll regret this,' she spat. 'How are you going to manage that meeting in there without my support?'

  Garth eyed her narrowly. 'Don't ever fool yourself that I can't do without you, Lysandra. Nobody is indispensable to me. Anyway, that meeting is closing down because I'm leaving.'

  'You can't,' Lysandra gasped. 'They'll never give you the contract-'

  'Then they can give it to someone else. Now get out of my sight. I don't want to see you again.'

  The look Lysandra gave Faye might have struck her down if she hadn't had more important things to think of. As it was, she barely noticed.

  'I'll send for the car,' Garth said when Lysandra had gone, 'and we'll drive back together.'

  'No need. I came in your plane.'

  'You-?' He stared at her for a moment, then seemed to pull himself together. 'Wait here.'

  He marched back into the conference room and she could hear him explaining that a family tragedy had unfortunately made it necessary for him to leave.

  A male voice expressed polite sympathy, but then said, 'You know we're behind schedule already. I hope we can continue this discussion tomorrow.'

  'My time will be taken up for a week at the very least,' Garth replied. 'It might even be longer.'

  There was a murmur. When the voice spoke again it had a slight edge. 'It must be a very close relative.'

  'My daughter's dog is ill,' Garth said flatly and the murmur became a hum of disapproval.

  'A dog? We're expected to put our plans on hold for a dog?'

  'Not at all, gentlemen. I'll understand if you want to find another firm. I apologize for having wasted your time.'

  Next moment he appeared in the side room where Faye was waiting, and said, 'Come on.' He took her arm and they went out to the lift together.

  As they drove to the airport, Garth called Bill's mobile and spoke for a few minutes. When he hung up he was frowning. 'He's there at Newcastle Airport, waiting for us,' he said. 'You really did take the plane.'

  'You thought I was making it up?'

  'No, but-Bill answers only to me. How did you get him to do it?' 'I told him I had your authority.'

  'You did what?'

  'It was the only way.'

  'And no doubt you also persuaded him not to call me and check?'

  'Of course. I told him I'd like to be a fly on the wall when he asked you if your wife was a liar.'

  Garth stared at her, something like fascination in his eyes. 'You did that?'

  'I had to. Don't get mad with Bill. It wasn't his fault.'

  'I'm only too aware of that. I'm not mad, I'm just astounded at you doing all this. It's the sort of thing I'd have done, but-you?'

  'Maybe we're more alike than you know.'

  'I'm beginning to think we are.' He was still regarding her as if he were seeing her for the first time.

  CHAPTER TEN

  When they reached the airport Bill was waiting apprehensively, but Garth eased his fears by remarking, 'Thanks for getting her here, Bill. Good work.'

  On the flight home Faye told him all the details of Barker's attack. 'The vet says that at his age he hasn't much chance,' she said, and Garth groaned.

  'Don't rub it in,' he said morosely.

  'I'm not. I was just trying to make you see what a job you've got. Cindy's sure you can solve the problem.'

  'I can certainly get the best specialist there is,' he said, becoming the Garth she knew.

  His arrival at the animal hospital was greeted by a frenzy of delight and relief. 'I knew you'd come, I knew it,' Cindy squealed. 'Now Barker will be all right.'

  'I'll do my best, darling,' he promised her, concealing his apprehension.

  He tried to talk to Miss McGeorge in private, but the children refused to be excluded and the whole family gathered in the room where Barker was lying.

  The vet laid it on the line. 'He's still alive,' she said, 'but there's no strength left in his heart. He'll have another attack in days. I ought to put him to sleep now.'

  'No,' Garth said at once. 'There must be something that we can do. What about when people have heart attacks? You don't put them to sleep, do you? You give them operations to save them.'

  'If you're talking about a bypass operation, there's only one man I know of who could tackle this.' 'Then get him.'

  'He's abroad and not due back for days,' Miss McGeorge explained. 'It would cost you a fortune-'

  'Do you think that matters?'

  'And it isn't worth it. The animal is half dead now.'

  'He's not "the animal", he's Barker,' Garth said firmly. 'And anything is worth it if it gives him a chance. What is this man's name?'

  'James Wakeham.'

  'Can you call him right now?'

  Miss McGeorge sighed. 'Very well, I'll try.'

  'Tell him he can have anything.'

  James Wakeham was attending a conference in Belgium and it took a few nail-biting minutes to locate him. Cindy stayed by Barker, stroking his inert head and whispering words of love into his floppy ears.

  At last Wakeham was located. Miss McGeorge explained the situation and then went into a detailed clinical description of Barker's state.

  'Yes, I see,' she said at last. 'No, of course not- Well, that's what I said- I'll explain-I'm sure they'll understand. Hey!' She spluttered indignantly as Garth removed the phone from her hand.

  'Mr Wakeham, I'm Garth Clayton, and Barker is my children's dog. I want him kept alive at all costs, and I'm told you're the only person who can do it.'

  The voice that reached him was thin and cool. 'I understand that, of course, but from what I hear of his description there would be no point in attempting an operation.'

  'You don't know there's no point if you don't try it,' Garth protested desperately. 'When you get here you may find it looks more hopeful. I'll pay all your expenses and any fee you like. Just name it.'

  'Mr Clayton, I appreciate your feelings, but I have a meeting at any moment and I'm afraid I can't break into it for a hopeless case. Will you please put me back to Miss McGeorge?'

  'No, I damned well won't,' Garth said furiously. 'Barker may be just a hopeless case to you, but to my children he's a friend that they love. What's so important about a damned meeting that you can't leave it for a sick dog?'

  'I'm preparing a very important paper-'

  'The paper can wait. My dog can't. You're his last chance.'

  'Your dog has no chance. An operation would be a total waste of time and I don't have the time to waste.' The phone went dead.

  It took a long time for Garth to replace the receiver, because he was trying to come to terms with the fact that his money and power, the talismans he relied on, were useless. He was almost in a state of shock.

  The room seemed to have developed an echoing quality, and details stood out with alarming sharpness. Cindy had climbed onto a chair next to Barker and was lying against him, her arms as far around him as they would go, her face buried in his thick fur. She was sobbing frantically, having understood that her father had failed.

  Adrian's face was pale and set, as though he were clenching his teeth. Faye was standing beside Cindy, stroking her head and murmuring useless words of comfort. She looked up and her expression was the hardest thing of all to bear. She hated him. She'd warned him of this on the day they'd found Barker and he'd brushed her aside for his own selfish convenience. Now his children were paying the price in anguish and Faye would never forgive h
im. Nor did he deserve to be forgiven.

  The echo vanished as he controlled his shock. The room became normal again. But his daughter was still crying her heart out and something agonizing was happening to his own heart, as if it were being torn out of him.

  'What did he say?' Miss McGeorge asked.

  'He won't come,' Garth said bleakly. 'It's more important to go to some meeting.'

  'Mr Wakeham is a brilliant surgeon, but I'm afraid he's ruled by vanity. He wouldn't take on a case as far advanced as this. A failure would spoil his record.'

  Faye stepped back as Garth approached Cindy and touched her head. 'Darling,' he said tentatively.

  She looked up at him with a flash of hope that he might have thought of something at the last minute.

  'I'm sorry,' he said heavily. 'There's nothing I can do.'

  'There is,' she insisted. 'There must be. You can't just give up.'

  'That man was our last chance and he won't come.'

  'But you could make him come.'

  'I can't force him.'

  'You could if you really wanted to.'

  'Cindy, I do really want to-'

  'No, you don't. You don't care if Barker dies.' She was heaving with sobs as she fought to get the words out. 'I thought-when-you came-everything would be all right-'cos you can do anything-but you don't want to-'

  'Darling, please believe me-'

  Garth reached for her but she fought off his embrace wildly, screaming, 'You don't! You don't care! You don't care about anyone! I hate you, I hate you, I HATE

  YOU!' She flung herself into Faye's arms, sobbing violently.

  Garth backed out of the room, his horrified eyes fixed on his daughter.

  By now it was late. The animal hospital had spacious grounds. Garth didn't know how long he walked through them, pursued by his own thoughts like avenging furies.

  This was the day Faye had warned him would come; the day when his sins would come home to him. And they were terrible sins. Wandering wretchedly under the trees, Garth accused himself of the worst kind of selfishness, neglecting his little daughter then using her love to get his own way.

  He remembered her joy when he'd appeared at Faye's house. It was completely irrational that she should have still loved him when he'd given her so little. He knew he deserved no praise for having kept her love. It was to the child's credit, not his own. Uncritical devotion was a part of Cindy's character, as it was with her mother. With both of them he'd taken it as a right. And he'd betrayed both of them.