by June Tate
He knees seemed to give way beneath her, and she quickly sat down.
Edward started laughing. ‘Well, honestly! Can it be such a terrible thing? You have gone quite pale at the thought! That’s not exactly flattering, you know.’
She had to smile. This lovely man was offering to share his life with her and Susan and she’d reacted very badly.
‘I’m sorry, Edward, but you took me by surprise. I don’t know what to say.’
‘Yes would be good!’
‘When do you have to go?’
‘Three months’ time. But I’ll have to go over there before to verify everything and sign a contract … and if you agree to come with me, I’ll have to find us somewhere to live and a school for Susan.’
She was very touched to think he’d considered Susan as well. But there was so much to be settled before she could say yes.
‘I’d have to talk to John about taking Susan abroad. I do have full custody of her, but I would probably need his permission to do this.’
‘We’ll have a word with your solicitor first to see what the procedure is.’
She gazed fondly at him. ‘Are you sure that taking my daughter too is what you want? You know we come as a package?’
He pulled her off the chair and held her. ‘You are everything I want, and Susan too. She’s a delightful child, and I always knew she would be part of our lives if ever you did me the honour of becoming my wife.’ He kissed her longingly. ‘Oh, Kay, the three of us could have such a wonderful life together, don’t you agree?’
‘Yes, I do, Edward, but please, this is such a big decision, give me time to think about it.’
For the first time since she’d known him, Edward looked uncertain. But he recovered quickly.
‘Of course. I’m sorry, I know this came out of the blue but circumstances forced my hand. Normally I’d have given you all the time you needed. But will you come away this weekend no matter what?’
‘Yes, of course I will.’
‘Good. I’ll pick you up on Saturday morning and bring you home on Monday if that’s all right.’
She leaned forward and kissed him. ‘That will be lovely.’
He had left and she was still in a whirl. Now she got to her feet and walked out of the house and headed for her mother’s home.
‘What do you mean you don’t know what to do?’
Kay was sitting in her mother’s kitchen after telling her what had transpired.
‘Are you completely mad? For God’s sake, Kay, you meet this wonderful man who adores you. He’s willing to take you and your child. He’s in a position to give you a good life, and you hesitate! I don’t understand you at all. Especially after all you’ve been through with John. This man wouldn’t be unfaithful to you, he’s too honourable for that … Aren’t you in love with him? Is that it?’
‘Yes, I am in love with him. You’ve met him, why wouldn’t I be?’
Her mother looked at her. ‘Then what are you afraid of, for goodness’ sake?’
‘Nothing really, but it’s all been so sudden.’
Her mother shook her head. ‘You listen to me. A woman with a child is a lot for a man to take on, but he didn’t hesitate. He must really love you to do that. If you lose him, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.’
‘He wants the two of us to go away this weekend from Saturday until Monday.’
‘Wonderful! It’s just what you need. You go and before you come back you tell him you want to be part of his life. Good God! Give me a chance to live in Paris for a year with such a man and I’d be off like a shot!’
Kay started laughing. ‘I do believe you would. What about dear old Dad?’
Her mother laughed too. ‘Well, it’s hardly likely to happen to me, which perhaps is just as well.’
Kay collected her things. ‘Thanks, Mum. I just needed someone to give me a kick up the backside.’ She kissed her on the cheek. ‘I’ll bring Susan over on Friday night after school.’
The weekend in Bath was blissful. Edward didn’t mention the future at all, so Kay wasn’t under any pressure. They spent time exploring the beautiful city, wined, dined – and made love. It was the longest time they’d spent together, and Kay enjoyed every moment.
Edward was such good company. His knowledge of architecture made the trip even more interesting. And he made her laugh. As they walked hand in hand, she realized it had been years since she’d been so happy and asked herself why on earth she’d been so reticent about accepting his proposal.
On their last day, after a night of great sex, she held him close and staring into his eyes she spoke softly. ‘Darling Mr Harrington, if you still want me, I’d love to share your life with you.’
He was both surprised and delighted. He gently stroked her naked body. ‘Oh, Kay, darling, you’ve made me very happy. I know I’ve forced you into making a decision but I promise you will never regret it. Whilst I have breath in my body I will love you … and Susan.’
On her return, Kay rang her ex-husband and asked him to come to the house as she wanted to talk to him.
John Baker was puzzled. Since their divorce, Kay had been very cool whenever he called at the house to collect Susan on the weekends when he was allowed to take her out. What on earth did Kay want? Could she possibly have had a change of heart? She certainly sounded different.
He stood on the doorstep of his old home, clutching an extravagant bouquet of flowers and rang the bell.
‘Hello, John, please come in.’ She led him into the sitting room.
He handed her the flowers.
‘Thank you, they’re lovely.’
‘He smiled and said, ‘You’re looking very well. I love the dress.’ He sat on the settee wondering if she would sit beside him.
Kay sat on an armchair opposite him. ‘Thank you for coming. There’s something I want to tell you.’
He leaned nonchalantly back in his seat and waited.
‘I’m getting married,’ said Kay.
He sat up, shocked at the statement. ‘You what?’
Kay looked at the expression on his face and hid a smile. My goodness, he looks outraged, she thought, then she wondered if for one moment he’d had the audacity to think she wanted him back. Knowing him so well, she realized that was precisely what he’d been thinking.
‘What do you mean you’re getting married? Christ, Kay! We’ve only just been divorced!’
‘I know but circumstances are such that I’ve had to make a quick decision.’
‘Who is this man, may I ask?’
‘I’m going to marry Edward Harrington, the architect.’
He was stunned into silence.
‘But there is something more. When we are married, we’ll be living in Paris for a year.’
‘Paris?’ This was all too much to take in. ‘But – but what about Susan?’ he stuttered.
‘That’s what we need to discuss. Of course Susan will come with us. Edward is already looking for a suitable school. I’m sure you’ll think this will be an excellent opportunity for her.’
His nostrils flared with anger. ‘You can’t possibly think I’d be happy about this? What about the weekends we spend together? Those times mean everything to me. I’ll never see her if you take her away!’
Aware that the one thing he was genuine about was the love he had for his daughter, Kay trod carefully.
‘I know this is asking a lot of you, John, and it isn’t an ideal situation, but I don’t have a choice. Edward will be working there, and as his wife, I want to be with him, and where I go, so does Susan.’
‘Not if I object!’
‘You’ll be able to have her during the school holidays. I’ll bring her home.’
John Baker was in a quandary. Firstly, he was shocked that Kay was getting married. He’d always believed that eventually they would get back together, and now it was obvious this wasn’t going to happen. This was a serious blow to his ego. He’d always held the upper hand as far as his women went. He was
the one who always made the decisions, and he was not happy that another man was making plans for his daughter. This was unthinkable!
He stood up. ‘No, I’m sorry, Kay, but you and your boyfriend will have to rethink your plans. My daughter isn’t going anywhere!’
As he walked to the door, Kay followed him. ‘In that case I’ll see you in court!’
He stopped suddenly and turning said, ‘What? What on earth do you mean?’
‘If you won’t be reasonable, we have no choice but to let a court decide Susan’s future.’ She stared coldly at him. ‘This is not the way I want things, John. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to reconsider. I know this has been a shock to you, it’s been rather a surprise to me, but Edward will be leaving in three months’ time and by then we’ll be married.’
At a loss for words, he opened the door and left the house.
It was Connie’s habit to walk along to the Tudor Cafe during her lunch break for a snack. She’d just ordered a sandwich and a coffee when to her surprise John Baker walked in and, coming over to her table, asked if he could join her. She was about to refuse until she saw the pallor of his face. She nodded her approval.
‘Are you all right?’ she asked.
‘No, I’m not. I saw Kay yesterday and she told me she was getting married!’
Connie’s first thought was gracious, that’s quick. The divorce hadn’t been finalized for that long. But she could see that her ex-lover was shaken by the news.
‘Who’s she marrying?’
‘Edward Harrington.’
Connie didn’t know the man but there had been an article in the local paper recently about his resignation – and a picture of him. She’d thought he was very good-looking, but realized it would be unkind to say so and kept silent.
‘And what’s more they are going to live in Paris for a year.’
‘How lovely,’ she said without thinking. ‘I would love to do that.’
He glared at her. ‘They want to take Susan with them!’
She then realized why he looked so drawn. ‘Paris isn’t that far away, John. It’s not as if they are going to the ends of the earth.’
‘I don’t care, I just can’t allow it!’ He then went into a long tirade about the situation.
She tried to reason with him. ‘I know this isn’t perhaps what you expected but surely you must have realized that Kay getting married again was a possibility, as it is for you.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘To be honest I can’t see you going through life alone. One day you’ll meet someone you’ll want to settle down with.’
‘This isn’t about marriage, this is about my daughter!’
‘I can see you’re unhappy about this, John, but you sound like the victim here and you’re not! Had you been a good husband the whole scenario would be different!’
He glared at her. ‘That’s shoving the knife in, Connie. How could you?’
‘Because it’s the truth! I know you love Susan, but do you have the right to interfere with her future? After all I’m sure you’ll be able to see her at some time.’
‘Only in school holidays!’
‘Think how wonderful that’ll be. You could take a holiday in Paris and explore the city together. That would be nice for both of you. After all, how could you take care of her? You work all day. You wouldn’t be able to meet her from school, make her tea. She needs to be with her mother. Surely you can see that?’
She drank her coffee, wrapped her sandwich in a paper napkin and rose to her feet. ‘Think about Susan, John, and stop thinking about yourself for once!’
As she walked back to the store she thought good for you, Kay Baker! I hope you’ll be very happy! If all went well, in the future she would be Mrs Sam Knight. How ironic. Two of John’s women, marrying other people, leaving him to lick his wounds. That had to be some kind of justice.
Twenty-One
It was race day and Sam and his friends were full of hope. The car had been thoroughly tested and was ready two days beforehand which had given the three men a bit of breathing space before the big day. It had also allowed Sam to rest up, as this race was long and arduous. For once they hadn’t needed to work on the vehicle up until the last moment and it had stood in the garage in Shirley, ready and waiting.
It was a Sunday meeting so Connie had been able to accompany Sam to Brands Hatch to watch. She stood by as the drivers climbed into their cars and drove to the starting line. Jake Barton drew up beside Sam as he was climbing into his car.
‘Today is mine, Knight!’ he said with a sneer. ‘You don’t stand a chance.’
Sam just grinned at him. ‘We’ll see,’ he said and started the engine.
Connie overhead the comment, but there was something about Barton’s attitude that chilled her. Whenever this man was in the same race as Sam, it filled her with foreboding, but never as much as today. She looked at Tom.
Sensing her dismay he said, ‘Don’t you take no notice of him, love. He’s full of bull!’
But as she watched them drive away, her stomach tightened with apprehension.
The race began. The noise was almost overwhelming as each lap was driven flat out, drivers jockeying for position. She had to admit that Jake Barton was driving well. He and Sam were moving up the field with each lap, always within a car or two of each other, until there were just four laps to go.
Sam was aware that Jake was on his tail and creeping up slowly until he was just behind him as he approached the most dangerous corner on the track. Sam put his foot on the brake ready to drop down a gear but his foot went straight to the floor. There was no traction at all. He pumped the brake, but to no avail, and he was heading for the corner at speed. There was no way he was going to make it, and he knew it. The car hit a pile of tyres and spun, then it flew into the air, turning over and over, before it crashed into a barrier, thankfully clear of the spectators and the track. Barton drove past, laughing loudly.
Connie screamed when she saw the car crash. Tom grabbed her as she made to rush over to the spot. ‘You stay put, girl, and wait a bit or you’ll get yourself killed!’ The other cars rushed by.
They both waited hoping to see Sam climb out of the vehicle, but all they saw were the stewards, using their fire extinguishers, pre-empting a fire. Then they saw them lifting Sam gingerly out of the driver’s seat and putting him on a stretcher, and then he was carried to an ambulance, which, as always, was standing by.
Both Tom and Connie ran, pushing their way through the crowds, leaving Harry to see to the car. They got there just in time to allow the two of them to go with the ambulance to the hospital.
A paramedic was holding a mask over Sam’s face, whilst another man was checking his vital signs.
‘Is he going to be all right?’ Connie asked, hardly daring to breathe.
‘We won’t know until we get him to the hospital,’ he said.
Once they arrived, Sam was rushed to the operating theatre, and Connie and Tom were told to wait.
‘What could have happened?’ asked Connie, her voice filled with despair.
Tom looked puzzled. ‘I can’t imagine. Sam drove into the corner far too fast. That’s not like him at all; he would have braked, changed gear and then put his foot down. I don’t understand it at all.’
Three hours later, the surgeon emerged from the operating theatre and walked towards them. They both got to their feet and waited.
‘Mr Knight is going to be all right, eventually,’ were his first words.
Connie thought she was going to faint with relief.
‘However,’ continued the surgeon, ‘he did sustain some serious injuries. One of his legs is broken, his pelvis and two of his ribs. He dislocated his shoulder, and he’s concussed. I’m afraid he won’t be racing again for some considerable time.’
‘Can we see him?’ asked Connie.
‘Not now, miss. He still hasn’t come round from the anaesthetic. Come back this evening.’
Outside the
y took a taxi back to the circuit. Harry was waiting for them, the tangled remains of the car loaded on the truck. Connie looked at the wreck and thought how lucky Sam was to have come out of it alive.
Harry immediately asked for the latest news and listened carefully to what was said. ‘Thank God for that. Once we’ve got the car home we’ll take it to pieces and examine it closely because no way would Sam have taken that corner at that speed, unless he had no choice!’
‘You think there was a mechanical fault?’ asked Tom.
‘No, I don’t! We both know the car was mechanically sound, but it was in the garage for two days. Maybe someone got to it.’
‘Oh my God!’ Tom was shaken. ‘I was so shocked to see Sam crash, I didn’t have time to think.’ He paused. ‘Who won the race?’
‘Jake Barton.’ Harry stared at his mate. ‘Now that makes me very suspicious. Remember how he baited Sam before the race? He never does that, he always keeps well away. It’s almost as if he knew something was going to happen.’
‘If that’s the case, we’ll never be able to prove it,’ said Tom.
‘Well, we’ll check the car first before we jump to conclusions,’ was Harry’s advice.
That evening, Connie and Tom returned to the hospital, hoping to see Sam. They were told they could only stay a few minutes and they were not to tire the patient.
Connie smothered a cry when she saw Sam, covered in bandages and his leg in plaster. He looked pale and drawn as he gave a wan smile as they entered his room.
Connie took his hand and leaned forward to kiss him, making sure she didn’t put any pressure on his injured body. ‘Hello, darling.’
Tom stood beside her. ‘Hello, mate! You gave us all a bloody fright, I can tell you. What happened?’
In a voice that was barely audible Sam whispered, ‘No brakes. My foot went to the floor.’
Just then a nurse came in and told them they’d have to leave.
‘I’ll be back tomorrow, Sam,’ said Tom. ‘You take care.’ He walked away to give Connie a moment alone.
Trying to be calm for her lover’s sake, Connie kissed him softly and said, ‘As soon as we can we’ll have you moved back to Southampton, and when you come out of hospital I’ll kill you with kindness.’
