No Matter What

by Michelle Betham

  ***

  “You look beautiful,” Reece smiled, kissing India’s cheek.

  She smiled back. “Thanks, Reece.” She couldn’t call him dad, not yet, it was far too soon and it didn’t feel right. Maybe it would come with time, but for now, they were taking each day as it came, preparing themselves for the moment when it became public knowledge.

  “Congratulations again, my darling. You’re going to make one beautiful bride.”

  “Isn’t she?” Michael grinned, coming over and slipping his arm round her waist, shaking Reece’s hand.

  “Yes, well, you just look after my little girl.” Reece looked at India. “She’s very, very precious to me.”

  “And to me, Reece, so don’t worry, ok? I’ll take the best care of her. The very best.”

  “Oh God, the pair of you are just too soppy for me now. I’m twenty-eight years old, I can look after myself. Now go and make sure everyone’s got a drink,” India said, playfully pushing Michael away.

  She’d noticed Terry arrive, looking less than happy, and she’d noticed Kenny go straight over to him, almost running to catch him as what looked like a heated conversation started up, with her brother seemingly becoming more agitated by the second.

  “What do you think that’s all about then?” Reece asked, following her gaze.

  “I don’t know.” She wasn’t taking her eyes off her brother and best friend. Kenny’s face was deadly serious, angry even, whereas Terry was starting to look slightly worn down. “But I’m about to find out.”

  She walked over to Kenny, Terry now having moved into the kitchen, probably in search of a drink.

  “What’s going on with you two?” she asked. “You’ve been in a strange mood all day and now you’re arguing with Terry.”

  “I’m not arguing with him, India.”

  “So what was going on there then?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t fob me off, Kenny, I’m not stupid.”

  He sighed, pushing a hand through his hair. “I’m just trying to get him to back off from this Charley business.”

  “Why?”

  “He just needs to, India.”

  “Why, Kenny? What’s going on?”

  She was starting to get worried now. She’d never seen Kenny look so serious, and the way she’d seen her brother react, whatever was going on, he was serious too.

  “Right, I’ll talk to Terry, then ...”

  “India ... wait ...”

  But she’d already gone. She needed to know what was going on here, because if the look on Kenny’s face was anything to go by, Terry was way too far into something he shouldn’t be. And that worried her.

  She found him sitting outside by the pool and she sat down next to him, staring out at the twinkling fairy lights hanging from the lemon and palm trees on the surrounding patio.

  “If he’s telling you to back off, Terry, then it’s for a good reason.”

  “I can make my own mind up, India. I don’t need him telling me what to do.”

  “He isn’t telling you what to do, he’s being a friend.”

  Terry looked at his sister, aware that he was going to have to diffuse this situation fast otherwise everything he had planned would come crashing down and he couldn’t afford for that to happen. Not tonight.

  “A friend would help me.”

  “What help do you need?”

  And this conversation wasn’t helping to diffuse anything. He had to get a grip. He needed to stay calm. For Charley’s sake.

  “Nothing. He’s right, Kenny’s right.”

  “Is he?”

  Terry noticed Kenny standing by the French windows, watching them. “Yes. He is.” He looked at India, hoping he had the right expression on his face, hoping she couldn’t tell he was lying to her. “I’ll back off,” he sighed, standing up.

  India stood up too, taking his hand and making him look at her again. “Do you promise? I mean, I don’t know exactly what’s going on here, all I know is that whatever Kenny was asking you to do he meant it, and I trust him. If this is dangerous then please listen to him, Terry. Please.”

  Terry smiled, although his stomach was in knots with nerves. “I promise.” He’d never broken a promise to India in his entire life and he hated doing it tonight, of all nights, a night when they should be celebrating, but surely they could celebrate even more when he had Charley home safe. And nobody was going to stop him from doing that, not now. He’d come too far.

  India reached up to kiss her big brother, giving him a hug. “I love you, you stubborn bastard. So don’t go doing anything stupid.”

  He watched her run back into the house, saying something to Kenny on the way in. Kenny then turned and looked at Terry, and Terry just hoped that he believed whatever India had told him, because the only thing stopping him from doing what he needed to do tonight was Kenny. An obstacle he could well do without.

  He checked his watch. 9pm. He needed to be out of here by 10pm at the latest, and what he also needed was a drink, something to steady the nerves, so he started to make his way back inside but Kenny stopped him before he could get there, grabbing his arm, making it impossible for Terry to escape.

  “India said you’re backing off.”

  “I am.”

  “Then I hope you mean it, Terry, because I know people who’ve dealt with Jimmy Cash before, and you really don’t want to go messing with him.”

  “I’m not planning to.”

  “It doesn’t matter what you’ve got planned, Terry.” He let go of his arm. “Look, I know Charley’s become very important to you and you want to help her, but if you’re really serious about that then let me help you. Back off for now, give it a bit of time and we’ll think of something. Ok? I promise, we’ll think of something.”

  Terry tried to keep his face impassive because Kenny was getting just a bit too good at reading people. “Ok.” It must have worked because Kenny’s face relaxed.

  “Good. That’s good.”

  “Can I go now? I really need a drink.”

  Kenny nodded and Terry started to walk away. “Terry?”

  He turned round and looked at Kenny. “What?”

  “You aren’t lying to me, are you?”

  Terry kept his face expressionless, shaking his head. “No.” But the lies would be worth it in the end. They’d all understand why he’d had to do it. They wanted him to be happy, didn’t they? And he would be. Once he had Charley back where she belonged, and in a matter of hours she’d be safe. Just not in the way any of them could have anticipated.

  ***

  “We go for the first scan in a couple of weeks, don’t we, baby?” Michael smiled, squeezing India’s waist as they spoke to Vince and Reece. India was still slightly distracted by Terry and Kenny but she was trying to relax. It was hard when you couldn’t even have a drink, though.

  She turned her attention back to the conversation in hand, leaning into Michael and stifling a yawn, suddenly feeling quite tired.

  “Yeah. Almost twelve weeks now so I think it’s about time we caught a glimpse of this little one.”

  Michael kissed her forehead gently. “You ok?”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”

  “You need to take it easy,” Reece said, a concerned expression on his face. She looked worn out, and he knew she was doing way too much when she should be stepping back a bit.

  “I keep telling her that,” Michael said. “But she won’t listen to me.”

  “I am here you know. It’s just been a long day, stop fussing.”

  “It’s our job,” Vince smiled. She couldn’t help smiling back. Out of the three of them he was always the one who could read her the best, even more so than Michael.

  “Yeah, well, it’s like having three dads at the minute so just trust me, ok? I’m fine.” She looked up at Michael and kissed him quickly. “I’m just popping out for some fresh air.”

  “Put a jacket on, will you? It’s a b
it chilly out there.”

  She went back over to him and shut him up with another kiss. “One more word, and it doesn’t matter how good a boy you are you’re getting nothing from me for a very long time. Do you understand?”

  He held his hands up in surrender and smiled that smile and she couldn’t help smiling back before she left them to it, walking out into the garden.

  Michael watched her go, watched Kenny follow her outside and it felt as though somebody had grabbed hold of his heart and was squeezing it tight, his chest was actually aching. He watched as Kenny took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, he watched as she smiled up at him, but he also noticed the distance she kept from him, the little steps she took back as he tried to move closer and that was enough to make Michael look away, satisfied. The signs weren’t there, she wasn’t interested like that, and that was all Michael needed to know.

  India had noticed Michael looking over and she felt a small stab of guilt. Just thinking about what she’d risked made her feel sick. She’d betrayed him in the worst possible way and she wished with all her heart that she could turn back the clock and for it all not to have happened because she didn’t know what she’d do if she lost him. And she could. If he found out.

  “You regret it, don’t you?” Kenny asked, noticing her looking towards Michael. “You and me. You regret it.”

  “I could have lost him, Kenny. If he knew ...”

  “But he doesn’t, does he?”

  She looked at him. “That doesn’t make it right.”

  He decided to leave the subject alone. Michael was a man Kenny just couldn’t compete with when it came to India. It seemed like he had some kind of magical hold over her, a spell that Kenny just couldn’t break and he’d tried, oh, he’d tried, and if he thought it would make her happy he’d try harder, but it was obvious that anything he did could just drive her further away. She was head over heels in love with Michael Walsh and Kenny had to admit defeat.

  “Where’s Terry?” India asked, looking around the garden. She hadn’t seen him inside either and something was starting to nag away at her, something that didn’t feel right.

  “I’ll go see if he’s inside. You should think about going back in there too, it’s getting cold out here.”

  “Don’t you start. Just go and see if you can find him, will you? He’s not himself tonight and I’m worried about him.”

  She waited a few minutes, just looking around her garden, pretty and serene with the twinkling fairy lights and the faint sounds of the water features. She tried to enjoy the peace of the night, the clear sky filled with stars, the sound of crickets in the distance. Just for a second she wanted to enjoy the tranquillity and she placed a hand to her stomach, leaving it there as she looked around her. She couldn’t wait to feel this new life inside her start moving, she couldn’t wait to see it’s image when they went for the scan, couldn’t wait to hold their baby for real and see if they looked like her or Michael. All that worry, all that doubt, none of it was there anymore. She wanted this baby more than she’d ever thought she possibly could. And she wanted their daddy even more.

  Making her way down to the guest bungalow, she went inside and closed the door. She often came in here when she wanted to think, when she wanted to be alone. It was one of the first places she and Michael had made love and she always felt happy in here.

  She took off the jacket Kenny had given her and threw it over the back of the sofa, walking over to the window in the living room, looking out at the pool, the lights shimmering on its surface, the moon casting a white, almost eerie glow across the water.

  “I thought you’d come down here.”

  She turned around to see Michael, and all she could do was smile at him. He looked much younger than his forty-five years, tall and handsome in his own way, and she didn’t think she’d ever loved anyone more than she did this famous, talented man.

  He walked over to her, taking her in his arms, their mouths meeting in a long, deep kiss.

  “I needed some time out,” she said, her fingers gently stroking the back of his neck.

  “Is everything ok?”

  She nodded. “Everything’s fine.” She smiled up at him and he gave her that wonderful, warm smile back. “Marry me soon, Michael. I mean, really soon. Let’s do this before I even start to show because I don’t think I can wait any longer. I just want to be Mrs Walsh. Right now, I don’t want anything else.”

  And neither did he. He’d never wanted anything other than this incredible, insanely beautiful woman and he vowed that tomorrow the wheels would be put in motion to bond them together forever. There was no reason why that couldn’t and wouldn’t happen now. He’d always said there was no hurdle he couldn’t get over, no problem he couldn’t overcome and he’d overcome many to get her here. Now there was nothing left to stand in the way of a future he’d dreamed of for so many years. Nothing left at all.

  ***

  Kenny had looked everywhere. He’d searched every room in the house, he’d checked outside but there was no sign of Terry anywhere. He punched the wall in frustration, annoyed with himself for believing Terry had meant it when he’d said he was backing off. How could he have been so stupid? His reaction had been far too quick and Kenny should have known it wouldn’t be that simple, he should have known that Terry was never going to back off just like that. He should have known he wouldn’t let it go. He should have known.

  Feeling around in the pocket of his jeans he breathed a sigh of relief as he found the keys to his bike, glad they hadn’t been in his jacket, the one he’d given to India. The last thing he wanted was for her to find out what was going on.

  Terry had told him where Charley was working, he’d got that much information out of him anyway, so at least he had something to go on, somewhere to start. It was a place in downtown L.A. and Kenny racked his brains to try and remember exactly where Terry had said it was, jumping on his bike and speeding off down the winding driveway, sure he had an idea where he was heading but not having a clue what he was going to find when he got there. He should have paid closer attention to this. He should have kept a closer eye on what Terry was getting into but he’d been with India in the U.K., hadn’t he? He’d taken his eye off the ball and now he had to find out the extent of the problem he could be dealing with.

  His heart was beating fast and hard, the night air cold on his face as he sped through the streets of L.A., the sounds of the city at night surrounding him. He hoped that whatever Terry had planned – because he had something planned, that was obvious now – he just hoped he was in time to stop it. He just hoped more than anything that he was on time.

  ***

  Jimmy Cash stood by the window and watched as Terry parked up in his usual spot. He’d pulled the roof of the convertible up this time and Jimmy watched as he stepped out of the car and opened the back door, leaving it slightly ajar before getting back behind the wheel. Looked like he was setting up the quick getaway.

  Jimmy stubbed out his cigarette and opened the top drawer of his desk, taking out the only item in there and placing it in his inside jacket pocket, closing the drawer gently. He had to make his move now because he knew Charley would waste no time. And it was all about timing tonight.

  He walked calmly and quietly down the stairs. He’d needed to make sure Charley had no clue he was around, which is why he’d spent the last hour or so in his office. She never came anywhere near his office so he knew he’d been safe hiding out there. He’d let her think he’d already left, let her think it was just that little bit safer to get out of there, and he’d let her think that, because letting her think she was safe made everything that little bit easier for him.

  He stood in the shadows, far enough away from the door for her not to notice him but close enough for him to act. He’d told Jake to wait outside, out of sight. He’d know what to do. He’d take his cue when he needed to. He’d play his part. Now all Jimmy had to do was wait.

  ***

  Terry�
�s heart was beating like he’d never felt it beat before. It felt as though it was almost jumping out of his chest he was so nervous and excited. He’d never had an adrenalin rush like it! Any time now she’d come running across that road and into her new life and he had so many plans - he couldn’t wait to tell her everything. He couldn’t wait to begin their new life. He’d even taken tomorrow off work to help her settle in; help her make that new start. He just wanted to be there for her because he had no doubt that she needed that. She needed him, and Terry couldn’t believe how good that felt.

  He played around with the radio, trying to find a station he wanted to listen to but he was too jumpy to concentrate. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel he stared out ahead into the darkness, waiting for her, waiting to see her, wanting to get this over with and just get out of there. He couldn’t settle just sitting here. He was on edge, the nerves were creeping in now, threatening to overwhelm him, so he got out of the car and leant back against the driver’s door, pulling his jacket around him. He checked his watch. 10.29pm. Any time now. It was going to happen any time now.

  ***

  Kenny had to stop the bike and take a break because he was driving round in circles, his mind trying to get to grips with his whereabouts. The darkness was confusing him and he needed to get his head together. Quickly. He was running out of time. He had a bad feeling about all of this and he was running out of time.

  ***

  Charley looked at the clock on the wall. 10.30pm. With a rush of excitement and stomach churning nerves she grabbed her bag from the floor of her dressing room and closed the door, checking around her all the time. She had to make the move now and run, just run. Why Jimmy had left early, and why nobody seemed to be watching her struck her as strange but she didn’t want to waste time thinking about it. She just needed to get out while she could.

  So she took off her shoes, shoving them into her bag, and ran like her life depended on it. She ran until she reached the door, pushing it open with a force she never knew she had in her as she escaped out into the night. Terry was across the road, she could see him leaning against the car, and she was within seconds of that escape, within seconds of reaching that promised new life. She was within seconds of it all. Just seconds away...