The Corrigan legacy

by Anna Jacobs

  'I don't know. It's tempting.'

  'It'll upset your father more than you'd believe.'

  'I know. But. . . Well, I'll have to think about it.' She knew suddenly that she wanted to go, would do anything that would get her away from here and out of her present miserable state. She was going quietly mad in Callabine.

  Her mother stood up. 'I've arranged to see Noelene about the fete. If you're too tired to clear up, leave it till I get back.' She left without another word.

  As Kate began to clear the table, tears welled in her eyes, because she knew she'd hurt both her parents. But even as she wiped them away, she knew she would go, whatever they said. This offer might give her back her life again. If Maeve was rich, if she could get Kate the best help available . . . surely a specialist who really understood her problem would be able to help her? You had to lose your independence to realize how much it mattered.

  'Jason's coming round this evening at eight o'clock,' Leo said as the three of them sat down to their evening meal.

  'Did he get a letter too?' Kate asked.

  'Yes. Nearly the same as yours, apparently, except she offered to pay for his wife and children to go to England as well.'

  Kate picked at her food, not feeling at all hungry. There was going to be an almighty row when they found out she intended to accept her aunt's offer of a trip to England.

  'You're not eating enough to feed a sparrow,' Jean complained as she watched her daughter push the food aside. 'How do you expect to get better if you don't eat?'

  Kate fiddled with her dessert spoon. I'm not even sure I will get better properly. According to the research, some people never recover.'

  'Of course you'll get better,' Leo said harshly. 'You're already better than you were when we brought you home. Give it another year and you'll be back to your old self.'

  She smiled at him, knowing his brusque ways hid a genuine concern for her. 'Just a small piece of apple pie, Mum.'

  When Jason and his wife arrived, they were sitting in front of the television watching a quiz programme and studiously avoiding the topic of Maeve's offer.

  He passed round his letter.

  'Well?' Leo asked, giving it back.

  'I'm not going. It's tempting to hope she'd leave me some money, but on the other hand there's no guarantee. Anyway, our second store is doing well and I enjoy running it. I don't need her money.'

  It seemed to Kate that her sister-in-law didn't agree with this decision, but she said nothing, just sighed.

  'Good lad!' Leo said.

  They all turned expectantly to Kate.

  'I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you, but I'm going to accept the offer.'

  Her father glared at her. 'After all we've done for you!'

  'Leo!' Jean laid a hand on his arm and he shook it off.

  Kate tried to explain, but knew her words wouldn't take away the sting of what she was going to do. 'I badly need a change. Whether my aunt leaves me anything or not, I'll get a trip to England and maybe that will help me shake off this . . .' Words failed her and she waved one hand, then found to her dismay that she was crying. Again.

  Her mother was there instantly. 'Come to bed, Kate, you're white as a sheet tonight.'

  And she went, glad to be cosseted a little. 'I don't want to hurt Dad - or you, Mum. But I want to meet her, see what she's offering, and see if someone there can help me get better. That is the main reason I'm going.'

  'We'd have paid for a holiday for you.'

  'She's rich. She'll not miss the money. You're not rich. You should be saving for your old age - and you shouldn't have to help a daughter my age.' And the tears that had come so easily ever since she became ill started falling again.

  When her mother put her arms round her and rocked her, making shushing noises, she laughed through her tears. 'You'd think I was still a child.'

  'You always will be to me.'

  Jean walked back to the living room, shaking her head in response to Leo's unspoken question. 'It's her decision. Let her make it in peace.'

  'But—'

  'It's not her quarrel, Leo. And she's very depressed, whatever she says. I think a trip might be just the thing for her.'

  'Then we'll pay for it!'

  'She wouldn't take it from us. Now, let the subject drop.

  How are the children, Jason love?'

  * * *

  Lily walked slowly down to the sitting room where her mother was waiting for her. She could guess what this was about and felt shaky inside as she stopped just inside the door to stare across the room.

  'You can't stand there all day. Come and sit down beside me.' Kerry patted the couch.

  Lily walked across to a chair instead and sat down opposite her mother, hands clasped, waiting.

  'Can't you make yourself look a bit tidier? Wayne's coming round soon.'

  'He won't care what I look like.'

  'But I will.'

  'You're too fussy about appearances. Anyway, he won't be looking at me, he'll be staring at you. He always does.'

  Kerry smoothed down her skirt. 'It's in a woman's interest to look her best. Keeps her man interested.'

  Lily didn't point out that at twelve she was hardly interested in finding a man. Her mother was old-fashioned about that sort of thing, seemed lost without a man in her life and only dated ones who were rich and could treat her to the best of everything. Goodness only knew why she and Lily's father had ever married, because Dad didn't really care about money. He was more interested in people and computers, had interesting friends all round the world whom he met at conferences or on the Internet.

  'Are you listening, Lily?'

  'What? Oh, sorry, Mum. What did you say?'

  'I said: Wayne and I will be getting married as soon as possible, then we'll all be moving to Texas, so we'll have to start looking at what we need to take with us.'

  Lily took a deep breath. 'You and Wayne will be moving there. I won't.'

  'You'll go where I tell you, young woman!'

  'How will you get me there? Drag me screaming every inch of the way?' She had the satisfaction of seeing her mother gape at her for a moment or two, clearly lost as to how to deal with her.

  'The courts will insist you go with me.'

  'Even if I want to stay with my father?'

  'Cal is not your father.'

  'Who is, then? Maybe I should go and live with him.'

  'That's my business.'

  'It's mine too. I'll ask the court to find out who my real father is. I'm sure you know.'

  'You'll not be appearing in any court. We'll settle this on our own, in a civilized way.'

  'We might have to go to court and my friend says they ask children of my age what they want these days.'

  Kerry stared at her. 'That's ridiculous. As if you know what's best for you.'

  That's when Lily began to wonder whether her mother was just counting on her dad's vagueness about business matters to push things through in the way she wanted. Well, Lily would make sure he did things properly this time. It was too important. She realized her mother was still talking so reluctantly switched her mind back.

  '. . . and anyway, your biological father won't want you, so that's a non-starter. He was married, had other children, wanted me to have an abortion and when I wouldn't, insisted your existence be kept quiet. He's never even tried to see you, not once.'

  Lily dug her fingernails into the palms of her hand at this hurtful news. 'Well, I'm still not going to live in Texas. I'd never see Dad if I did. Besides, I'm English and I want to live in England.'

  The doorbell rang. 'That'll be Wayne.' Kerry jumped up, glanced at herself in the mirror and went to answer the door.

  Lily let out a long, careful breath. It was scary stuff, defying her mother, who didn't take kindly to being answered back or disobeyed, and would no doubt ground her for a million years, but she definitely wasn't going to Texas. She sighed as there was the sound of whispering in the hall.

  When they came in
, Wayne had his arm round her mother's shoulders and Kerry was dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. He guided her to the couch as if she couldn't find her own way. Lily watched them in disgust. It was gross how her mother played helpless for him. She was one of the least helpless females you could ever meet.

  He went straight into the attack. 'Kerry tells me you've got some strange idea about not coming to Texas with us.'

  Lily used the tricks they'd taught her at school in human relations lessons on standing up for yourself firmly and with dignity. Who'd have thought those boring lessons would have come in useful? 'I have nothing against you, Wayne, and I hope you and my mother will be very happy together, but I want to stay in England and live with my father.'

  'He's not your father, honey. You know that.'

  'He is in every way that counts and I love him.'

  'He doesn't love you now that he knows,' Kerry snapped. 'He's just doing this to annoy me.'

  'That's a lie!'

  'Don't speak to your mother like that!' Wayne snapped. 'Apologize to her at once.'

  Lily looked at him and shivered, because suddenly he didn't seem half as friendly as before. But she wasn't going to be bullied, not by anyone, so she pressed her lips together. Why should she apologize? And how come her mother got away with telling so many lies and she got in trouble for telling the truth? It wasn't fair.

  'Well?' He stared at her. 'I'm waiting.'

  She stared right back. 'My mother's not telling the truth about my father so I've got nothing to apologize for.'

  'The sooner we get her away from his influence, the better,' Kerry said, with a hint of a sob in her voice. 'He's always encouraged her to defy me.'

  Lily gazed at her in shock. 'He's never done that and you know it!'

  They ignored her.

  'Once she's in Texas, she'll settle down, honey. I know a really good boarding school where she can make friends with people whose families matter, and we can arrange for her to get some counselling.'

  So Lily said it again, broken record trick it was called, repeating your statement firmly and quietly as many times as it took. 'I'm not going to Texas.'

  'You'll do what your mother tells you, young lady!' he shouted. 'And I'll be behind her one hundred per cent.'

  Lily lost it then and yelled, 'You'll have to drag me forcibly on to the plane and I'll scream every inch of the way. They'll stop you taking me out of the country.'

  He smiled and so did her mother. 'We'll be going on my own executive jet, not a public carrier. No one will question what state you're in when you're taken on board. If you need a sedative because you're afraid of flying, then so be it.'

  Lily felt icy dread creep down her spine. Suddenly she could see the ruthless man behind the normally soft-spoken Texan and wondered if her mother realized what Wayne was really like. She knew then that she'd have to run away, but first she'd find out if she could get help from the children's court or whoever it was you had to see when your parents split up. People had to understand that Cal was her real father. There was a kid at school who'd been through a custody battle recently. She'd ask him to tell her exactly what happened, who to go and see.

  She pulled herself together and repeated, 'I'm not going to Texas.' After that she folded her arms and refused to answer any more questions or even talk to Wayne. What was the use? They'd not change their minds.

  But neither would she.

  'Go to your room,' her mother said at last. 'And don't switch on that computer of yours. You'll not be allowed to use it again till you see sense.'

  Lily blinked hard to try to clear the tears from her eyes at this worst of all possible threats, but of course they noticed and he smiled. She hated him then, which she hadn't done before.

  Wayne jumped to his feet. 'I'd better come up and get the computer. I don't think we can trust this young lady an inch, Kerry. She needs firm handling and that's just what she'll get in my house.'

  Lily said nothing, walking slowly up the stairs behind them. It had started.

  When they'd left her alone in her room, she sat down and pretended to read a book in case they looked in, but actually she was trying to plan what to do next. She didn't allow herself to cry until after she'd gone to bed, and didn't do it for long, because she'd no intention of them seeing her with eyes swollen from crying.

  Two days later Maeve listened to the specialist in silence and stared into space for a moment or two, willing herself to stay calm, not to hope for too much. 'You - um - think this new treatment may help?'

  'It could prolong your life by a few months, a year even, but I'm afraid it can't cure what ails you, not with that sort of cancer.'

  'A few more months of life would be very welcome just now. It'd allow me to set my affairs in better order.' She slapped her hand down on the chair arm. 'I'll do it.'

  'The treatment won't be pleasant. One of the side effects is severe nausea - and hair loss is very likely.'

  She shrugged. 'I'm not feeling wonderful anyway.'

  'Some people find it comforting to know they'll be contributing to research, thus helping others.'

  She shrugged again. 'I'm not that altruistic. I'm concerned more about myself at this stage than about others. Please arrange to get things started as quickly as possible. And tell them that if they take me into this programme, I'll make a substantial financial contribution to their research funds.'

  'You can get into the programme without doing that. You're exactly the sort of guinea pig they're looking for.'

  'I've always paid my way and I don't intend to stop now.'

  'I'm sure they'll be grateful for your contribution. I'll make an appointment for you, then, shall I?'

  When Maeve went back into the waiting room, Andy stood up and hurried across to her. 'All right?'

  'Yes. Let's go out to the car before we talk.' Andy had wanted to come in to see the specialist with her, but she wasn't going to allow that.

  He escorted her down to the car, but she noted with wry amusement that he didn't make the mistake of trying to help her. She hated that, however exhausted she was.

  When they were both seated he put the keys into the ignition and turned to her without attempting to switch on the engine. 'What did he say?'

  She explained.

  'Oh, Maeve, that's wonderful!'

  She swallowed hard and blinked her eyes, unable to speak calmly in the face of that genuine caring. It'd been a long time since she'd allowed anyone to get so close to her, except for Lena.

  'I'll drive you to and fro for treatment.'

  She nodded, wondered if it'd be safer emotionally to hire a chauffeur instead, then allowed herself the small luxury of claiming Andy's time and support. After all, the company wasn't going to need him for much longer, as it soon wouldn't belong to her. She should be feeling sad about that, but she wasn't. The company had had its day in the sun and now she was far more concerned about making the most of the time she had left than worrying what Des was doing.

  'Thanks, Andy. I'd like that. And after the company's gone, you'll stay on as my personal assistant, won't you?'

  'I'll welcome having more time with you. I'll be glad when we've handed Corrigan's over to the new owner. He's coming up on Monday. Will you be there to meet him?'

  'No, you do it.'

  'OK.' He hesitated. 'Lena and I were talking and we were wondering if I should move into your house - for the time being. To be there for you.'

  Maeve considered this, then gave him a wry smile. 'My live-in toy boy, you mean?'

  'More like your live-in adopted nephew, if I may presume?' He lifted one eyebrow, waiting.

  Pleasure filled her, followed by the unusual feeling of love for another human being, something she hadn't experienced for a long time - or in the case of Andy, hadn't allowed herself to admit to feeling. Now - well, she'd damn well do as she pleased for whatever time she had left, even become sentimental. But the most she could admit aloud was, 'Yes. Good idea. Much more convenient. And I'd like a n
ephew.'

  Andy was surprised at how easily she'd agreed, but he kept that to himself. He and Lena had debated for days about how to broach it with Maeve and here she was agreeing without any quibbles whatsoever. He didn't look at her or say anything else, not wanting to push his luck, but he couldn't hold back a smile as he started the car.

  Not an easy woman to love, Maeve Corrigan, but worth it. She was more a mother to him than his own had ever been. He didn't want to lose Maeve, still couldn't believe that such a vibrant person would die so young, at not quite sixty.

  Ten

  Outdoors bright sunshine glints off the parked cars and formal flower beds flourish a cheerful salute to summer, perfuming the air. Indoors air whispers quietly through the monochrome offices, served always at a constant temperature, with no perfume.

  The following Monday, Andy waited in the main office at Corrigan's for the man who would be in charge of the takeover processes. Raymond Tate was Director of Finance, second in command of DC International, Maeve's brother's company, and the two of them had met several times during the course of the negotiations. Tate was always perfectly civil, but Andy hadn't taken to him. That was how it went. Some people you trusted on sight; others you didn't.

  He looked out of the office window to see a large car purr into the executive parking area and roll to a halt. A uniformed chauffeur jumped out and hurried round to open the door for a man whom Andy recognized from photographs in share brochures as Desmond Corrigan. So the big boss had come out of hiding now about buying the company!

  The brother and sister weren't much alike. Maeve was slim and restrained, though you couldn't help being aware of the power she wielded so skilfully. This one looked like a farmer dressed up for a day out in London. The suit was expensive, you could see that at a glance, but although Corrigan wasn't overweight, he had a florid complexion and his face looked a bit puffy. Maybe he was a man who spent a lot of time out of doors - or who drank a lot? Probably the latter.

  What had brought him here today? Did he want to gloat over his sister? Well, he'd be disappointed.

  With a sigh, Andy put away the papers he'd been sorting through, because Maeve's instructions were very clear. Nothing was to be left behind that wasn't absolutely necessary.