by Anna Jacobs
But he was pinning his hopes on one of them seeing the car and driving past.
Des sighed and rubbed his chest absent-mindedly as his accountant droned on and Raymond nodded, looking as if he understood every word. The two of them had done nothing but talk figures and cost-cutting at him today and he had a touch of indigestion. It must be that bread. It'd been very heavy, was sitting like a stone in his chest.
In the end he could stand the discomfort no longer and stood up, pressing one hand against his chest. 'I'm not feeling—' And that was as far as he got, because a vice seemed to tighten on his chest and he groaned with the pain of it, fighting against the blackness and failing to hold it back.
Raymond jumped to his feet as his boss crumpled to the floor, twitched a little and lay still.
John went to kneel by Des, feeling for a pulse and loosening his tie and shirt collar. 'Call an ambulance. Looks like a heart attack to me.'
For a moment Raymond stood there, open-mouthed, then jumped into action.
It took the ambulance only five minutes to arrive. He knew that, because he kept glancing at his watch. But those five minutes were the worst of his life because John had gone down to hold a lift at the ready and bring the ambulance crew up here.
When there was a sound in the corridor, Raymond let out a grunt of relief and stood up, moving back to let the paramedics deal with Des. They had him on the trolley very quickly and were out again before he realized someone would have to go with them to the hospital. 'You go with them.' He said to John. 'I'll call his family.'
He saw all the staff peering out of their offices and yelled, 'Get back to work.' After a moment's thought he rang Tiffany first, because she seemed as near family as Des had at the moment.
'Bad news, I'm afraid. Des has just had a heart attack.'
'He's not—'
'No, he's not dead, but he was unconscious. They said they were taking him to St Rita's. It's the closest.'
'I'll go straight there.'
'Take it easy. He won't want you to lose the baby.' Then he went outside to ask the secretary to ring Des's son and mother-in-law, before going to the hospital himself.
What a sod of a thing to happen! Just when they needed all their wits about them. Just when he had a few plans of his own that needed his attention.
Tiffany took a minute or two to breathe deeply and get control of herself. It wouldn't help Des if she panicked and lost the baby. Then she called a taxi and got ready to go out.
When she arrived at the hospital, she introduced herself as Des Corrigan's fiancee and was shown into a waiting room to one side, where she found Raymond and a man he introduced as the company accountant, both of them looking gloomy.
They stood up and Raymond came across to her. 'Des is holding his own but he hasn't regained consciousness.'
She went all shuddery for a moment or two and clutched his arm, letting him help her to a seat.
'I'll leave you to keep an eye on things here,' the accountant said, 'and I'll go back to the office. We want to quell panic there.'
'Right.' Raymond hesitated, then went to sit two chairs away from Tiffany, keeping a wary eye on her.
'I'm not going to faint, Mr Tate.'
'Just worried, given the circumstances.'
She looked at him coolly. 'I've done yoga and meditation. I can control my own stress. Which is more than we can say about Des. Can you manage the firm in his absence?'
'Yes.'
'Has someone rung his son and mother-in-law?'
'I told his secretary to do that.'
'Are you staying on here?'
' 'Til I know he's out of danger.'
'Good.' She folded her hands in her lap and closed her lips firmly. She did have skills to minimize stress, but that didn't mean she wasn't worried sick about Des. If - no, when he recovered, she was going to make a few changes in his unhealthy lifestyle.
She couldn't bear it if he never even saw his child.
In Rochdale Judith and Lily started shopping with great enthusiasm. They'd agreed on the way into town to buy Lily some new jeans and a couple of tee shirts as well as the knickers.
When they went to pay at the first shop, however, Judith discovered she'd forgotten her credit card. 'I had it next to the computer, paying a bill on line,' she remembered. 'Oh, damn! I'm really sorry about this, Lily. I can't get you the jeans today, just the stuff you need and maybe one tee shirt and a couple of pairs of knickers.' She counted the money in her purse and they did some very careful shopping which used up most of her cash then set off home. Even that much shopping was fun and made her wish she'd had a daughter.
As they were nearing the house, her thoughts turned to what she was going to make for lunch and it took her a minute to realize what Lily was shrieking in her ear.
'Drive on past! That's Wayne's car.'
By the time that registered, Lily had undone her seat belt and slid down on to the floor, repeating, 'Drive past! Please!'
Judith did as she'd asked, speeding up again as she gave one glance at her house. If it had not been for Lily's quick reaction, she'd have turned into the drive without thinking about why a large four-wheel drive was parked in front of the house.
As they continued along the road, which led up to the moors, Lily looked up from a crouching position on the floor. 'How did they find us?'
It didn't take much thought to work that out. 'Cal came from round here originally, so it's a logical place to search. And the motorbike is very distinctive. We shouldn't have gone to the minimart on it last night.' She saw a turning space ahead and drew to a halt in it.
'I'm not going back to Mum. She'll only drag me off to America with her and Wayne.' Lily's voice became shrill as she added, 'I don't care what you say, I won't go back.'
Judith hated to see the unhappiness and tension in her companion, who had been laughing with her only a few minutes earlier.
'Isn't there somewhere else we can go? Please.' Lily pleaded.
And suddenly Judith realized that there was. 'Yes.' But as she started up the car, she groaned and turned to Lily.
'The petrol gauge shows nearly empty. I meant to fill the car in town. How are we going to buy petrol without my credit card?'
Twenty-Three
A kestrel hovers over the upper slopes of the moors then folds its wings and dives on its prey, rising triumphant with a mouse dangling from its talons.
After an hour had passed very slowly, Wayne fixed Cal with a lowering gaze and said, 'As custodial parent, Kerry wants her daughter back and you have no leg to stand on legally about this, Richmond . . . not now.'
'I've consulted a lawyer and I think you're wrong.' Cal ignored Wayne. 'You've been trying to fool me about the legalities, Kerry, so that you could take my daughter away from me. Why?'
'Because I don't want her growing up soft like you.'
'You want her like Rambo here?'
Wayne scowled at him and half-rose in his seat. 'Look here, fellow—'
Kerry tugged him down again. 'Don't let him provoke you. He's good at twisting words around, not so good at action.' She turned her head to spear Cal with one of the scornful looks he remembered so well. 'You've only got the ability to delay things, you know. And if you do, that'll put Lily in the middle of a tug of war situation. Can you blame me for trying to avoid that? If you do care about her as much as you claim, you'll let us take her to America and let her move on.'
'Never. She's as much mine as if I'd created her and anyway, she'd be unhappy with him.'
With a muffled grunt of annoyance, Wayne stood up and went to the window, fists rammed into his pockets, staring out.
Kerry stayed where she was, but Cal knew her well enough to sense that she was uneasy underneath her anger, as if she wasn't totally comfortable with all this.
After that the only sound in the room for some time was the ticking of a massive old clock on the mantelpiece, and the shuffling sounds Mitch made as he fidgeted in his seat near the door. From time to time
he looked at Cal and offered the unspoken support and comfort of a half-smile.
Tiffany glanced up as someone came into the waiting room. 'Hello.'
Hilary came across to sit next to her. 'How is he?'
'Holding his own. That's all they'll say. Isn't Mitch with you?'
'No. He's still in Lancashire but I've left a message for his mother.' She hesitated then took Tiffany's hand. 'Are you all right, dear?'
'Yes. Just - worried.'
A nurse came in. 'Mr Corrigan has regained consciousness, is asking for someone called Tiffany.'
She stood up. 'That's me. I'm his fiancee.'
'You can have five minutes with him, then he has to rest. He won't settle without seeing you. Is he always so difficult?'
'That's Des.' It gave Tiffany hope, somehow, to hear that he was still being his old awkward self.
He was lying on a bed, with a monitor beeping beside him and wires attached to his body. He looked pale and drawn, and limp, as if he hadn't the energy to lift a finger, but he still smiled faintly when he saw her.
She pulled a chair up to the bed and sat down. 'What a silly thing to do, Des Corrigan.'
He clutched her hand. 'Sorry. I'll try not to do it again.'
'I've got your mother-in-law here, but Mitch is still out of town.'
'It's you I want. The business—'
'—can be left to Raymond. He's very capable or you'd not have had him working for you so long.'
'Yes.' He sighed and looked at their joined hands. 'You will marry me when I get over this, Tiff, won't you? I need you.'
'You never miss a trick, do you?'
'Not if I can help it.'
'All right. I'll marry you.' She'd have a few conditions to make first, but now wasn't the time to mention those. 'They said only five minutes and we've had six.' Standing up she bent to kiss his cheek.
'I do love you, Tiff.'
'I don't know why, but I love you too.'
The nurse came in, her eyes on Des, assessing. She seemed to approve of what she saw and nodded at Tiffany. 'He really does need to rest now.'
'All right.'
The nurse left with her. 'If things go well for the next day or two, he should be out by the weekend. Is there someone to look after him?'
'Me. We live together.'
'Good.'
When Tiffany went back into the waiting room, she felt things in the room waver around her and put out one hand on the wall for support. Hilary jumped up and put an arm round her, so she clutched the older woman instead, grateful not to be alone. 'I don't know why I'm being so silly. Des is looking tired, but he's alive.' Her voice broke on the last word.
'It's quite a normal reaction to feel wobbly once the worst is over,' Hilary said in her comfortable way. 'Did you have any lunch?'
'No.'
'Let's go and get something to eat and drink, then. You can't function without fuel, especially in your condition.'
'I'm not hungry.'
'Just a snack, to please me.'
'All right. It's really kind of you - given the circumstances.'
'I don't blame you for what Des has done, and nor will Judith. Their marriage hasn't been - sound for a long time.'
Tiffany had to swallow hard to hold back the tears. She turned to Raymond who was hovering behind Hilary, looking uncomfortable. 'I told Des you'd see to things at work and he's happy with that.'
He looked relieved. 'Right then. I'll get back to the office. Tell him I'm on to things. Will you be all right?'
'I'll stay with her and see her home,' Hilary said.
He nodded and walked out.
'I want to stay here, be with Des,' Tiffany protested.
'I'll go and ask someone about that.' She bustled off and Tiffany sat down, closing her eyes.
When the older woman came back, she said, 'They suggest you go home. They're going to sedate him and he won't make much sense until tomorrow. I've given them my phone number. You will come to my house, won't you? You shouldn't be on your own. I need to ring Judith.'
'She won't want to see me.'
'She'll understand. And you really shouldn't be left on your own, not in your condition.'
As they were getting into her car, Hilary shook her head, a wry expression on her face. 'I don't know how Des does it'
'Does what?'
'What do they call it nowadays? ... I know, pull the chicks'
Tiffany stared at her in surprise, then chuckled. 'I'm a bit old to call a chick.'
'You seem pretty young to me. Come on. Let me take you home and look after you.'
'I have some money. I don't know if it'll be enough, though, because they took everything they could find away from me.' Lily tipped out her purse and they counted the coins together.
'It may just buy enough petrol. We'll have to go back through the village and fill up there, because this road only leads up to a pub on the moors, but I can avoid passing the house.'
They were both on edge as they stopped to fill up the car in the village. Lily stayed hunched up in the back, an old scarf of Judith's tied round her bright hair, pretending to read a magazine.
Then, driving in the most conservative way she knew in order to conserve petrol, Judith headed for Cheshire. A few miles from Maeve's house the car began to sputter and jerked to a halt.
'Oh, no!' Lily looked at her fearfully.
Judith smiled and reached out to hug the girl. 'It's all right. We're not far from Saltern House. I'll give Andy a ring and explain the situation.'
She was relieved when he answered the phone on the third ring and explained only that she'd run out of both petrol and money on the way to see Maeve.
'Where are you exactly? Right then, stay there and I'll bring some petrol out to you.'
He was there within half an hour, during which time Lily bit her nails and jerked round if any car slowed down nearby.
'They won't find us here,' Judith said several times. But it didn't seem to get through to the girl, who continued to wear the headscarf and sit slumped in her seat, watching the traffic warily.
When a large blue Mercedes slowed down and stopped next to them, she looked at Judith with such fear on her face that Judith took hold of her hand. 'It's all right. This is Andy, your Aunt Maeve's PA.'
'But what if they don't want to help me?'
'They will, I promise you.' She opened the car door and got out. 'Andy, I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life. Do you have some petrol?'
He nodded. 'I've also brought Reg, who looks after Maeve's cars. He'll fill yours up and bring it back to the house. You can ride home in my car.' He looked at Lily and then back questioningly at Judith. 'If you'd rung, I'd have seat a car to pick you up at home, you know.'
'We - um - had to leave unexpectedly and I didn't realize I hadn't brought my credit card. We need Maeve's help.'
'Who's the girl?'
'Lily. Another of Maeve's nieces. She's running away from her mother and we need your help.'
'This is Des's other daughter?'
'Yes.'
He laughed. 'Strangely enough, we were trying to find her. Maeve wants to meet her.'
Judith could see the girl's white, anxious face pressed against the car window. 'Look, I'll explain when we get there. Lily's very upset, so please don't ask her any questions.' She sat with Lily in the back of the big, luxurious car, holding her hand.
'What shall we do if she won't help me?' Lily whispered as they slowed down to turn into the drive.
'She will, I promise you.'
Maeve felt restless and went to sit in the conservatory as she waited for Andy to return. He said Judith had been very guarded on the phone, but had promised to explain fully when she arrived.
When she couldn't settle, Maeve wound up in the kitchen sitting on one of the high stools chatting to her housekeeper.
'You're looking a bit better today,' Lena said. 'There's more colour in your cheeks.'
Maeve considered this, head on one side. 'Yes. I'm
feeling a bit better too - well, I think I am - though I'm still much weaker than usual. I've to go in soon for another check-up.' She grimaced. 'I'm so tired of hospitals.'
'We're all human, even you, and sometimes we need them. Will you try one of these little rice-flour cakes for me? It's a new recipe and I'm not sure if there's enough sugar.'
Maeve picked one up and nibbled at it absent-mindedly. 'I wonder why Judith didn't let us know she was coming? Was that a car?' She put down the half-eaten cake and went back towards the front of the house.
Lena watched her go, a frown on her face. She hoped this visit didn't mean Des was causing trouble again. But at least she'd got a bit more food into Maeve, who was hardly eating enough to feed a bird.
Hilary picked up the phone, took a deep breath and dialled Judith's number. It rang several times and she was just about to put it down when someone picked it up. The person at the other end was a man and she didn't recognize his voice. 'Could I speak to Judith, please? It's her mother and it's very important.'
Cal stared at Wayne, who had moved closer and was listening carefully. 'Judith's out shopping. Can I take a message?'
'When do you expect her back?'
'I'm not certain.'
Hilary hesitated. 'Would you be Cal?'
'Yes.'
'Ah, she told me about you. Look, it's bad news, I'm afraid. Des, her ex, has had a heart attack. He's been taken to St Rita's and will be in for a few days. I think he'll be all right, they got to him quite quickly. But Mitch should come back and see him - just in case.'
'I'm sorry to hear that. I'll tell Mitch myself. Are you at home? Give me your number. Right, got it. I'm sure Judith will ring you when she comes back.'
He put the phone down. 'I need to speak to Mitch privately.'
Wayne stared at him, eyes narrowed, fairly bristling with suspicion.
Cal gestured to Mitch to follow him out and led the way into the kitchen.
'Who was that?'
'Your grandmother.'
'It's not Mum, then.' He let out a long shuddering breath. 'I was afraid she'd had an accident.'
'No. It's your father. And it is bad news. He's had a heart attack.'
'Dad! Is he—'
'They think he'll be all right, but you'll want to go and see him, I'm sure. They're keeping him in hospital for a few days.'
