The Truth: sequel to I Will Find You

by Catherine Lambert

  “I haven’t made a decision yet,” she eventually replied.

  “While you two attempt to reach a decision, there’s something I need to say,” Jake’s serious expression caused Lydia and Marney to look across the table at him.

  “Oh, you’d better say it then Jake,” Marney spoke up.

  “O.K. I’ll get straight to the point. Maria intends to stay in Malta with Olivia.

  She’s applying for sole custody and would prefer it if I didn’t visit her anymore. I can’t be sure, but from the way she was talking, I suspect there’s another man in her life,” he paused and looked up at Lydia.

  “Oh Jake, I’m so sorry,” she leaned across the table and placed a hand over his.

  “What are you going to do?” Marney asked.

  “I’m going to take legal advice. I’ve got the same rights as Maria.”

  “What does sole custody mean Jake?” Marney continued to question him.

  “Well, sole physical custody just means the child lives with one parent, but there’s sole legal custody which gives that parent the right to make life decisions concerning education, religion and health.”

  “Oh, I see, that doesn’t give you much say in your daughter’s life,” Marney sighed.

  “You’re going to contest it, aren’t you Jake?” Lydia asked.

  “What’s the point? If I want to see my daughter for a weekend, I’ll have to get on a plane. Maria has made that clear. She says it’s not healthy for Olivia to fly. I can’t see an answer to it, Maria is adamant she’s staying in Malta.” Jake stood up.

  “Shall I make some tea?”

  “I’ll give you a hand,” Lydia offered.

  “You could take a holiday there, you need to keep in contact with your daughter,” Lydia suggested as she placed three cups on a tray.

  “She won’t know me as her father; I’ve already lost one child, now I’m on the verge of losing another.”

  Sensing Jakes’s mood, Lydia didn’t reply.

  “The meal’s ready, let’s sit down,” she picked up the tray.

  “What will happen if you take legal advice Jake?” Marney asked.

  “Nothing probably. Maria has already started divorce proceedings on the grounds that I was unreasonable in refusing to move to Malta. It’s bloody ironic, her mother disapproved of me because I was divorced, and now she’s divorcing me. Bloody hypocrite,” he shook his head and sighed.

  “What else does she want?” Lydia looked over the rim of her teacup as she spoke.

  “Just our daughter, she says I can keep the house. How bloody generous when I own it,” his anger and loathing evident in his tone as he flared his nostrils and exhaled noisily.

  “Unless you’re prepared to fight for custody, you’ll going to lose contact with Olivia,” Marney warned.

  “It’s a fight I’m not going to win, I think I’ve seen my daughter for the last time.”

  The atmosphere in the room was tense and awkward as Marney stood up, took Heidi from her chair and left the room. In the doorway she paused and turned to speak to Lydia.

  “I’m going to bath Heidi, I’ll leave you to talk things through,” she turned and headed up the stairs. As soon as Marney was out of earshot Lydia leaned forward.

  “Do you think I should sell the café Jake?” she asked in a whispered tone.

  “No,” he replied without hesitation.

  “How am I going to cope on my own? I know we don’t have many customers anymore, but it isn’t manageable with one person,” she sighed.

  “Well, if Marney does decide to leave, you’ll just have to hire someone else,” he shrugged his shoulders.

  “Maybe she’s right Jake, perhaps it’s time to sell up and move on,” Lydia stood up and began to pace nervously around the room.

  “I don’t think so love; you’ll regret it,” he warned.

  “Maybe, but what else can I do?” she sat down next to him on the sofa.

  “I could move in here with you and put my house up for sale. I should be able to get a few months leave from work and help you in the café,” he smiled at her.

  “Are you serious Jake?” she sat upright and turned to face him.

  “Why not? We don’t need two houses, and the extra cash will come in handy.”

  “If you’re sure?” she hesitated, and he leaned forward to kiss her as Marney came back into the room.

  “You haven’t forgotten I’m seeing Will tomorrow night, have you?” she looked at her sister.

  “Of course not, it’s going to be a busy day,” she smiled at Jake.

  “Why’s that?” Marney wrinkled her brow.

  “Jake’s moving in,” she blurted it out.

  “It makes sense. I shall feel safer with a man in the house,” Marney placed Heidi in her playpen and sat down.

  “He’s going to help out in the café as well,” Lydia replied.

  “So, you’ve replaced me already sis.” She flared her nostrils and pursed her lips.

  “I have to keep my business running Marney, it’s nothing personal.”

  “I’ve only been upstairs, and you’ve replaced me, it really is personal,” she leapt to her feet.

  “You said you don’t want to work there anymore Marney,” Lydia argued.

  “Perhaps I was a bit hasty. I’m still in shock after what’s happened,” her expression softened causing Lydia to regret her actions.

  “You still have a job sis, come back when you’re ready.”

  “Maybe I will,” she hesitated then added, “Would you mind looking after Heidi for a couple of hours?”

  “Of course not; where are you going?”

  “Into town to get a new outfit for tomorrow. It’s difficult trying clothes on with Heidi,” she smiled.

  “I know, you get off. Jake is putting his house on the market, so we’ll probably pop round there and have a look around,” Lydia stood up.

  “When are you moving in Jake?”

  “Probably over the weekend, if that’s alright with both of you?”

  Marney nodded and stood up.

  “I’ll see you later then,” she picked up her handbag leaving her mobile phone on the coffee table and left.

  “We may as well go over to your place now Jake,” Lydia took Heidi from the playpen.

  “O.K. love.”

  “I’ll just get a coat for Heidi, I won’t be long,” she left the room.

  Twenty minutes later, Jake turned into the drive of his four-bedroomed semi-detached house he had shared with Maria and Olivia. He wore a sad expression on his face as he opened the front door and stepped aside to allow Lydia to enter. Aware of the emotion it had evoked, she respected his mood and moved slowly along the thick carpeted hallway of the house. Lydia had never visited this house, but was surprised at the spacious rooms and tasteful décor. Jake led them to the lounge where he began to search through the drawers of a writing desk. Taking out several documents, he tucked them into his pocket and turned to face her.

  “It’s very nice Jake, if nothing else, Maria had good taste,” she glanced around at the black leather suite draped with white cushions and matching rug.

  “Maybe, but I prefer a more traditional look, as you know,” he glanced over his shoulder.

  Following him into the kitchen Lydia was in awe of the ultra-modern black and red units. Lights fitted beneath all the wall cupboards illuminated the black granite surfaces. Red leather backed high stools tucked beneath an island, created a focal point for the room.

  “You shouldn’t have much trouble selling this Jake,” Lydia nodded as she glanced at the immaculate kitchen. A high-chair stood in a corner and she popped Heidi into it.

  “You don’t mind, do you?” she hesitated.

  “No, of course not,” he smiled. “There’s a box of rusks in here somewhere.” He began to open and close cupboard doors until he found what he was looking for.

  “Here we are. I think they’re still fresh,” he held out the box.

  “They’re fine,”
Lydia checked the date and passed one to her niece.

  “There’s a dining room at the end of the hall, but we usually ate in here,” he continued to scan the room.

  “I’ll nip upstairs and pack some clothes and toiletries, if you don’t mind?”

  Realising it was too personal to follow him upstairs, Lydia nodded and took a seat at the island. A few minutes later, Jake appeared in the doorway with a small holdall in is hand.

  “Do you want to see the rest of the hose now?” he asked.

  “If you don’t mind,” she took Heidi from the chair and wiped her mouth with a tissue.

  Following him out of the kitchen he led her to the dining room where a long oak table with ten matching chairs and two carvers, were tucked neatly beneath. A huge candle holder created an impressive centre piece for the imposing room. The laminate floor was a deeper shade of oak but matched the dining suite well. Framed photographs of Jake and Maria on their wedding day, were displayed on the facing wall together with a silver framed image of Olivia. Without looking at the photographs, Jake left the room with Lydia and Heidi in tow and began to climb the stairs.

  “What are you going to do with the furniture Jake?”

  “I don’t know, but I’ll have to ask Maria if she wants to ship some of it out to Malta,” he shrugged his shoulders.

  “That’ll cost a fortune.”

  “That’s up to her. I can probably sell some of it, and split the proceeds,” he pushed open the bathroom. The room was surprisingly small with a shower, toilet and basin.

  “There’s an en-suite in the master bedroom,” he said with smile.

  The master bedroom was furnished with a king- sized bed and fitted wardrobes. A rich burgundy carpet matched the studded headboard and a black throw and cushions dressed the bed. The bathroom had an open shower and marble tiled floor. Three further bedrooms consisted of a beautiful pink nursery for Olivia, and two guest rooms.

  “It’s a beautiful house Jake, I really am sorry things didn’t work out for you, for Olivia’s sake,” Lydia laid a hand on his shoulder.

  “We had problems from the beginning; but when she told me she was pregnant I thought our relationship would improve, but it just got worse. Splitting with Maria was inevitable, but I never imagined I would lose my daughter.”

  Unable to find the right words, Lydia changed the subject.

  “What’s the garden like?”

  “Regimented,” he replied moving slowly down the stairs.

  The exterior of the house was as neat and tidy as the interior with a lawn to the front, bordered with pansies and foliage. A wooden summer house sat on a raised patio with a small bistro set to the side. A burnt-out candle lay in the centre where a pool of rain water had collected.

  “That’s the end of the guided tour except for garage,” Jake smiled.

  “I’ll give that a miss,” Lydia carried Heidi back to the car while Jake locked the house. He returned a few minutes later carrying a box.

  “What’s that?” she asked as he placed it on the back seat.

  “A bread maker. It was a wedding present, but it’s never been used. Maria could just about boil an egg,” he sneered.

  “Thanks love, I’m sure it will be handy for the café.”

  By the time they arrived back at Lydia’s house, Heidi was asleep, and Jake carried her up the stairs to her cot.

  “I’ll put the kettle on,” Lydia took off her coat and headed towards the kitchen. The sound of Marney’s mobile phone ringing caused her to turn in the direction of the coffee table. It was unusual for her to leave the house without it and Lydia answered the call.

  “Hello, Marney’s phone,” she didn’t recognise the callers number.

  “I’m sorry, she’s not here at the moment, can I take a message?”

  “Oh, I see.”

  Lydia listened for several minutes before speaking.

  “So, what happens next?” she asked as Jake came into the room.

  “Right, I’ll get her to call you on this number when she returns,” Lydia ended the call and stared at Jake.

  “What?” he asked.

  “That was the nursing home, Earnest Gerrity has died.”

  “Were they expecting it?”

  “Well, the last time we saw him the doctor said it would be months rather than weeks, but he caught an infection and died of pneumonia.”

  “That’s a shame, but of course it now means Heidi inherits his wealth.”

  “I’ll make the tea,” Jake volunteered.

  Ten minutes later, they sat in the lounge waiting for Marney to arrive.

  “How rich is he Lyds?”

  “I don’t know about the money, but there are two or three properties. He’s leaving one property to Marney together with unknown amount of cash. There’s no way she’s going to work in the café now,” Lydia forced a smile, she knew her relationship with her sister was going to change, but she was uncertain whether it would be for the better.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Half an hour later, the familiar sound of Marney’s car approached the house, and pulled into the drive. As the key turned in the lock, Lydia jumped to her feet and turned to face her sister as she burst into the room laden with bags, and a huge grin on her face.

  “Is there something wrong sis?” she asked sensing Lydia’s mood.

  “Come and sit down,” she spoke quietly.

  “There is something wrong, what’s happened. Tell me it’s not Heidi,” she rambled on.

  “No, it’s not Heidi it’s Earnest, he died this morning,” she studied her sister’s expression.

  “Earnest? I thought he was quiet well considering his condition,” she looked confused and had obviously not realised the consequences of his death.

  “He died of pneumonia, not the disease he was suffering from,” Lydia explained.

  “How do you know this?” she looked up.

  “You left your phone here. The nursing home have been trying to contact you all morning. We went to Jake’s house and I didn’t know your phone was here. I’ve written the number down for you to call them back,” she passed a slip of paper to her.

  “Where’s Heidi?”

  “She’s asleep upstairs,” Jake replied.

  “I’ll make the phone call while she’s asleep,” she stood up, picked up her mobile and punched in the numbers. Her call was answered almost immediately

  And she began to wander from room to room as she listened and spoke.

  “I don’t know where that is,” she said.

  “When will it be?” she continued to ask questions.

  “Will that be after the funeral?”

  A few minutes later, she thanked the matron and ended the call.

  “They’ll let us know the date of the funeral. Earnest asked to be buried with his wife. There won’t be a post mortem because he was in the care of a doctor. We can go and see him tomorrow, if we want to.”

  “Do you want to see him Marney?” Jake asked.

  “I don’t think so. I want to remember him how he was the last time I saw him. I feel so sorry for him. He hated being in that home, and we stopped him from visiting us,” tears began to fall down her cheeks.

  “He wasn’t well enough to visit us Marney, I think you know that,” Lydia attempted to justify her refusal for the visit.

  “I’m the only family he had,” she sniffled and wiped away the tears.

  “And he was lucky to have you and Heidi at the end of his life,” she knelt beside her and put a comforting arm around her shoulder.

  “Are they reading the will after the funeral?” Jake asked.

  “Yes, Earnest’s solicitor will be in touch. The matron has said that Earnest doesn’t want mourning wear at his funeral. He never liked black clothes.”

  “I always think it seems a bit disrespectful not to wear black to a funeral,” Lydia frowned.

  “I know what you mean but we have to respect the wishes of the deceased,” Jake agreed.

  “I thin
k I can hear Heidi crying, I’ll go and get her,” Marney stood up and left the room.

  “She seems quite upset about his death. He was a nice old guy though,” Lydia smiled.

  “You both knew his life was limited, but I suppose it’s still upsetting.”

  The sound of Marney’s’ footsteps on the stairs preceded her appearance in the doorway with a smile on her face.

  Deciding it would be better to change the topic of conversation, Lydia asked.

  “What did you buy for your date night?”

  “I don’t think I should be going out, it seems disrespectful,” Marney hesitated.

  “Earnest would want you to enjoy yourself sis.”

  “Why do people always say that? How can anyone know what a deceased person wants?”

  Finding no answer to her question, Lydia turned her attention to the evening meal.

  “I’m cooking a chicken for dinner, is that O.K?”

  “My favourite; shall I give you a hand?” Jake offered.

  “No thanks, you’d better unpack your clothes. They’ll be plenty of jobs for you to do in the future,” she giggled.

  “I bought this dress Lyds, what do you think?” Marney held up a calf length red dress. The top was fitted to the waist and tapered out to a full skirt. Wiping her hands on her apron Lydia turned around.

  “That’s gorgeous, I love red. Go and put it on sis,” she smiled.

  “Look at the shoes,” Marney pulled out a pair of matching stiletto heels.

  “Perfect, can’t wait to see them on,”

  Marney dashed out of the room and nearly collided with Jake as he opened the door.

  “Sorry Jake, I need to try my dress on,” she hurried up the stairs.

  “She’s soon perked up,” Jake glanced over his shoulder.

  “I know, but it’s preferable to sulking. I think she’s realised we can’t change things. We knew Earnest wasn’t going to live for much longer. It could have been much worse Jake,” she raised her eyebrows and throw a tea towel at him.

  “Would you mind emptying the dishwasher?”

  “Of course not.”

  As the chicken roasted in the oven and the vegetables and potatoes steamed on the hob, Marney made her appearance in the kitchen doorway.