Loving Alex (The Alexandra Drake Series)

by Sarah Elizabeth Ashley

  “It’s not long boiled Mrs. Drake.” He says looking away.

  “Do you want another?” I ask him.

  He points to his black coffee. “No, still drinking this.”

  I start to make tea, clicking a sweetener into my mug and reach for head-ache relief from the cupboard, pressing two out of the blister pack I fill a glass full of water and swallow the pills. Give it twenty minutes and the headache should be gone, I should start to feel human again.

  “Do you want toast, I’m making some?” I ask Lee.

  “Please.”

  I fill the toaster with four slices and add milk to my tea as the toaster does its stuff.

  I look at Lee as I sip the hot tea. “So you work with Jake and Benito?”

  “Yeah, have done for a few years now. Since I got out of the forces.”

  I don’t question him again, just simply state, “And don’t tell me, you can’t discuss your time in the British Army with me!”

  “You got it Mrs. Drake.”

  The toast pops up and I spread mine with the low fat spread. I pass three slices to Jake who uses the spread and adds some marmalade. Once I’ve eaten mine I go back upstairs, shower and dress for the day. Smart and comfortable, the black dress with the zipped front and a pair of flat pumps. Headache, on its way out, thank God!

  By the time I’m downstairs Anna is ready to go. Jake picks us up and drives the Range Rover out of London. We head north towards Birmingham using the motorway network.

  Sitting with Anna on the journey, I hold her hand and tell her about last night, what I found out.

  “Anna, I’ve something really important that I need to tell you, really important. I want you to listen carefully. Okay?”

  “Sounds serious mum.” She’s a dead pan face.

  “It is. Listen. You remember on Sunday when Benito came around and told us about the fingerprints? We then went to Muriel’s?”

  “Yes.” She nods.

  “Well when we got there Lola was with Muriel, Lola from the hotel, the restaurant.”

  She’s surprised. “Lola?”

  “Yes, well it appears that Lola is Muriel’s daughter…..” I recount the events of last night, how James and I sat with Lola, the bombshell that she dropped about her parents, her dad being Lewis and the bigger surprise that apparently Lewis was married to Muriel before he married me!

  “You’re joking?” Anna cringes, “The bastard!”

  I frown at her, listening to my daughter using language makes me wince!

  “I know. But it means that if what Lola says is right then legally I was never married to him, I don’t think! That the wedding we had was a complete farce.”

  “Well didn’t anyone check when you married him?” She asks.

  “No, they didn’t then, in fact I don’t think they actually check even now, you just have to declare that you’re free to marry. I suppose that’s one of the reasons they ask the congregation if anyone knows of any reasons why you can’t marry, in case one of the couple is already married!”

  She then asks the question I was dreading “So where does that leave me?”

  “I was thinking about that. Clearly, you’re not illegitimate because you know who your dad is, his names on your birth certificate, you have his name. But if Lola is right it just means that your dad and I were never legally married! Not that it matters because lots of people don’t marry. The biggest issue is for your dad, it’s a criminal offence!”

  “As in go to prison?” She asks.

  “Potentially yes, I think, I don’t know? Anyway, it was a real shock last night Anna, a real shock. I think Lola was really upset too. She knows what’s been going on and moved out of the family home about three weeks ago, they were trying to get her involved. She confessed to letting Lewis know where we were the day I received that phone call, you remember? Then he turned up at the hotel.”

  “Oh mum. I’m surprised, shocked, but not upset. You know I haven’t spoken to him for weeks. I have no intention of speaking with him again. Like I said to Katie, the day I found out about your back was the day he stopped being my father!” She looks down, fiddling with the strap of her handbag.

  We sit for the rest of the journey in silence, each with our own thoughts and eventually reach Edgbaston, the area around Birmingham University.

  We look at two apartments in the area neither of which we care for. Our next stop is a complex in Brindley Place in the city centre.

  Jake pulls the car into the gated car park and into a space reserved for visitors. “Why don’t you come in with us?” I ask him.

  “Not my place to Mrs. Drake.” He replies.

  I glare at him, “Alex, we discussed this yesterday, my name is Alex!”

  “Sorry, Alex.” He mutters.

  “Oh, go on Jake, live a little. Come on in!” I insist.

  He relents and follows us into the modern purpose built complex. We've only two to see in here, one being a top floor corner apartment which we look at first. It’s stunning and very spacious, two good sized bedrooms, a sitting room with an archway leading to a small dining area, well equipt kitchen and luxurious bathroom, floor to ceiling windows.

  Anna says as we wander around, “I like this mum.” The agent gives his sales patter and we view the other one in the block but I think that both Anna and I are sold on the top floor suite.

  “What do you think Jake?” I value his opinion.

  “It’s good. Good security system, access is easy enough and there's a full time concierge all add up to good points.” Of course Jake is looking at it through the eyes of a security professional, but none the less, they’re good points he’s raised and I think I’d be happier knowing that my daughter is living somewhere that has this level of security.

  I have a brief chat with the agent and after discussing it again with Anna I make an offer based on a cash sale for a quick completion which he agrees to put forward to his client, although he believes they will accept.

  We stop for lunch before my meeting with Shauna, calling at a little bistro near the solicitor’s office. “Please join us Jake?”

  “Sorry Alex. I can't. More than my jobs worth!”

  “Oh Jake - it’s a sandwich and a cup of coffee, not a full blown a la carte lunch. Surely you’re allowed to have a bite to eat?”

  “Sorry I can't.” He’s firm, “I’ll grab something while you’re in your meeting.”

  Once we’ve finished in the bistro Jake walks us to the solicitor’s office. We make our way to the reception area and announce our arrival. The receptionist asks us to take a seat and lets Shauna know that we’ve arrived.

  We only wait for a few moments before Shauna emerges. A tall thin lady with a mass of tight red curls and a very fair complexion. She’s wearing a black blouse and a grey skirt, neutral tights and red patent heels, looks very professional until you get to the heels!

  She extends a hand and we shake. “Mrs. Drake. Good to see you again.”

  “This is Anna, my daughter.” I introduce Anna, “Anna, this is the lady that’s been dealing with my divorce.”

  “Come on through to my office.” She leads on and we follow her down a narrow corridor.

  Once in her office she offers drinks, which we both decline and sit in two comfy chairs.

  “So, how are you Mrs. Drake?” Shauna asks brightly.

  “I’m fine.” I look at Anna, raising a eyebrow and taking a deep breath. “Have something I need to discuss with you urgently, so I was pleased we’d already had this appointment arranged. Something I only found out yesterday. But also, Anna will be moving to Birmingham for university at the end of this month, we’ve just looked at an apartment and put and offer in, assuming it’s accepted we’ll need someone for the conveyancing. I’ll use this practice of course, but if you would perhaps make an introduction for me?”

  “We can certainly handle that for you. Before you leave I’ll introduce you to one of the conveyancing team then, when your offer’s accepted we can pick u
p from there. So, what’s urgent?” She sits back in her large swivel chair and rests her hands on the padded arms.

  I sigh deeply, “Yesterday I found out that Lewis is possibly married to somebody else, I also found out that he may have been married to this other person before he married me!”

  “No!” Shauna gasps. “How did you find that out? Who told you?”

  I recount the story, the conversation I had with Lola last night. I tell her about Muriel, about the photographs I received in the post, the underwear going missing.

  “Oh, Mrs. Drake. Well, I don’t know what to say, I’m stumped! Totally. Umm, I’ve never had one of these before! I suppose the first thing we should do is take some details from you.” She opens her notepad and picks up a pen from the pen pot on her desk. “So, who did this Lola say Lewis was married to?”

  “She said that Lewis is her dad and her mum is Muriel, that’s factual we know that because Lola has her birth certificate and her dad’s name is on it as well as Muriel’s!”

  She looks up from her notes, “Right, and you said that Lola has an older brother?”

  “Yes, he’s called Josh. I assume he’s really a Joshua? He’s older, from what she said I would think he’s twenty-one now?”

  “So the other wife is Muriel?” She confirms.

  “Yes.”

  “But we don’t know her maiden name?” She asks.

  “No, but if Lola is at work I could always ring the hotel and ask her.” I offer.

  She thinks for a moment, “Could you, then we can just put the details through the Birth, Deaths and Marriages database, as a starting point anyway.”

  I pull my phone from my bag tapping the screen the call connects and is answered quickly by one of the girls in the office. I ask to be put through to Marcus.

  “Hi Marcus. Is Lola in today?” I ask.

  “She’s not Mrs. Drake. She didn’t turn up today? I’ve tried to call her but got no answer. She’s marked as an unauthorised absence.”

  “No worries Marcus.” I clear the call and shake my head at Shauna, “Not in today, we’ve a phone number for her but they’ve already called and she’s not answering.”

  She thinks again, “Okay. Well let me get one of the girls to run this through the BMD anyway, see what we can find. Okay? Do you know where Muriel comes from?”

  I shrug my shoulders, “North I think, she always called me “pet” a Geordie expression I think, so the Tyneside area I’m guessing.”

  “Okay.” She stands, “Let me see what I can dig up. Are you sure you wouldn’t like a drink?” She asks as she leaves her office.

  “No, I think we’re both fine.” I look at Anna who shakes her head, “No thank you.” She adds.

  Shauna leaves the office and takes the piece of paper with her leaving us waiting.

  “What will happen mum, if he did marry her before you?” Anna looks at me, a look of concern on her face. I knew my family was dysfunctional, with skeletons and secrets hidden. Maggie giving me away and nobody telling me but this, this just about takes the biscuit. Any more secrets like this revealed and they’ll be carrying me off to spend the rest of my life rocking in a corner.

  We sit, waiting, it must be half an hour before Shauna comes back with papers in her hand. “Right, Mrs. Drake. You married Lewis in 1991 right? I have a copy of your marriage certificate here.”

  “Yes, that’s right, out of university and married.”

  She waves one of the papers around. “Well, we’ve a record of a Lewis Arnold Drake marrying a Muriel Bird in 1990, just like you thought in Newcastle. The area fits with your assumptions, Lewis’s name fits exactly and Lewis person married a Muriel. Mrs. Drake, if this is your Lewis then I am so sorry, it does mean you were never legally married to him and, unfortunately I will need to notify the police as it’s a criminal offence. You cannot be married to two people at the same time. The girls in the office can’t find any record of a divorce either.”

  Despite the revelations of last night I stunned, it’s real now. “So Lola was right, they are married!” I feel empty, hollow and totally foolish. Relieved a little maybe, but my marriage, or non-marriage, has been a sham a complete and utter charade and all that I’ve gone through I needn’t of.

  “Shauna?” I address her, her head down frantically scribbling her notes.

  “Yes?”

  “Can I call the police please and how will he be punished?” I ask.

  She looks up from her notes, “I had a quick look on the Crown Prosecution website while the girls were looking through the BMD records. The sentencing guidelines are that a custodial sentence will be given if one party, that’s you, has been deceived and suffered injury, which you have. I believe it can result in up to seven years, but some recent cases have been much less than that, only a few months. But he’ll probably receive a fine as well. As far as you’re concerned and I will need to take advice, but I can’t see how you can divorce someone you’re not legally married to!”

  “Quite.” Is all about I can manage in reply.

  “Okay.” Shauna slips her notes into the file, “you want to call the police? I take it you know where he is? Please be my guest.” She pushes her telephone towards me, “if you get stuck on anything they ask, pass the telephone to me and I’ll fill in the gaps.”

  “101 isn’t it? Non urgent calls?”

  “Yes.” Anna says.

  I dial the number and follow the instructions tapping relevant buttons for various departments and I am soon connected to someone taking calls for the Met in London. I give my details, why I’m calling but soon get flustered. I’m feeling flushed, hot and bothered. I pass the call to Shauna who explains who she is. I close my eyes and concentrate on my breathing, my happy place, the beach from my childhood. Anna holds my hand as I count my breaths in and out, in and out, bringing myself down from the edge of another panic attack. Once, I feel right again I mentally pat myself on the back, I’m getting good at this!

  My solicitor finishes the call, “All done, they’ll pop around and see him at some point, it won’t be treated as a priority but, if anything happens again, like you’ve told me about, please call the police, this is the reference number they’ve given me, any sort of aggravation will be looked upon with a very dim view so make sure you report anything and everything, and remember I’m here if you need me for anything!”

  She stands and walks towards her door, “I’ll introduce you to the conveyancing team on the way out.”

  We follow her along the narrow corridor and she stops at a larger office with about six desks. A young man near the door stands, “Shauna is this Mrs. Drake?” He asks offering his hand.

  “Hi.” I smile as we shake.

  “My card. My name’s Gary, when you’re ready give me a call and we’ll do the rest. Is there a mortgage involved?” He asks.

  “No, cash purchase.”

  “That should be straight forward then. I hope to hear from you soon.” He smiles at Anna, he must only be a few years older than her, she smiles back and colours ever so slightly.

  I look between this Gary and my daughter, addressing the handsome young man, “We’re looking for a very quick completion Gary. Anna’s moving to Birmingham for University, she needs to be in by the end of next month or very, very early October at the absolute latest, I assume we can do it in, what three weeks?”

  “Mrs. Drake. Providing all parties are happy and with no mortgage involved we could, at a push, do it in two! We’re very good in this department.” He laughs as he brags about his own team.

  “I may just hold you to that Gary!” I half laugh, “I may call you back later today, as soon as I’ve heard from the agents.”

  We leave the building and find Jake waiting outside patiently. I see evidence of a sandwich and coffee in a brown paper bag on the front seat of the Range Rover.

  “You’ve eaten then Jake?” I ask.

  “I have Alex. Fully fuelled and ready for home! Okay?”

  I glance at my watc
h, part of me thinks we should drive past my old house before we go, but another part says “no”, go away, leave it in the past where it belongs, go back to James to my new life.

  “Straight home Jake please, straight home.”

  Chapter 27

  Jake heads out of Birmingham and we drive south towards London, the reverse of the route we took this morning. Our silent drive is broken by my telephone ringing, the number shown as “private”.

  “Alex Drake.” I answer. I don’t know why I say it like that because truthfully I don’t know if my name is Alex Drake any more.

  “Hi Mrs. Drake. We met this afternoon at the apartment in Brindley Place. I’ve some good news for you.”

  “Good, they’ve accepted our offer? – quick completion?” I ask.

  “Yes, and yes,” He confirms, “good news, yes?”

  “Very good. I’ll call my solicitor now and get them to put the wheels in motion, as it were.”

  “Great. If you need anything Mrs. Drake, just call me. And it was a pleasure to meet you this afternoon.”

  “Thank you, thank you so much.”

  I end the call and smile at Anna. “Well, there’s some good news – you got your apartment!”

  “Thanks mum, oh thank you so much,” she leans forward across the back seat and hugs me, “thank you mum I won’t let you down I promise.”

  “I know you won’t, you just keep up with the good work, keep your head down and make me proud of you, very proud.”

  “You got the apartment then?” Jake asks from the front.

  “We did Jake, great isn’t it?”

  “Yes Ma’am!”

  “Jake!” I grumble at him.

  “Sorry Alex!”

  We slow down on the outskirts of London as the traffic builds. Anna has been talking about furniture, what she wants in her new apartment. She talks about learning to drive and tells me that she’d love a SmartCar, she rattles away part of me listening, part of me away with my own thoughts. I have no idea what’s going to happen to me now, what will happen to Lewis? Do I care? What will happen to my sham of a non-marriage?

  My thoughts are interrupted as my mobile pings with a text, it’s from James.