Finding Cassie, page 14
Had his son taken on board properly how much Hal had changed? He didn’t think so. Not yet.
He wasn’t giving in about how he ran his home. Or about anything else. What did they say nowadays? My way or the highway.
No, he couldn’t throw Oliver out, but his son might leave in a huff.
Could he even afford to set himself up in a flat? From what he’d let drop he was a bit short of cash till the money from his house came in.
Chapter Fourteen
That evening Cassie looked out of the back window of her house, wondering whether to sit outside for a while. Would she be too cold? No, the patio was quite sheltered and she could put her shawl round her shoulders.
Evie was watching some soap on TV that she’d confessed to being addicted to. Good luck to her. For a teenager, she was surprisingly good about keeping the volume low, hadn’t even needed telling.
Cassie ran up to get her shawl, opened the rear doors then turned back. She fancied a glass of wine. Why not? Having one glass wasn’t setting a bad example.
She poured a glass of dry white from her favourite Australian vineyard, a place where she’d once done a ‘behind the scenes’ programme on a round-the-world series about wine making.
Taking her glass outside, she sat down with a long sigh of relief and felt herself immediately start to relax. There was the sound of a chair being moved next door and when she looked round, she saw Hal coming towards her across the newly laid lawn between the houses. It was nice not to have fences. Well, unless you were lumbered with a bad neighbour.
‘Refugee from the TV?’ He rested his hands on the back of the next outdoor chair, smiling down at her.
‘Yes.’
‘Me, too. My son has come to stay for a couple of weeks. He’s just split up with his wife.’
‘Oh, that’s sad.’ She could see his wry smile in the light from the back rooms of her house.
‘Actually, I’m surprised she put up with him for so long. He’s a slob. Leaves a trail of mess wherever he goes. I need to warn you about one thing: I’ve threatened to throw anything he leaves lying around out of the house, and I’ve already done it once. So if you see piles of what looks like rubbish or old clothes in front of or behind my house, ignore them.’
She chuckled, not even trying to hide her amusement. ‘I’d like to be a fly on the wall. Will you really keep on doing that, do you think? It takes a lot to change an untidy person’s habits, as I found out when I tried to live with one otherwise nice guy.’
His expression grew very determined. ‘You’ve got to believe it. Living in this house is my dream for the rest of my life. What do oldies call it these days? My death nest.’
‘What a horrible concept. You’re far too young to be thinking of death.’
He hesitated then said quietly, ‘I’m a cancer survivor, Cassie. I’ve grown used to the thought of dying, though they tell me I’m clear now.’
She’d reached out to clasp his hand before she knew it and he didn’t pull away. ‘That’s tough, Hal. I did a programme on surviving cancer once, and I so admired the people I interviewed. Facing a premature death while you make plans for the family you’ll be leaving behind is one of the highest forms of bravery, if you ask me, Hal.’
‘Is there anything you haven’t done an article on?’
‘Oh, lots of things, but I’ve covered many of the big issues of life over the past twenty years.’
‘Especially the last five years of Life with Cassandra on the first Friday of the month.’
‘You’ve watched my programmes?’
‘Quite often, yes. You have an incisive yet tender approach to your topic and show a respect for the people you involve.’
She was touched by the compliment. ‘Thank you. I’ve had enough of other people’s problems, though, and even of their achievements. I want to concentrate on my own life from now on.’ She glanced at the glass she was holding and waved it towards him. ‘Like to join me?’
‘I’d love to.’
‘I don’t know why I’ve left you standing there as we talk. Do sit down, please.’
While he made himself comfortable, she went into the house, found another glass and took the bottle out with her. Evie was still glued to the TV and the two people whose lips seemed fused together. She didn’t even seem to notice her grandmother coming and going.
Hal didn’t say a lot nor did she try to force conversation, but it was nice to have someone her own age to chat to and Cassie felt relaxed enough with him to pour them both a second glass. Although the rear patio was nicely sheltered, it was getting a bit chilly, but she didn’t want to break up an interesting conversation. She might have a conservatory built on, so that she could use the area whatever the weather.
She didn’t even switch on the outside lights. The rising moon added a soft glow to the scene that was more than enough.
Hal was quite good-looking for a man of his age, she decided, after a surreptitious study of him as he talked, eyes alight with interest first in one thing, then in another, and hands waving to emphasise important points. She hoped the moonlight had blurred the wrinkles on her face, as they had on his.
What attracted her to him most of all was his intelligence and the kind yet not wimpy way he seemed to interact with the world. It was as if he were quietly sure of his own place in the universe and didn’t need to prove anything to anyone.
Hal broke off in the middle of a discussion as he heard the sound of a phone ringing several times then cutting off inside his house.
A few moments later the back patio door slid open and a figure peered out into the darkness. ‘Dad? Are you out here? There’s someone on the phone for you.’
He sighed in annoyance. ‘Tell them I’m busy.’
‘You didn’t even ask who it was.’
‘I don’t care who it is. I’m enjoying the peace and quiet out here.’
‘They’ll have heard your voice, Dad.’
Hal sighed and put down his glass. ‘Don’t go in yet, Cassie. I’ll be back shortly.’
Once inside his own house, he picked up the phone and glanced at the number, muttering, ‘Oh damn!’ Taking a deep breath, he said, ‘Hello?’
‘Hal, it’s me, Sabine. Surely you recognise my number? I’ve been chasing you for a couple of weeks. Where are you?’
‘I’ve retired to the country, as I told you I was going to do.’
‘That doesn’t mean you don’t want to see old friends, surely? How about I come and visit you for a day or two?’
Her voice had gone low and throaty, a device she employed when she wanted to sound sexy. Hearing it after a few weeks, he decided it had the opposite effect on him now that he knew it for a deliberate trick. ‘I’m living a very quiet life these days, Sabine. It’d bore you to tears.’
‘Try me.’
‘Thank you but no. Look, there’s no easy way to say this. We had a nice fling but I thought we’d both moved on.’
‘I don’t agree. I was just giving you time to recover. I saw you in the distance the other week and remembered how good we’d been together.’
Make that, she’d been waiting to see if he did recover. ‘Well, there you are. I’ve certainly moved on. Thanks for calling, Sabine, but I’m not picking up the past again. Have a good life.’ He clicked the phone off, then looked up to see Oliver staring at him.
‘She sounded a sexy piece. Why did you turn her down?’
‘She’s a rather predatory woman. I’m not interested in getting together with her again.’
‘Mum always said you were a babe magnet.’
‘Then your mother was wrong. And please don’t answer my phone again. Or listen to my phone conversations.’
Oliver shrugged. ‘Whatever. Who were you talking to outside?’
‘My neighbour. And I’m going back to continue our conversation, so I’ll leave you to your TV watching.’
‘I could come and join you for a glass or two.’
‘No, you couldn’t. Cassie and I are enjoying each other’s company in a very peaceful way that will bore you to tears. And you haven’t brought any wine with you.’
‘You’ve got plenty. Surely you don’t grudge me a glass or two?’
‘I buy good wine. You guzzle it as if it’s lemonade and I’m not wasting mine on you. I know exactly how many bottles I have, so don’t go taking any after you finish that bottle you’ve pinched without asking me tonight.’
He had the satisfaction of seeing his son’s mouth drop open in shock as he moved outside again. He pulled the sliding door firmly shut behind him and sat down again, trying to switch off his annoyance as decisively as he’d switched off the phone. Only, it was still there, humming away inside him.
‘Unwanted caller?’ Cassie murmured.
‘Definitely unwanted. I went out with Sabine a few times, but that was BC – before the cancer. She vanished quickly after I was diagnosed. She must have heard that I’d recovered. She’s probably between men and I’d guess she’s looking for a husband now that she’s getting older, to help maintain her expensive lifestyle. And she’d prefer one who’ll die while she’s still youngish and leave her a nice chunk of money.’
‘Is she really that bad?’
‘I’m afraid so. Gorgeous-looking, good conversationalist but no heart behind the façade.’
She was thinking aloud before she knew it. ‘The old Cassie would have wondered about doing an article on predatory women who deliberately marry for money.’
‘And the new Cassie?’
She shrugged. ‘The new Cassie is much more interested in helping her granddaughter and making a few carefully selected new friends.’
‘I’d love to count myself a friend of yours.’
‘It’s a bargain.’ She raised her glass to him and clinked it against his to seal their agreement, and they smiled gently at one another as they each took a sip of wine, then put their glasses down.
‘So, Cassie, how’s it going with Evie?’
‘Really well. She’s a great kid.’
‘She seems to be. Very capable too, from what you’ve told me.’
They chatted about the current political news, then Hal couldn’t hold back a yawn. He savoured the last mouthful and put his glass down. ‘I think I’ll call it a day. Nice wine, that one.’
‘One of my favourites. And I must say, I was thinking of doing the same thing. I’m not a late night sort of person.’
‘Thanks for inviting me across.’
‘I’ve enjoyed your company.’
‘I’ve enjoyed yours, too. My turn to play host next time.’
When Cassie went inside, she found Evie sitting reading a book and the television switched off.
Her granddaughter greeted her with, ‘I can see by the expression on his face that he likes you.’
‘And I like him. But not in that way.’
‘Not yet.’
‘That isn’t the first thing I think of when I meet someone, Evie. It doesn’t matter to me whether they’re male or female, what I want to know before I make friends is that they’re decent human beings with a well-exercised brain between their ears. Doesn’t even matter whether they’re particularly intelligent, as long as they keep the brain they were born with active.’
‘Those sound like good criteria for judging someone.’
‘I reckon so. Now, I’m going to bed and you should too, don’t you think?’
‘I was just planning to do that. I’ll need a glass of water to take with me. Can I get you anything, Gran?’
‘No, darling. But a goodnight cuddle wouldn’t go amiss.’ She held her breath, waiting. Had she gone too far, expecting too much too soon?
But Evie came across to her smiling and they had a nice hug, swaying to and fro for a few moments before drawing apart.
‘Sleep well, darling.’
‘You sleep well, too, Gran.’
Cassie was still smiling as she got into bed and listened to her granddaughter making similar preparations for sleep. What a lovely evening it had turned out to be.
Things were going so well. Fingers and toes crossed that nothing went wrong and Evie’s mother didn’t find out where she was. Well, not yet, anyway. They shouldn’t postpone a reconciliation for too long.
But first, Cassie wanted so much to get to know Evie. She liked – no, make that loved – what she’d seen so far.
Surely her daughter must have some good qualities to have produced and raised such a delightful girl? Cassie hoped she could meet Fran and get to know her as well.
Chapter Fifteen
Fran didn’t have to go to work that day and after waving Keith off, she went to sit down with a cup of tea and have a think, not only about Evie but about … well, everything.
Whatever Keith said, she was still worried about her daughter. Surely Evie could have found some way to email her by now?
She was worried about Keith too. She’d promised herself when she split up with her previous guy that she’d never let herself be manipulated again. And now look at her, married in a blind rush and afraid to do openly what she felt to be right.
For a start, she knew for certain that Evie wasn’t sly. Why did Keith keep saying that? If anything that girl was too straightforward about how she interacted with people and hadn’t yet developed much tact. Wait till Evie got interested in boys. She’d have to learn to deal with them more tactfully or she’d never keep a boyfriend.
Only, perhaps you could be too tactful. Fran had lain awake worrying each night that Evie had been away. Keith didn’t seem to understand a mother’s love and just kept brushing her worries aside and distracting her.
And she still hadn’t gone against his wishes and contacted the police! What did that say about her? Only, maybe she’d needed this breathing space, this chance to see what Keith was like in an emergency.
Not as good as she’d expected. Let’s face it, not good at all. Of course no one was perfect, she knew that. But – she was beginning to add a lot of buts when she thought about him. Why had she let him push her into marriage?
Well, Evie came first at the moment, then she’d deal with her own problems.
She’d racked her brain about where her daughter could possibly have gone. Amelia was no longer around to take her in. She’d just left for Italy even though Fran had asked her to delay her departure in case the poor girl turned up looking for help.
Amelia had always been like that, avoiding trouble at all costs.
So had she, Fran admitted. She began to pace up and down, trying to set her thoughts in order.
She was off work today. Ought she to go and check Amelia’s house, in case Evie was hiding there? She didn’t think her daughter would break into someone else’s home – not unless she was utterly desperate.
What Fran couldn’t understand was why Evie would be desperate enough to run away in the first place?
What was it about Keith that upset her so much? What had she missed seeing in him?
Fran remembered introducing him to her daughter, how kindly he’d spoken to Evie. And afterwards he’d complimented Fran on how pretty her daughter was. He cared more than most men did how people and things looked, fussed over the house, needed everything just so, had even shouted at her for leaving things lying around.
And … I have to admit it, I let him shout at me! That was … pitiful.
When she’d finished her drink, Fran rinsed out the mug and went up to her daughter’s bedroom, or at least what had been intended for Evie to use as a bedroom till the attic was ready. She and Keith had simply dumped all her daughter’s things here in piles when Fran moved in. Then, after Evie ran away, they’d brought back what had been left at Amelia’s house, which had added another pile or two.
That was something else that was puzzling Fran. She knew exactly what Evie owned. Her daughter had left nearly all her clothes behind when she vanished. How was the girl managing without a proper change of clothing?
As she stood in the doorway of the bedroom the anger faded and tears welled in her eyes. Evie wouldn’t like her things to be dumped in untidy heaps like this. She was good around the house, always tidy, giving little trouble.
In fact, she was much easier to live with than Keith!
Evie could be stubborn, though, when she believed in something. Would she ever agree to live with him? That was, if she came back, if she didn’t stay away. Fran pressed one hand to her mouth but the sobs would come out and she fumbled for another tissue to wipe her eyes.
Was it worth losing her daughter to marry Keith? The answer surprised her. No. Nothing is worth losing Evie for.
She had to believe that things would improve between herself and Keith. They’d built up a nice life as a couple and developed a circle of friends, most of whom were useful to him for business purposes – which didn’t stop them being very pleasant people to socialise with.
The only one she didn’t like was his best friend, Ryan, who was a bit creepy, if you asked her. Keith changed when Ryan was round, grew more bossy and, yes, scornful towards her.
She had a sudden memory of seeing Evie through a half-open door slapping Ryan’s hand away from her. Evie claimed he’d touched her breast. Keith had laughed it off and said Ryan had only been joking and his hand had slipped.
Had Ryan upset Evie more than once? Was that it? And if so, why hadn’t Keith seen it as a problem?
Heart sinking at what this might imply, Fran walked across to the window and stared down into the garden. No, no! Keith was nothing like Ryan, wouldn’t defend him if he really was harassing Evie.
She shouldn’t be wasting time like this. There was so much to do in their new house. Keith had left her with a list of things to be sorted out today. Only, it was more important to her to find her daughter, so the list could damned well wait.
Should she go to the police? What would they say if she reported Evie missing now? Why didn’t you come to us sooner? That’s what they’d say. They might not even take her seriously.
She screwed up Keith’s list and left it lying on the floor. She’d take the day off housework – or the morning anyway – give herself time to think more clearly and decide what to do about Evie.
