The Girl on the Cliff (32 page)

‘Anyone for a brew?’ asked Kathleen.

‘Yes please, pet,’ said John. ‘Without transport, an eight-year-old girl and a puppy aren’t going to get far, are they now? Someone’s bound to spot them. I doubt she’d have any money on her. Perhaps she’ll come back when she’s hungry,’ he said rationally.

‘Well now, that pup won’t be too happy at not having its mammy’s milk,’ added Shane.

Grania was hardly listening. Her mind was speeding across the past ten weeks, trying to identify any place to
which Aurora would go. She heard the crunch of gravel under tyres and saw it was Alexander’s car. He jumped out and walked towards the kitchen door. When he entered, the entire family saw the grey tinge of fear on his gaunt face.

‘Sorry to barge in like this, but Lindsay said you’d all been out looking for Aurora. Any news?’

‘No, Alexander, not so far. We’ve scoured everywhere. This is my mother, by the way, my father, and my brother, Shane,’ Grania added.

‘Good to meet you.’ Alexander offered the polite response automatically. ‘Has anyone got any ideas?’

‘Well, we’re after thinking she took that pup she loved with her, so at least she’s not alone,’ offered Shane.

‘There, pet.’ Kathleen handed Alexander a hot cup of tea. ‘Drink that, it’s got plenty of sugar in, good for shock.’

‘Thank you. You say she’s taken the puppy? Which means … ?’

‘That she was around these parts earlier, sir,’ said John.

A flicker of relief appeared in Alexander’s eyes. ‘Well, at least that’s something. How far can a small girl with a puppy get in a few hours?’

‘Not far, I’d say,’ said Kathleen.

‘We were wondering, sir, if it was time to call the guards?’ said Shane.

‘Not yet,’ said Alexander quickly, ‘but if there’s no sign of her in the next couple of hours, I suppose we’ll have to.’

‘If you’ll excuse me now, and if it’s all right with you, I’m going to put the word out to my farming friends,’ said
John. ‘They can at least have a quick scan of their barns and their land for us, while we still have some light left.’

‘Good idea, pet,’ Kathleen agreed as John got up and left the room. She stared into her teacup. ‘You know, this might only be a feeling, but I’d be thinking that little girl is somewhere close.’

‘Your instincts are usually right, Mam.’ Shane gave an encouraging nod in the direction of Alexander. ‘The question is, where?’

After further fruitless forays up and down the cliffs, in surrounding barns and the fields, Alexander capitulated and said it was time to call the guards.

Grania took herself outside and stood in the field in front of the farmhouse. The sky was a deep black now, with no moon or stars to help shed light on Aurora’s whereabouts.

‘Where are you, sweetheart?’ she whispered into the darkness. She paced up and down. There was something nagging in the back of her mind which would not surface. Suddenly, she knew what it was. She turned on her heel and ran back towards the kitchen. Alexander had just put the phone down to the guards.

‘They’ll be up to Dunworley House in the next ten minutes to take some details. I’d better be on my way so I’m there to greet them.’

‘Alexander, where was Lily buried?’

Alexander turned slowly to Grania. ‘In Dunworley church. You don’t think –’

‘Can we take your car?’

‘Yes.’ He needed no second bidding. The two of them
left the house, climbed into Alexander’s car and sped off up the road to where Dunworley church sat, nestled on its own in a side of the hill.

‘Lily always said it was where she wanted to be laid to rest.’ Alexander broke the silence as they drove. ‘She said she’d have the best view in the world for all of eternity.’

They parked the car on the roadside and, using a torch Alexander had produced from a pocket in his car, passed through the creaking wrought-iron gate and into the churchyard.

‘She’s just to the left, right at the end.’ Alexander led as they picked their way carefully around the graves.

Grania held her breath as they drew near enough to shine the torch on Lily’s headstone. And there, nestled in the wild flowers and weeds that had sprung up on top of the grave, lay Aurora. In her arms, fast asleep, was Lily the puppy.

‘Thank God,’ gulped Alexander.

Grania could see relief had brought him close to tears.

He turned and put a hand on Grania’s shoulder. ‘Thank you, Grania, for knowing my daughter better than I do.’

Alexander tiptoed towards Aurora, then bent down and gently scooped her up in his arms. Aurora’s eyes half opened at the motion, and she smiled up at her father.

‘Hello, Daddy,’ she said sleepily.

‘Hello, darling. We’re going to take you home to tuck you up in bed, safe and warm.’

Grania followed behind as Alexander carried his child and placed her on Grania’s lap in the back of the car.

‘Hello, Grania,’ Aurora smiled up at her, ‘I’ve missed you.’

‘And I’ve missed you too.’

‘How did you find me, Daddy?’ she asked.

‘It wasn’t me, darling,’ Alexander said as he drove up the hill towards Dunworley House. ‘It was Grania who guessed where you’d be.’

‘Yes. I knew she would.’ Aurora sounded almost smug. ‘She’s just like a real mother. I love you, Grania,’ she said. ‘You won’t leave me again, will you?’

Grania looked down at the desperation in Aurora’s eyes, took a deep swallow and said, ‘No, darling, I’ll never leave you again.’

Later, when Aurora was safely in bed with a hot-water bottle to warm her up, the puppy had been taken by Shane back down to its mother, and Alexander had called the guards to say Aurora had been found, he offered Grania a brandy in the kitchen.

‘Thank you.’ Grania sat down wearily and nursed the glass in her hands.

‘I’ve sent Lindsay home to her mother’s in Skibbereen,’ said Alexander. ‘She was pretty shaken.’ He sat down next to Grania looking exhausted. ‘My God, what a relief. At least Aurora seems relatively unscathed. Chilled, but unscathed,’ he repeated.

‘Yes. The worst thing was that I thought …’ Grania stared at Alexander, and he nodded, his face turning in the direction of the cliffs too.

‘So did I.’ He reached out a hand to Grania. ‘I can’t say how thankful I am that you found her for me. If I’d have lost Aurora …’ Alexander shook his head. ‘I think that would just about have ended it.’

‘Yes. I’m sure.’

‘But, Grania, listen to me,’ Alexander’s tone was urgent, ‘Aurora is a beautiful, sweet-natured and bright little girl. But she’s also manipulative, like her mother. Tonight was a cry for help, and I don’t think it was a cry for me. It was you she wanted. Please, you mustn’t give in to what amounts to emotional blackmail.’

‘I don’t think she means it that way, Alexander, really.’

‘I’m sure she doesn’t,’ he agreed. ‘It’s her childish way of trying to get you to come back. The fact she loves you the way that she does is testament to how you’ve cared for her.
And
the fact she feels safe with you. But, and I underline the “but”, you mustn’t be swayed by her. You have no obligation to my daughter whatsoever. And I would hate to think that, in any way, she was curtailing the plans you must have made by now.’

What plans?
thought Grania to herself, only able to focus on Alexander’s physical presence so close to her and his hand touching hers.

‘I hear what you’re saying, Alexander, and I appreciate it. The problem is,’ Grania sighed, ‘I love her too.’

‘I reiterate, she is not your responsibility. She’s mine.’

‘What are your plans, Alexander?’ Grania looked at him square in the eyes, wanting to know, for all of their sakes.

‘I …’ Alexander withdrew his hand from hers, sighed heavily, and stroked his fingers through his hair. ‘Grania, I need to tell you something.’

‘Tell me then,’ she said softly.

He turned to her, and took both her hands in his. He searched her face before he shook his head. ‘I can’t.’

The brandy had softened Grania’s normal reserve. It was her turn now to squeeze his hands. ‘Please, Alexander, tell me.’

He leaned towards her, their knees now touching, and planted a soft kiss on her lips. ‘Oh God.’ He kissed her again. ‘I … you’re wonderful.’ With that, he drew her into his arms and kissed her properly. She smelt the scent of him closing around her, powerful and so wanted. Her own arms reached around him as she clung to him and kissed him with equal fervour. Then, suddenly, he broke away.

‘Forgive me! I can’t … 
mustn’t
do this. None of this is fair on you. Whatever my feelings for you, I –’ He stood up suddenly, anger on his perfect features. He picked up his brandy glass and threw it at a wall, where it smashed elegantly to the floor.

Grania watched his action in amazement and horror.

‘Oh God! Sorry …’ He sat back down and folded her in his arms again. Then he gently pushed her away from him and looked into her eyes. ‘You have no idea how difficult this is for me.’

‘Perhaps you could try explaining.’ Grania managed a rational response.

‘Yes. But I
can’t
.’ He took her fingers, moulded them around his own and reached forward to kiss her face gently. ‘If you only knew the thoughts I’ve had … how beautiful I think you are … how kind, how gentle, how loving, how
alive
. And what you’ve given to Aurora, well, I can never repay that. I’d give anything to sweep you into my arms right now and carry you upstairs.’ He was tracing the contours of her face with his fingertips. ‘But believe
me, Grania, you’re best to get out of this doomed house. Go back to your life and live it elsewhere. Forget about me and Aurora, and –’

‘Alexander,’ Grania said weakly, ‘you’re sounding like a scene out of a movie. Please stop. It’s not getting us anywhere.’

‘Yes, you’re right. Lily always said I had a dramatic side to my nature. I apologise. It’s been a pretty dramatic night.’ He smiled grimly.

‘Yes, it has.’

Alexander looked away from her. ‘I’m meant to be leaving tomorrow. I think I should delay it, for Aurora’s sake.’

‘How long will you be away? Will it be longer than two months?’

‘If the worst comes to the worst, it may be a good deal longer than that.’

‘Look, I’ve got a suggestion,’ said Grania.

‘What?’

‘You might have noticed tonight how fond my family are of Aurora. Why don’t I take her down there to live with me while you’re away? If I decide, at any point, I need to return to my life in New York, she will at least have the continuity of my family there for her. And then, when you’re back, you can make some decisions.’

‘You think your parents would mind?’

‘After tonight’s performance,’ Grania raised her eyebrows, ‘I think it’s pretty obvious they wouldn’t. I haven’t managed to produce any grandchildren for them yet, so they seem to have adopted Aurora.’

‘Well … that sounds like a dream scenario to me,’ his drawn face relaxed a little, ‘thinking of Aurora being cared
for in a proper family. I would, of course, pay for everything she costs you and your parents.’

‘Right. I’ll give my mother a quick call in the morning to check it’s all right, but I’m sure it will be.’ Grania was still reeling from the gamut of emotions she’d experienced that evening. And Alexander’s mercurial changes of behaviour had exhausted her. ‘If you don’t mind,’ she said, standing up, ‘I’m going to go to bed now. I’m very tired.’

‘Of course. It’s been one hell of a night. Of which, I might add, you’re the heroine.’

‘Thank you.’ Grania stood up. ‘Goodnight, Alexander.’

He watched her put her brandy glass into the sink, wash it out and then walk across the kitchen towards the door. ‘Grania?’

‘Yes?’

‘Please forgive me. Under any other circumstances …’

She turned to him then and nodded. ‘I understand,’ she lied.

Before you ask, I’m not proud of myself. My father was right, of course – I was manipulative. But I was also desperate. And besides, I’d already been told Grania would be coming to look after me for a long, long time, so I wasn’t happy it seemed to be going wrong and she had left me.

And it took a lot of thinking about to decide where to go and hide. Somewhere I knew, if she loved me, she’d find me, but not too obvious, like in a barn with the puppy, or up on the cliffs.

Even though I’m not scared of ghosts, knowing and understanding them the way I do, I didn’t like it much up there in the graveyard alone. I felt like the odd one out, being alive when they were all dead. Besides, I was only eight, and human …

Poor old Grania. There really wasn’t a lot she could do about it, being the kind-hearted soul she is. And, of course, she loved me. Which, as I said earlier, often saves the day.

And I think she could have loved Daddy too, if things had been different …

I must stop wishing I could rewrite this story. I’m sure that the Master Storyteller, who weaves the subtle threads of fate in and out of our lives, is far better at it than I can ever be. And even though it’s sometimes hard to understand ‘why’, one must trust that He is. That He knows the reasons for the things that happen to us, and will provide us all with a ‘Happy Ending’.
Even though it may well be beyond the gossamer curtain we call death and means we can’t see it while we live.

As you may have noticed, I’m not much of an Evolutionary Theory fan, although I have read Darwin’s
Origin of Species.

Actually, I lie. I read two chapters and gave up in favour of
War and Peace,
which made for far lighter reading.

I am a Creationist.

But perhaps, when one is nearing the end of one’s life, I suspect one needs to be.

Apologies for the self-indulgence, Reader. I’ve had a bad few days. And
War and Peace
isn’t exactly a fairy tale either.

Some Austen for me next, to cheer me up. I like her endings, more than I currently like mine.

So, we move on with the story …

Grania didn’t understand. As she drove down the hill towards her parents’ farmhouse, Aurora and all her most precious possessions stowed in the back of the Range Rover, she had no conception of what was going on in Alexander’s head.