Authors: Karen Aldous
Lizzie dropped her mother off at the hairdressers at eight thirty. Her mother gave her a light kiss. ‘Go back to bed, you look like you could do with some sleep. Leave Thierry here with me.’
‘Mum, honestly, no. You don’t want Thierry here being a nuisance whilst you’re having your hair done.’ Again Lizzie had not slept well. The excitement in her belly continued to keep her mind active. ‘Ring me when you need collecting,’ she added.
Lizzie left her mother and drove to the supermarket to get in much-needed food supplies. Thierry, she decided, was just the right age to want to help and, for once, they enjoyed the shopping together rather than shopping online like she’d started getting used to. Thierry sat in the trolley for the first part, chatting away telling her he ‘
lubbed Mummy and Grandma and,
Daddy Cal
’
.
She stopped the trolley dead
.
His words sent her into near shock. She swallowed hard, feeling a knot form in her core. She wasn’t sure what to tell him other than to put him right saying Cal was just a very good friend, not his daddy. She chose not to make it an issue right then.
When they arrived back with the shopping, Caroline breezed into the hall, heading straight for the mirror and began tampering with her new hair style. ‘Do you like it?’ her mother asked.
‘How did you get home? Leave it alone. Yes, it looks lovely.’ Lizzie looked at her curiously as she followed her son, clutching bags and closing the front door with her foot and heading for the kitchen.
‘Oh Keely, my hairdresser, she ran me back, had a cancellation. One thing which irritates me when she blow dries my hair is that she always manages to dry it flat. I’ll just push it this way a bit.’
‘It looks fine.’ Lizzie shook her head.
‘I’ll just lacquer this bit. It will drop again otherwise when I have a bath.’ She teased the front of her hair and sprayed it. ‘I hope I don’t lose it if I have to have Chemo.’
‘Mum, you look beautiful, and I’ve told you before, there’s no point in worrying until you have to. You may not have to have chemo and if you do, you may not lose it. I looked it up.’
‘You are right of course,’ her mother agreed as she watched her daughter and grandson in the mirror skip past her to the kitchen. She gave a concerned look as she followed them. ‘Darling, I haven’t seen Cal since Wednesday, since you two went out. Is he ok? Was he ok on Wednesday evening?’ Caroline scooped up her grandson and planted a warm kiss on his cheek before sitting him on the oak kitchen room chair next to her.
‘You shouldn’t be lifting him like that Mum. You’ve had surgery,’ Lizzie told her. Then she gave her account. ‘He was fine. I haven’t seen him either, perhaps he’s just busy with the builders.’
‘Yes but he does usually come in to see Thierry at least once a day.’
‘I’m sure he’s around. Do you want a tea or coffee?’
‘No thank you. I’ve had two drinks already this morning at the hairdressers.’
‘I’ll take Thierry over to the park. We’ll pop in to Cal’s on the way.’ Lizzie tried to convince her mother all was fine. Lizzie knew exactly why Cal was keeping his distance however, but her mother didn’t need to know they had extreme difficulty keeping their hands off each other.
She so wished circumstances could be different and they could be together, but Thierry was her priority.
‘What time is Michael coming?’ Lizzie asked.
‘He should be here in about an hour actually.’ Caroline looked up from the table and at her watch.
‘I bet you’re looking forward to the show?’ said Lizzie, pouring boiling water onto her coffee.
‘Yes, it’ll be nice to get out and up to London for a few hours.’
Lizzie gave her a wry smile. ‘What are you wearing?’
‘I have a midnight blue dress with a matching jacket. Does my hair look ok?’ her mother fussed, stroking her hair down.
‘Your hair looks fabulous. Michael will love it,’ Lizzie assured her.
Feeling rather restless, Lizzie couldn’t help now feel redundant. Not only was she eager to get away from Cal; get out of temptation’s reach, but she felt her mother needed some space with Michael. Her mother’s hospital appointment wasn’t until Tuesday. That was the day she would get results. Once they knew whether her operation had been successful in clearing her body of the cancer cells, she could decide.
Lizzie looked over at her mother with Thierry. They were now happily occupied together planting stickers on scenes in his sticker book. Her mother constantly urged her to supply books and materials to keep Thierry amused and he obviously appreciated them. How grateful she was that she had been forced back to Kent to be with her mother. Her son now had a gran and, gran was besotted! It was as if she’d unleashed her maternal instinct. If it wasn’t for Cal, she would never have reunited with her.
Her mother looked up. ‘Would you like to take over here? I’m going for a nice bath. Tanya will be here to do my nails in half an hour.’
‘Yes, of course. Actually, I think this little lad would benefit from some fresh air. I’ll get his shoes and take him to the park. Anyway, you go and have a nice bath.’
As they took the back door out, Thierry caught sight of Cal pruning leaves nearby on the vines. ‘Cal, it’s Cal!’ Thierry ran straight up to him with his arms open, waiting to be caught. Cal quickly threw down his secateurs and swept him into his arms.
‘Hello T, I’ve missed you too! What have you been up to?’ Their heads knocked affectionately together.
Lizzie followed and broke in before her son could speak. ‘He’s been helping Mummy do the shopping. Grandma has been to the hairdressers. She and Michael are off to London to see… a show, can’t remember the one,’ Lizzie said, staring at the ground.
‘So,’
‘So,’ Lizzie echoed twisting blowing hair out of her face. ‘It’s best we just don’t try to…’
‘It’s madness.’
‘I know, but don’t stop coming in to see Mum.’ She shifted her weight and watched Thierry as he played with Cal’s cheeks. She wanted to laugh but her heart wasn’t that light. ‘I don’t know if we did the right thing. I’ve...I shouldn’t have led you to believe…’
‘Lizzie. It’s ok,’ he squeezed her arm, ‘You don’t need to explain, you are right. I appreciate you have to consider Thierry and sort things out with… his father. I won’t hold you to anything. But, I still want you and little man here. Let’s just hope it all comes good.’
Lizzie cleared her throat with the intention of warning Cal off completely. She should let him know her other concerns but she held back, until she’d thought things through. ‘Absolutely. I’ve been thinking and doing a bit of research. I will speak to him about supervised visits – until they get to know one another at least, maybe once a week. I don’t think I can deny him.’
‘Find out what your options are first and don’t be bullied by him. Why don’t you speak to Charles? It’s his expertise. Or you can speak….’
‘No Cal, no,’ she cut in. ‘He’s a lawyer, I don’t think threatening Anton with a lawyer would work at all. I need to speak with him and work something out with him amicably.
‘I’m not suggesting you threaten Anton with lawyers. Just to get help Lizzie, I mean, you need someone to guide you.’
‘Oh I see. I’m not capable of…’ her voice rose and Cal raised his eyebrows in response.
‘You are more than capable,’ he calmed her, ‘it just hurts me to see you trying to do this on your own…if this man is, like you say, manipulative and controlling then forearmed is forewarned.’
‘Well I’ll think about it.’ Lizzie conceded, trying to control all the frustrations within her too.
‘Ok.’ He nodded with the hope that some progress was being made. He then gave a big smile at Thierry. ‘Have you finished rearranging my face?’ Thierry grinned mischievously back at him and they locked foreheads in a gesture of affection. Cal then had a suggestion. ‘The village fete is on this afternoon at the Meadow Hall and gardens, Thierry will love it, there will be rides and games and a bouncy castle. I’m doing an hour’s stint on the Charity raffle. Why don’t you come along?’
‘Bouncy castle, Mummy. Can I go on bouncy castle?’ Thierry bounced in Cal’s arms.
‘There’ll be a tractor ride too, I believe, and a Piggy Pen so you can see the pigs,’ Cal told him.
‘No point in going to the park then,’ Lizzie said, letting out a sigh. Trying to distance herself from Cal was not that simple!
Feeling defeated, Lizzie returned to the house, again without Thierry. He loved being with Cal and she was too weak to deny him. However, what she saw, she was sure, was another reason her mother had changed. Michael adored Caroline and it was apparent by the love in his eyes as they cuddled up together on the sofa. Perhaps her mother needed to feel she was loved. She was clearly besotted too. She had never seen her mother as tactile with anyone as she was with Michael. Evidently both had found happiness again. Lizzie turned to sneak back out.
‘Lizzie darling, is Cal ok?’ asked her mother, sitting back slightly.
‘Hello, Michael. How are you? Lizzie asked, entering the living room.
‘Very well. And you?’ Michael asked, jumping up from the sofa and kissing her on the cheek.’
‘Yes, fine and yes, Cal’s fine. Thierry is with him now,’ she replied, sloping into the armchair.’
‘They get along so well don’t they sweetheart? Quite endearing,’ Caroline said.
‘Must have been a nightmare for Cal not to be around his own son,’ Lizzie added.
‘Yes, he told me about his son and that beastly girl trying to trick everyone. How dreadful for him. I believe he speaks to him on the computer or something.’
‘Oh, probably Skype,’ Michael nodded as his eyes fixed on the coffee table. ‘I use it sometimes with the children. In fact, I first met my grandchild on Skype. Much better to see and speak to them in person though,’ he said, looking up and smiling.
‘We’ll have to set an account up for you Mum so you and Thierry can chat when I go home,’ Lizzie said but her mother was miles away. Thinking this awkward moment a good time to exit Lizzie gave her apology. ‘Well I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve promised Thierry I’d take him along to the village fete this afternoon, there’s lots for the children there apparently, so I’m meeting Cal very shortly.’
‘Yes. Oh how lovely. Well, we will see you later then, we’ll be going out very soon.’
‘I’m going to take Thierry out for a pizza later so we’ll be back around eight or nine. Have a lovely evening both of you.’ Lizzie smiled but her heart was sinking.
‘Have fun,’ Michael said as Lizzie climbed the stairs to her room. She tidied herself for the fete.
***
The strain on Lizzie and Cal that afternoon was evident and whilst they were as polite and accommodating as possible for Thierry’s benefit, there was tension in the air. They took turns in helping Thierry with games on stalls, winning a football and a hairy spider. Whilst Cal did his charity hour, Lizzie took her son to enjoy the pigs and the bouncy castle. Afterwards, they drove to Bluewater, the local shopping centre, which gave them a huge choice of restaurants to eat at. Predictably, Thierry chose a mini pizza at Zizzi’s whilst both adults opted for Italian pasta dishes. Cal also ordered Lizzie a glass of Prosecco in the hope it would break the tension a little. It worked, slightly. Lizzie found herself becoming more relaxed and less anxious. They began to enjoy the evening like a normal little family out on a Saturday evening and it was gone nine o’clock and getting dark as they left. Cal drove them home and Thierry soon went off to sleep in his car seat. He was exhausted with all the fresh air and warm pizza. Like Lizzie, Cal was quiet to begin with and in deep thought. Then he looked at his passenger.
‘I’m off to France next week. I’ve a business meeting back in Provence. I thought I might drive down on Wednesday or Thursday so if you need anything taken home or brought back, let me know.’
‘That’s really kind. Thank you.’ She genuinely appreciated his thoughtfulness.
‘Also, if there is anything you want me to enquire about whilst I’m there, just ask.’
Lizzie closed her eyes, knowing he was referring to his friend Charles and her muscles tensed in fear of what she may be talked into by him. Yes, the time was getting nearer.
‘Cal, please, don’t get involved. I’m going to work something out with him when I get back. You understand? I have made that clear to you.’
‘Yes you did but,’ Cal softened his tone, ‘I care about you and I think we have something special. All I ask is you get advice Lizzie.’
It was official. He also thought they had something special together. She knew she wanted him and hoped he did feel the same, of course she did but, the risk was far too high to keep up any contact right now. Maybe, once she had established a workable solution with Thierry’s father, then they could possibly pick up where they’d left off, if she could disperse her other doubts. Cal’s attachment to her son had gone pretty deep already. She needed to think this through. She wondered if Cal was seeking to fill an emotional void that his own son had left. How was she to trust his motives towards her, or them? When he said they had something special, did he mean with her or Thierry? Men rarely wanted women who had another man’s child. The more she thought about it, the more doubts crept into her mind.
‘How do I know that you don’t just want me for…’ she shot a wide-eyed suspicious glance across at him ‘other reasons?’
‘That I’m sure has crossed your mind and I can’t blame you for that. In fact, I thought you may have made accusations before now,’ he said. ‘Thinking I would want you for your land and my interest in it.’
Lizzie wished she’d been more specific. It was not the reason she had jumped to but was interesting none the less. ‘It did cross my mind quite early on. I thought that was probably why you put so much time and effort into finding me and re-acquainting my mother and me.’ She felt herself blush at her admittance.
‘I’d think you odd or dumb if you didn’t have your suspicions,’ he said.
‘What are your options anyway? What if Mum doesn’t renew the lease on Cote Acres?’
Cal gave a sideways glance and twisted his mouth. ‘I went into this with my eyes open. I admit, I’d lose a lot.’