When Wishes Come True (56 page)

‘She’s having a cup of tea with Miss Williams. I asked if I could bring Amelia in, I didn’t want to miss the moment you found your granddaughter.’

Milly said quietly, ‘I would like you to call me Milly, all my friends call me that. Except Mother, she always calls me Amelia.’

‘Milly!’ Cyril nodded his approval. ‘Yes, I like that name, it suits you.’

‘I’ll have a cup of tea with Evelyn and Miss Williams while you two get acquainted.’ Oscar said. ‘I know Evelyn wants to have a serious talk with you later, Cyril, and I don’t want to interfere so I think it would be best all round if I take Amelia … er, Milly … out for an hour or so. I could take her to meet Gwen, I know my wife would like that.’

‘Then would you bring that chair around the desk so I can sit near my granddaughter for a few minutes first? We have a lot of years to make up.’

When a brown leather chair was placed next to Cyril’s, Milly sat on it and giggled when she found she could swivel from side to side. The sound was like music to the two men listening, both of them remembering that Charles had been a giggler when he was a young boy.

‘I’ll leave you to it for a while. When Evelyn comes in, I’ll take Milly to meet Gwen. I’ll make it an hour, that should be long enough for you both to say what you need to, and to listen to each other.’ As he was crossing the room, Oscar heard Milly asking, ‘You do like me, don’t you, Granddad, you won’t send me away?’

‘I don’t like you, my darling, I love you. And I will never let you go now I’ve found you. And your grandmother will be so happy when she sees you, she will adore you.’

‘I’m a very lucky girl, aren’t I, Granddad?’

‘It is I who am lucky, to have found you after all these years. Come and give your granddad a big kiss and a hug.’

Oscar closed the office door quietly, swallowing the lump in his throat.

Evelyn stood at the top of the staircase, hands resting on the highly polished rail, and watched Amelia going down the outside steps with Oscar. She could hear her daughter’s infectious giggle as she hopped down each step, and Oscar’s laughter. He had been very kind and friendly, never once asking personal questions about her life since they’d last met. She had found it awkward at first being in Miss Williams’ office, for they had met when she was courting Charles and he’d needed to call to the office one day to see his father. But although Miss Williams must have been filled with curiosity, like Oscar she was friendly without prying.

Taking her hand from the rail, Evelyn let out a deep sigh as she turned. She was on her way to face Cyril now, and was feeling nervous and apprehensive. The atmosphere was bound to be emotional, it couldn’t be otherwise, but she hoped her father-in-law’s reception of her would be as friendly as Oscar’s, for her whole future depended on his reaction to what she had to tell him. The sooner she went in and faced him, the sooner her tummy would stop churning and her heartbeat would slow down. So, after running a hand down her skirt to smooth out any creases, and patting her hair, she straightened her shoulders and made for the door that bore his name in gold letters.

When the knock came Cyril jumped to his feet. He was crossing the floor when he called, ‘Come in.’ His arms were outstretched when Evelyn came through the door, and he gripped her shoulders and kissed her cheek. ‘You are very welcome, my dear, it has been such a long time.’

Evelyn was reduced to tears. She really didn’t deserve this kind of welcome. It was her fault this man had been without his granddaughter for so long. She had spent the last few days reviewing her actions, and knew now she had been a selfish bitch. She hadn’t cared for anyone but herself and her greed for a life of luxury. When this man had lost his beloved son and was devastated, she hadn’t tried to console him or even say she was sorry. Neither had she shed a tear for the man who was her husband, too busy feeling sorry for herself and worrying about her own comfort. And she’d kept on feeling sorry for herself for over eight years. It was Philip who’d made her take stock of the person she’d been, and she didn’t like what she saw. She didn’t deserve this man’s kiss or his warm welcome.

‘Sit down, my dear.’ Cyril cupped her elbow until she was seated. ‘Shall I ask my secretary to bring in some refreshment?’

Evelyn nodded. ‘Miss Williams very kindly made me some tea, but I’m afraid my mouth is dry with nerves so another drink would be most welcome.’

Cyril picked up the phone and rang through to his secretary. ‘A pot of tea and some biscuits, please, Miss Williams, and then I don’t want to be disturbed for the rest of the day.’ He replaced the receiver, and smiled. ‘There is no need for nerves, Evelyn, I hope we meet up as friends, with the past forgotten. I cannot tell you how I felt seeing my granddaughter. She is so like Charles. I did you a grave wrong, my dear, and hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me?’

Evelyn shook her head vigorously. ‘I know you have asked that we put the past behind us, but I want you to know that I do realise the type of person I was then, and that was a greedy and selfish woman. All I thought about was myself and my own comfort, and when circumstances changed I blamed everyone else for my plight. I haven’t been a good mother to Amelia because I saw her as the reason I lost my status in society. I can see myself as I was then, and I don’t like what I see. I knew you would want your granddaughter if you saw her, for she is so like Charles, but because I wasn’t happy, I didn’t want anyone else to be either.’ She leaned forward and gripped his arm. ‘But I have changed, Mr Lister-Sinclair, and I regret those lost years. The reason for the change is that I have met someone I have fallen in love with. The only man I have even looked at since Amelia was born. He returns my feelings and wants to marry me, and that is the reason for my coming to you today. I want you to help me.’

They were interrupted then as Miss Williams brought in the tray. ‘Shall I pour, or would you rather do it yourself?’

Cyril smiled at his trusted secretary. ‘You pour, if you will. You are much more efficient and will have the job done in half the time.’

As soon as they were alone again, he bent forward. ‘Tell me about this man, and how I can help you?’

‘I work as a secretary and he is my boss. All anyone in the office knew about me was that I was a war widow and my name was Mrs Sinclair. I made no friends, and no one knew I had a daughter. It was my boss who broke down the defences I had wrapped around myself, and gradually I fell in love with him. He is kind, thoughtful, humorous, and very much in love with me.’ Evelyn sighed. ‘But I haven’t told him about Amelia, he doesn’t know I have an eight-year-old daughter. It wasn’t intentional to begin with. I never thought our feelings for each other would lead to anything. Then, when he asked me to marry him, I didn’t have the courage to tell him about her. To be truthful, I’m afraid it will change his feelings for me. He will think I am deceitful for not telling him sooner.’

‘If he really loves you, it won’t change his feelings. Why should it?’

‘Because I’m afraid then everything will have to come out in the open. That my name is really Lister-Sinclair and I was married to Charles, but his name is not on the birth certificate. If you remember, you advised me not to put Charles’ name down as the father. Which means my friend will jump to the conclusion you and Gwen jumped to: that my baby was illegitimate. I couldn’t bear to face him and have him think I was a loose woman, so I’ve come to ask if there is any way this whole sorry mess can be put right? Can the birth certificate be made right, or is it too late now?’

‘Of course it can be put right. I will see to that as soon as possible, if you will let me have the original certificate with all the details on. And I have to hang my head in shame when I tell you I had the marriage annulled, on the grounds it had never been consummated.’

‘I had an idea you would do that, and dropped the “Lister” from my name so people would not connect me with your family. I don’t blame you for doing what you did. Although I was too wrapped up in myself at the time to appreciate how devastated you and your wife must have been, I can appreciate it now. The word “sorry” is totally inadequate, but it is the only one I can think of right now, and it comes from my heart.’

‘Let the past be erased from our memories,’ Cyril said, ‘and look to the future. I will attend to the birth and marriage certificates immediately, that will be no problem for me and no one else will be told. Except for Oscar and Gwen, who have helped me so much over the years and who have for a long time questioned their own attitude towards you. They will both be overjoyed to have you back as their friend.’ He sat back in his chair and held his chin in his hand. ‘Now, about this man you have fallen in love with. Am I allowed to know his name?’

‘He’s a solicitor – Philip Astbury.’

Cyril sat forward to rest his arms on the desk. ‘Philip Astbury! My dear Evelyn, I know Philip well! His family have been friends of ours for years, and they’re friends of the Wentworths. Oscar knows Philip particularly well. He and Charles used to be in the same class at school as Philip.’ He shook his head in disbelief. ‘It’s been such a marvellous day for me, meeting my granddaughter for the first time and seeing your good self again. And now, on top of that, comes the news that you and Philip Astbury are to wed! He’s a wonderful chap, very popular with everyone, and comes from a good family. I’m so pleased for you.’

‘I think perhaps you are taking too much for granted,’ Evelyn told him. ‘I can hardly face him and tell him I’ve been living a lie and have an eight-year-old daughter. I dread seeing the expression on his face which tells me I have lied to him and he no longer wants to marry me.’

‘Then you won’t have to tell him, I will.’ Cyril left his chair and rounded the desk to where Evelyn sat. ‘I did you a great wrong all those years ago, practically saying you were no better than a woman of the streets and leaving you to do your best with my son’s child. I can only say that I was distraught with grief, and wanted to hurt someone. Now I want to right that wrong, so please let me?’

Evelyn shook her head. ‘Much as I am dreading facing Philip, I feel I must do it myself. What a coward he would think me if I allowed you to do my dirty work.’

‘My dear Evelyn, I have known Philip Astbury since he was a toddler. I know his parents well, and his Uncle Simon. We are all good friends. I firmly believe Philip will be more understanding when I tell him of my role in all this, and how very much I wronged you. And if you will allow me to do this one thing for you, it will ease some of the guilt I have carried around for a such a long time. Please, I beg you?’

Evelyn sighed. ‘My fear is he may not want to take on an eight-year-old daughter. He has mentioned that his parents keep asking when he’s going to wed and give them grandchildren, and I know he will want to have a child by me as soon as possible, for I am not young, I am twenty-nine.’

‘How would Milly feel about you getting married? Would she feel left out?’

‘Good heavens, no! I have not been cruel to Amelia, but neither have I been a good, loving mother. She thinks more of the woman who lives next door who is very good with her. In fact, the pair of them idolise each other.’

‘Who is this woman next door? And where in Liverpool do you live?’

‘Amelia and I live in a small two-up-two-down house, and the woman next door is called Bessie. She minds Amelia for me until I get home from work. She has a job herself, though, so only has Amelia for an hour or so every night and every weekend. They get on very well together, and although I should be ashamed to admit it, my daughter would far rather be with Bessie than with me.’

Cyril stared at her for several seconds before speaking. ‘We can discuss these things another time, don’t you think? The best person to solve your worries and put your mind at rest is Philip, and we can’t guess what his thoughts will be on the matter. So, do I have your permission to speak to him?’

Evelyn nodded. ‘If you think it would be for the best.’

Cyril opened an address book which lay by the phone, and leafed through the pages. Then he lifted the receiver from the hook at the side of the telephone and dialled. ‘May I speak to Mr Philip Astbury, please? My name is Cyril Lister-Sinclair, and it is a personal call.’ After a few seconds, Evelyn could hear Philip’s voice and her heart turned over. She couldn’t hear clearly, but it sounded as though he was very pleased by the call.

‘Do you have a busy day ahead of you, my boy?’ Cyril asked. Then, ‘I was wondering if you could spare me an hour? No, it’s not something I wish to discuss over the telephone, I need to see you. No, nothing is wrong, I was just thinking it’s a long time since I saw you.’ He smiled. ‘Two o’clock will be fine, Philip, as long as I’m not taking you away from an important client. I look forward to seeing you.’

Evelyn jumped to her feet. ‘What am I going to do? I don’t want him to see me here, but Amelia isn’t back yet …’

Cyril waved her to her seat before picking up the phone and dialling again. When he heard Gwen’s voice, he asked, ‘Gwen, my dear, is Oscar still there with Milly? Oh, would you ask him to drive back here straight away and pick up Evelyn? I am sure you would like to see her after all these years. There is no need for him to bring Milly unless you are busy. I’m sure Evelyn will explain all about the events that led up to today when she sees you. But it would be best if you could find something for my granddaughter to do while the explanations are going on. She has no inkling, and it would be better to leave it that way for now.’ He suddenly burst out laughing. ‘No, you may not keep my granddaughter, even though you think she is delightful! My wife and I have priority, and I can’t wait for Matilda to see her. But right now, will you ask Oscar to make haste, please?’

Cyril was so happy he couldn’t keep the smile from his face. It was like a dream come true, to have part of his beloved son back in his life.

‘I know I have no right to ask any favours of you, Evelyn, but it means so much having a granddaughter in my life. It’s as if my son will always be with Matilda and me. Every time we look at her, we will see his dear face. Would you allow me to take her home with me some time later today, when other matters important to you are settled? I don’t want to ring my wife with the news, I want to walk into the room and watch her face when she looks at Milly. I won’t even introduce them, I don’t think it will be necessary.’