Beneath an Irish Sky (Choc Lit) (23 page)

‘No, I didn’t.’

She wouldn’t lie to him, he knew that. Maybe Jack had done it just to impress her, but whatever the reason, his attitude to Luke seemed a bit improved. Luke couldn’t really respond in kind because the letter still stood between them, though people here had put doubts in his mind about that. It was too confusing. He’d seen it with his own eyes, and yet now he was questioning it. As much as he wanted answers, he didn’t want to risk alienating Matt or Kate. It had waited ten years. A bit longer wouldn’t hurt.

Sarah finished her drink and scanned the crowds for Kate. It was getting late and she’d had more than enough of this party. The oblivion of sleep was all she craved now. She’d find Kate, try to persuade her to come home, too. Away from Luke’s influence.

Not seeing Kate in the conservatory, Sarah wandered out into the Leighton’s massive hallway. A number of rooms led off from this main area, and she searched them one by one.

Kate and Luke were in the third room she checked, stretched out on the sofa, mouths locked together. Sarah felt a surge of rage. Finding the dimmer switch, she turned it on full, flooding the room with light. ‘Well, this is cosy.’

Kate scrambled to her feet. ‘Mum, could you give us some privacy here?’

‘Sorry …’ Luke mumbled, struggling to sit up on the sofa.

‘Don’t, Luke!’ Kate sounded angry. ‘You have nothing to apologise for.’

‘I told you I didn’t want you involved with him,’ Sarah said.

Luke flushed and glanced at Kate. She obviously hadn’t told him that. He’d been kept in the dark like the outsider he was.

‘Same old story, is it?’ Luke’s eyes were flashing fire. ‘A Traveller not being acceptable …’

‘Well, your mother realised that eventually – you should do the same.’

‘Mum!’ cried Kate. ‘That’s an awful thing to say! What’s wrong with you?’

Sarah glared at Luke. She had to finish this. ‘I don’t want you involved with my daughter.’

‘How dare you talk to Luke like that! He’s my friend!’ Kate was shouting now.

‘Really?
Friends
don’t usually grope each other, do they?’

‘Mum!’

‘Kate!’ Sarah’s voice was hard. ‘So long as you live under my roof, you will
not
see him. I forbid it.’

Kate glared back at her mother. ‘You’re sounding ridiculous! Like a Victorian. But it’s easily solved. I won’t live under your roof.’

That took Sarah by surprise. Luke had won the day, although to his credit, he didn’t look happy about it. ‘Don’t go with him, Kate. Please. You’ll only get hurt.’

Her appeal fell on deaf ears. Kate gently pushed Luke ahead of her out of the room and slammed the door shut behind her. The laughter and music drifting through from the conservatory seemed to mock Sarah’s misery.

Kate drank the coffee Luke had made, hoping its strength would revive her. The scene with her mother had been appalling. She’d never felt so ashamed of Sarah.

‘I’m really sorry about what happened, Kate.’

Luke was sitting opposite her at the kitchen table in Jack’s house, his face pale with worry. The house was quiet. Everyone else was still at the party. She hadn’t felt able to stay at the Leighton’s, worried in case her mother tracked her down again. ‘Me too,’ she said. ‘You should
never
have been put through that. I think she was drunk but that’s still no excuse.’

‘You won’t really leave home, though, will you? Not because of me.’

‘I’m not giving you up, Luke. Not for anybody.’ She reached out her hand and he twined his fingers through hers.

‘Will you stay here?’

‘For tonight only.’ He looked disappointed. ‘It’ll cause problems for Jack if I’m here. I’ll stay at Tim’s house. He’s my friend; he’ll help me out. His parents are away, but they’re lovely. They won’t mind. We’ll be able to meet in peace there.’

And then maybe she’d get her own flat. Become independent. It was time for that. ‘Hey, it’s not so bad,’ she told him. ‘At Tim’s, I’ll get all my meals made, my laundry done. There’s a swimming pool and tennis courts and a beautiful garden. Just like a hotel, really. I’ll be living in the lap of luxury.’

Luke showed the glimmer of a smile but then he said, ‘Don’t cut yourself off completely from your mam, Kate. She’s your flesh and blood. She thinks she’s protectin’ you, that’s all. But she’s wrong – I’d never hurt you. You know that, don’t you?’

Luke’s generosity towards Sarah in the wake of her ugly words was humbling. Kate felt like she might cry.

The taxi rumbled off down the drive, and Jack grabbed Emer by the hand, guiding her upstairs. When she gave a small stumble on one of the landings, he decided to sweep her up in his arms and carry her the rest of the way. He’d been waiting for this moment all evening, and it couldn’t come fast enough.

Emer giggled, her head resting on his shoulder. Her face was a little flushed, but Jack knew she wasn’t drunk. Nor was he. He’d been careful not to down too much alcohol, knowing he’d kick himself later if he was unable to take advantage of Emer staying overnight.

He flicked at the door handle of his bedroom and carried her inside, lowering her gently to her feet but not letting go, wrapping his arms around her waist. ‘You’re the best birthday present I’ve ever had, Emer,’ he told her, stroking her face.

‘Surely I can’t compete with Thomas the Tank Engine – or Action Man,’ she said, and it was his turn to laugh.

The moon was almost full and it spilled its glittering light over the bed. There was no need to switch the light on. They lay down and slowly undressed each other, and he adored how the moonlight bathed her body in a silvery glow. Their kisses were tender yet passionate. Jack’s hands traced the lines and curves of Emer’s body, wanting to know every inch of her.

They’d been building up to this moment all day, every dance and conversation pulling them closer. Of course Jack wanted the sex – what man wouldn’t? – but more than that, he wanted a strong emotional bond with this woman, the kind he’d only known once before. He’d loved Caroline very much, but it had been a childhood sweetheart kind of a romance. Annie had been the true love of his life. Until now.

‘Jack …’ Emer murmured, pulling him out of the past and anchoring him firmly in the present.

He’d been more than ready for some time, but he let her set the pace. He’d been selfish with past girlfriends. This time it would be different. That was the wonderful thing about Emer – she made him want to be a better man.

Emer was still sleeping when Jack woke from a fitful sleep. Last night had been wonderful, and he’d been unable to stop thinking about it. Even when he did doze off, he thought about Emer and how good she made him feel – about himself, and about life. He was tired but felt he could tackle anything today. He got out of bed quietly, pulled on a T-shirt and some tracksuit bottoms, and went downstairs. He’d catch the news on TV, read the morning paper, and then cook everyone breakfast – and if Maggie came home from her sister’s in time, he’d cook her one as well.

With the TV on low, Jack settled in the armchair in the living room and opened up his Sunday newspaper. A movement caught his eye, and as he lowered the paper, he saw a mound on the sofa opposite, covered in a duvet. It was moving, and Kate appeared from beneath it. She squinted at him as she opened her eyes, and winced as she tried to sit up.

‘I owe you some wine,’ she said. ‘Sorry – got a bit blotto last night.’

‘So I see,’ Jack replied, with a smile.

Kate sat up, pulling the duvet around her. ‘I don’t remember going to sleep. Luke must have covered me up.’

‘Quite the gentleman,’ Jack remarked. ‘It’s his own – I recognise the cover.’

‘Oh, no!’ Kate looked horrified. ‘He’ll have been frozen!’

‘I doubt it,’ said Jack. ‘The house is warm. Can I get you a hot drink?’

Kate shook her head. ‘No thanks, I don’t feel too well. Serves me right for drowning my sorrows.’

Jack thought about Sarah’s concerns. Maybe now would be a good time to find out exactly what was happening between his maybe-son and his surrogate daughter. Over the years he’d shared Kate’s tears and triumphs, trying his best to make up for the father who’d walked out when she was only days old. In the last year, though, their time together had become sporadic. University life had drawn Kate in, given her new interests, pushed her further along the road to independence. She’d needed him less and less.

‘So, what’s wrong, Freckles?’ he asked. A nickname he’d given her years ago, when she was a spindly scrap of a thing hoisted high on his shoulders. She’d usually respond by calling him Mr Bigwig. But not today.

‘I’ve moved out of home – or at least, that’s what I’ll be doing later today. Mum said I couldn’t continue seeing Luke while I lived under her roof. So I said I wouldn’t live under her roof anymore.’

Her expression was defiant, but Jack caught the slight tremor in her voice as she spoke. Sarah had jumped the gun – she should have waited until he’d tried to deal with it. Now it could be a much bigger mess.

‘I’m sure you’re very upset, Kate, but I think you should reconsider.’

‘Why?’

Her frown should have told him to back off, but maybe this wasn’t the time for caution. The horse had already bolted. ‘Kate, you know how much I care about you. And it’s because I care that I’d advise you not to get too involved with Luke.’

‘God, you sound just like Mum!’ exploded Kate. ‘Have you two been comparing notes? What did she say to you? What’s she got against Luke? What have
you
got against him – you’re supposed to be his father!’

‘I have nothing against him,’ said Jack. ‘But I don’t want you hurt if he decides to move on. We don’t really know anything about him.’

‘He’s your son. What else do you need to know?’

‘I don’t want to see you hurt.’ Jack was repeating himself. A sure sign he was losing the battle. He should have left well alone. He was going to say the wrong things – might just as well contort himself and shove his foot right in his mouth and be done with it.

‘But you aren’t worried I might hurt Luke?’

Jack shook his head. ‘I know you, Kate. I don’t know him.’

‘No, you don’t, do you,’ said Kate, her voice dripping disapproval, and she grabbed her bag. ‘Tell Luke I’ll call him later – I’m going to Tim’s.’ She stood up and dropped the duvet onto the sofa.

‘Kate, please sit down – let’s talk.’

‘I’ve got nothing to say to you,’ she said, storming out of the room.

As he heard the front door close, Jack sat back in his armchair and contemplated the disaster of the past couple of minutes. He’d handled things badly, and what in God’s name did he think he was doing anyway? Last night with Emer had changed things – made him happier with the world and with life in general. He wanted to give Luke a chance, but he’d still had Sarah’s objections fixed in his brain so had been on auto-pilot. He looked at the duvet, crumpled up on the sofa. Luke could have taken advantage of Kate, but hadn’t. He’d looked after her, made her comfortable, and then gone to his own bed – minus his duvet. And he’d want to know why Kate had left so early. How the hell was he going to put things right – with Kate, with Luke, and with Emer if she got to hear of this latest mess?

‘Are your parents enjoying their cruise?’ Kate asked Tim over lunch, as he read a postcard that had just been delivered.

‘They’re loving it so much that they’re moving on to the Mediterranean for another,’ he said, passing her the card.

She could barely make out Lord Leighton’s scrawl. The picture was of a tiny cruise ship sailing along the waters of a deep ravine. ‘Risoyrenna,’ she read out. ‘Where’s that?’

‘Norway,’ said Tim. ‘Those fjords all look the same to me. I have a sneaking suspicion the captain just turns the ship around each night and sails back up the same one.’

Kate laughed. It had been the right decision to come to Tim’s. All of Tim’s friends seemed to turn to him in times of crisis, not least because he never judged and never demanded explanations.

‘So, how are you feeling now, sweetie?’ asked Tim, spearing a roll of ham.

‘Still a bit fragile,’ Kate admitted, ‘but being able to stay here has taken a load off my mind. Cheers, Tim.’ Sarah had thankfully been asleep when Kate had called by at the cottage earlier to pack a suitcase.

‘I shall put you in the Blue Room with its enormous four-poster bed and let it work its magic,’ declared Tim. ‘It never fails. Although that’s not strictly true. George III slept there in 1788 and began to lose his marbles not long after.’

‘I know how he felt. It was such a terrible row with my mum.’ Kate sighed and thought back to the previous evening, and her mother’s ugly words. Words that had wounded Luke. ‘Why is Mum so set against Luke? She doesn’t even know him.’

‘This is Baronsmere, remember? Riddled with class issues. If the background doesn’t fit …’

‘I hate all that,’ said Kate, feeling tearful. ‘And this morning, Jack was horrible about Luke, too. What should I do?’

‘Bring Luke over here,’ said Tim, scanning through the newspaper headlines. ‘You can shag him all night, undisturbed.’

‘Tim! That’s not what I meant! Get your mind out of the gutter. I meant what should I do about Mum?’

‘Stay here for a couple of days. Give her time to think about things and to miss you. Then call and see how the land lies. I bet she’ll have changed her tune.’

‘Impossible,’ Kate murmured.

‘Now look, Kate,’ Tim said, his tone stern. ‘When I told my parents, Lord and Lady Leighton, paragons of the church and stalwarts of the Conservative Party, that I was gay, my mother took to her bed for weeks in shock, and my father didn’t speak to me for ten months. I thought it was impossible they’d ever come round, but they did. If my parents finally saw reason and accepted me, then you can persuade your mother to accept Luke. Just give her some time.’

‘Timothy Leighton, when did you get to be so wise?’ said Kate, looking at him, fondly.

‘I watch Jeremy Kyle a lot,’ he admitted.

Kate smiled, feeling a little better, and got up to leave. ‘Right then, I’m off. Luke and I are going to Chester – take our minds off what’s happened.’ On impulse, she turned back and hugged Tim. ‘Thanks for everything. I love you.’