Like One of the Family (52 page)

‘You were wonderful,' Fernando's voice trembled with emotion. ‘My mother loved you, as anyone who knows you must do.'

Claire blushed, a little overcome by his ardour. She felt very attracted to him but sometimes thought her own emotion more resembled affection than love.

‘I'm so glad I knew her,' she told him, her cheeks still tinged with colour. ‘She was a marvellous person.'

‘Ah yes,' Fernando agreed sadly. ‘She was brave and good and now she is at rest. It would be unworthy to wish her still alive when she endured so much suffering but I cannot help it. I feel as if part of myself has died with her.'

It was how Claire had felt when Terry turned away from her that last night, as if her heart had been torn from her breast, and she were only half alive. She looked at Fernando and thought if she were to marry him their marriage would be a good one for he was sensitive and loving.

He had put out his hands and clasped hers, murmuring: ‘Now is not the right moment, Claire, but in a little while I will speak to you of what is very close to my heart. When I do I pray your wish will be the same as my own.'

Ruthie suddenly bobbed up in the water beside her and broke into her reverie. Fernando was here, now, at the water's edge. Claire touched bottom and stood up, feeling embarrassed at being caught wearing only her T-shirt and pants.

‘I thought I would find you here,' Fernando said with a smile, as she stepped on to the sand.

Claire picked up her shorts and turning away from him, slipped them on. The button no longer fastened and she had resorted to a large safety pin to keep the edges together. She blushed, aware of his eyes on her back, and as she turned around wondered a little anxiously if he had noticed any alteration in her figure.

‘Don't you wish to change out of your wet things?' Fernando asked.

‘I have nothing to change into,' Claire confessed. ‘I went in to cool off.'

‘You will take cold.'

‘The sun will dry me.' She lifted her damp T-shirt, one of Terry's, and wrung the ends, then dropped them self-consciously, glad she had worn such a loose-fitting garment.

‘If you do not intend spending more time on the beach,' Fernando suggested politely, ‘perhaps you would like to have coffee with me?'

Claire nodded. ‘I'd like that very much.' Milky coffee was warm and filling and helped soothe her stomach, which never felt entirely well these days. She beckoned to Ruthie and they stood in silence as the little girl slipped modestly behind a boat to change out of her wet togs before the three of them walked up the steps to the road.

‘Your friend Sheena is not with you?' Fernando asked, when they were sitting under an umbrella and the waiter had taken their order.

‘Sheena is in Gibraltar,' Ruthie chipped in before Claire could answer. ‘Didn't you know?'

‘You did not go with her?' Fernando asked in surprise. His habit of answering one question with another was almost Irish, Claire thought.

She shook her head. ‘She went away while Elena was dying,' she said quietly. ‘I didn't know she was gone until I got back from the hospital.'

With a warning glance in Ruthie's direction, she added in undertone, ‘It seems she went with Miguel to find Alejandro.'

‘Caramba
!' Fernando exclaimed in dismay. ‘How long ago was that?'

‘Just over a week.'

‘Has she telephoned?'

‘Twice,' Claire admitted. ‘I spoke to her last time and she sounded frightened.'

‘Understandably.' Fernando looked concerned. ‘You have told her mother, of course.'

Claire blushed with upset. ‘Yes... but only today. I kept hoping she would arrive back.' Fernando's eyes were full of concern.

‘And
la hermanita
does not know the true state of affairs.' He glanced compassionately at Ruthie, happily constructing card houses out of drink mats.

‘N...no,' Claire faltered, worried by his grim expression. Fernando was taking it so seriously that she became suddenly afraid. ‘What are we to do?' she asked him. ‘Jane can't come for another week or two and by then... Oh, will you please help?'

‘Naturally,' Fernando agreed. ‘You must know that I will.'

At once Claire felt as though a great weight was lifted from her. She gazed her gratitude at him, her look was so sweetly trusting that he caught his breath.

‘Do not look at me like that,' Fernando implored, ‘or I will not be responsible for what I do.' He seized her hand and pressed his lips to it, his own look so painfully fond that Claire dropped her eyes.

Fernando left the girls back to the apartment and drove away, his expression thoughtful. He was truly appalled to learn of his brother's involvement with the daughter of the Irish doctor he so much admired.

‘Idiota! Estúpido!
' he berated himself. If only he had insisted on his brother coming home with him that day he'd bumped into him near the girls' apartment, he thought, what a lot of pain and trouble would have been saved. Alejandro would not now be facing a court-martial and Sheena would not be in the hands of a blackguard like Delgado. What his father would have to say when he heard of this latest development, Fernando dreaded to think.

As he turned in the gates of his house and drove up the long driveway, his heart was heavy. His father would take a very dim view of this dishonouring of Dr McArdle's daughter, as well as their family name.

Fernando had hardly begun to speak when his father exploded in wrath.

‘You are saying that Alejandro enticed Señora McArdle's daughter to Gibraltar and that all along you have known of their relationship and kept silent?'

Fernando stared at him bleakly. ‘No, Father. I learned of it only very recently, and it was Alejandro's companion Miguel Delgado who took the girl away. I do not think Alex had any part in the seduction but yes, it is true that he introduced the man to Señorita McArdle.'

Antonio put a hand to his forehead. ‘We must do everything in our power to find her,' he said heavily. ‘Does Señora McArdle know of her daughter's abduction?'

Fernando swallowed miserably before answering, ‘Yes, sir.' He felt the disgrace every bit as keenly as his father.

Terry flew into Spain the following afternoon and travelled by coach to Nerja Jane had driven him to the airport to catch his flight. She was visibly distressed as she kissed him goodbye.

‘Don't worry, Mum,' he soothed her. ‘Twins have a special affinity, don't forget. I'll find her. You can count on me.'

‘I know that, Terry.' Jane struggled with her tears as she hugged him goodbye. ‘I'll finish up at the clinic and be out as soon as I can.'

‘Good. And I'll ring you when I get there,' Terry promised her. Before he went through the sensor he looked back and saw her straining up on her toes to see him go. He had waved and walked on through.

Terry alighted from the coach in the centre of Nerja and easily supporting his bag on his shoulder, walked the short distance to the apartment. Ruthie opened the door and he gasped and laughed when she threw herself upon him, squealing with delighted relief.

‘Hold on!' Terry protested. ‘It's only a few months, not years, since we met.'

‘Terry, Oh Terry,' Ruthie cried, clinging to him as if she would never let him go. He could see that she was in a highly excitable state and could only guess at her worry and fright since Sheena's disappearance. He looked eagerly around for Claire, longing to see her yet feeling a bit self-conscious.

‘Where's Claire?' he asked as casually as he could when his sister was calm again.

‘Fernando called for her early and they went off to make enquiries about Sheena,' Ruthie told him. ‘I think they have gone to the police.'

Terry strolled in and out of the bedrooms. He saw Claire's dresses hanging in the cupboard and was hard put not to touch them. He recognised a T-shirt of his drying on the window ledge and his spirits lifted at the sight. He got a yearning feeling in his groin at the thought of it wrapped about her.

‘Did you speak to Sheena when she rang?' he asked his little sister when he went back outside. Ruthie shook her head.

‘Claire was only on for a minute before she put the phone down. I think Miguel was hurrying Sheena up.'

Miguel? Terry filed the name away.

‘Want some coffee?' Ruthie bustled importantly about. Terry watched her with lazy affection then went out on to the balcony. He was leaning on the rail, gazing down at the distant beach, when there was a flurry of activity behind him and Claire and Fernando suddenly arrived into the apartment.

‘Look who's here,' Ruthie cried.

Terry turned and looked wonderingly at Claire. Her grey eyes shone and there was a roundness to her face and a bloom to her skin he had never seen before. ‘Terry,' Claire said faintly. ‘I didn't know you were coming.' She swayed a little on her feet and then sat down abruptly on a sun-chair.

Fernando nodded at Terry and politely held out his hand. Terry reluctantly grasped it. ‘It's because of him that she's so radiant,' he thought, his heart twisting painfully. ‘He's taken her from me.'

Claire looked shyly at Terry, her heart too full to speak. She thought he looked fit and well. There was some indefinable change in his appearance and it was a minute before she realised what it was. He had matured and filled out in the months since she had last seen him. Gone was the wild, restless look. His eyes held hers steadily. ‘What's all this about Sheena?' he demanded, a frown between his dark brows.

Claire sighed and told him, knowing from his puzzled expression that he was wondering why she had allowed so much time elapse before ringing home. Fernando watched them in silence.

‘I was away the first time Sheena rang,' Claire excused herself. ‘Fernando's mother was dying and I was at the hospital.'

‘Well, as soon as you knew you should have rung Mum,' Terry said sternly. ‘I can't understand why you didn't. Sheena is a silly eejit, but you know better.'

Fernando frowned. ‘You have no right to speak to her in this way,' he protested. ‘She cannot be blamed.'

‘I'm not blaming her,' Terry growled. ‘Just pointing out she should have acted sooner.' The two men glared at each other.

Claire felt impatient rather than grateful for Fernando's support. She got up, feeling wounded by Terry's censure and went to the fridge for water. Behind her the silence stretched. As she turned around again Fernando was saying, ‘This will not solve anything.'

‘Point taken,' Terry said coolly. ‘So what can we do to make up for lost time?'

Fernando shrugged. ‘My father is making enquiries. We should have some information very soon.'

Claire sipped her water and refrained from speaking directly to Fernando.

‘I suggest we drive to Gibraltar in the hope of finding some clue that will lead us to your sister's whereabouts,' Fernando said. ‘My father's Mercedes is at your disposal.'

‘Thanks,' Terry said shortly, not sounding at all grateful. ‘The sooner the better.'

‘I'll come too,' Claire said quickly. Both men looked at her.

‘Why not,' Terry said off-handedly.

Fernando smiled at Claire. ‘Your presence will make the trip a pleasure,' he said.

Terry glared. ‘Why don't we cut the speeches and be on our way.'

‘
Claro.
' Fernando got to his feet and bowed in acknowledgement. ‘I will be back within the hour.'

Claire accompanied him to the door. ‘I'm not sure that Ruthie should come,' she told him doubtfully, ‘but she can't be left here on her own.'

Fernando smiled. ‘No problem. She can come and stay at my home. Christina will look after her until we get back.'

Claire's expression cleared. ‘Thanks, Fernando. That would be great.' In her gratitude and relief she squeezed his arm and he responded with an affectionate kiss on her cheek.

‘De nada,
Claire. I am happy to do anything to help you.'

As she closed the door after him and turned smiling back into the room she almost collided with Terry, who steadied her with a painful grip then passed on with a stormy look on his face. Her smile fading, Claire watched him go into Sheena's room and heard the angry slam of the door.

A little later, the three of them went down to the courtyard to wait in the sunshine for Fernando. He returned as he had promised and they sat into his car. Claire had packed a small overnight bag for Ruthie and did her best to reassure the little girl of their speedy return, concerned by the doubt she saw in the child's eyes.

‘We won't be gone more than one night,' she assured her, ‘And who knows we might even meet up at once with Sheena and bring her straight back.'

Ruthie said staunchly. ‘I don't mind. I'm looking forward to playing with Stella.'

‘And Stella is looking forward to your visit,' Fernando overhearing, responded gallantly.

‘She's a terror with that tongue of hers,' Claire said, hiding a grin. ‘Don't let her wash your face too much, Ruthie.'

‘Indeed,' Fernando agreed. ‘She may also insist on cleaning your teeth if you are eating chocolate.'

‘I get it,' Terry pulled a face. ‘Stella is a hound.'

‘Very much so,' Fernando agreed, passing through the front gates of his house and speeding up the driveway.

‘She's so beautiful, Terry,' Ruthie said dreamily. ‘You'll just love her.'

Christina took Ruthie off at once to find the Labrador. To Claire's relief, apart from an unnaturally fierce hug on parting for herself and Terry, the little girl seemed happy enough about staying the night.

‘Thank you for minding my little sister,' Terry said a little stiffly to Fernando as they drove away from the house. He was sitting in the back of the car, leaving Claire in the front beside the Spaniard.