Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past) (6 page)

“How very true,” Cunningham laughed.
“I’m sure Jason makes a very tidy sum from that garage of his, despite what he
says about business people.”

Jason refrained from answering as
their food arrived. He couldn’t care less what anyone thought of him. His
business kept him in comfort. He didn’t need to take over the world and money
didn’t rule it for him. Cunningham was the kind of person that would put
anything aside for money. Lucinda may think he was amazing because of his
business acumen, but Jason doubted that the kind of man Cunningham was would
make her happy in a relationship.

Jason pushed aside his resentment and
tucked into his food. The smell of his chicken pot pie made his stomach rumble.
It had been hours since he’d last eaten. He let the conversation buzz around
him, without getting involved. He had no interest in the refurbishment of an
old, rundown B&B.

He’d almost cleared his plate when
Lucinda tapped his arm. He glanced up. Her expression could curdle milk. He
flicked his gaze to Cunningham and Callie. Both were staring at him
expectantly.

“I’m sorry, did you say something?”

Lucinda’s long, drawn out sigh
stirred the hair hanging over his forehead. “Haven’t you been paying even the
slightest bit of attention to what we’ve been discussing?”

Jason shrugged. “Not really.”

Lucinda’s eyes narrowed. “I was
telling Andy how I redecorated part of Warner House. You remember that, don’t
you?” She kicked him under the table. Jason gritted his teeth. “It received so
many compliments. You must remember me talking about it.”

He cleared his throat. From what he
could recall, Lucinda had simply kept an eye on a couple of decorators. It was
hardly redecorating the place herself. “I remember you saying something about
it. Why?”

“I was hoping Andy would have need of
someone to help with the Lazy Boy project.” She sent a beaming smile in
Cunningham’s direction.

“I’m sure we have room for you on the
team. Callie could certainly use an assistant. Right, Callie?” Cunningham
didn’t even bother to wait for Callie’s acknowledgement. “I could take you
around the project tomorrow, if you like.”

Callie’s head shot up from her
dinner. “I don’t think so, Mr Cunningham.” He turned towards her with his mouth
slightly open. “I don’t work with an assistant.”

Jason was amazed at the steel that
entered Callie’s voice. She drew herself up in her seat, her expression clearly
stating that she would not be swayed. Cunningham leaned slowly forward in his
seat, his face slightly flushed.

“I wish for Lucinda to work on this
project, Callie. Since I’m paying you a lot of money, I think you can
accommodate me.” Cunningham’s expression brooked no argument.

Callie put her cutlery down and
pierced Cunningham with a deadly glare. “Mr Cunningham, you seem to be under
the illusion that you’re my boss, and can therefore issue me with orders. Let
me make something very clear to you.” She leaned forward in her seat, and
matched him glare for glare. “I work for myself. If I decide not to sign the
contract for this project, either by your choice or mine, I have a number of
clients that will snap me up the minute I step foot back in London.” She
clicked her fingers together. “I don’t need this project as much as your
project needs me.”

Cunningham opened his mouth, but
Callie held up her hand and continued before he could comment. “As for the
money; you are paying me that amount because I am the best. I will not have an
amateur messing up my work. If I were to ever hire an assistant, who I worked
with would be my choice and nobody else’s. So, do you still want me working on
this project or not?”

Cunningham regarded her for several
moments in stunned silence. Then he flung his head back and laughed. His
admiring gaze ran over Callie and he smiled at her.

“Not many people ever have the
courage to challenge me. Yes, Callie, I want you on this project. I always
thought you were the one for the job, and this just confirms it.” He turned to
a fuming Lucinda. “Sorry, but it would seem my interior designer doesn’t want
an assistant.” He patted her hand. “But don’t worry, I’m sure I can find
something for a woman as talented as you.”

Jason didn’t miss the way the man’s
eyes dropped down Lucinda’s cleavage. He slapped his napkin onto his plate.
“It’s getting rather late. I think we ought to be going, Lucinda. We both have
work in the morning.”

She glared at him. “You go, if you
want. I haven’t finished eating.”

“I thought you were staying at mine
tonight?” Jason gritted out.

“No. I’ve changed my mind.” The
expression on her face told him exactly why. She was determined to punish him
for not agreeing to live together.

Jason had had as much as he could
stand for one evening. “Have it your way.”

He climbed to his feet and pulled his
wallet from his back pocket. He threw several bills onto the table in front of
Lucinda. “Here, this should cover dinner.”

Without waiting, he grabbed his
jacket from the back of the chair and left the pub. The cold air outside hit
him like a solid wall. The icy chill cooled the heat burning under his skin.
Jason drew in several deep breaths. He glanced in at the pub’s bay window. He
scanned the scene until his gaze landed on the table he’d recently vacated.
Lucinda leaned towards Cunningham, her back to the window. She spoke close to
the man’s ear, and Cunningham laughed.

Jason gritted his teeth. He wasn’t
sure leaving had been the best course of action, upon reflection. He ran a hand
down his face. The evening hadn’t turned out the way he’d planned at all. He
and Lucinda were on even thinner ice than they had been before the evening
began.

Jason glanced in at the window again.
Callie Price glared at the two opposite her, her expression full of
disapproval. At least Lucinda couldn’t get into too much trouble with the other
woman present. If he went back in now to try and extract her, she’d only cause
merry hell.

Jason yawned. The day was fast
catching up with him. The best thing he could do was go home and get some sleep.
He’d work out his problems with his girlfriend in the morning.

Jason sighed and slung his coat on.
He trudged slowly towards his flat.

Callie stuck the last of her dirty
clothing into the washing machine. She hadn’t been able to salvage her silk
blouse and had mournfully tossed the ruined rag into the bin. She sighed and
pulled open the compartment for the soap. She stuffed a liquitab into the space
and slammed it shut. Pressing the appropriate buttons, she started the wash.

With a groan, Callie rose to her feet
and rubbed her lower back. That damn mattress had nearly crippled her. She’d
never slept on anything as uncomfortable as the bed in her room. Although she
used the term
slept
loosely. Callie wasn’t sure she’d managed more than
a couple of hours sleep at best. She’d begun to wonder at four in the morning,
if she wouldn’t have been better off sleeping on the floor. At least there
wouldn’t have been any springs digging into her!

Callie gathered up the bags she’d
used to carry her clothing down to the wash room. She could kick herself for
allowing the previous evening to pass, without mentioning to Mr Cunningham that
she wanted to change her accommodation. The whole day couldn’t have turned out
worse if it tried.

With a grimace, she dumped the bags
into the bin by the door and left the small wash room. Her stomach growled,
reminding her that she hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. With any luck, her wash
would be done by the time she was finished eating.

She ambled down the hall to the
breakfast room. Several elderly guests were already seated at various tables
dotted around the large sunny space. Callie actually liked the area a lot. It
had so much potential. Her designer’s eye had already stripped the heavily
patterned wallpaper from the room and replaced it with light, neutral colours.

Once the heavy curtains disappeared
from the large windows, the gorgeous view of the rambling fields would draw
every guest’s eyes. She could vividly visualise laminate flooring gracing the
ground instead of the dirty carpet. It would lift everything into a new
dimension and could be kept clean far easier.

She mentally replaced the old
fashioned tables and chairs, the sideboard that held various cold breakfast
choices, and removed entirely the many paintings and memorabilia that dotted
the room. She absently reached for her sketch pad before she remembered that
she’d left it in her room. Callie rolled her eyes in annoyance. 

The side door opened with a bang. A
large, round woman bustled into the room, carrying two plates of greasy egg and
bacon. She spotted Callie and called over. “Did you find the wash room okay?”

“Yes, thanks Beth.”

Callie smiled at the woman. She’d met
her in the hallway earlier while she’d been exploring before breakfast. Beth
had a rather brisk and boisterous manner. She was somewhat larger than life and
that wasn’t just her waistline. Beth reminded Callie of a drill Sergeant in a
boot camp. She could easily see the woman bossing everyone around and not
taking nonsense from anyone.

Beth slapped the plates in her hands
onto a nearby table in front of an elderly couple and came over to Callie. She
wiped her hands on her pinstripe apron.

“Take a seat anywhere you like. Did
you want a fry up?” Her loud voice vibrated around the room. Callie’s eyes
drifted to the breakfast the elderly couple were starting to eat. Her stomach
churned at the sight of the greasy food. There was no way she could put
something like that in her stomach. She’d heave.

“No, thanks.” Callie resisted the
urge to shudder. “Just some coffee and toast would be fine.”

“You sure? It’s no trouble to do a
full English if you want one.” Beth planted her hands on her generous hips and
peered at Callie with a stern expression on her face.

“I’m sure.”

“Huh! No wonder you’re so skinny, if
that’s all you eat of a morning. Not enough flesh on you to keep a bird alive!”
Beth’s gaze wandered over Callie’s trim form. “Well, go seat yourself. I’ll
bring it out.” She charged out of the door.

Callie sat herself at a small table
that was snuggled into the corner of the breakfast room. She unfolded the
napkin on her place setting and draped it over her knees. Her gaze flicked
around the room and she settled back into her seat. She let her mind wander as
she absorbed her surroundings. Callie enjoyed time by herself. She’d never
understood people that needed constant companionship. The solitude often gave
her the chance to be creative and she thrived on it.

Beth soon arrived back at her side
with a pot of coffee and a rack of toast. She slapped both items onto the table
with all the finesse of a bull.

“If you want any condiments, they’re
out on the side.” Beth pointed to the battered old sideboard. “I meant to check
earlier; did you get the message that was left for you last night?”

“No.” Callie frowned, puzzled. Who
would leave her a message? She’d texted Jade the previous evening to let her
know she’d arrived safely. There was nobody she could think of that would
contact her here.

“A gentleman came here while you were
out to dinner last night. I wrote down the message myself and left it at
reception for you. He said to let you know he’d call round this morning.” Beth
sniffed, disapproval written all over her face.

“Did he give a name?” Callie couldn’t
imagine who the man could be.

“No. He just said it was important
that he see you early today.”

“Thanks,” Callie replied faintly.

Beth gave a small nod and wandered
off. Callie poured herself some coffee and buttered a piece of toast. She bit
into her breakfast as her mind churned over the news. Her heart lurched and she
almost choked on her food. Could it be her father? Had her mother contacted him
and he wanted to meet her too? After all, she had let her mother know where
she’d be staying, just in case Sandra had needed to get in touch with her.

Her heart raced and her body shook.
Surely it had to be. Who else would race over to see her? Callie’s head spun
and her mouth went dry. She sipped her coffee. Her hands shook as she placed
the cup back onto the saucer. Questions ran though her head so fast, she could
barely keep up with them.
Stop it, Callie. You don’t know that the man is
your father. Don’t get ahead of yourself.

She drew in a steadying breath and
closed her eyes. So much had happened the previous day that she hadn’t had time
to contemplate the biggest reason that she’d come here. Somewhere close by, her
mother would be having breakfast too. Did she think of Callie? Did she wonder
what her daughter would be like? Had she contacted Callie’s father for a full
family reunion? Would Callie have half siblings to meet too?

She licked her lips and placed a
shaking hand to her cheek. Could she cope if it turned out to be a large group
of people waiting to meet her? Why hadn’t it occurred to her before now? Her stomach
churned and the small amount of food she’d eaten, threatened to make a
reappearance.

A throat cleared and she jumped.
Callie’s eyes popped open. She turned to see a large man standing by her side.
He had his thumbs hooked into his jeans as he stared at her. Something about
the man seemed familiar.

“Are you Callie Price?” He sounded
nervous. Callie sprang to her feet.

“I am.” She held out a shaking hand.
Her gaze roved over him from head to foot. “Are we related?” Did her voice have
to squeak like a frightened mouse?

“No. I’m Doug, your mother’s
partner.” He shook her hand briefly. “Can I sit with you?”

“Sure.” Callie sat back down.
Disappointment dragged at her insides. He wasn’t her father. She hadn’t
realised how much she’d wanted him to be until that moment.

Doug sat down and leaned back in his
seat. He stared at her intently for a moment. “You don’t have your mother’s
colouring,” he observed, “but I can see her in your face.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Callie blinked
away the tears that pricked her eyes.

He leaned forward and linked his
fingers together. “I guess you must be wondering why I’m here.”

Callie simply nodded, too afraid to
speak in case she cried.

“I have a rather difficult confession
to make, Miss Price. I won’t blame you for being angry when you hear it.” He
gazed at her, his brows drawn together in a deep frown.

Callie tensed up. “What is it? Has
something happened to Sandra?”

“No, nothing like that.” He waved his
hands as if to brush the notion aside. “I don’t really know how to say this, so
I guess I should just come right out with it. The truth is…………I wrote to you,
not Sandra.”

Callie stared at him. She couldn’t
have heard him right. “What do you mean you wrote to me?”

“I found your letter. The one you
sent to Sandra when you were eighteen. I thought she had kept it because she
wanted to meet you one day.” He shook his head, his face clouded over with
sorrow. “I know what it’s like to lose a child. I thought I was doing the right
thing by contacting you and asking you to come here and meet her. I couldn’t
imagine never having contact with your own flesh and blood. Unfortunately,
Sandra doesn’t see it that way.”

Callie’s heart turned to stone in her
chest. “Are you saying she doesn’t want to meet me? That I’ve come all this way
for nothing?”

“I’m sorry. She made it clear that
she wanted me to explain the situation to you and ask you to go home.” Doug
shifted in his seat and stared at the floor.

Callie gripped the arms of her chair.
Her head spun and she gasped in much needed oxygen. She hadn’t even realised
that she’d been holding her breath. Everything went numb. She couldn’t feel a
thing.

“Miss Price…………….Callie, are you
okay?” A warm hand touched hers. She jerked away.

Burning hot anger sliced through her;
the force of the emotion shook her to the core. How dare her mother do this to
her! “I am far from okay.” She didn’t even recognise the hard, brittle voice
that erupted from her throat.

“I’m truly sorry.” She could hear the
genuine distress in his voice. “I should never have interfered.”

Callie turned her hard gaze to his.
“It’s not your fault that you expected Sandra to behave like a human being.”
Her breath hitched in her chest, but she wouldn’t succumb to the emotions
roiling through her. Not in front of him.

Doug rocked back in his seat, his
expression full of discomfort. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t imagine how
you must be feeling. Is there any way I can compensate you for the wasted
expense. After all, I am responsible for you travelling here, so the least I
can do is pay any out of pocket expenses you’ve incurred.”

Callie shook her head. She wanted
nothing from him or anyone connected to Sandra. “No. As it happens I didn’t
just come here to meet Sandra. I thought we would need some time to connect and
get to know each other.” A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “I obtained a client
so I could work and spend time with Sandra. Just because she doesn’t want to
know about me after all, doesn’t mean I’m abandoning my obligations.”

“You’re staying?” Doug sounded like
someone was strangling him. “How long for?”

Callie glared at him. “I am not like
my mother. I don’t run out on my responsibilities.” She waved a hand at the
surrounding area. “I’ve been hired to redesign this place and that’s exactly
what I’m going to do. As for how long…………I don’t know. As long as it takes.”

“Sandra won’t be happy about your
decision.” Doug ran a hand through his hair. “She was very clear that you
should go home.”

Callie stood up and nearly upset her
chair. She glared down at Doug. “She really has no right to order me around. I
am an adult. This is a free country and if I want to work here, she has no say
in it.” She leaned over him. “And you can tell her that from me.”

She stomped away from Doug before he
could say anything further. Tears slipped down her cheeks, but she wiped them
away impatiently. Her mother hadn’t been a part of her life for twenty three
years. What did it matter now?

Her heart lay heavy in her chest,
giving testimony to the lie she couldn’t quite commit to. The questions that
had burned so deeply inside her, were once more left unanswered.

Callie pounded up the stairs to her
room. Should she simply roll over and let Sandra have her way or should she
force the issue and make her mother tell her what she needed to know? Callie
perched on her bed, and stared at the walls without seeing anything.

She would not give up and run home
with her tail between her legs. Her mother owed her answers, at the very least.
One way or another, she was going to get them!