The Paradise Trees (16 page)

Five years old. There wouldn’t be many younger memories, she knew. Was this all, did she know everything now? Immediately she knew that she didn’t, there was something even bigger
still locked away in her head with the child. Deep breaths, Alicia. Remember the mantra. You’re the adult, you’re in control, you survived.

Okay, it had happened and she
had
survived. This wasn’t the time to dwell on it, she could do that later with professional help. Sonja should be here tomorrow, she might remember
the incident too. And Cathal, she must try to find him. The family had gone back to Bantry about a year before she’d left herself, so that might be the place to start. There couldn’t be
many Cathal O’Brians around, even in Ireland. Alicia straightened up, squaring her shoulders. She would find an internet café later on and start the search, but right now she was damn
well going to make sure that her own child had better memories of Lower Banford than she herself had. Pet shop here we come.

The four black kittens and their mother were in a pen in the front shop, and Jenny dropped to her knees beside it.

‘Hello kitties! Mr Taylor, what are their names and how old are they and are they girls or boys and... ’

‘Whoa, slow down,’ said Kenneth Taylor, crouching down beside the kittens’ enclosure while Alicia perched on a set of steps. ‘Now, these young fellas are three weeks and
four days old, all boys except this one here. Mum’s name is Cindy but the kits won’t have names until they go to homes of their own.’

‘Have they got homes yet?’ asked Jenny, and Alicia looked apprehensively at Kenneth. His big face beamed at her.

‘Two definites and four maybes,’ he said, scooping up the smallest kitten and kissing its nose. Alicia smiled to herself. Thank goodness. A little friend for Moritz wasn’t
really on her shopping list.

Jenny frowned. ‘But that’s six!’

Kenneth patted her shoulder, then snatched his hand away again. Alicia blinked. What was the man doing? Jenny had noticed nothing, however, she was still intent on matching kittens with
prospective families.

Alicia struggled to make conversation with Kenneth while Jenny played with the kittens. It was hard going talking to the man, he was a bag of nerves when he wasn’t talking about animals,
so she ended up gabbling away about Conker and Moritz until she couldn’t think of another thing to say about either of them. It was a relief when she could say truthfully that they had to
go.

‘You can come back any time and play with them,’ Kenneth said to Jenny. ‘They like you because you’re gentle and quiet with them.’

‘Oh! Thank you!’ Jenny’s face shone with happiness.

Kenneth Taylor stood there wringing his hands when he was saying goodbye, his round face sweating and his eyes sliding away from Alicia’s. Why on earth was the man so nervous? Was she
really so fearsome, or was there another reason? A sudden thought struck her and she giggled aloud as she unlocked the car. Maybe he fancied her... no, no, that couldn’t be. Dear Lord,
no.

‘Right, Madam,’ she said to Jenny as they turned into the lane. ‘Fish fingers for lunch. Then after we’ve visited Grandpa we’ll pop along to Merton and get some
jam-making equipment. Then back home to meet Margaret off the bus. Okay?’

There would be an internet café somewhere in Merton. And wouldn’t it be great if they happened to see Doug while they were ‘visiting Grandpa’?

The house phone rang while Alicia was rummaging in the freezer, and Jenny ran to answer it. To Alicia’s dismay it was Paul. She rushed through to the hallway where Jenny was standing,
phone in hand and red of face.

‘I don’t know, Daddy, I don’t think so,’ she said, and Alicia snatched the phone, her hand closing the mouthpiece.

‘Thanks, Jen. I’ll speak to Daddy,’ she said, trying to sound calm. Damn Paul and his insensitivity. Jenny shouldn’t have to cope with all this as well, and she
shouldn’t have to listen to her mother arguing with her father, either.

‘Take Conker up to the woods for half an hour before lunch,’ she said firmly, pushing the little girl towards the back door. ‘On you go.’

‘Well, Alicia, you took your time,’ said Paul, his voice hurtful and sarcastic in her ear. ‘I was just saying to Jenny I want her in Singapore for a holiday at least this year.
But we don’t have to talk about this over the phone. I’m in York on business this week. I’ll come by about four this afternoon to talk to Jen about coming to visit her stepmum and
me.’

The line went dead and Alicia found she was trembling. She walked through to the kitchen in an angry daze. How dare Paul command her to be at home at a certain time. And Singapore... What on
earth was she going to do?

Just say no, she told herself. Or fob him off, say you’ll both visit Singapore next year sometime. And she should check on her legal position too. But be firm.

Drearily, she started cooking lunch. Jenny appeared at the back door as the church clock was striking the half hour, but to Alicia’s surprise the little girl didn’t ask about
Paul’s phone call. Her face was flushed, and she ran to the sink to wash her hands without saying a word.

‘How was your palace? Bet you’re hungry after such a busy morning,’ said Alicia, dishing up fish fingers and frozen peas and setting the plates on the table.

‘Uh-huh.’ Jenny looked up at Alicia, her face suddenly radiant. ‘Mummy, there are lots more little blue flowers today, almost like fairy flowers. We played at Kings and Queens
again.’

‘Did you now? Who was King, then, Conker?’

‘No, Oberon was King. And he brought chocolate biscuits but I only had one because I knew it was nearly lunchtime,’ said Jenny, fishing in the pocket of her shorts and producing a
red and silver biscuit wrapper.

Alicia stared. Wasn’t this just a game? But if Oberon had provided biscuits he couldn’t be a figment of Jenny’s imagination.

‘And... um... who’s Oberon, exactly?’ she said, struggling to keep the rising panic out of her voice. Jenny would never speak to a stranger, would she? Or wasn’t Oberon a
stranger?

‘He’s... ’ said Jenny, then clapped a hand over her mouth. ‘Oops, it’s a big secret. I nearly forgot.’

‘But, Jen darling, I must know who you were playing with. Is it a grown up, or another child?’

‘It’s alright, it’s a grown-up, and you know him. It’s quite alright, Mummy. You would say yes. Really you would. But it’s a secret, I can’t tell you.’
Jenny put her fork down and reached for her glass.

Alicia felt almost breathless. Things seemed to be spiralling right out of control at the moment, there was hassle just everywhere. Her father and Margaret, sleazy Kenneth Taylor and his cats,
those bloody flashbacks, Paul, and now Jenny with someone she herself knew who called himself Oberon, played at fairies, and was ‘quite alright’. Could she
make
Jenny tell her
who this person was?

Oh, for heaven’s sake, she thought. It’ll be one of the neighbours for sure, who else could it be? John Watson often went mushrooming or herb-gathering in the woods, and he was a
retired English teacher... he’d been very involved in the ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ production too, according to Eva Campbell... yes, of course. Stop being so neurotic,
woman. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have plenty of other things to worry about right now.

‘Mr Watson, bet I’m right,’ she said cheerfully, and Jenny looked at her, a little smile on her face.

Feeling more settled about the episode, Alicia pondered what to do about Paul. She had an old school friend who was a lawyer, and she could be sure of straight answers and real help from Louise.
But the most important thing was to make sure she took charge of the situation when Paul arrived this afternoon. He really didn’t have a leg to stand on. Or did he?

The Stranger

The decision had been made; in fact it had almost made itself. He would put his plan into action on Saturday. At the weekend he would have just that bit more freedom both to
control what was going on at St. Joe’s, and – most importantly – to persuade little Helen to come back home with him. And then of course he wanted plenty of time to enjoy being
with his perfect little almost-angel before sending her off to his own Helen. Then on Sunday, when he already had two angels in Paradise, it would be big Helen’s turn.

He had laid the first stone in his plan already. The forecast for the weekend was good, and Little Helen had promised to meet him at the special place on Saturday morning, as soon after
breakfast as she could. He had been coy, the promise of a special Saturday surprise had been enough. He had hinted about kittens and that was all that was needed to have her clapping her hands and
jumping with excitement. It would definitely be alright, she said, Mummy always did the housework after breakfast.

So now there were things to be bought. Plan B would involve leaving little Helen alone in his flat for an hour or two. Of course it was impossible to know exactly how the various people
participating in the plan would react, so he couldn’t organise things in as much detail as he would have liked. This meant he had to be prepared for a number of eventualities. Which was why
he was standing in the gardening section of Merton’s biggest department store.

‘Can I help you?’ An assistant was looking at him with cow’s eyes, big and brown with eyelashes clogged with mascara.

He shuddered. How very much he preferred his three lovely, natural Helens. ‘I’m looking for cord to tie a sapling to a stake,’ he told her, surprised and pleased that his brain
had worked out such a good answer on the spur of the moment.

Ten minutes later he was heading for the soft furnishings department, a length of beige coloured nylon cord safe in his pocket.

The next assistant was an older lady with a grandmotherly figure and thick glasses. She approached him while he was looking round a confusingly large selection of material, searching for
something golden to do duty as a robe. This time, he had his request ready.

‘I want something golden to make a throw for my daughter’s bed,’ he told the assistant. ‘She’s always playing Kings and Queens.’

‘Bless her,’ said the woman fondly. ‘We have ready-made throws, you might find something there.’

And how incredible, there
was
a golden throw, made of heavy, shiny material. Who would have thought that finding a golden robe would be so simple? It was proof that the whole plan was
simply meant to be. He bought the throw, and as the material was rather scratchy he bought a fluffy yellow baby blanket as well, soft and sweet.

Back in his car he examined his purchases carefully. Perfect, perfect. The cord would tie little Helen up safe and sound while he wasn’t at home. The fluffy blanket would keep her warm and
cosy, and the throw would make the whole occasion regal and dignified. He could cover her with it or they could use it to lie on. Oh, it was going to be so good. The anticipation was delicious.

Tomorrow would be Wednesday. He’d start the other preparations then. There was big Helen to see to as well. And on Saturday, another angel would be winging her way to Paradise, and his own
darling Helen would be so, so happy.

Just three days to go.

Alicia

Standing at the bus stop with Jenny and Conker, waiting for Margaret’s bus to appear round the corner, Alicia could feel the tension in her neck. She would get a headache
if she wasn’t careful, what a God-awful afternoon it had turned into, first with Paul’s arrogant phone call, and then having to rush back from Merton in time for his visit. There had
been no time to look for an internet café. She should have been late; it would have served him right. And poor Jen, she’d been terribly nervous before Paul arrived, though her father
hadn’t half exerted his charm. Alicia shuddered. What had she ever seen in the man?

The bus drew up, and Jenny jumped up and down excitedly, waiting for Margaret to get off. Conker was bounding around too, anyone looking at them would think they were all as happy as Larry.
Alicia fixed a smile on her own face. If you can’t beat ’em...

‘Auntie Margaret, guess, just guess who visited us this afternoon!’ cried Jenny, as soon as Margaret had both feet safely on the ground. Alicia sighed. Complicated times were ahead
of them, she could see that coming.

‘Oh um... Doctor Carter? Or was it your friend from school, what’s her name, Kayleigh?’ Margaret kissed Jenny and then Alicia. ‘You look pale, Alicia, is Bob
alright?’ she asked urgently.

‘He’s fine,’ said Alicia, trying to sound positive and energetic. ‘There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll visit him later. Here, give me your case.’

Jenny was still standing there, her hands clasped in front of her, waiting expectantly for Margaret to guess again. Margaret laughed. ‘I give up,’ she said. ‘Tell me who it
was.’

‘Daddy!’ cried Jenny, and Alicia met Margaret’s astonished eyes.

‘Tell you later,’ she mouthed as they started along the lane.

‘I was worried at first because I didn’t want to go to Singapore just like that,’ said Jenny, skipping along beside Margaret, her great-aunt’s hand firmly clasped in one
of her own. ‘But Daddy promised he’d organise a proper visit for me and Mummy very soon, and we’re going to go up a huge skyscraper, and there’s a great big zoo as well,
Daddy says. He could only stay for a little while but it was a lovely visit.’

They reached the garden gate and Jenny released Conker from his lead. The two of them ran round the back, and Alicia unlocked the front door.

‘Surprise, huh?’ she said. ‘And Paul hasn’t changed a bit, still the same old sweet-talking, superficial... well, you get the idea.’

Margaret hugged her, and Alicia took a shaky breath. ‘You poor thing,’ said Margaret. ‘What on earth brought this on? I didn’t know Paul was anywhere near
here.’

‘You and me both,’ said Alicia, depositing the suitcase at the bottom of the stairs. ‘Let’s be devils and have a sherry before I heat the soup. I feel I deserve it today.
Paul phoned at lunchtime and calmly informed me he would come by at four o’clock, and then he rang off before I could say a word. I was so mad with him. And you know, I really do think
he’s just doing this to... to get up my nose.’