Beneath an Irish Sky (Choc Lit) (24 page)

Tim’s voice was muffled. ‘I love you too, Katie – but your boobs are in my face, and it’s not pleasant.’

She giggled, and released him.

‘Kate?’ She was nearly at the door when he called her back.

‘Yes, Tim?’

‘If you decide you don’t want Luke … I’ll have him.’

‘Dream on!’ she called as she left, feeling much happier knowing she wouldn’t have to give in and go back home. And even better, she and Luke could have some privacy here. Maybe that would be some compensation for this mess.

Luke counted about forty people in Marsham’s Community Centre. Not bad for five o’clock on a wet Thursday.

‘The local paper just ran a big feature on the Woodlands development,’ Kate told him. ‘Painted big business in a bad light. Obviously it got a lot of people concerned.’

It meant the world to Luke that Kate had come along, that she wasn’t just talk. After Sarah flying off the handle, Luke had worried Kate would call it all off, but here she was, supporting his interest in the protest against the Stewart Enterprises venture. Still, he didn’t like coming between a girl and her mother, and every day he kept waiting for Sarah to come round to Jack’s house and bawl him out.

A young man in faded jeans and denim jacket appeared up front and introduced himself as Duncan Gilroy. Soon everyone in the hall was listening to his passionate call for support to fight the development. When Duncan mentioned Stewart Enterprises, Luke slouched lower in his seat, uncomfortable at the mention of the Stewart name. Guilty by association.

‘The residents in the riverside houses have been offered a compensation package which is at least a tenth of the profit Stewart Enterprises will ultimately recoup on each property,’ Duncan informed them. ‘It’s proposed the residents be allowed first refusal, but the reality is they’ll be unable to afford even a single-bedroom flat in the new development. Those who choose not to move will find themselves living in a messy, noisy building site, their allotments swallowed up by garages and car parks, and noise and air pollution dramatically increased. The new buildings will dwarf their houses, blocking out sunlight and any view.

‘And finally,’ he said, ‘there are plans to build new roads to connect the riverfront properties with the rest of the Woodlands area. That will mean destroying a large portion of Cullens Wood, which is ironic given the name of the development. Those woods have been standing for hundreds of years. So,’ he finished, his gaze sweeping over the audience, ‘does anyone have any questions?’

There were lots of questions. Luke learned that twenty-three of the thirty households on the riverside had signed a contract, all living in a block, so Stewart Enterprises could go ahead and build, even though the other residents might protest. Social housing quotas had already been filled for that area, so the council would do nothing. It looked like those who didn’t want the development were royally screwed.

An elderly woman got unsteadily to her feet. ‘I’m one of the residents. I’ve lived at the riverfront all my life. I saw a brother go off to war and never come back. I raised two children in my home, and buried a husband from it. And now they want to push me out.’ Her voice shook. ‘Well, I won’t let them. It’s not right …’ Tears spilled onto her cheeks, and Duncan moved to her side, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. She reminded Luke of Jessie.

‘Thank you, Rose,’ Duncan said. ‘It’s for people like you we’re fighting this.’

‘There’s a Stewart here,’ said a man standing near the door. Luke recognised him as the one who’d been delivering leaflets in the pub. He pointed a finger right at Luke and heads turned. So much for anonymity. It was embarrassing. ‘That’s Jack Stewart’s son. I’d like to know what the little rich boy’s doing here, slumming it.’

If he hadn’t felt so awkward, Luke would have laughed aloud at being called a little rich boy.

‘Spying, probably,’ someone hissed.

‘He supports this protest, you idiot!’ snapped Kate.

‘Can’t he speak for himself then?’ came the response. ‘Or do the Stewarts hire someone for that, too?’

Luke eased himself up. The audience looked at him, some with curiosity, some with suspicion. The room was silent except for the hum and click of the heating system. Luke swallowed hard. It was only the second time in his life that he was speaking in public, but there was no way this was worse than his mother’s funeral so would surely be easier.

‘I’m Luke Kiernan,’ he said. ‘I don’t use the name Stewart. My parents separated before I was born. I grew up in Ireland – as a Traveller. Travellers get pushed round by councils and the police. Our culture is always under threat so I can understand people tryin’ to hold on to what they’ve got. And I don’t agree with this development – everythin’ about it seems greedy and just plain wrong, and I’ll help you fight it, if you let me.’

‘What about your father, Luke?’ asked Duncan. ‘Won’t this cause problems for you?’

‘I’m an adult. I make my own decisions.’

‘How do we know you won’t tell him our plans?’ someone asked.

‘This is a public meetin’, nothin’ secret,’ Luke said. ‘And if Jack wanted to send a spy, it’d be stupid to send me.’

People nodded in agreement.

‘Thank you, Luke,’ said Duncan. ‘We didn’t mean to put you on the spot, but emotions are running high tonight.’

‘No problem,’ said Luke, sitting down again. Kate grabbed his hand and squeezed it like she was proud of him, but his heart was thumping and he hoped attention would move away from him. He didn’t know what he could do to help, but he wasn’t going to back out. Rose had decided him. One old woman bullied by men with power. It wasn’t right. He was sure Annie would approve of him helping.

‘Did you not like it, love?’

‘It’s grand, Maggie. I’m just not that hungry.’

Luke had left most of his dinner untouched. Jack had noticed him not eating, but kept quiet because the fact that they were all having dinner together was a first and he didn’t want to be the one to spoil it. Usually Luke chose to eat in his room, but Matt had told Jack yesterday he wanted them all to spend more time together as a family.

‘Give it here,’ Matt said, and he shovelled Luke’s leftovers onto his own plate. ‘I’ve only had nuts and crisps all day. Stuck in the bowels of the pub, stocktaking. Now the builders are here, Sarah wants to know every last can and bottle we’ve got in case they decide to help themselves.’

Sarah was not a safe topic when Luke was around. Any mention of her usually sent him out of the room. Jack was none too keen on hearing her mentioned either. ‘So, Maggie, how’s the baking going for May Day?’ This was surely a safe topic. ‘I heard Lillian Hooper in the bank boasting her rock cakes are going to triumph.’

‘That’ll be a first,’ declared Maggie. ‘Last year the mayor almost lost a tooth. I think she uses real rocks.’

‘What happens on May Day?’ asked Luke.

‘Oh, all sorts of things,’ Matt told him. ‘Drinking, feasting, wenching. Sacrifice of a virgin. Just your average village get-together.’

‘There are competitions for the best home-grown produce,’ Maggie added, ‘and games for the children. Riding events, Morris dancing, wrestling, tug-of-war. And they choose a May Queen.’

‘Our Katie was May Queen when she was sweet sixteen,’ said Matt, with a sly glance at Luke, who blushed right on cue.

The front doorbell chimed. ‘I’ll get it,’ Jack said, leaving the warm kitchen for the always slightly chilly hall. He prayed the visitor wouldn’t be Sarah. She’d phoned him a few times since Kate had left home. He’d responded to her tearful concern about her daughter with the advice to be patient and not push her.

It wasn’t Sarah. It was Nicholas. Looking furious. Jack wondered if a deal had fallen through. ‘Dad! I wasn’t expecting you. Come in …’

His father was over the threshold before the invitation had been uttered. ‘We have a problem, Jack. About Woodlands. You remember that the protest meeting took place tonight?’

Jack hadn’t remembered because his day had been spent out of the office on a construction site. ‘Did Lynda go to the meeting as arranged?’

‘She’s just reported back to me. And what an eye-opener it’s been. Where’s the Kiernan boy?’

‘Sorry?’

‘He has some explaining to do.’

Jack’s heart sank. He had no idea what his father was talking about, but anything involving him and Luke couldn’t be good. Matt’s voice floated out into the hallway and in a few strides Nicholas had entered the kitchen. Jack followed.

‘Well now,’ Nicholas said, surveying the room. ‘I’m sorry to disturb this cosy family dinner.’

‘Lamb casserole’s all finished,’ muttered Maggie, stacking plates.

‘Granddad, is everything okay?

‘No, Matt, everything is very far from okay.’

‘Do you want to talk in the study?’ asked Jack. He’d expected Luke to get up and walk out of the room as soon as his grandfather appeared, but no such luck tonight.

‘This is something that concerns everyone,’ declared Nicholas. ‘Do you know what this boy has been up to?’ He flung his hand in Luke’s direction. ‘Today, there was a protest meeting in Marsham. Agitators planning how to disrupt Stewart Enterprises’ Woodlands development.’

Matt frowned. ‘What does that have to do with Luke?’

‘I was there,’ Luke said calmly.

Jack wanted to put his head in his hands. Whatever happened next wasn’t likely to help family unity. ‘You were there? Why?’

‘To publicly announce his opposition.’ Nicholas read from a piece of paper he’d taken from his pocket. ‘
Everything about it seems greedy and just plain wrong, and I will help you fight it
. Is that an accurate quote?’

Luke tilted his head to the side, his finger on his chin, giving the comment blatantly mock consideration. ‘Hmm, pretty much.’

Jack stared at Luke. The kid certainly had guts. But he was also insane. Nobody took on Nicholas Stewart and got away with it. It just wasn’t done.

‘So you did have a spy there,’ Luke continued.

‘Damn right!’ growled Nicholas, almost shaking now, his face flushing with anger. ‘And lucky we did or we’d have had no idea about the extent of your backstabbing treachery!’

There was a jangle of cutlery in the sink. Maggie had her back turned to the scene but her tensed shoulders spoke volumes.

‘Granddad!’ cried Matt. ‘It was a public meeting, and this is a free country.’

Nicholas kept going. ‘He took Kate Walker with him too. You see how it starts, Jack? Before long this – this – trash will turn everyone against us. Who’s next in line, I wonder – Matt?’

‘You’re going to manage that without Luke’s help,’ Matt told him. ‘My brother is not trash.’

Nicholas snorted. ‘Your brother? So he claims.’

‘That’s enough, Dad,’ Jack said, but the enormity of what Luke had done started to sink in. ‘Can’t you see how this could hurt the family? You’re part of the Stewarts now, Luke, like it or not. We need to stick together.’

Luke shot him a venomous look. ‘Oh, when it looks like I might do some damage, I’m suddenly a Stewart? Well, maybe I don’t want to be part of a family that doesn’t give a shit about people.’

‘Come on, Luke, you don’t mean that …’ Matt pleaded.

‘Oh, I’m sure he does,’ said Nicholas. ‘Easy come, easy go. Just like his mother.’

He’d gone too far. Best if his father left now. They could continue this discussion tomorrow at the office.

‘So what now,
Sir
Nicholas?’ Luke spat out the title contemptuously. ‘Are you goin’ to try to pay me off like you did her? You’ll find I can’t be bought either.’

There was a terrible silence in the room as everyone absorbed what they’d just heard. Jack was first to speak. ‘What the hell does that mean?’

Luke jabbed a finger in Nicholas’s direction. ‘He offered my mother money to leave here.’

‘Dad?’ asked Jack, desperate for some explanation.

‘I’m not staying here to listen to baseless accusations. I’ve said what I came to say. Fifty years I’ve spent building up this business, and I’m not going to stand by while some worthless little no-mark tries to destroy it.’

Before anyone could speak, Nicholas turned and left the room. His shoes could be heard clicking in the hallway, then the front door slammed and he was gone. They were all silent for a moment. Maggie looked upset. Matt was shaken. Luke stared at the door, his expression unreadable.

‘Luke, that’s a very serious accusation,’ said Jack, eventually.

‘It’s not an accusation, it’s the truth. He tried to bribe her to go. She told me they never wanted her here. I saw the cheque. Fifty grand. And in case you’re wonderin’, Mam never cashed it. As if she would.’

‘Annie told you this?’ Jack asked. When the hell had that happened? Could that have been the reason why Annie left?

‘I saw it. I found it in a book of Mam’s. She said she’d rather have starved than cash it. She didn’t realise how hard things would get, though – by the time they did, it was too late to cash it anyway.’

‘Do you still have it?’

‘What’s the matter, Jack? You want proof your wife wasn’t a liar? Or me? More likely to be the pikeys lyin’ than Sir Nicholas Stewart, right? And I suppose you’ll deny you wrote to Mam telling her you didn’t want her – or me.’

‘That’s enough, Luke!’ snapped Jack. ‘How could I write to your mother when I didn’t know where she was? If she told you that, she lied. This isn’t some sort of game, you know. Or is it? Is that what you’re doing – playing us all off against one another for some sort of revenge?’ That seemed much more likely than Nicholas trying to pay Annie off. His father would have known she’d tell Jack about it. Would he have risked a major argument?

Luke ran his hands through his hair, scowling. ‘What’s the point? I know you’re lyin’. I can’t prove it now – but I will.’

Jack was now feeling beyond angry. ‘I said that’s enough! I don’t want to hear another word about cheques or letters – if you want to continue living here, you’ll start treating this family with a bit of respect.’

‘Dad!’ Matt shot Jack a warning glance.

Luke put up his hand. ‘No, Matt, let him say what he’s really feelin’. Better than bein’ a hypocrite like Old Nick.’

‘This is my house and I won’t just stand here while my family is insulted!’

‘
Trash. Worthless no-mark
.’ said Luke. ‘Thanks for provin’ your precious family doesn’t include me. You never wanted me here in the first place. I’m just an embarrassment.’

‘Luke …’ Matt stood up and tried to put a hand on his brother’s shoulder, but it was shrugged off.

‘I won’t trouble you any longer,’ Luke said. ‘I should never have come here in the first place. My mistake.’