Deceit of Angels (50 page)

“I’ve
been looking for him.”

“He
might be in the workshop,” he said, licking his dry lips.  Fran set off down
the path, while Jason ran inside and across the hall to the library.  He tried
the door but finding it still locked, banged on it with his fist.  “Anna! 
Anna!  Open the door,” he cried.

Then
he heard a muffled scream and his heart leapt into his throat.  He was just
about to yell again but stopped abruptly when he heard the key grating in the
lock.  Jason turned the handle and pushed the wood with a resounding crack,
sending it flying back on its hinges, to crash against the wall.

What
he saw made his blood run cold.  Anna was bending over the desk, one arm across
her stomach, her face twisted in pain.  A man stood a few feet from her staring
grimly.  With a cry of anger, Jason lurched forward, his teeth gritted, fists
clenched. The man turned to look at him and then backed away, putting up his
hand to ward him off.

“What
have you done!” yelled Jason.

“Steady
on, mate!  I’ve not touched her!”  The man put the desk between him and his
assailant.

Seeing
that he couldn’t escape without passing him, Jason went to Anna and put his
arms round her, looking for signs of injury.

“Are
you OK?  Did he hurt you?”

The
man gave an incredulous laugh.  “Me hurt her?  Perhaps you ought to check out who’s
holding the scissors and who’s been injured.”  He went into his pocket and
pulled out a handkerchief, wrapping it round the gash in the heel of his hand.

Jason
noticed the scissors.  “Give me those, sweetheart.”  He took them from her and
placed them on the desk.

The
two men stared at each other.  Jason was finally facing the man who had
imprisoned the woman he loved and subjected her to a terrible assault. 

For
Anna’s ex-husband, it was interesting to see his adversary in person.  He had
seen his photograph when searching for information about him and he hadn’t
expected him to be so young.  How did a man that age get so successful?  It
made him feel even more bitter and angry.

Anna
let out a small groan and doubled up again.  “I think the baby’s coming.  I’ve
started having contractions,” she gasped.  Jason’s arms tightened round her and
she held onto him.

Her
mind confused, she tried to remember what had happened.  It was as though she
had been in some terrible nightmare as her fingers curled round the handle of
the scissors.  She saw Dave slowly advancing on her and although his lips were
moving she didn’t take any notice of what he was saying.  She didn’t care what
he was saying.  All she wanted was for him to leave her alone.

The
contraction had been quite strong and had made her wince.  The baby was due and
this could have happened at any time, but seeing her ex- husband standing there
in a place where she had felt so safe, so protected, caused a cascade of
emotions to well up inside her until her eyes and mind couldn’t focus.  Anger,
hatred and fear swept over her; she had to protect herself.  When he had come
within striking distance, she had grabbed the scissors and sliced towards him. 
But she had been too slow and he had raised his arm in defence, the blades
lacerating his hand.

Dave
gave a smug laugh.  “Goodness me!  Looks like we won’t have to wait much
longer.”

“Get
out!” said Jason, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Oh,
I’m going, but not far.  I noticed a hotel in the village, so I might as well
make myself comfortable while I wait.”

“Wait?”

“I’m
seeing this through with you, mate.” 

Anna
gritted her teeth as another contraction took hold of her.  “Please make him go
away.”

“I’ll
call the police,” breathed Jason through his teeth.

Dave
shrugged indifferently.  “Call them, but don’t forget it’s me that’s been
assaulted.  But I get your point and I’ll leave your premises.  Wouldn’t want
to be done for trespassing.”

John
appeared at the door with Fran just behind him.

“Show
this gentleman out, will you,” said Jason quietly.

When
the room became calm, Anna breathed a sigh of relief.  “I suppose I’m lucky,
really.  I could have killed him.”

Jason
frowned.  “Are you in labour?  You seem to be in pain.”  He looked her up and
down.

Anna
shook her head.  “It could be just a reaction to the shock of seeing him.  The
pains might go away.  I’ll just take it steady and see how things go.”

“Shall
I get Mother?”

“Please
don’t.  Let’s keep this between you and me for the time being.”

“Another
little secret of yours,” he smiled.

“Not
really.  There’s no point in bothering her about it just yet.  Shall we take a
walk in the garden and just enjoy being together.”  She gave a half-smile. 
“After the baby, we might have very few moments to ourselves.”

Jason’s
grin became wider.  “Yes, I remember it well.”  They met John outside who
assured them that the gentleman had been seen off the premises.  “Make sure he
doesn’t come back,” said Jason, as he guided Anna round to the rear of the
house.

The
weather was perfect for having a stroll and once in the rose garden they sat on
a bench.

“I
love this place,” smiled Anna, looking about her.

“How
are you feeling?”

“I
feel very well.  A bit shaky, though.”

“I’m
not surprised.  I was scared to death when I saw him standing there.”   

Anna
shook her head slowly.  “I really thought he wouldn’t come back.  This last
month, I was so convinced that he’d forget it and leave me alone.”

Jason
watched her.  “I really wish you’d go into hospital.  You might be safer
there.”

“I
don’t think so.  He’ll be able to get into a hospital.”

“You’re
still determined to have the baby here?”

She
nodded and put her hand over her stomach.  “Well, the contractions are coming
every five minutes.  I think I’ll go in and phone Sister Davenport,” she said, looking
at her watch.

They
took a slow walk round to the main entrance, Anna leaning heavily on his arm
and stopping at regular intervals to take in big breaths.  As they went through
the door, another contraction tightened her stomach and she timed its duration. 
She picked up the phone and dialled Sister Davenport’s number.

Jason
made a phone call of his own.  Unknown to Anna, he had decided to ring Nigel
and tell him about the incident with her ex-husband.  Nigel suggested
contacting the police and asking their advice but Jason declined, not wanting a
police presence while Anna was having her baby.  However, when Nigel said he
would come to the Grange immediately and give support, Jason was more than
relieved.

“What
could be better than a black belt in kick boxing,” he said with a grin.

Anna
was delighted when Nigel and Sophia turned up and she took Sophia off so that
they could have a little chat.  They were in Anna’s bedroom when the sister
arrived and after giving her a brief examination, concluded that the baby was
going to take some time and she would return later that evening. 

That
night Anna and Jason slept in the four-poster bed and Anna managed to get some
rest, aided by the pain relief administered by the midwife.  Jason slept only
spasmodically, his thoughts on the man now sleeping at The George Hotel in
Wedmore Village.  Why didn’t he go home?  What did he think he was doing,
waiting for the birth?  And then Jason realised that it was a way of spoiling
the occasion for them.  Dave Stevens had no intention of letting Anna have her
baby in peace and wanted to be an ominous presence throughout the process.  The
very idea gave Jason murderous thoughts.

The
morning brought Sister Davenport who again nodded in satisfaction at Anna’s
progress.

“Has
she slept?” she asked Jason.

“Yes,
for most of the night,” he said, trying to stifle a yawn.

She
frowned.  “But you didn’t?  I suggest you go and get some shut eye.  You’ll
need your strength later on.”

Jason
stumbled gratefully to his own room and fell asleep immediately on top of the
bed.  Nigel and Sophia arrived and Sophia sat reading as the mother-to-be dozed
after an injection of pethidine.

Anna
awoke with a start sometime late morning, the contractions now coming in quick
succession.  Holding onto Sophia’s hand she walked about the room, gasping her
way through each pain that made her feel that some giant boa constrictor was
tightening its grip round her and squeezing her to death.

Jason
also awoke and after a quick shower made his way to Anna’s room.  He took over
from Sophia while she went to get him cup of tea and something to eat.  While
she was gone, Anna opened her eyes as she faced another bout of pain.  She
gripped the hand offered to her and then realised it was Jason sitting beside
the bed.

“I’d
forgotten how bloody painful it is,” she panted, laughing and crying at the
same time.

“You’re
doing very well, sweetheart.  Sister Davenport is coming back shortly and will
give you some more painkiller.”  He smiled brightly.  “She’s already delivered
two babies.  A boy and girl, so she says you have the casting vote for today’s
tally.”

Anna
suddenly remembered.  “Is he still here?  My ex-husband?”

“I’m
not sure,” he said hesitantly.  “But don’t worry, he’ll not get anywhere near
you.”

She couldn’t
remember the next few hours, only the frequent contractions kept bringing her
back to the present when she was aware of movement round her.  Jason fetched a
cool, damp flannel and gently wiped her face as each agonising pain made her
cry out.

Sister
Davenport arrived at twelve-thirty and a quick examination confirmed that Anna
would soon go into the second stage of labour.  And when it started half an
hour later, both Jason and Sophia were there to encourage her.  With Jason
supporting her from behind and Sophia’s arm to grip onto, Anna began the
exhausting task of bringing her baby into the world.

It
took twenty minutes of sheer pushing before Anna decided she had had enough.

“I
can’t any more,” she groaned.  “I’m so tired.”

The
sister gave an encouraging smile.  “Give me your hand.”  She helped her feel
that the baby’s head was almost born.  “A few more pushes and you’ll be there.”

Jason
rubbed his cheek against her hair, his arms tightening round her.  “You’re
doing so well and soon we can start thinking of a name.”

Anna
gave two more pushes until the sister cried,  “That’s the head, now one more
little push and…!”  Anna did as instructed and then felt the warm, wet body
flop out between her knees.  “And you have a boy!  Congratulations, the pair of
you.”

Anna
fell back against Jason and closed her eyes in relief.  When she opened them
again a few seconds later she saw that, although he was smiling, he had tears
in his eyes.  The midwife wrapped up the baby and immediately put him into
Jason’s arms while she concentrated on the mother.  For the next ten minutes,
Jason stood beside the bed holding the small bundle and staring in absolute
wonder at the tiny features on a beautiful child.

“Hello
there,” he murmured, suddenly filled with overwhelming pride.  This had to be
his son.  Surely fate couldn’t be so cruel as to take that away from him now.  

Margaret
entered the room, her face alight with expectation.  “Was I right?  Is it a
boy?”

Jason
nodded.  “Yes and he’s beautiful.”

She
studied the child.  “I don’t think you need to worry about who the father is.” 
Jason glanced at her in surprise.  “I’ll have to get out some photos of you
when you were born.  I think you’ll see the likeness.”  The baby suddenly
opened his eyes as if trying to focus on the man holding him.  “Oh, goodness
me!  He’s got your eyes, Jason.”

His
heart began to pound with excitement and he licked dry lips.  But then Sister
Davenport took the baby from him so that she could complete her examination and
clean him up.

After
a few minutes she said,  “Absolutely perfect and he weighs in at eight pounds
two ounces and that’s not a bad weight at all.” 

She
placed the baby in Anna’s arms and for a while Anna and Jason spent time with
the child that they hoped would be theirs, while the sister made up her notes. 
She snapped her bag shut as Margaret arrived laden with a tray of tea for
everyone.  The sister only stayed long enough to swallow hers quickly and after
confirming a further visit that evening, left the patient in capable
hands.     

While
Sophia bathed and dressed Anna in a fresh nightie, Margaret placed the baby in
the Moses basket.  “I knew I should have trimmed it up with blue,” she said
thoughtfully.

Although
Anna was worn out, she found it difficult to sleep.  Knowing that her ex-
husband was prowling about set her nerves on edge.  She tried to close her eyes
but the thought of Dave, made them spring open almost immediately.