Fraser's Line (23 page)

He was not aware of the details that had brought about this transformation. Sarah had decided to put a full time manager into her business, and only work herself from 10 am to 2.30 pm – and not at all in school holidays. Michael had cut down on the visits which took him far away, and made sure he was back in good time to see the children. If it meant less income, it did. He now knew what was important in his life.

Above all, Sarah and Michael had been able to talk everything through and come to some radical decisions. They had both stood on the brink and stared at the abyss of what could be their failed marriage, and they had both drawn back. Michael was overcome with remorse, unable to understand how he had allowed himself to get caught in such a tangled web of deceit and betrayal. Sarah saw, for the first time, what her unstoppable drive to achieve had cost both her children and Michael. Sarah and Michael stood at George’s bedside, that first night he was home, glorying in his return and vowing they would try never to let the children down again. Of course there would be mistakes, but their priorities were now defined.

At school George found he was a hero! The class cheered him when he stomped in, and his classmates all wrote their names on his plaster. Kate found pleasure in being able to give vent to the maternal streak which was never very far from the surface. Both children had learned, in the most painful way, the dangers of today’s busy roads.

Fraser returned home, but there were still painful connotations attached to it and he began to feel it would be a good idea to move. The more he thought about it the more he felt it was the right thing to do, and he decided to start on the project without delay. There were, however, still some loose ends to tie up.

The first was his business partner, John. What should he do about him? Before he had come to a conclusion John telephoned and asked if he could come round, as there was something he wanted to discuss.

Sitting opposite, John looked ill at ease, and obviously didn’t know where to begin. At last he said, ‘I’m thinking of asking you to release me from our partnership. You’ve helped me to achieve a good living for many years, and I shall always be grateful, but now I feel I need to do something different. Sadie has some idea of moving to Spain, and I think perhaps I should go along with what she wants. She hasn’t seemed very well or happy recently.’

‘I know, John,’ said Fraser.

‘It’s so important to keep the little woman happy, isn’t it?’

‘I know, John,’ repeated Fraser, ‘I know.’

‘Things have never felt the same, since Edie died. It’s as though a spark has gone out.’

‘I know.’

‘How you must have suffered, with the shock of it, and everything. I want you to know, I really am most dreadfully sorry.’

‘I know, John. I know about everything. I know about you and Edie.’

John froze in his seat and then covered his face with his hands. At last he spoke. ‘I thought you must have known before, that Edie must have told you, but when I came to try and apologise I realised you didn’t know. I’ve been in an agony of indecision, but in the end I thought it was kinder to leave you in ignorance. When did you find out? How long have you known?’

‘For a few weeks now. It was when I finally plucked up courage to turn out her things. I know about your short breaks and your cruises. You were both very clever, keeping it all secret the way you did. You certainly had me fooled. Well, was she good company? I’m intrigued to know what the financial arrangements were. Did she pay your fare for you? If so, you could say I funded your little jaunts, as that was the money I’d put in a Savings Account for her – to use if anything happened to me. Ironical, isn’t it – both of you going off and enjoying yourselves, on my money.’

John hung his head. ‘I don’t know what to say,’ he said. ‘Please give me a chance to explain. It was a terrible thing I did, I know – but Edie …’

‘I don’t want to hear any more,’ said Fraser. ‘I had thought you a trusted partner and friend. I feel let down by so many people – people I thought well of – people who smiled at me and told me what a good fellow I was. All the time I’ve been a laughing- stock, a gullible, cuckolded husband. My friends have behaved as enemies, and stabbed me in the back. Go, John. Go off to Spain. Make amends to your Sadie and try and salvage some good years from the mess that has surrounded us all.’
‘I don’t suppose …’ John, hesitated. ‘I was wondering if you could find it in your heart to shake my hand? Then I promise you’ll never see me again. But I don’t think I can go off and start again without some outward sign, at least, of your goodwill, although I know I don’t deserve it. I know it’s asking an awful lot. I didn’t know it was possible to feel so wretched.’

He stood up and proffered his hand. Fraser stood up also and went to the door, which he held open for John. John reached the door, his face contorted with misery. Then Fraser did hold out his hand.

‘I wish you both well,’ he said. ‘I do understand the circumstances – she used you, as she used me, to fulfil her needs – and God, I know how that hurts.’

Briefly the two men gripped hands.

‘I’ll get a solicitor to draw up the papers terminating our arrangements,’ said Fraser.

‘Will you carry on with the business?’ asked John.

‘Possibly, on a much smaller scale. It all depends. I’m making some changes in my life myself. I’ll have to see how things work out. Well, that’s my affair now. We’ll communicate if we need to, but not otherwise.’

The exchange upset Fraser. He hated being confrontational, but he knew he would not have been able to live with himself if hadn’t spoken out. Now there was a ghost he had to lay. He rang Angela.

‘How would you like a day trip – to Brighton?’

‘That sounds a pleasant idea. I think I can guess the reason.’

‘You probably can – well some of the reasons, anyway. I used to love going there – something about the atmosphere – but now the town is full of horrific undertones I can’t bear to think about it – it’s slid off my map of England. I need to put it back on, by having some pleasant experiences there, in the company of my guardian angel. Please say you’ll come.’

The next day – a beautiful sunny one - they had set off. Fraser had planned how he wanted to spend it, and his spirits began to rise as they motored towards the south coast. Angela was aware that the day was important to him, and that he had wounds to heal. She chatted lightly, and asked him where he planned to go first.

‘I thought, if you were happy with the idea, we’d go to the Pavilion.’

They both enjoyed wandering round this eccentric, Indian style piece of English culture with its opulent rooms, but the dazzling Music Room with its domed ceiling of gilded scallop-shaped shells took their breath away.

‘Magic!’ breathed Fraser.

Angela laughed. ‘Follow that! Where shall we go now?’

They went to The Lanes, and Angela was in her element poking about in the shops. A necklace with an amethyst pendant caught her attention and she enthused about it to Fraser.

‘I’m getting hungry,’ he said. ‘Would you have a look at the menu in that bistro over there and see if it appeals to you? I’ll look just look at this one.’

She obediently crossed the lane as she was asked, and in a few moments Fraser joined her. He was holding a small box.

‘I’d like you to accept this. It’s a small token of thanks for all you’ve done for me and my family over the past weeks. I really don’t know how I’d have managed without you.’

Angela opened the box and the cut glass amethyst twinkled at her.

‘Oh Fraser! How lovely! You really shouldn’t have – but I’ll accept it in the spirit in which it was given. Thank you very much!’ She planted a kiss on his cheek. Fraser was a little embarrassed.

‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s go in. As George would say – I’m starving!’

They sat down and studied the menu.

‘Fish and chips or sausages and baked beans?’ asked Fraser.

‘Is one or the other obligatory?’

‘It is if you’re young.’

‘There are, it seems, some distinct advantages to being old. I’ll settle for the salmon.’

Fraser decided to order the roast lamb, and they passed a happy, relaxed hour enjoying a good meal in pleasant surroundings.

‘I hope you don’t mind my asking,’ said Fraser, over the coffee, ‘but I’ve been thinking about all you’ve been through. And I was wondering if you now feel you have been able to draw a line under the past?’

‘Of course I don’t mind. The court case was very difficult at the time, as you know, but it has helped. At least I can feel that justice was done. Nothing can ever right the wrong, nor bring Martin back, but I think I’ve been able to reach the point where I can be glad for the years we had, and start to look forward.’

‘What do you look towards?’ asked Fraser. ‘Or is that rather too personal a question?’

‘You can ask, but at the moment my ideas are not sufficiently well finalised to give you a specific answer. I’m still thinking.’

Fraser nodded. ‘Let’s go and look at the sea,’ he said.

‘Do you want to go on the pier?’

‘I think I must, but first I’d like to just go down to the promenade. Then I’ll buy you a stick of rock and you can buy me a kiss-me-quick hat.’

‘Wouldn’t suit you,’ she replied. ‘And a stick of rock would break my teeth.’

They walked down to the pier and then sat on a bench looking out to sea. Fraser found his attention absorbed by the waves breaking continuously on the pebbles. How many people must have watched them doing that, over the years, and would no doubt go on doing so in the future.

‘I keep thinking about my father,’ he said. ‘I believe he loved my mother very much, and his children, too. It must have been dreadful for him to leave home and go to Poland, knowing that he could well not be coming back.’

‘It was a very sacrificial thing he did.’

After a pause Fraser said, ‘It’s strange to think that Edie’s father was in the war too, but on the other side. I wonder if the two fathers ever came up against each other in the conflict? I imagine that’s a very remote possibility.’

‘Yes, very remote.’

‘After all, Edie’s father would have had to have been in Warsaw as well.’

‘That’s true,’ agreed Angela.

‘Well, I suppose that’s something we’ll never know.’

‘No,’ agreed Angela. ‘You’ll never know.’

‘Right,’ said Fraser. ‘Now the pier, and then we have to walk down to the sea.’

‘Oh dear – my shoes aren’t very suitable for the pebbles.’

‘I know what – we can go on the pier and I’ll buy you some jellies. Or would you prefer crocs? Everyone wears them.’

‘One lovely present is enough for today. Don’t worry – I’m sure I’ll manage.’

They walked through the turnstile, Fraser retracing his steps, hearing the twins’ laughter in his ears and their excited cries. Suddenly he found he was concentrating on the happiness they had all enjoyed rather than dwelling on the tragic part.

‘Let’s go down to the beach now!’ Clasping Angela’s hand he began to pull her towards the promenade, and down the steps. Sure enough she was soon losing her footing and started stumbling on the pebbles. Fraser caught hold of her arm and together they slipped and slid their way down to the water’s edge.

‘Throwing stones into the sea is obligatory,’ said Fraser. ‘I see with relief there’s some left. Kate worried George was going to throw them all into the sea.’

Angela chose a couple of flat ones and launched the pebbles seawards, but they failed to bounce, sinking like the proverbial stone.

‘I see your education has been sadly lacking in the pebble-skimming department,’ remarked Fraser.

‘I think I was off sick that week. You’d better show me how it’s done.’

Fraser bent to select some, and then tossed them over the water, achieving three highly satisfactory bounces before they disappeared from sight.

‘Very good,’ commented Angela. ‘You are indeed an accomplished man.’

Fraser was silent for a moment. Then he said, conversationally, ‘I suppose you wouldn’t consider marrying me?’

‘Why would I want to do that?’ she asked.

‘Well, for starters, there’s my handsome looks and immense wealth.’

‘Irresistible attractions indeed,’ she replied. ‘But I was rather hoping for something more.’

‘Well,’ he said, and stopped.

‘Yes?’ prompted Angela.

‘The thing is …’

She waited.

‘The thing is,’ resumed Fraser, ‘I do a very nice line in kitchens. What do you say?’

Now it was Fraser’s turn to have to wait.

‘I think …’ began Angela.

‘Yes?’ he asked anxiously.

‘I think that would be magic,’ she said.

Laughing, and with their arms round each other’s waists, they clambered back over the pebbles and made for home.

Monica Carly was educated in both England and Jamaica, and holds an honours degree in English, French and Latin from Bristol University. Whilst raising a family, Monica found she had a flair for writing, and - now retired from governmental work - spends her time with her loving husband and writing novels.