Un-Break my Heart: Book 2 (The Heart Trilogy) (51 page)

“Hush, baby” Charlie cooed, her voice breaking through his misery. Her hands hooked his leather jacket and slowly removed it. Beneath his jumper she could feel him shaking, his heart hammering and his breathing raw and jagged.

Gradually she removed all his clothes and then between the covers she held him close. Their eyes closed and they slept, tomorrow seemed to stretch in front of them, ominous it its presence. In her dreams Charlie saw Felicity holding Mitchell in her scrawny, aged arms. Her face was the epitome of evil as she pushe
d
Charlott
e
away.

“He’s mine now, he will never be yours because he’s mine” she chanted over and over again, like a witch with a spell. She was trapped and held as she cried for him, her voice swept away in the wind.

Waking in a sweat she realised it was only Mitchell clinging to her, holding her tighter than ever before. He stirred and opened his eyes to gaze into hers. Something about his eyes made her stop short, they were green, James’ were blue and Felicity’s were a steel grey type of blue. From her limited grasp of biology she realised that Felicity must be telling the truth about James not being his father. Her eyes were green but inherited from her father Mark as her Mum had blue eyes and she had asked once in her younger days. She shivered at the realisation as Mitchell pulled her close, his lips laying claim to hers in his hour of need.

In this time before morning they moved together, held by the strands of their love and passion.  They were united against a world that was going to change with the dawn of a new day.

Chapter 62

As dawn broke and filled the room with light, the mood in the house was anything but. James and I sat sombre faced in the kitchen waiting for Mitchell and Charlie to appear. When they did I bustled around getting toast that just went cold in the centre of the table before Mitchell stood up and headed outside to his bike. Charlie followed and clung to him before he pulled away and sat astride his birthday present. She remained motionless in the doorway until he was out of sight at the end of the road.

James had disappeared into his office to continue looking through all the emails returning daily from the police’s new investigations. They were hoping to speak to me the following week so I had arranged a day off to travel back t
o
Hereford. Charlie shuffled into the kitchen and sat back down on the chair.

“Are you alright sweet heart?”

“It’s true isn’t it”

I poured us both another coffee and sat down opposite her.

“I think so but if Mitchell is willing he can go and have a DNA test with James to be completely certain”

“Mum, I hate her, for what she did to you and James and now Mitchell”

I nodded and reached out to place my hand over hers.

I took a sip of coffee and then looked up.

“Come on let’s not waste the day, you can help me decorate the Christmas Tree”

“Ok, Mum it might take my mind off it” Charlie murmured.

James wandered in looking just as dejected, so I held my arms open for him.

“Anything important on the email” I asked.

“Nope, do you want me to come down with you next week, I’m sure I could get the day off”

“That would be great, although Sarah and Chris will be with me”

“I’ll go and organise it now, give me something to do”

“Well, I’d better apologise now for festive music as Charlie is going to help me decorate the tree”

With the boxes of baubles laid out around the lounge, twinkling like treasure in a jewellery box, Charlie headed over to the stereo.

“Cheesy music is required” she said, finding the selection of songs she wanted on my iPod.

“I totally agree”

Moving my attention to the tree that dominated the corner I started to un-ravel the lights.

             
“Last Christmas I gave you my heart

              But the very next day, you gave it away”

James heard the very distinctive tune echoing into his office and smiled, despite the worry in his heart.

Slowing down up the driveway Mitchell took a swallow as he stopped the bike. He guessed that his Mum was going to tell him about her infidelity and perhaps berate him for his rejection of her friend’s daughter. After that he hoped she might be able to offer him an additional cash boost towards his studios. With that thought in mind he headed towards the door and found it opened by Daniel.

“Come in, she’s waiting for you in the conservatory”

“Thanks” Mitch replied, curtly.

Moving down the hallway he stepped into the room and took in the spectacle of his mother sitting like the ice queen on her throne.

“Morning Mum” Mitch said, stepping forward to kiss her on both cheeks.

“Mitchell, you are looking wonderful, so refreshed and full of life” she paused “Americ
a
must have suited you”

He nodded as he perched on the sofa nearby and waited. Daniel appeared and left a tray of tea in the centre of the table.

“I thought it a little too early for champagne, so I’ll have to toast you with Earl Grey instead” she giggled. Mitchell would have preferred coffee but he took the cup and sat back against the cushions, waiting.

Felicity settled into her chair opposite and stared at her son, trying to analyse if he already knew. But his look back held no clues so she continued

“As you’re twenty one I thought I’d better let you know about a slight indiscretion from my youth, as it affects you and the birthday present I would like to give you”

“Yeah Dad said something about you being a liar and a cheat but I never believed him until now” Mitchell’s tone was quiet but ominous.

“I’m afraid your beloved Dad is not your real father Mitchell dear” she pronounced each word slowly; letting them hit him with force.

Mitchell bowed his head unable to look into her blue eyes, eyes he didn’t share with her or James.

A sip of tea later Mitchell broke the silence

“So who is my father?” he demanded, his green eyes blazed. Felicity stood up and walked across to the window, her back to him.

“I told James it was a masseuse at the Health Spa we went to for our anniversary but I may have lied to him” the clock on the mantelpiece ticked the seconds by.

“The Health Spa belonged to Anthony Carmichael-Astaire” she said. Her gaze turned to the full length portrait on the far wall of her late husband. Mitchell followed the look and immediately spotted the green eyes staring back at him from the stern, grey haired man that adorned the wall. They were his eyes as the words sunk in and chipped a piece from his heart.

Getting up he walked over to take a closer look at the painting, he studied the facial features and realised they were similar to his and also to James. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around.

“So handsome, I wish he was still here”

Mitchell shrugged her hand away and moved back to the sofa, his mind in turmoil.

“You can still get a test and compare it with James, but I think you can see now that I am telling you the truth. Tony was your Father” Felicity said, her heels clicked against the oak flooring.

“But if you knew all this why did you leave me with Dad….James?”

“Well, at first I wasn’t sure but with every passing year I saw Tony’s features in you….I wish you had, had the chance to get to know him”

“Well why didn’t I?” Mitch demanded, the fury burning inside him. He thought of all the years when he was growing up, the cancelled visits when she was too busy.

“Whose fault is that” he spat. The fire in his green eyes was vanquished by the ice in hers. She turned from his stare and sat back down opposite and picked up her tea cup. Taking a sip she felt calm enough to continue.

“Tony never wanted children, he had an abusive father and deep down I think he was worried that the same would happen if he became a Dad. You remember all the bruises on my arms, he did that. I couldn’t tell him about you, I was too frightened” Felicity paused and took another dainty sip of her tea. Her eyes stared vacantly, as if caught in a memory from those times.

“Mum”

“Oh sorry, I drifted off for a moment” she apologised. Daniel appeared at the door but she glanced at him and shook her head. He retreated back down the corridor as Mitchell waited for more.

“Well, eventually Tony decided he wanted to try for children but nothing seemed to work for us. So I told him one night that he already had a son, he had you. He took it badly, he shouted at me for deceiving him. Beat me black and blue until he broke down and cried”

Mitch swallowed at the distress this was causing her and he almost reached out to touch her, but he knew what a good actress she was. This whole story could be lies now to get him back on side?

“He was coming around to the idea and if it hadn’t been for the accident at the Spa he wanted to meet you. But it never happened and I couldn’t say anything due to a clause in his will” Felicity looked up, tears wet upon her cheek.

“His solicitor read the will and I was shocked to find that he had left an envelope addressed to you. To be opened on your twenty first birthday”

Felicity moved the tray on the table slightly and uncovered the thick, creamy envelope beneath. She plucked it up between her fingers and handed it to Mitchell who held it for a second. Then he flipped it open and pulled a sheet out to read. At first the words seemed to blur and run wild over the cream paper so he paused and rubbed his eyes.

             
“Dear Son,

              I am writing this on your landmark 21
s
t
Birthday and if you are reading this it means that I am no longer alive to be there with you. I hope that life is treating you well but I know how much easier it can be with some financial help and support. My father, your grandfather was a hard man but he did the same for me on my birthday and with the money I invested in my first Hotel which with hard work became my chain of Health Spa Hotels.

There are two conditions to this lump sum that I am gifting to you so before you get too excited and impetuous in your spending plans please read these carefully.

Condition 1: The money must be invested into a business opportunity and cannot be spent on a house, car or other frivolous items.

Condition 2: Your Mother can add a condition of her choosing and must for the first 4 years oversee the business until you reach 25.

I wish you success with your future venture that I hope you will thank me for in years to come.

Your Father

Anthony”

Mitchell quickly read the letter again and then turned to the second piece of paper. It held the details of the amount and once more the numbers swam before his eyes - £5 million!! Lucky Star Studios were no longer a dream with this in his grasp. The money was held with the Solicitor and would require his and his mother’s signature to withdraw it.

Felicity sat content in her chair, watching with wry amusement the look on her son’s face. She knew she had him exactly where she wanted him, as she had instructed Tony what to write in the letter all those years ago.

“I think this does call for some champagne” she said “I’ll just go and fetch the bottle and glasses so you can read the letter again if you like”

Mitchell nodded, stunned into silence by all the revelations that had dropped onto him in the space of an hour. He was tempted to pull his phone out and share the news with Charlie but the sound of heels clicking back down the hallway prevented him.

With champagne poured Mitchell stood and tapped his glass against his Mother’s.

“Happy Birthday Mitchell, I hope this news has made you happy”

“I can’t really take it all in Mum” Mitch stammered.

“Well, I have a present for you too so drink up and I’ll show you”

Mitch followed her as they headed through the house and outside across the back yard. To the right hand side was the large triple garage and to the left a little further on was another converted barn building with a full length glass window where the old doors would have been. Pulling a key from her pocket she handed it to Mitchell.

“Go on take a look” she pushed. He turned the key and opened the door to step inside.

The barn was huge, a blank canvas with only a wooden floor put down and a couple of rooms at the far end next to the spiral staircase. In the dull winter light the room was bright even before he flicked the switch on and the spotlights lit the place up. He walked across the floor and felt them spring beneath him, perfect for dancing. The one door held a small kitchen, the next door revealed a gym and shower room. He turned to his Mum with questioning gaze

“This was Anthony’s gym, he used to have the large room divided into an office and a movie room” she said, sweeping her arm around the large area.

He moved towards the staircase and climbed up into the roof space, dominated by the intricate pattern of joists and beams. Four roof windows dappled the floor with light as he took in 3 rooms including a large bathroom at the one end.

His head was reeling as he smelt her perfume tickle his nostrils before she put a hand on his shoulder

“Would this place make a good dance studio and home for you” she enquired. It was all too much for Mitchell to take in as he imagined a large bed centrally cited in the largest of the rooms, directly beneath a window so that they would be able to look at the sky together. He knew tha
t
Charlott
e
would love this place and although it was nice living with James and Stephanie, here they could be alone.

“Mum, this is too much but yes it’s perfect Charlie would love it” he breathed. He turned to smile at his Mum and just caught the scowl being replaced by a bright smile as he embraced her.

“Come on, let’s head back to the house and we can talk properly before we go into town for some lunch” Felicity said, already heading back down the staircase.

“Ok”

Mitchell took a final look around and followed her down and back across the wooden floor. Shutting the door he handed her back the key, but she shook her head so he placed it into the back pocket of his jeans. With another glass of champagne in his grasp they sat down again and Mitch waited.