The Vineyard (33 page)

‘Yes, I’ll go up to them. They must be shaken up,’ Sophie said, easing Lizzie’s head over to Cal. He held her gently and Lizzie sat up a little.

‘Yes, what happened, Cal? You are usually one step ahead of him.’ As Lizzie said it she regretted it. His expression looked hurt but as his eyes settled on her, they couldn’t hide their hunger and they sent Lizzie on melt down.

‘I think some little lady, or two, beat me to it this time. You two certainly managed ok. I didn’t think Marie-Claire was capable of that sort of strength either!’

‘Amazing isn’t it?’ declared Lizzie, seeing Charles and another officer come in. ‘But I’m so grateful she found it.’

Lizzie gave the officer her statement and answered what she could. She couldn’t explain how they entered the building though. Scribbling in his notebook as Lizzie gave her account, he then asked to speak to Marie-Claire. As he climbed the stairs to Marie-Claire, Cal helped Lizzie to her feet, and took her up in the lift, leaving Anton, now on a stretcher, unconscious and under the paramedics’ care on his way to the hospital. Anton’s accomplice had been taken away by the police.

In the apartment where they all ascended, Marie-Claire rocked back and forth in a trance on the sofa, still clutching Thierry tightly in her arms. Sophie clasped one hand massaging it softly. The paramedic knelt down in front of her. Marie-Claire’s white face told anyone looking at her that she was in shock and severely traumatised. Lizzie limped over to them both and wrapped her arms around her and her child.

‘You’ll need to give her a bit of time, officer,’ Lizzie said

‘Mummy!’ Thierry cried, still scared and snuggling into her.

‘She was fine when I got up here. I think the shock is coming out now,’ said Sophie.

‘Marie-Claire, it’s all right. The police have taken them away. We are all safe now.’ Lizzie stroked her hair. ‘You are our hero. My hero, Thierry’s hero. You did the right thing.’

‘I think I may have killed him Lizzie.’

‘No. I don’t think so. You’ve just given him a warning. He’s tougher than you think.’

‘He look dead.’ Marie-Claire’s voice suddenly pitched high into a hysterical cry. ‘I am killer. I will be gaoled.’ Bottled up tears escaped her puppy-dog brown eyes.

Lizzie squeezed her, feeling her shaking. Cal took Thierry and instinctively took him to his toys to distract him.

‘I have something which will calm them, and you Lizzie,’ and Sophie turned to her room. She promptly returned and gave them each a small spray on their tongue.

‘Open up, Dr Sophie has her magic formula,’ she told Marie-Claire who immediately obeyed. Lizzie and Thierry followed, Thierry feeling grown up to be getting the same spray.

‘Isn’t he a bit young?’ queried Cal.

‘He’s fine. Two and under is not recommended though,’ Sophie asserted giving the small can of Rescue Remedy a shake.

‘That’s ok then. I nearly forgot what a grown up boy you are Thierry,’ Cal said, scuffing his hand in the boys’ hair.

‘Cal’s turn,’ Thierry said. Sophie mimed a spray for Cal.

Hovering by the window and practising patience, the officer waited another half hour before his questioning. Marie-Claire gave her account, feeling guilty at the outcome of her behaviour, but admitting she was extremely scared for Thierry and hit Anton with the first thing she could find. She admitted she didn’t think, the bottle was just there, outside another apartment door she told them. The officer asked if she let the men in.

‘No. No. I don’t open door to anyone. Not even my friends come here.’ Marie-Claire shook. ‘The men, I think must have let themselves in the street door. I don’t know how. Someone, one of the residents in the block maybe?’ she told them. It is possible they coming in, they let men in or, leaving the building, it can be easy if they are not questioned.’ she continued and Lizzie nodded in agreement.

‘Yes, it happens.’ She hobbled towards the apartment door and, remarkably calmly, inspected it then at once turned. ‘Look, it’s broken.’ She held the torn lock and shook it to show them it was hanging off. The officer looked at the gendarmerie. It was evident Anton had forced entry and the police officer was then quick to nod and be somewhat satisfied, at least he had a believable crime.

‘Aaah huh. Yes it has been brutally forced,’ he said sounding akin to Inspector Clouseau. He nodded to his colleague, who then took photographs of the area and the lock.

It was over an hour before the police officer and his assistant left. He said he would ring Lizzie as soon as he had word about Anton from the hospital.

Jez and Annatia had made themselves scarce for a while but then returned soon after the police left. Jez had texted Cal. They kindly offered help but were all too aware the occasion was too delicate to stay and said they would return back to their vineyard.

Cal thought about making himself scarce too for Lizzie and Thierry’s sake but something told him to stay just a little longer until they were better settled. ‘I know it’s all been a shock but…’ he peered over to Lizzie ’you all need to eat. I suggest I make a little something, pasta maybe, is that all right with you Lizzie?’

They all seemed to look around at one another at the normality of the suggestion but they all had to admit, they were hungry. Sophie immediately jumped behind him heading for the kitchen area. ‘Here, I’ll help.’

‘That’s a great idea Cal but I can’t eat much. I’m sure food would be good for Marie-Claire and Thierry. Charles, you will stay for food too?’ Lizzie asked as he walked in. He glanced at Sophie for a nod of approval.

‘Come on Lizzie, smile! You, Thierry and Marie-Claire are safe, that’s all you need to worry about,’ Cal said trying to lighten her mood. Charles here will sort out the rest.

‘Cal, you won’t breath a word of this to my mother will you? I don’t want her worrying.’

‘No chance,’ Cal assured her as he stirred carbonara sauce at the stove. ‘I promise. I’m concerned about this lock being off though. I’ll call a locksmith now. Can I use this laptop?’

‘I’ll sort that out Cal, you’re busy,’ Charles said, getting up from the sofa.

’God, yes, sorry, I’m just not yet quite with it,’ Lizzie admitted. ‘I think I need to get Thierry straight to bed after dinner, he looks tired. I just hope he doesn’t have nightmares.’

‘I’ll stay with him,’ Marie-Claire volunteered.

‘You need to rest yourself. No, I’ll give him his bath once he’s eaten, then you can have a relaxing bath before you go to bed. I’ll stay with him and see to him in the morning,’ Lizzie said watching Charles dial the locksmith.

Sophie set the table. Cal was serving the carbonara sauce on the pasta and then sprinkled each dish with fresh basil. Although appearing weary, Thierry tucked into his cooled pasta with gusto. Chatter halted momentarily as all eyes smiled at her son’s love of his food. Only Lizzie knew that the secret ingredient was in Cal’s cooking. Yes, Thierry loved his pizza and pasta but never with as much passion as she had witnessed with Cal’s special touch. As the remainder of their dishes came, Charles poured a light cool Rose wine in each glass. On seeing this, Cal quickly found some cranberry juice in the refrigerator and poured it into a similar glass for Thierry.

‘Cheers,’ he jested as he delivered it to the boy. ‘Bon appetite.’

‘Too late for that,’ Lizzie hooted. ‘Not much left on that plate now.’

Lizzie was surprised Cal continued to entertain Thierry like he had in Kent even after she’d explained her concerns. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. He’d kept his distance from her so he’d obviously got the message. Considering that Thierry was her issue, why did he continue with Thierry like they hadn’t been apart? She felt a sense of duty to speak to him again. She watched and waited until everyone finished eating. Thierry seemed to now have a second wind and he and Marie-Claire were colouring at the table together, both with colour in their cheeks now too. Lizzie’s phone rang.

Chapter 36

It was hard to believe Anton was still in a critical condition in intensive care in a coma, and could possibly be there for weeks. Lizzie took the call from the police officer soon after they had eaten. She relayed just part of the message; that he was still in intensive care so no news. Marie-Claire was such a tiny girl so how she could have caused that amount of damage, Lizzie didn’t know. Although, having discovered strength within herself when it was needed, maybe Marie-Claire did too. Her heart sang a grateful song however, Anton had not succeeded in his mission! She made a pledge to herself there and then that, no matter what, she owed him nothing, that he meant nothing to her son. He didn’t before and didn’t now. However, it wasn’t easy to think of Thierry’s father lying in that state and specifically on Marie-Claire’s conscience.

Cal collected the dirty plates and Sophie began stacking the dishwasher.

‘Is there anything more I can do Lizzie? Only, if not I’ll be going,’ Cal said to a surprised Lizzie.

‘So soon?’ she answered, ‘I wanted a word.’

‘I’ve stayed too long already. Just call me if there is anything I can help with,’ he insisted.

At that moment, the intercom sounded from the main door. ‘That must be the locksmith,’ Charles guessed. ‘I’ll see to that.’ He answered the caller and told him to wait. ‘I’ll go down.’

Lizzie glanced over at her son busy with his nanny and walked towards her bedroom, summoning Cal to follow with her hand. ‘Cal, can I have a word?’ she asked and turned to face her friend, ‘Ok Sophie?’ she said raising her eyebrows for her friend to take charge.

‘Fine.’ Sophie gave her a nod.

Lizzie led Cal into her room pinching her tired cheeks. She turned to him and found those sumptuous grey eyes, a stampeding energy ignited in her. Her body instantly yearned and her heart pounded. She gripped her feet tightly to the ground to prevent herself falling into his arms. A shower of images of what could be blighted her vision. Life was cruel. She steadied her breath before she spoke. Cal offered his hand but she brushed it swiftly away.

‘No. No, please. I…’ she blinked hard and gripped her body hard again and stiffened her stance and stared at the floor. ‘First, I want to thank you. When trouble erupts you again have helped Thierry and me get through it and I really appreciate you staying and making sure that we were ok. It’s probably not the right time to say all this with all that’s gone on, but as you’re here, I can’t say this any other way but…’ she paused to look up and dared to look at his eyes once more, ‘Why, after what I said, are you paying so much attention to Thierry?’

His lips tightened and he tilted his head to the ceiling as if he was calling for some heavenly input. He then centred his gaze on her and controlled his voice. ‘Lizzie, you’re making me out to be some kind of pervert. Thierry is a friend, like you. Just a friend. How would Thierry feel if I blanked him? Wouldn’t he wonder what he’d done wrong? I couldn’t treat him like that. He doesn’t understand what’s gone on between us. I would have thought the best way would be to be consistent. We got on well before, so why not now. I’d treat anyone’s child the same.’ He began pacing. ‘You make me sound disgusting, I don’t know? Maybe I should just leave you two to it. Stop feeling protective and just fuck off out of your lives forever.’

‘Cal, it’s not…I’m not accusing you of being a perv,’ she glared, leaning on the door.

‘That’s how it sounds,’ he said, leaning slightly one hand on his hip and reaching out with frustration with the other.

‘Not at all. Well it wasn’t meant to. It didn’t even enter my head,’ she said, throwing both hands up to her head and grabbing her hair.

‘Look, just because you’ve mixed with bad boys in the past, don’t tar me with the same fucking brush. I’m not a sick control freak or some insecure little rich kid with paranoia. And I’m certainly not just interested in your child.’

‘I meant…’

‘It doesn’t matter now what you meant. It’s time I went,’ Cal barked heading for the door where she stood and grabbing the handle. ‘I’ll be extra careful next time I fall in love.’ Their eyes instantly shot together and Lizzie let out a gasp but Cal stormed out the door.

Lizzie heaved a deep breath. Had he just told her he loved her? It was almost tragic to hear. He closed the door behind him and was gone. A silence permeated the room leaving behind a deep soulless crater.

Her head screamed
Why, why, why?
Collecting a tissue, she headed for her window and poured out every tear left in her. She asked the question, why it was, that every man that she ever fallen for had baggage, or had been fucked up? All the bad boys. Why, when she had so much capacity for love was she dealt so much pain?
Cal. You’re not bad. So maybe it’s me.
She opened her window; Dad, grandad, Cal…why? She was still looking down when she heard someone whisper her name.

Sophie came up behind her and gently squeezed her shoulders. ‘Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll put Thierry to bed.’

Lizzie turned around. ‘No. It’s ok. I’m ok Soph. Thank you though,’ she sniffed. ‘Give me a few minutes and I’ll tidy my face and come out. I’ll have a bath with Thierry and read him to sleep. I have to stay strong.’

‘Sweetheart, you’re only human. I’ve sent Marie-Claire to bed. She ate well. Charles has eaten and will be going soon. The locksmith is nearly finished. I can manage Thierry, really.’

‘Oh Sophie, I know you can. I just want to be with Thierry tonight, that’s all. Please, Charles is more than welcome here. Don’t make him go. I’ll be out and I’ll take Thierry to bed shortly.’ She stepped aside and headed for her bathroom patting her face.

***

The sun woke Lizzie early and she realised she had not pulled Thierry’s curtains before she settled him down last night and fell asleep beside him. The book she was reading him was still in her hand. She moved her eyes over her son admiring his flawless smooth skin and glowing bronze complexion, long brown lashes shadowing his cheek, his still stubby little nose and rose red lips just the image of perfection. His curly brown locks swept back on the pillow. Such a beautiful creation she told herself. Then an image of Anton reared its ugly head. She carefully climbed off the small bed, quietly pulling the curtains across to darken the room, then gently opened the door and headed to the kitchen.