Beneath an Irish Sky (Choc Lit) (27 page)

As he drove slowly forward, Jack caught sight of Luke. And Kate was there too. His father had been right. Luke was pushing things too far. Jack’s car screeched past the security booth. He didn’t so much park it as abandon it in the reserved space. He marched toward the lift, stabbing angrily at a button once inside, and then fumed his way to the executive floor. He wasn’t looking forward to this. Nicholas would be raging, and the blame for everything would be laid at Jack’s door.

‘Better late than never,’ Nicholas snapped as Jack strode into his father’s office.

‘I suppose you’ve just run the gauntlet outside, as we all did,’ said Richard, clucking in mock sympathy.

Jack ignored him, focusing on his father. ‘So – what are we going to do?’

Richard spoke again. ‘You tell us, Jack, since your son appears to be one of the ringleaders.’

‘Richard, let me remind you, the Woodlands development was
your
idea. You pursued it against my advice …’

Now Nicholas cut Jack off. ‘And I gave the project final approval. I stand by that decision. Finger pointing isn’t going to solve this. I’m having lunch with Lou Jacobson from Redgate … Richard, you’d better talk to Keith Torr in Construction and set his mind at rest – he’s probably foaming at the mouth right now at the prospect of a delay. Circulate the press release as soon as it’s good to go. Heads of departments give out the message it’s business as usual, and if anyone so much as breathes near the press, they’ll be fired on the spot.’

Nicholas Stewart during a crisis was an impressive sight. Levelheaded and focused. Nerves of steel. Jack felt like a foot soldier in the shadow of a four-star general.

‘And I want regular updates from Legal and PR,’ instructed Nicholas. ‘Well, what are you waiting for, man? Get to it.’

It seemed like Richard just stopped short of saluting. He pushed past Jack with a face like thunder. When they were alone, Jack said to his father, ‘Seems like you’ve got everything under control. What do you want me to do?’

‘Talk to that boy, for God’s sake!’ snapped Nicholas, pushing abruptly up and out of his chair and glaring at Jack. ‘He’s out of control – a loose cannon. If the press get to know there’s one of our own fighting against us …’

‘One of our own?’ queried Jack. ‘You’ve changed your tune.’

‘That’s how the media will perceive it, Jack. Do something about him.’

‘He’s a grown man. And this is a free country. What exactly do you suggest?’

Nicholas leaned forward, his hands flat against the smooth wooden surface of the table. ‘I don’t care how you do it. Just sort this mess out. Lock him up, if you have to!’

‘That’d be a little difficult since he’s no longer living with me. You managed to achieve that with your appearance on Thursday.’

‘I said what needed to be said, Jack. I’m not going to apologise for that.’

His arrogance irritated Jack. Nicholas was the one who’d blown everything wide open. ‘For your information, Matt’s moved out, too.’ There was some satisfaction in seeing the shock on Nicholas’s face. ‘He’s staying at the Fox and Feathers for now. He’s angry at the way Luke is being treated.’

‘I don’t understand any of this,’ said Nicholas, throwing his hands up in exasperation. ‘Suddenly everything is in chaos. You should never have brought that boy here. He’s caused nothing but trouble. Have you talked to Matt?’

‘I haven’t had a chance yet. I was away this weekend.’ Jack felt a twinge of guilt. He really
should
have stayed home and sorted things out. ‘He just needs some time alone. He’ll come round.’

‘That sounds a bit cavalier. We need family unity at a time like this.’

‘Don’t preach to me about family unity, Dad,’ warned Jack. ‘You’re on thin ice there. I’ll deal with Matt in my own way.’

‘And Luke?’

‘We’ve got our planning permission. Enough of the Woodlands residents have signed. Construction starts in a couple of weeks. What can Luke do?’

As he spoke, Jack remembered the threat to tell the press that Nicholas Stewart tried to buy off Annie. He was about to raise the issue of the cheque when Nicholas spoke. ‘Why don’t you take the bull by the horns? Tell him you don’t want anything else to do with him. That you’ll run him out of town if he doesn’t stop this nonsense right now. Face up to your responsibilities, Jack.’

Jack stared at his father, this burly, aggressive bear of a man who had dominated his life, and felt intense dislike. Emer had told him to be his own man. Perhaps he should try that. ‘Making Luke a martyr is the worst thing we could do. You’re not thinking straight and that’s not like you.’

Nicholas seemed flustered. ‘Just get rid of him.’

‘I feel I don’t know you anymore, Dad. Maybe I never did.’

Nicholas shook his head and passed a hand over his face. ‘You just don’t want to hear what I’m saying – or admit you’ve made a big mistake.’

‘You need to deal with your own mistake, Dad. A mistake called Richard. If you don’t keep a tighter rein on him, he’ll sink us all. I warned you about that before.’

Jack turned away. It was something no one should do to Nicholas. Like not turning your back on royalty. A small protest, but a protest nonetheless. There was absolute silence behind him as Jack walked out of the office.

When Jack approached the driveway of his house, he saw a black Range Rover at the entrance, two men leaning casually against its side. At the sight of Jack’s car, one of the men started snapping pictures. The other tried to flag him down, but Jack veered the car and roared up to the house, where he swung the front door open with such force it banged against the wall.

‘Who is it?’ shouted Maggie, appearing in the kitchen doorway wielding a broom, which she lowered when she saw Jack. ‘I thought you might have been one of those reporters.’

‘Yes, I saw some at the gate,’ said Jack, taking off his coat. ‘What were you planning to do, Maggie – give them the brush off?’

Maggie didn’t respond. Not even the hint of a smile.

‘It’s going to get worse before it gets better,’ Jack told her. ‘Thanks to Luke …’

‘Yes, blame Luke,’ she muttered.

A large suitcase was in the hall. Louis Vuitton, still in immaculate condition, though it had been a present from Jack to Maggie more than five years ago.

‘Going somewhere, Maggie?’ he asked.

She sniffed. ‘Yes. I’m going over to Baronswood to stay with my sister.’

‘How long for?’ asked Jack.

‘Not sure,’ she said evasively.

‘Is everything okay?’

She shook her head. ‘Of course it’s not okay. Both your sons have left home, and who knows if they’ll ever come back. You’ve made a right mess of things.’

‘
I
have? I’ve tried my best, Maggie, and it’s not been easy, let me tell you. A little support wouldn’t go amiss … and shouldn’t you be giving me notice of time off?’ He was just trying to make a point. They’d never had a typical employer–employee relationship.

Maggie’s jaw set, never a good sign. ‘I have to get ready – Maisie’s expecting me. There’s plenty of food in the fridge and freezer, and I believe you know how to operate the washing machine.’

‘Maggie, I’m sorry,’ said Jack, not wanting to part on bad terms.

‘It’s not me you need to apologise to, is it?’

She disappeared into the kitchen, leaving him alone in the hallway. Now he was truly at odds with everyone who was important to him.

A weak late-afternoon sun came out as Kate approached The Fox and Feathers pub. Perhaps a good omen for her mission.

Matt had been her best friend for as long as she could remember, but for the first time in her life Kate felt awkward at the prospect of seeing him. She loved him like a brother, but if she had to choose a side, it would be Luke’s. It was terrible that there was so much division between people who should be close, not wounding each other. Matt had been so thrilled to learn he had a brother, and it was obvious from Luke’s expression whenever Matt was mentioned that he longed for a reconciliation.

He was stubborn, though – so lacking in self-belief that he needed Matt to make the first move. Kate could sense that Luke thought being needy was a weakness. If she could just talk Matt round, then Luke would think it was all his brother’s idea. Matt would go along with it for sure, and anyway he should have been more understanding and supportive. He’d said so himself during their lunch last Friday in the pub. Taking a determined breath, she knocked on the door to the small flat Matt was renting from Tony Hayes.

‘Kate!’ Matt’s arms immediately encircled her in a brotherly bear hug.

‘You look tired,’ said Kate, kissing his cheek and following him into the flat.

‘Lousy night,’ Matt explained. ‘Too much going on in my head.’

Kate held up a box. ‘I’ve brought your favourite jam doughnuts. From the bakery – not the crap supermarket ones. Won’t spoil your dinner, I hope.’

‘I’ve always room for doughnuts.’

Five minutes later, they were settled at the kitchen table, eating the sugary treats. Almost like old times except Matt’s face was troubled. ‘What a bloody mess this all is,’ he said. ‘Me and Luke, me and Dad, Dad and Luke, you and your mum … he’s quite the provocateur, my little brother.’

Kate was immediately defensive. ‘It’s not just down to Luke.’

‘Well, to be fair – it’s
all
down to Luke. But not his actual fault, if that makes any sense. By the way, your mum was beside herself when she saw you on the news at the protest. She asked me to try and persuade you to go home but I’ve no intention of doing that. I’m not into banging my head on brick walls.’

Sarah would use anyone she could to get to Kate. She’d already been texting Abbie. It was more sad than irritating. ‘Stewart Enterprises are wrong, Matt. Ruining land, forcing people to give up their homes. Life shouldn’t be all about profit and power. That’s why I’m involved in this protest.’

‘But why does Luke have to get so involved, Kate? He’s a newcomer here – why can’t he just settle in and get to know people, especially family, before alienating himself in this way … You don’t think he came here deliberately to wreck the Stewarts for treating his mother badly, do you?’

Kate thought about that for a moment. It would be naïve to dismiss the idea out of hand, but she didn’t believe Luke was a malicious person. ‘No, Matt, I don’t. He doesn’t like to see people bullied. It’s something he’s lived with all his life. He’s been a victim of bullying at home and because he’s part of the Traveller community.’

Matt nodded, his face grim. ‘I know – he told me a bit about that. If I ever meet his uncles …’

Luke had shared that information with Matt before he’d even told her, which proved Luke trusted his brother. That had to be something she could build on. ‘Will you go and see him tomorrow, have a chat with him? Let him see you support him?’

Matt nodded. ‘I’m glad he’s got you, Kate. I don’t want him to feel alone.’

That was reassuring. Other people, notably her mother and Jack, were concerned Luke was going to hurt her in some way, but Matt was worried about Luke.

‘You’ve got jam on your chin,’ said Matt, licking sugar off his lips and trying to stop his own jam escaping.

Kate swore under her breath. ‘Not just my chin. Look – it’s all down my top and my jeans. What a waste!’

There was a knock at the door and Kate jumped. ‘Who’s that?’

Matt peered through the curtains into the parking lot. ‘It’s my grandfather’s car!’ exclaimed Matt.

‘I don’t want to see him,’ said Kate. ‘I’m sure I’ll say something
he’ll
regret. I’ll go into the bathroom and clean this mess off my clothes. I look like a Wes Craven victim.’

Through the paper-thin walls of the bathroom, Kate heard Nicholas say, ‘I thought maybe you weren’t in.’ The arrogance of the man irritated her. So used to never being kept waiting. She attacked the jam on her clothes with even more vigour, imagining she was pounding Nicholas’s arrogant face. She’d never like him much, but now she hated him for the way he’d treated Luke.

‘What do you want, Granddad?’ Matt asked.

‘Do we need a reason to talk, Matt? We are family, after all.’

Matt snorted. ‘I’d say our days of cosy Sunday lunches are over.’ Kate wanted to kiss him for that.

‘Why?’

‘Why! You need to ask after your performance the other night? I’ve left home, Dad spent the weekend playing ostrich with a piece of skirt in Ireland, and Luke’s been treated like
shit
!’ He flung out the last word aggressively, but Nicholas took the outburst calmly.

‘Jack needs a break right now,’ he said. ‘The past few weeks have been a terrible strain on him. But let’s talk about you, Matt. I sense you’re restless. Hardly surprising, given your talents are not being fully utilised …’

‘I’m not going to join Stewart Enterprises, so don’t even suggest it,’ interrupted Matt.

‘I wasn’t going to. I know the business isn’t what you want. I have another proposal I’d like you to consider. I’ve just had a chat with Dylan Weston. He’s considering selling The Swan over in Hadleigh. As you know, his wife’s a London girl at heart, so they’re thinking about moving down there.’

That was big news. The Swan was a popular pub. Sarah’s nearest rival. Part of the reason she’d decided on the nightclub was to try to tempt away some of Dylan’s regulars.

‘My proposal is, Matt, that I buy The Swan for you. It would be in your name – you’d be the sole owner. I’ll support you for the first year until your profits kick in. I plan on buying it anyway, so if it’s not for you, it’ll still be in the family. Maybe Gavin …’

Matt’s dream was to have his own pub to run and local ones were few and far between, especially of The Swan’s quality. Seeing Gavin reach that pinnacle first would kill Matt.

‘I’m too young, too inexperienced,’ he said.

‘I know someone on the Licensing Commission,’ said Nicholas. ‘He owes me a favour. There would be only one condition. All I ask is that you don’t do anything to disgrace the Stewart name. You need to establish good contacts, not just in business, but socially.’

That set alarm bells ringing. Kate could guess where Nicholas was heading.

‘Life can be tough,’ Nicholas continued. ‘Sometimes we have to make difficult choices. We need to be driven by what’s best for ourselves. Our futures. This could be the making of you, Matt. A chance to show everyone what you can do. However unfair it might seem, Travellers are undesirable. If you’re associated with one, you’ll get the cold shoulder from people who could otherwise help you up the ladder. Do it right, and you could have one of the most successful pubs in the country.’