Beneath an Irish Sky (Choc Lit) (36 page)

‘We didn’t know about Sarah,’ protested Nicholas.

‘Whether you did or not is irrelevant,’ Jack continued. ‘But I gave you the benefit of the doubt – I thought that, however misguided, you were protecting Claire, and then I convinced myself that all I had was circumstantial evidence – that I didn’t know for sure.’

‘And now?’

‘And now I do know for sure. I know everything. The Kiernans were arrested in Ireland last night, after stabbing Luke. The knife was meant for me, but the
trashy no-mark
put himself in front of it.’

‘You’ve been to Ireland?’

‘Did you hear what I said, Dad? Luke was stabbed. Have you not got one grain of feeling? No, don’t answer that. Anyway, when the Kiernans were questioned, it all came out.’

Nicholas snorted. ‘Those two are thugs and liars, you’ve said so yourself.’

Jack nodded. ‘They are, but not particularly clever thugs and liars, and Liam Kiernan could never have held up under questioning and maintained the same story as his brother unless it was the truth. And now …
now
it all makes sense. What was it you said about a DNA test, Dad? That it wouldn’t do for a scandal to come out? I thought it was just because you didn’t want it proved that Luke was mine. That if that happened, you’d have to either accept him or face a lot of bad publicity for not doing so. But I was barking up the wrong tree there, wasn’t I? You weren’t afraid a DNA would prove I was Luke’s father. You were afraid of just the opposite – that it would prove I wasn’t.’

Nicholas faced his son squarely, but said nothing.

‘You didn’t hate Luke because he was Annie’s son, did you?’ Jack continued. ‘You hated him because you thought he could be the result of a rape.’

‘Jack, will you listen to yourself! This is just wild speculation,’ protested Nicholas.

‘Give it up, Dad! I told you – the Kiernans have blown the whistle. I know why you and Mother couldn’t bear to look at Luke, why you’ve treated him with such contempt. He was an unpleasant reminder, wasn’t he? All that crap you spewed about him not being my son … you really
did
believe that, didn’t you?’

Jack was raging inwardly as he moved towards his father. ‘You bastard – you hypocritical bastard. You didn’t think Luke was my son. You thought he was my
brother
.’

The look in Nicholas’s eyes confirmed the truth for Jack. It felt like a death. Maybe worse than a death.

‘What was it, Dad? Was she the lowly Traveller girl, just like a serving girl of old, for her master to take whenever he wanted? Someone not worthy of respect or courtesy – or common decency?’

Nicholas seemed rooted to the spot, unsure how to respond, and Jack finally lost control, pulling his father out of the chair by the lapels. ‘Why? She was my
wife!
What kind of man are you? Tell me, Dad, or so help me, I’ll beat it out of you!’

‘I thought she wanted it,’ said Nicholas finally, his voice low and uncertain, so unlike the father Jack had always feared as a child. ‘I thought she was only with you for the money … I thought …’

Nicholas faltered and Jack tightened his grip and shook his father. ‘Go on … I want to know it all. You owe me that.’

‘She came to Edenbridge. It was when you were in Brussels. Annie had received a letter from the council, rejecting her request to hold reading classes at the library, and she obviously blamed us.’

‘I wonder why.’ Jack finally let go of his father. Resisted the urge to beat him to a pulp.

‘She stormed in, waving the letter and yelling abuse,’ Nicholas continued. ‘Your mother wasn’t at home. She and Claire had gone away for a couple of days – to the Lakes, if I recall. Claire was recovering from a miscarriage. Annie was ranting and calling me names and … and I just thought how beautiful she was … how passionate. It was a long time since I’d seen such passion. She was right in my face and before I realised what I was doing, I kissed her. After that, there was no going back. I don’t even know if she resisted or not – all I could think was how much I wanted her. It had been a long time for me …

‘Afterwards she cried, and I knew I’d made a mistake. I’m not trying to excuse myself, Jack, but I really did convince myself that we were sharing a moment of mutual lust. I thought she wanted it as much as I did. That it was all part of the excitement, one Stewart as good as another.

‘I told her it might be best if she left – and I said you had long since realised the marriage was a mistake. I believe Richard told her later that you were in love with Sarah and were together in Brussels. I don’t know if Annie believed it. Anyway, I wrote a cheque there and then, and told her to go and make a life for herself somewhere – to maybe get her teaching qualifications so she could do some good for her people.

‘She took the cheque but didn’t speak to me at all, and I knew she was in shock. She was just leaving when Richard arrived, and it didn’t take much for him to guess what had happened. She was still crying and her clothes were torn. I told Richard she’d come on to me and had then regretted it. He never questioned it. I asked him to take her home because she wasn’t in a fit state to drive.’

‘How considerate,’ said Jack, feeling sick to his stomach.

‘I suppose she felt no one would believe her so she didn’t tell anyone. I never saw her again, and it wasn’t until Luke arrived that I realised she never cashed the cheque. I just assumed she would.’

‘So where did the Kiernan brothers come into it?’ asked Jack.

‘You know about the letter Annie sent. Richard tried to deal with it himself, sending her a reply letter along with her necklace, but a few months later, the Kiernans contacted your mother. Annie had told them about … what happened. Maybe they thought Grace would be easier to deal with than me. It must have been a huge shock for her, but she never mentioned it. I knew nothing until the day we came to see you after you’d brought Luke home. When we arrived back home that night, she told me everything, and that she knew … what I’d done. The Kiernans told her Richard had helped me deal with Annie, so she enlisted his help as a go-between when they demanded money to keep quiet.’

‘No wonder you were so keen for me not to get a DNA,’ said Jack.

Nicholas looked at him levelly, as though still trying to maintain some authority, some semblance of righteousness. ‘I wanted the boy gone before you had the chance to arrange that. If a DNA test showed you weren’t the father, it would still have shown Stewart genes and you’d have guessed. Richard told me he’d find a way to get rid of Luke – I only wish he hadn’t manipulated Gavin into setting things in motion with that nonsense about Kate’s parentage.’

‘You’ve surprised me, Dad. I didn’t think you’d admit to everything quite so easily.’

‘I’m weary of it all, Jack. I know you won’t believe me, but it’s weighed on my conscience.’

‘I believe you,’ said Jack. ‘But we’re over. Finished.’ He took an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Nicholas. ‘This is my letter of resignation. Effective immediately. And as if you couldn’t sink any lower in my estimation, you haven’t even asked about Luke, who could be your son!’

He turned on his heel and walked out of Stewart Enterprises forever.

Jack was back in Ireland by mid-afternoon. Less than twenty-four hours since Luke had been admitted to hospital. He should have been exhausted, but adrenalin and anger were powerful stimulants.

‘How is he?’ he asked Matt, who jumped up as soon as Jack entered the Relatives’ Room.

‘Hanging in there,’ Matt replied. ‘He came round a few hours ago, but drifted off again almost immediately – he’s full of painkillers on top of the anaesthetic. They’re moving him to High Dependency tomorrow, if all goes well.’

‘Emer and Kate?’

‘Gone for coffee. Dad, Emer told me – about Granddad. She said that after you spent some time in the chapel last night, the police showed up here, that they’d caught Joe and Liam, and Liam came clean about everything. I wish you hadn’t taken off on your own, Dad.’ Matt took a shuddering breath. ‘I never thought …’

Jack’s voice was grim. ‘Who would have? I’ll talk to you about it later, Matt. Not now if you don’t mind. I’d like to sit with Luke. To be there when he wakes up. For it to be the beginning. I can’t explain …’

‘You don’t need to, Dad. I’ll go and find the girls.’

Luke opened his eyes and tried to focus on what appeared to be a tiger and a blue donkey hovering in front of him. It took a while to realise he was in hospital, and he was looking at Tigger and Eeyore balloons tied to the end of his bed.

He swallowed and his throat hurt. There was a weird kind of pain just above his waist. Not excruciating but not normal. He tried to move and sucked in air as the pain became infinitely worse. He turned his head to see a dozing Jack sitting beside him, looking uncomfortable, his head flopping forward.

It was all a bit vague. Jack had fought with Joe … and then? That was it. Liam was going for Jack with a knife and he’d got in the way of it. Couldn’t remember if it had hurt or not. He supposed it must have. This was all too much like Dublin. He’d had more than his fair share of hospitals, for sure.

There was a jug of water on the locker and he tried to reach it but the pain was now intense and he was hampered by wires. He caught his breath, moaning slightly.

Jack woke up instantly, concern on his face. ‘Luke!’

‘Tryin’ to get the jug …’ It hurt to speak.

‘I’d rather you didn’t …’ Jack was smiling as he spoke and Luke managed a weak one too, remembering the scene in St Aidan’s some weeks earlier.

Jack poured some water and held it to Luke’s mouth, helping him to drink. It hurt as he swallowed and he pulled a face. ‘Why does my throat hurt?’

‘You’ve had surgery,’ Jack explained. ‘You had to be intubated.’

Luke listened silently as Jack reminded him of the events that led up to the fight, and what had happened after Luke lost consciousness.

‘Do you reckon I’m part cat?’ asked Luke. ‘I seem to have nine lives.’

‘Thank God for that,’ said Jack. ‘I … I couldn’t bear it if I lost you.’

Luke felt a surge of pleasure, then frowned. ‘I’d still like the DNA test.’

‘If you’re sure. It’s not necessary as far as I’m concerned, but it’s up to you.’ Jack reached out and placed his hand gently on Luke’s head. ‘Whether or not you’re biologically mine, you’re Annie’s son, and that makes you
my
son, Luke, the son your mother and I wanted, and I thank God there’s a part of her left.’

Luke felt moved but years of disappointment weren’t going to miraculously disappear. ‘I can’t promise it’ll be easy,’ he said, his voice husky. ‘I don’t know if I can settle down and toe the Stewart line.’

Jack smiled. ‘I’m sure you can’t, and I can guarantee you and I will have more clashes. Like fathers and sons do. Luke, I’m sorry. About everything. It’s no excuse, but every time I saw you, I saw your mother. I couldn’t handle it. You brought it all back. Everything I’d tried to forget. Now we know the truth, I hope this will be a fresh start for us.’

Tears pricked Luke’s eyes as he thought about everything he and Annie had missed. She’d died never knowing Jack hadn’t rejected her. He didn’t know how he’d ever get over the tragedy of that. It was all too much at the moment.

‘I’ll go and tell the others you’re okay,’ said Jack, standing up. ‘Kate’s been waiting very impatiently.’

Kate! Suddenly everything seemed brighter again. And as Jack smiled at him, a father’s smile, he knew that it was.

Luke had been awake most of the night and had only managed to catnap during the day. His mind wouldn’t give him peace. Although it had been useful before, he’d refused medication to help him sleep. He had to get used to doing without it. Couldn’t spend the rest of his life relying on drugs to blot out the fact that his mother had been raped by his grandfather.

When Jack had first broken that news to him a few days ago, Luke was glad he was confined to a hospital bed. He’d wanted to go to Baronsmere and confront Nicholas – hear what he had to say and then smash him to pieces. But violence was never an answer and it was himself who would end up paying the price. Better to give the courts a chance, for revenge to be legal. To Luke’s surprise, Jack had promised him that neither Nicholas nor Richard would get away with it. Even if it meant destroying the Stewart reputation, Nicholas and Richard would be prosecuted. Jack was okay. One of the good guys. A victim, like Luke. Like Annie.

This was Nicholas Stewart, though – rich enough and important enough to buy himself and his son-in-law out of trouble. It wasn’t going to be easy hearing Annie’s name blackened. As sure as eggs were eggs, that’s what Nicholas would do. He’d paint her as the seducer. Hopefully, Grace would have to testify – God, one look at her frosty face would convince any jury that Nicholas would have been starved of sex. And if he got away with it – well, then Luke would need to think again. Old Nick would find that Travellers always defended their own. And at least the Woodlands deal had collapsed. Matt had told Luke that. A piece of good news. One victory at least for the little people – and one in the eye for Sir Nicholas.

The thought that he could be Nicholas’s son made Luke feel physically ill. He’d missed out on a lot as a child – having a da’ to look up to, a da’ to take him to the park and play football, and everything else that having two parents should mean, but he couldn’t let himself dwell on all that. It wouldn’t change anything and the future was what mattered, the good times to come. It was Annie who’d had the roughest deal – living without the love of her life, believing he’d rejected her, then dying without ever knowing the truth. Luke’s faith had been badly shaken, but if there was an afterlife, then at least Annie could rest content. He nodded off, clinging to that thought.

A gentle kiss on his cheek woke him. He smiled sleepily at Kate as he looked into her lovely green eyes. ‘Sleepyhead,’ she whispered. ‘You’ve got a visitor.’

Luke stared in disbelief at Jessie, sitting beside his bed in a wheelchair, wearing what she always called her ‘church clothes’. Coming into the city was a big event for Jessie.

‘John brought me,’ she said, as though she’d guessed what Luke was thinking. Maybe she really did have the gift of sight. ‘I wanted to see ye before ye go back to England. With your da’.’