The Chocolate Lovers' Club (38 page)

I clap my hands together in the manner of someone who’s in command of the situation. Clive’s customers shuffle forward, jostling to regain their previous positions in the queue. This is the first time I’ve been on this side of the chocolates, brownies, cakes and cookies. The view from here looks pretty good too.

‘Right,’ I say to the first customer. ‘How can I help you?’

Chapter Eighty-Eight

‘
I
kinda like this one,’ Ted said. He scanned the sales literature. ‘It has “true off-road capabilities. Ideal for both city and rugged landscapes, the new XRS will make light work of whatever the terrain throws at it”.’ He looked suitably impressed. ‘Sounds good, right?’

‘It sounds great,’ Chantal agreed.

‘This thing has a heap more features than my Mercedes.’ Ted looked at it with something approaching awe as he checked out the meaty tyres and its sleek bodywork. ‘Locking swivel wheels, gate-style opening bumper, fully adjustable suspension.’

Chantal smiled to herself. Who’d ever have thought that she and Ted would be looking at strollers together. Yet here they were in an upscale department store browsing through their range of Out and About products – or prams, pushchairs, buggies and strollers to the uninitiated.

‘It has a buzz box,’ he told her.

‘What’s that?’

‘I have no idea. But it sounds great.’ Her husband circled the stroller once more. ‘There’s a portable shopping assistant too.’

‘Really?’

‘I think that’s the deep basket contraption at the bottom.’ He rubbed his chin, taking in all the features. She had had no idea that her husband would take this so seriously, and she loved him all the more for it. If this baby could be willed into being Ted’s daughter then it certainly would be. She hoped that eventually the DNA tests would prove what her heart was already sure of. ‘We can get an add-on Climate Control Pack.’

‘And that would be?’

He checked the notes. ‘A multi-position raincover and hi-tech sun canopy.’

‘Essential.’

‘It says here that this is no ordinary Infant Transport System. Apparently, the minimalist design brings the pushchair back to its very essence while incorporating contemporary and classic features.’

‘Wow. Then we really can’t argue with that,’ she said with a smile. ‘Does it have wipe-clean upholstery?’ She was sure to pass on her chocoholic genes to her daughter, so as the next five years or more were likely to be spent sponging chocolate-y fingerprints off stuff, it was better to be safe than sorry.

‘Yes. And we can have it in Lulu Guinness fabric complete with colour coordinated changing bag, mat and fleece-lined footmuff.’

Chantal shrugged happily. ‘That’s sold it to me.’

‘Let’s order it then.’ He turned to head toward the tills.

She put her hand on Ted’s arm. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’

‘You mean you like the TSi RockBaby better?’

Laughing, she said, ‘No, I like this pushchair just fine. I meant, are you sure that you want to bring up this baby together no matter the outcome?’

Ted slipped his arm round her and pulled her close. ‘I want us to be back together, to be husband and wife again. If that means bringing up someone else’s child then I think I can live with that.’

‘Thank you.’ Chantal kissed him tenderly. ‘I love you so much.’

Ted grinned. ‘Then let’s buy this buggie. Only the best for Baby Hamilton.’

‘There’s just one other thing. Shouldn’t we be ordering two of these?’ she asked, gently reminding him that there was another Hamilton baby on the way other than her own.

Her husband sighed. ‘This situation sure is complicated.’

‘We can all handle it like adults,’ she assured him. ‘We
are
doing so. Our arrangements may not be conventional, but I guess they’re not so unusual these days. I think I should meet Stacey, sooner rather than later. If this child and her child are going to be half-brothers or sisters then we should all make an effort to get along.’

‘The strange thing is,’ Ted said, ‘I think that you’ll really like her.’

She linked her arm through his and steered him toward the pay-point. ‘Then there should be no problems at all.’

Chapter Eighty-Nine

T
hey were being jolted along on the bus, heading to see Richard at the hospital. Autumn’s head rested on Addison’s shoulder and she stared at the beautiful ring on her engagement finger. Addison had taken her shopping for something more suitable for her. They’d settled on a young, up-coming designer who created engagement rings that suited her rather Bohemian tastes – a traditional, solitaire rock just wasn’t her. The members of The Chocolate Lovers’ Club would love it instantly and she couldn’t wait to show it to them.

She smiled as the last of the weak winter sunlight came through the grimy window and caught the diamond in her ring. It was a small, tasteful stone bounded by delicate petals of amethyst, pink sapphire and aqua marine in a flower design, set in white gold. It was soft, gentle, unique and sparkled just for her. Toying with it on her finger, she tried to get used to the newness of its comforting presence.

‘A penny for them,’ Autumn said when she realised that her fiancé was deep in thought.

Addison roused from his reverie. ‘Oh, nothing much,’ he said.

‘Come on.’ She nudged him gently. ‘I can tell a worried frown when I see one. Is it because of Richard?’ They were on their way not only to see if her brother was improving, but to tell him of their commitment to each other. They also needed to discuss the thorny subject of what was going to happen to the bag of money that was now safely paid into Autumn’s bank account rather than stashed under her bed.

‘No. No.’ Addison shook his head. He turned to her with a tired smile. ‘But I bet you’re worried about him.’

‘I called his consultant earlier. Apparently, he’s not improving as he should.’

‘His immune system is probably shot to pieces after all those drugs,’ Addison observed rather succinctly. ‘It will take him longer to heal than the average Joe.’

‘And he only has himself to blame for that.’ Autumn sighed. Sometimes she found it difficult to cope with the frustration and the futility of it all. ‘If it’s not my dear brother, what is it?’

‘I wasn’t going to bother you with it today,’ Addison said. ‘I know that you’ve got more than enough on your plate.’

‘A trouble shared is a trouble halved,’ she quoted.

‘I thought I’d got some funding in place to help Tasmin set up a jewellery stall at Camden Market.’ He tutted to himself. ‘It looks like that may not happen now. The sponsor pulled out at the last minute. I’m not sure where else to go.’

Autumn rooted in her handbag and pulled out a bar of Fairtrade organic dark chocolate. ‘Here.’ She snapped off a couple of squares. ‘This will make you feel better.’

Addison laughed. ‘Is chocolate your answer to everything?’

‘Sometimes.’

The bus halted at their stop and they stood up to make their way to the doors.

‘Don’t worry about Tasmin’s situation just yet.’ Autumn winked at Addison. ‘Maybe all is not lost.’

Outside, the dusk was gathering quickly to blend into night. In Richard’s ward it was perpetual daylight. As well as turning down the heating in these hospitals, Autumn thought, maybe they should consider shutting off some of the dozens and dozens of bulbs that blazed all day long. That would go a long way to helping the National Health funding crisis.

Her brother lay in his bed, still hooked up to as many machines as the day he’d been admitted. Surely, if he was on the road to recovery, there’d be a reduction in the amount of technology needed to keep him alive by now? He looked thin and wasted, almost skeletal. Autumn wondered if he was managing to eat properly. Since Lucy’s non-wedding she hadn’t been in here at all. More than a week had gone by before she felt able to face Richard and confront him about the drugs drop he’d duped her into doing. Anger was an emotion that she didn’t like to embrace, but Autumn didn’t think she’d ever been as angry with anyone in her life as she was with Richard.

But, one look at him and the fire went out of her and she felt nothing but sorrow. He made a pathetic sight. The cheeky, charming cad that he’d once been was long gone.
His skin was pale, mottled, his hair greasy. With every heaving breath, his lungs rattled and complained. Each one sounded like it might be his last. She wondered if some of the kids from the KICK IT! programme would mend their ways if they could see how low Richard’s love of recreational drugs had brought him. His story was certainly a salutary one against drug use in any form.

Autumn slid her hand into Addison’s and he squeezed it tightly. As they approached Richard’s bed, her brother opened his eyes. It looked as if he was struggling to focus. The eyes that had once shone so brightly, had been so full of mischief and confidence, now sat dully in deep, dark sockets. It was terrible to see him this way.

‘Sis,’ he croaked. ‘Thought you’d forgotten about me.’ It wasn’t a bitter comment, it was just incredibly sad and needy. It made Autumn feel terrible for staying away.

‘I needed time to come to terms with some stuff,’ she said as honestly as she could, as she sat down on the plastic seat next to his bed.

‘All right, mate?’ Addison said, as he sat down beside her.

‘Never better,’ Richard said, but there was no venom in it.

‘You look well,’ Autumn lied.

‘That’s bullshit,’ he murmured. ‘We both know it.’

She didn’t have the strength to deny it. ‘We have some news for you,’ she said, with forced brightness as she turned to Addison for support.

‘Don’t tell me,’ he said. ‘You and Addison are getting married.’

Autumn laughed. ‘How did you know that?’

‘Because I’ve never before seen you look so very happy.’ He tried to lift his head from his pillow and failed. ‘I’m pleased for you. For you both.’

‘I was worried how you’d take it,’ Autumn confessed.

‘Am I such a bastard?’ Richard wanted to know. Then, in answer to his own question, ‘Yes, I probably am.’

‘We haven’t set a date for the wedding yet.’

‘It had better be quick, otherwise I might not be around to see it.’

‘Don’t talk like that,’ she admonished. ‘You’ll be absolutely fine. It will just take time.’

‘Time is the one thing that I don’t think I have any more, sis.’ A tear slid from beneath her brother’s eyelashes. ‘Now that you’re soulmates, I suppose you’ve told Addison about the favour you did for me?’

‘He knows everything,’ she admits. ‘There are no secrets between us.’ Autumn looked lovingly at her boyfriend.

‘Do you want to discuss this alone?’ Addison asked. ‘I can always nip out and get a cup of putrid hospital coffee.’

Richard slowly shook his head. ‘Stay. You’re family now.’

Addison settled in his chair again.

Her brother said, ‘I take it it all went smoothly?’

‘Yes,’ she answered. ‘There were no problems with the drop at all. But I did call the police and they were all arrested straight afterwards.’

Richard tried to shrug, but didn’t manage it. ‘It doesn’t matter now,’ he told her. ‘They’re not going to come after me in here.’

‘They gave me a bag of cash.’

Now her brother looked surprised. ‘They did?’

‘It’s a lot of money, Rich.’

‘I never thought that they’d pay up.’

‘So it is your money?’

‘Yes,’ he admitted. ‘My ill-gotten gains.’

‘I’m not going to give it to you,’ Autumn said. ‘When you come out of here, I want you to clean up your act. I want you to be legit. No more drugs. No more running with the bad guys. I’ll help you all that I can. You know that.’

Richard reached for her hand and she clasped his. ‘You always have done.’

‘I want to use the money to help the kids at the Centre,’ she said.

Her brother’s machinery hissed, beeped and gurgled again. ‘Let’s face it, I’m not going to be coming out of here,’ he said. His tired, opaque eyes took in his cold, clinical surroundings. ‘Use the money for whatever you want. I’d like to think that something positive could come out of this. Do some good with it.’

Autumn started to cry. ‘Thank you, Rich.’ She kissed him on his cheek. His skin smelled of acetone, of illness, of death.

‘See?’ he said with a faint laugh that wracked his body with painful spasms. ‘I’m not such a bastard after all.’

‘Believe me,’ she said, ‘you’re going to change the life of at least one young woman.’ Autumn turned to Addison with a beaming smile. ‘Now Tasmin can have her jewellery stall.’

Chapter Ninety

T
he letter was lying on the doormat when she got home from the supermarket. It was from their insurance company and it was a letter that she’d been dreading for weeks.

Nadia picked it up and carried it, along with her carrier bags full of groceries, through to the kitchen. After dumping the shopping on the work surface, she took a good long look at the envelope. She didn’t think that she could bear any more bad news. Avoiding this wasn’t going to make it any easier, though.

Lewis was at nursery school until noon, so she was alone for the next hour or so before she had to collect him. Taking time to make herself a cup of coffee and carefully lay out three chocolate-coated Hob-Nobs on a plate, she delayed the moment of truth for a few minutes longer.

Nadia had a sip of the coffee and a bite of one of the Hob-Nobs while she stared at the envelope which was propped up in front of her against the jar of Nescafé. Then, when she couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, she slit the letter open with a knife. It started with
We are pleased to inform you
. . . Surely that had to be good? Nadia scanned
the rest of the letter as quickly as she could. The paper shook as her trembling hands struggled to hold it still.

It looked as if the US Coroner would be recording a verdict of Accidental Death, it said. Three of the policemen who were in attendance at the top of the Stratosphere Tower on that fateful night had witnessed her husband’s death. All three of them had been unsure whether Toby had deliberately let go of the safety railings or whether he was intending to climb back and accidentally slipped to his death. As there was inconclusive evidence to prove suicide, Toby was to be given the benefit of the doubt by the authorities.