The Family Affair Read online

  “What from Isabel?” Beth asked, feeling like her knifed heart was now being ripped out of her chest.

  “No,” Olivier shouted back loudly. “Most definitely not a call from her it was from one of the executors of my late Uncle’s estate. He told me that I had been left the family chateau. I think I told you about it when you came up here before.”

  “What, you mean the chateau you really want to live in?” Beth asked breathlessly, hoping to God that this did not mean he was about to go and leave her.

  “Yep, that’s exactly the one,” Olivier confirmed. “My Uncle didn’t have any children but I never expected this to happen. It wasn’t something he ever mentioned. Apart from anything else, I didn’t expect him to die so suddenly. He had a heart attack when he was doing some work on the place.”

  “Oh I am sorry,” Beth commiserated, before switching the focus back to the chateau. “If he was working on it is it habitable?” she asked, not knowing what on earth she could say to persuade him not to go.

  “Yes just about,” Olivier replied. “But it needs quite a bit of renovation doing to it. According to the executor, my Uncle let it go a bit during the last few years.”

  “Wow,” Beth said, grabbing his hands protectively. “That’s so incredible for you. Does that mean you are going back to France?”

  “At some point yes,” Olivier laughed. “I was thinking about going at Easter just to take a look. Lottie and Matt told me that Kepton has plenty of things going on in the town over that weekend, including a local food festival. So if I close the patisserie for a few days hopefully I can get away with it.”

  “Lucky you,” Beth smiled back. “I’d do anything to go to a nice French chateau for a few days over Easter. I need to replenish my soul somehow.”

  “Well come with me then,” Olivier cried. “I’m not sure what state the place will be in, but I could probably do with some of your PR advice. It has real potential although I’m not sure as what yet. It has extensive vineyards for a start.”

  “Are you being serious?” Beth asked with disbelief. “I’d absolutely love to come along with you.”

  “I’m being more than serious,” Olivier chuckled. “All you need to do is ensure you are free from Friday to Monday over Easter. We can take the train and hire a car the other side. If you want to check dates and let me know for definite, the tickets will be on me.”

  “God,” Beth gulped. “I don’t need to check my diary. I’ll just clear it. And Easter is only a couple of weeks away. What happened to the angry Olivier who only wants to be alone?”

  “Oh, he is still in there somewhere,” Olivier replied, his face darkening slightly. “It’s just that when I have projects to focus on I can usually divert my anger into them, and this will be the mother of all projects.”

  “And I’m good at project management,” Beth heard herself say rather cringingly. “Well you know what I mean. I can give you some advice at the very least. This mini-break is exactly what I need to look forward to. Whatever happens tomorrow, I have this!”

  “Ok done,” Olivier said. “And I don’t expect to see you in the kitchen first thing tomorrow. You’ve driven for seven hours, so sleep as much as you need to and then just go for your lunch and we can catch up afterwards.”

  And snooze she did. The stress of the journey, the wine and the excitement of a trip to France created the perfect combination for a deep and uninterrupted night’s sleep during which Beth dreamt of lush vineyards and a swimming pool.

  But in her new dream the swimming pool was not at Highlands but at a pale stone chateau in France. And the pool image was so vivid that on waking, she found herself swimming across it and every now and again turning over to absorb the peace and coolness of the water.

  Feeling confused, she grabbed her phone from the floor to check the time. It was gone ten o’clock.

  How had she slept in so late? And how had she been transported from a patisserie in Kepton to a French chateau, albeit in her sleep, which she could visualise so vividly and which she had never seen in her life before?

  Jumping out of bed, Beth headed for the shower and reappeared fifteen minutes later wearing wet hair and a huge smile. In a couple of weeks from now, if things turned out to plan, she would be on her own with Olivier in France. How amazing was that?

  She dried her hair and got dressed. Picking up her bag, her phone and her car keys, she headed down to the patisserie, which was even fuller than the weekend before. She could see why Olivier needed extra help.

  Scanning the shop, she caught his attention from the stairs. As soon as he saw her he shouted out to her from behind the counter. “Hey Beth, over here I’ve saved you a croissant and I’ll get you a takeaway coffee before you leave.”

  “Thanks,” Beth replied, as she walked towards him, oblivious to anyone else apart from him. “I can’t believe how long I’ve slept. I feel guilty you’ve been up for hours and I’ve been asleep for most of the morning!”

  “Well you obviously needed to sleep. So don’t apologise,” Olivier smiled. “As I’ve told you many times before, working so hard is my choice. Here’s your coffee. Drive carefully and I’ll see you later.”

  “Fantastic. I’m desperate for a shot of caffeine,” Beth retorted, as she went up to him and planted a kiss on his forehead. “See you after the lunch.”

  “Yep,” Olivier exclaimed, looking quite shocked by their first kiss. “And good luck. I’m sure it will all turn out fine.”

  As Beth headed out to her car, coffee and croissant in hand, she tried to straighten the thoughts going around in her head. Easter in France with Olivier needed to take a back seat whilst she prepared her head for the next few hours.

  CHAPTER 15: CLOSURE

  Driving across the peaty Yorkshire moors for the second time in only a matter of days, Beth tried to think about what kind of outcome she wanted from the lunch.

  All she was really after was some kind of closure. She had to somehow draw the line under the past and find a life for herself which was more joyous and hopeful than the one she’d lived.

  For most of the journey she tried to figure out why her Aunt and Uncle would suddenly want to see her when they’d only spoken to her the week before? What on earth could they want to say?

  Maybe they felt sorry for her and decided she should know something they’d kept all to themselves over the years? Beth thought, as she drove down their gravelled driveway.

  “Hello,” Arthur and Louise said in tandem as Beth got out of the car. Gone was the false gaiety and stiffness which had smelt like a cover up the last time she’d seen them, and in its place was a normal welcome home.

  “Hi,” Beth said, smiling nervously at their eagerness to greet her. “Good to see you both again.”

  “And you,” Arthur answered. “Come on through. We thought we’d all have a drink together before lunch. Shall I get you a soda again or something different?”

  “Um,” Beth said. “Soda will be fine.”

  As they walked together into the drawing room, Louise ushered her niece onto one of the large comfy sofas and sat down next to her with a slightly worried-looking expression.

  “So,” Louise smiled. “Did you have a good journey up from London last night?”

  “Yes. It was fine,” Beth replied calmly. “I stayed at the patisserie again in Kepton as planned. Mum said you’d both had breakfast there.”

  “We did indeed,” Arthur answered, turning around with Beth’s drink. “And what a gem of a place it is too.”

  “Yes,” Louise interjected rather hastily. “And actually the reason we wanted to see you is kind of related to our visit there.”

  “Really?” Beth exclaimed, not wanting to let on she knew they’d met Lottie and Matt there. “That sounds intriguing.”

  “Intriguing is a good word to use,” Louise replied, taking charge of the conversation. “We met the couple who now own Highlands and
we got chatting. They said they’d seen you in there too and how nice it had been for them to meet you.”

  “Yes it was good for me as well,” Beth nodded. “I even went back to the house for drinks and they gave me a couple of photos they’d found.”

  “We know,” Louise said, her voice sounding slightly agitated. “Lottie and Matt asked us what we know about the photos of your father being wrapped up and stored in old picnic baskets.”

  “Well,” Beth answered. “That’s something I guess we will never get to the bottom of.”

  “Louise and I know the reason why,” Arthur answered slowly, as he handed his wife a white wine spritzer and took a seat in the tartan winged chair. “We didn’t tell Lottie and Matt but we want to tell you so we can clear things up.”

  “Clear things up about what?” Beth demanded. “I came here the other week to chat things through with you but you both seemed reluctant to speak to me about the past.”

  “Well that was then,” Louise said. “To some extent we’ve been gagged by circumstances outside our control. It may be difficult for you to believe this but we’ve also found the things that happened to your family hard.”

  “Not as hard as me and Mum,” Beth argued. “The loss of my twin set off a series of events which damaged us forever. And I don’t care what anyone else says, but I think someone in this family covered up how Alistair died.”

  “Well that’s what we wanted to speak to you about today,” Louise ventured cautiously.

  “What, that I’ve been right all along?” Beth replied.

  “You were right to believe that not everything was as it seemed at the time your brother died,” Arthur said rather cryptically. “But we just don’t want you going around Kepton stirring up the past with people like Lottie and Matt. There is nothing to be achieved by that. It was a family affair and it should remain so.”

  “Oh,” Beth exclaimed, trying hard not to sound exasperated. “And why is that? I hope one of you will actually tell me something I don’t already know.”

  “Yes,” Louise nodded. “That’s precisely why we called you up here. “ But before I tell you anything,” Louise replied, “I want you to understand why Arthur and I haven’t been able to say certain things before now. And I also want you to agree not to tell everyone you meet what I am about to disclose to you.”

  “Please just tell me,” Beth said, softening at the promise of the information she had been searching for all her life. “I just want to know what really happened to my twin and I will endeavour to keep it to myself. I won’t tell Kepton but I reserve the right to tell someone special in my life so I’m not the only one with the secret.”

  “What I am about to say to you was given to me in confidence by Richard,” Louise volunteered. “He was not actually a client so I’m not doing anything wrong professionally by revealing it, but there is no doubt that my being a psychotherapist made him feel I was a suitable person to confide in.”

  “Understood,” Beth uttered impatiently. “What is it he said?”

  “Simply this,” Louise nodded, as she glanced over at Arthur for moral support. “That he was not in the pool the day Alistair died. Your gut instincts have been right all along.”

  “I knew it,” Beth exhaled. “Where was he?”

  “Richard was with his mistress,” Louise continued. “He’d been having an affair with his young secretary for months and he’d asked his friend Simon Fallow to watch over your brother while he popped out to see her.”

  “And,” Beth said, gripping the arm of the sofa not believing what she was hearing. “What did that man do to my brother?”

  “Nothing,” Louise said sadly. “Other than not do what Richard asked him to do. When Alistair drowned, Richard was with his secretary and Simon was taking phone calls in the house. Alistair climbed into the pool and got into difficulties and Simon didn’t notice.”

  “What?” Beth pleaded. “So you mean neither Richard nor Simon were in the pool when my brother was drowning?”

  “That’s correct,” Louise confirmed. “They were both doing other things and they lied for each other to cover it up.”

  “Well they did a very good job of that,” Beth spluttered, her voice breaking with emotion. “What on earth made Richard tell you all that?”

  “Just before the fire at Highlands Richard came to see me for help,” Louise answered. “He suddenly realised his so-called best friend had charmed him all his life to win his friendship and that all he wanted from him at the end was to get half the business.”

  “What do you mean?” Beth asked, wanting the final pieces of the jigsaw so she could get closure.

  “He’d been suspicious of Simon’s motives for a few years,” Louise replied. “But Richard had kept on with the friendship because of their secret and his indiscretions with beautiful women.”

  “Christ,” Beth stammered. “So Richard only realised what a bastard Simon was just before he died?”

  “Yes,” Louise continued. “It was literally a few weeks before the fire happened that Richard asked to see me and told me he believed that Simon had utterly betrayed him and would stop at nothing to destroy him, and he needed help.”

  “My God!” Beth exclaimed.

  “Simon had financial problems,” Louise continued, tapping her fingers on the arm of the sofa. “The business was not doing well and he needed money for his other ventures.”

  “Bloody hell,” Beth exclaimed. “So Richard eventually became Simon’s victim too?”

  “Yes. Pretty much,” Louise said. “Simon had exhorted quite a bit of money out of him over the years. He always had control over him because of what he knew.”

  “Christ,” Beth whispered. “So they were both to blame for Alistair’s death in their own ways.”

  “Yes,” Louise said. “Richard was by no means perfect. But once Simon had got his claws into Richard he didn’t stand a chance. Simon Fallow is quiet a disturbed character and he groomed Richard perfectly.”

  “Jesus!” Beth exclaimed. “That sort of makes sense. Lottie and Matt told me they’d heard rumours that it was actually Simon who bought Highlands, making him sole owner of the business and the house.”

  “Beth,” Louise interrupted forcefully. “Whatever happened in the past is done. You now need to heal yourself. Be who you want to be. Build the life you want. That is how you will win and turn the table on what happened to you and your father.”

  “And the fire?” Beth asked not ready to stop the conversation. “Do you believe that was started by Simon?”

  “You are certainly not the first person to wonder that,” Louise volunteered, nodding her head. “But there is not a shred of evidence to suggest he did. The problem with people like Simon is they appear incredibly charming but underneath they are capable of virtually anything, so we’ll never know.”

  “What do you mean?” Beth asked.

  “They’re highly intelligent,” Louise added. “They spend much of their time observing others and currying favour. They do it so they can get what they want, be it social standing or approval. When the business started to fail, Simon had no use for Richard. It’s a classic cycle.”

  “So the whole of the Earnshaw family was a victim of Simon. I have to say it always felt to me like it was more than just bad luck,” Beth added.

  “Largely,” Louise nodded. “And Richard’s womanising. He should never have put his affairs before his family, but he paid a huge price for it in the end.”

  “And who hid the photos with my father in them?” Beth asked finally.

  “Richard did,” Louise said sadly. “He started to lose his mind in the end.”

  “What do you mean?” Beth asked not understanding.

  “Before he died,” Louise expanded. “Richard finally realised how Simon had destroyed the whole family. He believed rightly or wrongly that Simon was coming after him. It was a crazy thing to do, but he wrapped
up the pictures to metaphorically protect his family from what he believed would happen next.”

  “Wow, I didn’t expect this,” Beth exclaimed. “I’m going to need some time to digest it all. But I would like to thank you for telling me. It makes me feel like I haven’t been mad all these years.”

  “Good,” Arthur said. “You now need to get on with your life. That’s why we were disappointed when we found out you weren’t with someone when we met you last time. None of this was your fault. You can’t change what happened but you can make a better future for yourself.”

  “Arthur’s right,” Louise smiled. “Let’s go through for lunch. You can enjoy some nice food with us and then see how you feel after that. The worst is over now Beth. You will only get your own back by finding happiness yourself.”

  CHAPTER 16: THE CHATEAU

  Easter came around much more quickly than Beth could have hoped for. The chateau was everything and more than she imagined it might be. Nestled in a large vineyard, it was stately and made of pale stone and looked exactly as it had done in her dream.

  Inside, old fashioned French furniture provided a rich insight into the lives that had been lived there, and they felt like peaceful and good lives.

  And, once Olivier had thrown open the beautiful wooden shutters and windows, a heavenly golden Easter light came flooding through.

  Outside there was an old swimming pool, just like in Beth’s dream, and to one side stood an overgrown herb garden with a wrought iron dining table and chairs placed in the middle of it.

  On their first day together they had shopped in the local village buying meat, bread, salad and wine and had gone home for lunch. Sitting in the sunshine on a couple of old sun loungers by the side of the pool with a fresh coffee, they talked about Alistair.

  “So how do you feel now you’ve had a few days to think about what Louise said to you?” Olivier asked.

  “I feel like I can finally put the past behind me,” Beth smiled across at him. “It’s not just helped me get closure, but I’ve pretty much forgiven Uncle Richard too. It sounds like he really got caught up in something he didn’t understand.”