Chapter 33
Thirty-Three
On Monday morning I woke up on Maia’s couch with a headache and a sore neck.
“I tried to move you back to your bed but you kicked me.” She’d told me, giving me an apologetic grin as she’d handed over a cup of coffee.
I’d downed the caffeine and then ran the hottest shower I could stand.
I’d barely slept and the sleep I did have was filled with worries from the day.
I needed Alfie by my side and in my bed so I could feel right again. For now, I’d have to cope on my own.
I walked out into the sun, ready to start the final week. Sid was already hard at work, fussing with the tower, trying to look busy. I waved at him as I started the walk down.
With the final project almost complete, there wasn’t much to do except make sure it stayed perfect for the rest of the week.
Our sculptures sat in a gorgeous line, the dancing lady, the elephant, Jemima Puddle-duck and Mr Fox and our fairytale tower.
I gave myself a moment to feel proud. To ignore the drama of my father, Carolyn, and those awful photos.
I wasn’t going to let that ruin what I’d achieved.
It was almost over now and my heart hurt at the thought of them being dismantled.
A thought occurred to me then and I only hesitated a second before deciding to risk asking Jeff for a favour.
To the left, some ways away from our work tent, was the set with Harrington serving as the backdrop.
There, I spotted Jeff typing furiously on his phone while the crew hustled around him.
The contestants wouldn’t be arriving until tomorrow, but the set had to be ready.
Their materials, spaces, everything ready to go.
“Jeff, I have a question.” He waved at me to go ahead but didn’t look up. “The sculptures that Sid and I have made, what are you planning to do with them now filming is nearly over?”
“They’ll be disposed of somehow,” he said without looking up. “You’ve done great work, thank you.”
“I appreciate that but I’d appreciate it more if my ‘great work’ wasn’t thrown in the trash.” He glanced up at me, eyebrows raised at my tone. “They can last a while longer if looked after properly. Could I donate them if production doesn’t want them?”
“I’ll speak with the network as technically they own them but if they agree, I don’t see why not.”
I thanked him and hurried away before he changed his mind. Before I could reach Sid, I spotted Maia hovering outside Harrington. She waved me over. I gave Sid a ‘two minutes’ gesture. I would feel bad about being late but it’s not like we had much to do.
Maia looked concerned as I met her on the gravel path. “Your fathers at the gate. Are you expecting him?”
“No.” My stomach turned over. I wasn’t ready to see him but he wouldn’t just show up here for no reason. “Let him in.”
She frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Do you think he’s responsible for the photos?”
“No but we know he’s involved in other things.” ‘Other things’ meaning he’d been a drug trafficking gangster for most of my life. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
“If he had bad intentions I doubt he’d do anything in the middle of the day with a film crew right there.”
Her lips thinned into a grim line but she knew I had a point. She turned on her heel, leaving me to wait on tenterhooks to find out what my father wanted. Five minutes later, I watched my fathers battered old Mazda rumble down the drive.
He stepped out of his car, hands immediately fussing with his shirt that was missing a button. He was carrying a small, lavender-coloured gift bag.
“I’m sorry if this is bad timing, I didn’t mean to bother you at work.”
“And yet you’re here, bothering me at work.”
“Aye.” He shuffled his feet. For a moment I almost felt guilty, then I remembered who this man was. A violent criminal. “Well, I wanted to give you something before the wedding. I haven't seen you in a couple of weeks, I’ve missed you.”
I left it unsaid that he went more than twenty years without seeing me. I took the bag and pulled out the tiny plant.
“A haworthia?”
“Your mother used to like succulents. I’d surprise her with one from time to time.
” I nodded. I remembered her succulent collection.
I’d taken care of them for years and cried bitterly when the last one died.
I’d propagated the leaves to make new plants from them but it just wasn’t the same as holding the plants she’d physically touched.
“She used to buy me one for my birthday. Every year I’d wake up and there would be a tiny little pot with a tiny little succulent waiting for me.” I caught myself, my throat closing up before I could continue. That had obviously stopped after she died and I haden’t bought one since.
“You liked them?”
“It was my favourite part of my birthday. Aside from the cake.”
He smiled but there was a sadness in his eyes that his smile didn’t reach. Probably guilt over all the birthdays that he missed.
“Thank you. I’ll put it with my Calathea.”
“Your what?”
“Nevermind.” I thanked him again and I felt myself soften. Plants were truly a way to my heart.
“Well, I’ll let you get back to work then. I’ll see you at the wedding? Natalie said your man's sister has sorted her a dress? That’s very kind.”
“Yes, Grace. She’s…she’s very kind.” I felt awkward. Despite everything that I knew about him I found myself wanting him closer. “Would you like to see what I’ve been building?”
His shoulders sagged as he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “I’d love to.”
He didn’t talk much as we walked, I was learning my father was a quiet man. Or maybe he was just nervous.
I introduced him to Sid who quickly made himself scarce. I was coming to adore Sid. I liked a man who could read the room.
“Jemima Puddle-duck? I read that story to you when you were small.”
“You did?” I asked, I didn’t remember.
“Aye. You called her Jemmy Duck.” He chuckled at the memory. “So, what will you do now? You have another job lined up?”
“I don’t know. I have a few options to explore. Alfie thinks I should go it alone. Make my own business.”
“He wants you to work, does he?”
“I don’t know if he wants it but he respects it. He’s proud of me.”
“But he’s not trying to stand in the way?” There was an edge in his voice that had my brows knitting together. “Your sister might have mentioned he doesn’t have the cleanest of track records where you're concerned.”
“He could say the same thing to me about you.”
John nodded, not trying to argue.
“Has something happened?” I asked. It would be no surprise to me if Alfie had had conversations with my father that I wasn’t privy to. “Has he given you a reason not to trust him?”
“No, other than he could have any woman he wanted and he landed on a vulnerable girl like you.”
“A vulnerable girl?” I crossed my arms. “I was a vulnerable girl when I was four years old and you left me. I was vulnerable when I was twelve years old and my mother died and you still didn’t come back. I’m not a vulnerable girl anymore.”
I knew he’d been in prison so he couldn’t come back even if he’d wanted to but that didn’t matter to me in my anger.
“Alfie is far from perfect but he’s a good man and he loves me and maybe that's why he picked me when he could have anyone he wanted.”
He sighed. “I’ve said this all wrong. Aside from what your sister has told me I’ve done research of my own.
He has a history. A brother that died in suspicious circumstances.
Estranged from family. One hurt woman after another left behind him.
That club he owns? The things they do there?
Men like that swallow you up and spit you out. ”
“He isn’t going to swallow me up and spit me out. He has a past, he isn’t the only one, is he, John?” I snapped, reminding him there was a reason I didn’t call him ‘Dad’.
He flinched and again I felt guilty. “No, he’s not. I’m not trying to interfere, but I want to be sure you’re safe with him.”
“I am.”
“Alright then.”
A heated silence did nothing to ease the tension. “You know, if you’re after his money this is a bad way to go about it. Or maybe it’s smart to make me think you don’t like him so it won’t seem suspicious when you suddenly need a loan three months from now.”
He didn’t get angry and that made this all worse. He just stuffed his hands in his pockets and nodded.
“I’ve earned that level of suspicion, I suppose.” Yes, he had, especially as I knew how much money he owed to his previous employers. I was tempted to tell him I knew but no, I’d wait until after the wedding. I wouldn’t ruin anything. “I’ll see you at the wedding, Lola.”
I stood there, holding the tiny succulent, watching my father walk away. Again.