Claire’s heart banged in her chest as she heard a creak on the landing overhead. She held her breath, and then almost wilted with relief as she heard Sophie talking to Ella. She was in her room, saying goodbye to her. She would probably be down soon. Where the hell was it? She pressed a hand to her forehead, turning full circle in her father’s office and wondering where on earth to look next.
She’d been ignoring her own niggling doubts, Luke’s serious doubts. She’d dismissed what Gemma had said as nonsense. What Sophie had said, though, about Luke slashing her tyres, it was that that was nonsense. He hadn’t even known she was in Rhyl, so how could he have done it? As for the cat, there was absolutely no way he would ever do something as cruel as that.
She might be wrong – she’d been so devastated by events recently, her emotions were flying all over the place – but she couldn’t ignore the suspicion growing inside her. She had to find her father’s will. Why hadn’t she been more organised, for God’s sake? It had been in his bottom desk drawer, along with his insurance policy and the deeds to the house. And now it wasn’t anywhere. There would definitely be a copy lodged with his solicitor – at least she hoped there was; she distinctly remembered him saying he’d done that – but she didn’t want to ring him until she’d established it was actually mislaid.
Frustrated, she went back to the small filing cabinet where her father stored most of the household documents. Opening the various files, she spilled the contents onto the floor in case the envelope had somehow slipped inside one of them, and then dropped to her knees and sifted through the endless bits of paper. But still she came up empty-handed. She’d been positive it was here. Confused, she sat back on her haunches and tried to get her tumultuous thoughts in some sort of order.
He must have taken it with him. It was the only explanation. But why would he have done that? Surely he was no longer compos mentis enough to understand it. Did he intend to make changes to it, thanks to her stupidly reminding him about Sophie? Pulling herself to her feet, she tried to still the nervous panic knotting her stomach. If that was his intention, she would contest any changes on the basis that he wasn’t capable of handling his affairs. His diagnosis would back that up. But if it was declared not legally valid, then from what she understood, the estate might be shared out amongst his children.
Why hadn’t she listened to Gemma about the power of attorney? Yes, she’d been too exhausted to think straight, had had so much to do she’d hardly dared take time to breathe, but this was naïve. Negligent. God, what was the matter with her?
Shit! She looked up sharply, and then scrambled to her feet and flew through the study door as she heard Ella shout, ‘Bye, Auntie Sophie. I’ll miss you.’
‘Bye, Ella. I’ll miss you too, sweetheart,’ Sophie called back. ‘Be good.’
Her feet came into view on the stairs, and Claire dashed to meet her. ‘You’re off then?’ she asked, her eyes flicking back down the hall. She’d left the study door open. Please don’t look that way. Her mouth ran dry.
‘I am. I hate the thought of you being on your own, but I’m really worried about Cinder.’ Sophie smiled sadly. ‘She’ll pine without me.’
‘It looks like Ella will too,’ Claire said, glancing up the stairs.
‘I shouldn’t be gone for more than a day.’ Sophie smiled and reached for her coat.
Claire took the opportunity to step past her, opening the front door to distract her from the view down the hall. ‘And you’re sure you’ll be all right on your own?’ she asked, arranging her face into a concerned frown.
‘Positive.’ Sophie gave her another reassuring smile. ‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do while I’m away.’
‘Chance would be a fine thing,’ Claire joked.
She watched from the doorstep until Sophie had disappeared from view, then closed the door and started breathing again. Feeling hot and clammy, she charged upstairs and peered around Ella’s door. ‘All right, sweetheart?’ she asked.
‘Uh huh,’ Ella assured her without looking up from the iPad Sophie had left with her. ‘I won another Mickey Mouse.’
‘Brilliant, but don’t play too long on it,’ Claire warned her, then froze at a knock on the front door.
It wasn’t Sophie coming back for some reason, she told herself, trying to still the rapid palpitations in her chest. It couldn’t be. She’d given her a key, her father’s key. She must have gone stark raving mad.
Tentatively, she walked downstairs and peered through the peephole, taken aback to see Luke standing there. They’d let him go? Unsure what to do, she looked him over. He hadn’t presumed to use his own key, and his body language didn’t look aggressive. With one hand in his pocket, the other clutching the back of his neck, and his gaze fixed to the ground, if anything he looked utterly dejected.
Hesitating, she debated; then, needing to know he was all right despite the situation between them, she opened the door.
Luke’s gaze snapped up, his expression one of surprise, as if he hadn’t expected her to answer. ‘Hi. I…’ he started, and then stopped awkwardly. ‘Can I see Ella?’ he asked, his voice catching, his face clouded with uncertainty. ‘I need to see her, Claire. Please?’
He was close to tears. Claire felt her heart twist. Still she hesitated. She had to get to the care home. She might be panicking about nothing, her mind feverishly trying to process everything that was coming at her, but now wasn’t a good time. She desperately didn’t want Ella upset either. If the conversation between them degenerated into the same kind of argument they’d had the last time he was here, then she undoubtedly would be.
She soon realised she had no choice, however, as behind her she heard Ella exclaim, ‘Daddy!’ The little girl almost bowled Claire over as she charged towards him.
‘Hiya, pumpkin.’ His expression was a combination of delight and tangible relief as he swept her into her arms and hugged her tightly to him.
Claire saw the tear squeeze from the corner of his eye, and her heart bled for him. She glanced at Ella. Her face was a kaleidoscope of emotion: concern, bewilderment. She could see her Daddy was upset. Studying him hard, she reached out, placing the palm of her hand softly against his cheek. ‘You haven’t shaved, Daddy,’ she whispered, a worried little V in her brow.
She had to let him in, Claire realised, her heart breaking for her daughter. Ella’s little world was already destabilised. She couldn’t deny her contact with her father.
‘Would you like a coffee?’ she asked him, stepping back from the door.
Luke breathed out a sigh of relief. ‘Thanks,’ he said, giving her a small smile, which did little to diminish the exhaustion etched into his face. The dark shadows under his eyes were tinged purple, indicating he was sleeping as little as she was.
‘Yay!’ Plainly thrilled at that, Ella’s face lit up. ‘I can show you my new game, Daddy,’ she said, her eyes now dancing with excitement. ‘It’s Disney Crossy Road. And I’m ace at it. Auntie Sophie said so.’
Claire didn’t miss the flicker of agitation that crossed Luke’s face. ‘Auntie Sophie, hey?’ He lifted Ella higher in his arms. ‘She’s staying here then, is she?’
‘Yes,’ Ella informed him with a decisive nod. ‘She’s nice. She doesn’t shout at me.’
But her mummy did. Claire felt like crying. Innocent it might have been, but still that comment had stung.
‘She’s helping Mummy,’ Ella chatted on, ‘but she’s not staying tonight. She’s lent me her iPad. Would you like me to show it to you?’
Luke glanced at Claire curiously, and Claire guessed she’d been caught out about the man who’d supposedly been here last night. ‘I’d love to,’ he said, arranging his face into the special smile he reserved for his daughter. ‘Why don’t we go into the lounge and you can tell me all about Auntie Sophie while you’re impressing me with your gaming skills. Okay?’ he checked with Claire.
Claire nodded, and swallowed. It was clear that Ella did need contact with people other than her. Nice people.
Following them down the hall, she noticed Luke’s gaze straying towards her father’s study. The door was still open, the files scattered all over the floor. Should she confide in him? She’d been going to, before everything had fallen apart. She’d thought that when she told him of the plans she’d made with her father regarding his future, about what she’d promised to do, he would understand. Would he? she wondered.