Sam’s attention focused on a narrowboat making its way along the canal at the Gas Basin. What it would be not to have a care in the world and drift along at a leisurely pace.
To think that if someone had said less than two weeks ago, when she thought she knew exactly which way her life was heading, that her whole existence would be flipped on its head in the most extreme way possible, she’d have laughed, believing the concept absurd.
But it wasn’t absurd and neither was it funny. It was real and it was happening.
Liam picked at his Ploughman’s and watched Sam’s fingers on the stem of her wine glass, turning it around on the table. ‘Are you all right?’
Sam jumped slightly. ‘What? Oh, yes, just miles away.’
Liam studied her with concern. ‘Anything I can help with?’ He itched to ask whether her present mood was anything to do with Seb Stoker. It probably was. God knows what that man had done now to make her and everyone else’s lives harder, but he must refrain. Sam had made it clear she did not appreciate his concern where that toe-rag was concerned, but it was difficult. ‘I thought having a break from the Orchid and coming for lunch might cheer you up, but…’
‘It’s not you,’ Sam interjected. ‘I’ve just got loads on my mind.’ She smiled wanly. ‘It doesn’t help that I got a call from Chamberlain’s first thing this morning, asking me if I definitely wanted to pull out of the purchase of that building.’
‘It’s not too late to go ahead with your original plan. All you have to do is sign everything over to John and then you can get on with your life as if nothing has changed,’ Liam pleaded.
Sam stared at Liam. But everything had changed. It had changed completely. She couldn’t backtrack – not now. Not while there were so many things not sitting right.
She might have denied the possibility of John being behind any of what Seb suggested last night to him. She may have also dismissed the possibility of him being behind what had happened to Gary Stoker as ludicrous, but was it?
As much as she didn’t want to think it possible that John – her own cousin – could betray and lie to her in this way, deep down she believed Seb Stoker could be right. And that crushing disappointment churned like a cement mixer in the bottom of her stomach.
‘This is something I’m going to have to do, Liam,’ Sam said flatly. ‘Or rather, something I need to do.’
And it was. Her dreams of running her own design shop now seemed like a passing fancy from a thousand years ago compared with what lay in the balance now – even more so if a member of her own bloody family was trying to ruin everything.
Liam nodded, secretly gutted. He wanted her away from all of this. Before this happened, he’d been sure she’d been on the verge of giving things a go between them and yet now Sam seemed further away from him than ever. ‘Then if that’s the case, you’ll be glad to know that the rewards night I set up brought a twenty-five per cent increase in profit. I was only telling John about it yesterday and…’
‘You’ve been speaking to John?’ Sam said, her concentration piqued. ‘John has nothing to do with the casino side of the business.’
Liam shrugged dismissively. He could hardly say he’d spoken to John over his concern about her. ‘I bumped into him in the corridor, that’s all. Why? Is there a problem?’
Sam shook her head wearily. ‘No. Sorry. I’m a bit edgy. Ignore me!’
Liam reached across the table and took Sam’s hand. ‘I could never ignore you, Sam.’
Smiling awkwardly, Sam pulled her hand away under the pretence of picking up her fork. She pushed her food around the plate, unable to eat. It would stick in her throat like broken glass.
Was John really betraying her? Was he really a threat to her father’s empire? To her? To all of them? ‘I’m having to rethink things about certain people,’ she said quietly.
Liam bent his leg around the chair so he wouldn’t start jigging around with glee. Sam was doubting Seb Stoker. It must be him she was referring to, which meant the man would be nicely out of the picture, leaving him free to continue his decade of rightful pursuit of this woman.
He waited to see if Sam would embellish further on the issue, but she didn’t. ‘What’s happened to make you change your mind?’
Sam waved the question away. ‘I don’t want to go into it, but let’s just say I should have listened.’
‘You don’t need Stoker. John will help you and he only said th…’
‘So you have been discussing me with John?’ Sam cried, outraged. ‘Is everybody hell-bent on talking about me behind my back? Saying how stupid and gullible I am?’ She felt both of those things, as well as being confused. More confused than she’d ever been. She didn’t know who to trust. Was there anyone she could trust?
‘It’s not like that at all.’ Liam internally castigated himself for blurting out something so stupid. ‘We’re just concerned, that’s all. Being concerned and caring isn’t the same as thinking you’re stupid or gullible, Sam!’
Sam bit down on her bottom lip. She was being paranoid. How would anyone take her seriously – how could she take herself seriously if she acted like everyone was conspiring against her?
‘I’m not going to lie,’ Liam continued. ‘Both myself and John are worried. Seb Stoker is dangerous. Only recently a man disappeared after Stoker was seen looking for him… I presume you’ve seen the papers today about that blaze at the pub? The Gun Barrels was on the Stoker payroll… Don’t you find it strange the exact place Stoker was looking for the man who “mysteriously” disappeared was the very place razed to the ground?’
Sam paled. She’d heard about the blaze. Who hadn’t? But she wasn’t aware of the rest.
‘Stoker’s offer of help is for nothing other than his own gain, Sam!’
Sam’s forehead creased. ‘So you keep saying!’ she snapped. On the outside she could see that clearly, but on the inside, things were telling her a completely different story. Quite the opposite, however little sense it made.
Liam raised his hands. ‘Look, I didn’t bring you to lunch to stress you out. I’m sorry.’ He’d promised himself he wouldn’t mention Stoker. Why had he opened his gob? ‘Let’s talk about something else.’
Sam pushed her chair back. ‘I really should get back.’
Liam sat forward, disappointment flooding him. ‘We’ve only been here half an hour. It’s a beautiful day and you’ve barely touched your salad.’
Sam smiled stiffly as she stood up. ‘That’s as maybe, but I’ve got tons of things to do and I also need to see if there’s anything else I need to do for my mother regarding the funeral.’
Liam got to his feet, beckoning the waiter for the bill. ‘Surely that’s something I can help with? I could go and see Gloria or take you to wherever you need to go?’
‘It’s fine, Liam, really, but thank you.’ Fishing a twenty-pound note from her purse, Sam placed it on the table, desperation to get away surging. ‘I’ll get this.’
‘But…’ Liam realised Sam had already walked away. He flopped down into his chair, watching as she picked her way through the outdoor seating area. That had not quite gone to plan. If anything, he’d made things even worse.
Answering the front door for the second time that day, Gloria was surprised to see Judith Stoker.
‘I’m sorry for descending unannounced,’ Judith said. ‘I’ve wanted to come around all week but didn’t know when would be the right time.’
Gloria stepped to one side, ushering Judith into the large square hallway of her home. ‘It’s fine, Judith. It’s nice to see you. Come out into the garden. I was just getting a bit of sunshine.’
Following Gloria through her large open-plan sitting room into the beautiful garden, Judith sat in one of the wicker patio chairs and gratefully accepted the proffered glass of white wine.
‘I don’t usually make a habit of drinking in the afternoon,’ Gloria said, smiling weakly. ‘But, well… with everything…’
‘I think I’d be on my third bottle by now if it were me!’ Judith laughed. If she could have got away with it, she would have already had twenty bottles by now.
The earlier conversation with Mal still stuck its barbs painfully into her heart and nothing could be said to make that better, but she didn’t honestly know why she’d felt the urge to call on Gloria Reynold. All she knew was that she felt strongly that she should.
What she’d said on the doorstep was true. She’d wanted to offer her condolences before now, but as usual – like the rest of her life, she’d felt unable to take sides or step out of line with Mal and her sons’ line of work.
No one had told her she shouldn’t come here, but her reticence stemmed from years back, when she’d spent an evening chatting with Gloria Reynold. She’d thought they might become good friends. That was until Mal pointed out her new friend was married to his rival and it wasn’t good business sense to become involved on a personal level.
Judith had always thought this stupid, but she’d done what was asked, because that’s what good wives did – they listened to their husbands and looked after their children. Any friends she did have were the wives of Mal’s associates. This had never bothered her before, but today it did. Today she’d felt like there was no one she could turn to. No one who understood.
Straightening up in the chair, she sipped at her wine and reminded herself why she’d come in the first place. ‘I won’t sit here uttering niceties or platitudes, I’ll ask you straight. How are you, Gloria? Is there anything I can do to help?’
Gloria smiled sadly. ‘What can you do? Len’s gone and there’s nothing I or anyone can do about it.’
Judith looked around the beautiful, landscaped garden and sighed. ‘Sometimes I wonder whether the things men like ours do is worth it when it comes down to it.’
Gloria stiffened. ‘You think Len’s death was something to do with the firm? Part of some revenge campaign?’
Judith blinked. There was no way she would add to Gloria’s grief by repeating that was exactly what Mal thought. ‘What I meant was there seems to be an awful lot of people out to cause problems for people like us.’
Gloria nodded. ‘Men!’
Judith laughed, despite her inward misery. ‘How’s Samantha coping?’
‘What, with losing her dad or taking over the business?’ Gloria topped up both of their glasses.
‘Both, I guess? I hope Sebastian’s been of help?’
Gloria sighed. She could see the turmoil on Judith’s face. ‘Yes, Sebastian has been helpful. It’s been most appreciated.’ Something else was bothering Judith and she could only presume it was those vindictive rumours John had told her about. She didn’t want to make the poor woman feel worse, but felt compelled to offer solidarity. ‘Don’t pay attention to rumours, Judith,’ she smiled. ‘You as well as I know that men are strange creatures.’
Judith’s eyes widened, a lone tear escaping. ‘You’ve heard then? Heard about what’s being insinuated?’
Gloria nodded. ‘I’ve heard something – only today, actually. But don’t let it bother you. No one in their right mind will believe it. It’s ludicrous!’
‘My sons are at each other’s throats over it.’ Judith sniffed. She pulled a tissue from her bag and dabbed at her face. ‘I’m sorry. Listen to me! I shouldn’t be moaning about my problems when you’ve just lost your husband.’
Gloria shook her head. ‘It’s fine, honestly. You’re not seriously telling me your sons believe this rubbish?’
Judith dug her nails into her palms and nodded slowly. ‘It seems that way. Mal walked into the Peacock last night to find they’d come to blows. It’s awful, Gloria. I haven’t brought my sons up to turn on each other like this.’
Nausea flooded Gloria. She hadn’t for one minute thought it was that serious.
‘It’s all centring on Gary. They believe he’s the one. They think he’s either got a different father or isn’t related to us at all,’ Judith continued. ‘It must be his colouring. He’s so different from the others.’ She looked at Gloria. ‘Gary is Mal’s son.’
Gloria squeezed Judith’s hand. ‘I never thought otherwise.’
‘I think even Mal doubted it for a moment.’ Judith burst into tears. ‘I – I’m sorry. I really didn’t come here to lump this on you. I’m terrified something is going to happen. My sons are good boys and fiercely protective, but they won’t stand for people who turn on them and now they think Gary is one of those people.’
Gloria’s heart raced. ‘Where has this dreadful rumour come from?’
Judith shook her head in despair. ‘I don’t know. No one really tells me anything. Even Mal. All I can grasp is that it’s come from someone trying to blackmail both our firms. I’m worried about what might happen. Gary isn’t like my other sons. I’m scared they’ll kill him. He’s already been attacked once.’
‘I heard he’d been in hospital. That was by one of your other sons?’ Gloria gasped.
‘I didn’t think so, but now I’m beginning to wonder…’