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“She can’t love both of us,” Claire said grumpily and folded her arms across her chest. “Not after what he did to me. I’ll never forgive him.” Then her mouth tightened. “Or her.”
For a long while there were no more words, just mutinous silence from Claire as Golden stared at her in disbelief. This was crazy. Because of her intense jealousy for the love her daughter still had for her father Claire had denied them both the affection they’d once shared – six years worth of it.
When Golden spoke again her voice was quiet but firm. “No-one’s asking you to forget,” she said softly, “but you have to forgive. That’s the only way you’ll be able to get your life back.”
“I don’t want-”
“Oh, stop being an ass, Claire.” Golden’s voice came out so sharp she shocked even herself. But she was not taking it back. If this was what it took to drive some sense into the stubborn mule staring back at her then so be it. “Do you want to go to your grave knowing you’ll never see your daughter again? And her children, if she has any?” When all she got from Claire was stunned silence Golden nodded. “I thought so. Life is too short to play these games. You have to get back to what’s most important. That’s love...and family.”
Claire remained silent but Golden could see that her words were sinking in. The defiance had left the woman’s eyes and in its place was the sadness that Golden had seen creep in before. Claire was obviously thinking about all she’d lost. And it was a good thing she was because, at her age, time was running out.
“Why don’t you give her a call?” she asked but Claire shook her head, a look of uncertainty creeping into her eyes. “What about writing her a letter?”
This time Claire didn’t shake her head but she lowered her eyes, making it clear to Golden that despite her tough exterior she, like any other person, feared rejection. She knew that if she approached her daughter now she’d be setting herself up for that possibility. The question was, could she handle it?
“Her name is Marjorie? Marjorie Bertlamb?”
When Claire nodded, almost in a daze, Golden decided to take advantage of her submissive state. An idea was beginning to form in her mind and she needed to gather as much information as she could while she had the upper hand. “From your home town? Cudham?” When Claire nodded again Golden almost smiled in relief. This was working out easier than she’d expected. “Do you think she’d still be living there?”
Again, Claire nodded. “She still teaches at the primary school on Otford Lane. Hazel, my friend, told me so.”
Now Golden did smile. This was good news. Claire had been keeping tabs on her daughter all these years. Her neighborhood friends probably fed her bits of news from time to time. There was no denying it. Deep down, she really cared.
“Did she ever get married?” It must have been the eagerness in her tone, Golden wasn’t sure why, but suddenly a look of suspicion crept into Claire’s eyes.
“Why are you asking all these questions? What are you up to?”
Golden knew when to shut up. This was the perfect time to change the subject. “Oh, nothing. Just curious. By the way, did I tell you my second week on the job was great? I’m learning a lot and the best part of it is, I’ve got a dreamboat for a boss.”
Just like she’d known it would, that made Claire’s eyes light up with interest. “A dreamboat, is it? Come on, girl. Tell me all.”
Golden hadn’t really meant to call Reed a dreamboat even though that was exactly what she thought of him. That was something she’d much rather keep to herself. Still, she’d had to come up with something to distract Claire and she’d grabbed at that, thinking it was the perfect solution.
It seemed that it was, because Claire was practically chomping at the bit, awaiting the juicy details. “He’s very nice,” she said, feeding her friend’s curiosity, “and so young, too. He doesn’t look much older than I am but he’s the CEO of the corporation.” Then she frowned. “I have no idea how he manages that.”
Claire shrugged. “Probably a family business. He must have inherited it. But enough about that. What does he look like, this boss of yours?”
“Reed is...very handsome. He’s tall, but not too tall. Around five eleven, I think. And he’s got wavy brown hair and the bluest eyes you ever saw. His eyes remind me of...” She paused, thinking. “You know, his eyes are as blue as Sir Richard Branson’s.”
“The chap who owns all those Virgin companies?”
“Yes, I saw his face on the cover of Inc. Magazine and his eyes were so blue, like Reed’s.” Then she laughed. “They actually have more in common than just the color of their eyes. They’re both ambitious men. Billionaires.”
“And this is the man you’ve got your eye on?” Claire’s laugh was almost a cackle. “Talk about ambitious. That’s exactly what you are, luv. Good for you.”
“Me? What do you mean?”
“Well, you just said you liked the man.”
“No, not like that. I only meant he’s a nice...employer. I didn’t mean...” Golden’s voice trailed off. From the expression on Claire’s face she could see the woman was buying none of what she was selling. And who could blame her? Golden was convincing no-one, not even herself. “I just work for him, Claire,” she said finally. “That’s all.”
Claire only chuckled and gave her a knowing look.
But Golden knew a lot more than Claire did and what she knew, without a doubt, was that any interest she might have in Reed Davidoff was hopeless. Outside of the fact that, compared to her the man was royalty, there was also that dreadful stipulation in her father’s will.
As much as she despised the thought, for the sake of her mother she knew she would eventually give in.
And Reed Davidoff would fit nowhere in that picture.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Had it been a month already? That Monday when Sharon came in to remind him that Friday would be her last day Reed almost did a double-take. It seemed like Golden had only been there a couple of weeks but no, Sharon had promised she would be there for a month to train her and a glance at the calendar told him she’d been true to her word. But where had the time gone so fast?
And now it was Friday and time to see Sharon off. “You tell that husband of yours to take good care of you and the little one or he’ll have to answer to me.” Reed gave Sharon a broad smile as she shrugged into her sweater. Employee or not he would have given her a hug if he’d been brave enough but by now she was so huge he was afraid his hug would send her into premature labor.
Sharon laughed. “I’ll give him your message. He’ll be shaking in his boots.”
Reed gave her a mock scowl. “Are you saying he’s not afraid of me? Is there anybody who is?” He looked around and, the only person in the room being Golden, his gaze alighted on her. She rewarded him with a soft blush. “Might you, per chance, be afraid of me?” He lifted his eyebrows.
“Say yes,” Sharon said, still chuckling. “Make him feel good.”
“Yes,” the girl said, following the instruction of her mentor. “I am.”
Somehow, he couldn’t believe her. Not when, in spite of her shy blush, her pink lips were curled in a smile. And, of course, despite his play at being an ogre he was more than pleased to know that Golden was finally growing comfortable with him. She had better be, because from here on she would fill Sharon’s role as his right-hand person.
“Now you take good care of Golden while I’m gone.” Sharon gave Reed a stern look. “Do not overwork her.”
“Would I ever?” he asked with a wounded look.
“Now come here, hon. Give us a hug.” She opened her arms wide to Golden and the girl stepped into her embrace. “Just ring me if you need me,” she whispered.
“You know I won’t,” Golden whispered back. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
But even after Sharon had gone through the door she stood there, staring wistfully after her friend and guide, a hint of apprehension in her eyes. Maybe she wasn’t quite as confident as she’d pretended to be.
That evening when it was time for Golden to leave she gave a soft knock and stepped into his office. “I’m off,” she said, a forced air of cheeriness in her voice. “Have a great weekend.”
“You, too,” he said as he leaned back in his chair and regarded her through narrowed eyes. The slight droop at the corners of her mouth belied her cheery farewell. “Missing her already?”
She smiled. “How did you know?”
“It will be all right,” he said by way of reassurance. “Enjoy your weekend.”
Demurely she nodded then went out, pulling the door shut behind her.
