The Diamond Dad

CHAPTER SEVEN

'Daddy, you will look after poor Barker, won't you?'

'I've already promised I will.'

'Yes, but really?’

'Really. My word on it.'

It was time for Cindy and Adrian to go to the school camp in Cornwall but, on the morning of departure, Cindy had qualms about leaving her friend.

'He's not very well,' she explained for the tenth time. 'He was limping last night and I think his legs are hurting again.'

'Then I'll take him to the vet,' Garth assured her.

'This morning?'

'This morning.'

'You won't make him wait?'

'Cindy, get into the car!'

'But you won't make him wait, will you?'

'I won't make him wait.'

'You're sure?'

'I'm sure.'

'Sure sure?'

'Cindy, I'll take him to the vet.' Garth was beginning to sound frazzled.

'Promise?'

'Get into the car.'

'Promise?'

Garth tore his hair. 'I promise, I promise. Now, get into the car, both of you, or we'll be late and they'll go without you.'

But she couldn't depart without reassuring Barker that he would be all right because Daddy had promised.

'Cindy, I'm leaving in exactly one minute,' Garth said, at the end of his tether. 'With you or without you.'

Both children kissed Faye and scrambled into the car. As they drove away Faye was sure she could hear Cindy's voice faintly, saying, 'Daddy, you're sure you won't forget…?'

She enjoyed a private chuckle. As Garth had said, he was handling his task with subtlety. He'd even gone to watch Adrian playing football. His team had made it to the final of the inter-schools trophy and the whole family had been there for Adrian's big day.

Everyone had enjoyed it enormously, and when Cindy had kissed her father goodnight at the foot of the stairs she'd whispered, 'Thank you for coming, Daddy. You made it really special.'

'Hey, what about Mummy?' he'd queried. 'She was there too.'

'That's different. Mummy's always there.'

Faye had overheard this exchange from the kitchen and had come out, smiling quizzically at Garth.

'Don't take that the wrong way,' he'd said hastily.

'How should I take it?'

'She didn't mean to put you down.' Through his awkwardness she had detected the attempt at kindness.

'I didn't take it that way. Garth, Cindy has just said the nicest thing about me that any child can say about a parent. I promise you, I don't feel put down.'

'The nicest thing-?' She'd watched as comprehension dawned on his face. 'She said you're always there. Yes-yes, I see.' He'd sounded heavy, and she'd felt a stirring of pity for him. He was trying so hard, but something constantly eluded him.

Now it was the great day of departure for Cornwall. Garth returned from dropping off Cindy and Adrian, looking weary. 'I watched the coach go and Cindy was at the window, mouthing "Barker" at me,' he said.

'Don't worry, I've called the vet. His appointment is in an hour.'

'Faye-actually-'

'I'll take him,' she said, smiling.

'Thanks. And by the way, before I go, will you make a date in your diary for next Monday, at noon? I'm having a press function for the anniversary range and I need you there.'

'You mean I've got to meet journalists and talk to them?'

'It's no big deal. It's not the proper launch. That will be on the exact date of our anniversary. This is a kind of teaser, to let the property press get a hint of what's in store. We'll have models of the houses on display. I'll give you some booklets about them in advance, so that you can discuss them knowledgeably.'

'I'm just kind of shy about being on show,' she demurred.

'But you promised to help me out,' he reminded her, 'and this is the sort of thing I need you to do.'

'Of course it is,' she said, pulling herself together. 'Don't worry, I'll turn up and do my stuff.'

'Great. And buy a new outfit. The best of everything.'

'So that when they look at me they'll say, "Boy, must he be doing well if she can afford to dress like that!'"

He grinned. 'You're developing a real talent for this.

Miss McGeorge examined Barker thoroughly and said his painkillers weren't quite strong enough. She prescribed some different pills and gave him the first one immediately. By that afternoon he was moving more easily and by early evening he was as mischievous as ever.

'I see he's back to normal,' Garth observed when he returned. 'Down, boy! This suit's just been cleaned.'

'The vet gave him stronger pills,' Faye said. 'I think they're doing the trick.'

'Good.'

'But it'll be a few days before we're certain. I've made another appointment-'

'You're doing a great job, Faye. Now, I've got a pile of work to get on with-'

'But you need to know all this. You're supposed to be caring for Barker.'

'Of course, and I promise you I'm taking it very seriously. But you can brief me later. Tell Nancy to bring me a snack in the study, will you?'

'But Cindy will-'

'By the way, I brought this home for you.' He handed her a thick folder. 'It'll tell you everything about the anniversary range.' He vanished.

Faye glared at his study door, then sighed. When she'd spoken to Nancy she returned to studying a list of traditional anniversary gifts.

'Paper after the first year,' she mused. 'He gave me a book that I'd been longing for. It was terribly expensive, and he starved himself to pay for it. The next year it was cotton and he gave me that lovely summer housecoat. The third year, leather-that was a shoulder bag-'

How his eyes had shone as he offered his gifts to her! How happy he'd been when she was pleased! She drew a breath and firmly dismissed the memory.

At last came the call from the children to say they'd arrived safely. Adrian told her all about the journey, before saying, 'Cindy's here and she-' His voice faded, there was a slight scuffle and Adrian hissed, 'Let me finish, you little brat.'

Then Cindy's voice. 'Hello, Mummy.'

'Hello, darling. Is it nice in camp?'

'It's super. Mummy, how's Barker? Did Daddy take him to the vet? What happened? Is he any better?'

'Just a minute.' Faye pressed a switch to connect the call to Garth's study, and walked in.

'Pick up the phone,' she said. 'Cindy wants to talk to you.'

She stayed there while he answered. She could tell that the little girl must have launched straight into her favourite topic. Garth became slightly defensive, while trying to sound in control.

'Yes, darling, of course I took- That is, Barker's been to the vet and he's much better- Well, because the vet gave him stronger pills,' he finished, repeating Faye's words. From his frown it was clear that he was trying to recall the rest.

'They seem to be working,' he continued gamely, 'but it'll take a few days to be sure- Well, on his next appointment- That's right, he's booked in for-'

He signalled wildly to Faye, who mouthed, 'Next week.'

'Next week,' he repeated into the phone. 'The exact day? I forget-' He appealed silently to Faye, but she shook her head and backed out.

Listening from the hall, she had to admit that he improvised pretty well for a man who didn't know what he was talking about. But the way he slammed the phone down made his feelings clear.

'I suppose you've been standing out here, enjoying yourself,' he grunted, emerging from the study.

'Don't blame me,' she said impishly. 'I tried to give you a full briefing earlier, but you were too busy to listen.'

'So you landed me in it.'

'You landed yourself in it. After all, you know the saying.'

'No, I don't, but I'm sure you're going to have fun telling me.'

'If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.'

'What?'

'If you can't keep the promise, don't make it. If you want to take the credit, you've got to put in the work. Cindy asked you to care for Barker, not me, because it matters to her that you should do it.' She smiled at him cheekily. 'So do it.'

'Thanks! Thanks a lot!'

He would have died sooner than let her suspect that she'd startled him, not only with her challenge but in what she'd learned about tough dealing. As a tough dealer himself he respected that. He wondered where his wife had learned all these disconcerting lessons.

Faye finally bought herself a matching blue silk coat and dress. It cost a fortune and looked it, which she knew would satisfy her husband. On the whole she was pleasantly surprised by her own appearance.

She rejected his offer to send his chauffeur-driven car for her and drove herself there. A parking space had been reserved for her. Doors opened at her approach and she was instantly conducted to the top floor, where Garth reigned.

She was interested to see his new London premises, which he'd acquired since their parting. She found them much as she'd expected, quietiy luxurious and efficient.

Money had been spent, but not on frills. Garth got value from every penny.

As she stepped out of the lift an overpoweringly gracious young woman was waiting for her. Faye knew at once that this could only be Lysandra. Everything about her fitted the superior voice she'd heard on the telephone. Lysandra was tall and slender, dressed in an elegant charcoal business suit. With her shoulder-length red hair and gold accessories, she looked stunning. Faye had felt stylish until that moment, but next to the super- chic Lysandra she could sense herself retreating into dowdiness.

'Good morning, Mrs Clayton,' she said, advancing with her hand outstretched. 'I'm Lysandra Bates, Mr Clayton's Director of Publicity. We've all been looking forward so much to meeting you.'

'We?' Faye asked, surprised.

'Everyone in the Publicity Department. It's such a coup for us to have you part of the campaign.' Her tone implied that Faye had no other existence.

'Mr Clayton said you were a little hesitant at first, but I was sure you'd be glad you agreed when you knew how much this mattered to us,' Lysandra continued. She led the way into a room that was luxuriously furnished with pale grey leather armchairs, offering her tea, coffee. Nothing could have been more gracious or deferential than her manner, yet Faye detected a faint hint of contempt. This smooth, beautiful young woman had sized her up and found her wanting.

Garth appeared and greeted Faye with a polite smile and a kiss on the cheek. She responded in the same way. They were like two actors performing their roles perfectly on cue.

'Lysandra will show you the models and explain everything,' he said. 'The press will start to arrive in about an hour.'

'Everything is quite ready,' Lysandra told him. 'Press packs, free samples-'

Faye attempted a mild joke. 'You give free samples of houses?'

Lysandra's laughter managed to combine weary courtesy, exaggerated patience and restrained derision in equal measure. 'Naturally not. But there are many smaller items, which the construction press appreciate. It's part of my job to know them all personally and to select free gifts to suit the individual.'

'I'm sure you've covered every detail admirably,' Garth told her. 'You never let me down.'

Unlike his wife, Faye thought.

'I try not to,' Lysandra told him with a smile that excluded Faye. 'I'll fetch you when they're all assembled.'

'Come into my office as soon as it's over,' Garth said. 'We have a lot to discuss.'

Faye was about to say that she preferred to leave at once when she realized he was talking to his beautiful assistant. When he did address her it was to say, 'Lysandra will look after you. Leave everything in her splendid hands.'

He disappeared.

'It's this way,' Lysandra said, pointing across the corridor. Faye followed her and found herself in a huge corner room with windows on two sides. Six other people, power-dressed women and men in business suits, were already there, crowding around something in the centre. Lysandra introduced them as members of the Publicity Department, and showed Faye what they were looking at. On a large display plinth stood six models of houses, each one about two feet wide by eighteen inches high.

'These are our very newest designs, and top secret at the moment,' Lysandra explained. She flashed Faye a beaming smile, revealing small, perfectly white teeth. 'Not secret from you, of course.' Everyone laughed at this witticism. Faye smiled.

'There are two for those with more modest incomes, two for the executive class, and these two are de luxe,' she continued smoothly. 'And you'll be delighted to know that we've finally managed to find the right name for them.'

'How thrilling!' Faye said.

'Yes, isn't it? It's going to be called the Diamond Range. We all had to put our thinking caps on but, with it being your tenth anniversary, of course the name had been staring us in the face all the time.'

Any minute now she's going to pat me on the head, Faye thought. Aloud, she said, 'I'm afraid I don't see the connection with my wedding anniversary.'

'Your tenth wedding anniversary,' Lysandra corrected gently. 'The time when husbands give their wives diamond jewellery. That's why we've called this the Diamond Range.' She said the last words slowly, as if to an idiot.

'But there's some mistake,' Faye said. 'The tenth anniversary gift is tin or aluminium. Diamonds are for the sixtieth.'

Lysandra's perfect smile barely wavered. 'I think not,' she said sweetly. 'I have the list here.'

Faye studied it with bewilderment, unable to recognize anything. Instead of the traditional paper, cotton, leather of the first three years, she read clocks, china, and crystal.

'Fourth-appliances?' she said. 'The fourth was always fruit and flowers. And the fifth was wood, but here it says silverware.'

'I see what's happened,' Lysandra said with a forgiving smile. 'You're thinking of the old list, but we work from the one that came in about fifteen years ago. The tenth anniversary is diamond jewellery. Naturally Mr Clayton will be giving you diamonds. In fact, we've already selected some pieces for your approval.'

'We?' Faye asked.

'Mr Clayton relies on me for everything,' Lysandra said coolly. 'I was able to suggest some diamond pieces that might be suitable, since you were-er-unavailable for consultation. Perhaps you'd care to inspect them now.'

Too dazed to protest, Faye looked on as Lysandra produced several black velvet trays on which sparkled earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets. They were beautiful, but she felt no pleasure. They seemed like the very essence of everything that had gone wrong between herself and Garth.

'They're lovely, aren't they?' Lysandra cooed. 'So much better than tin, so I'm sure you'll feel you've gained by the exchange.'

'But I don't,' Faye said defiantly. 'I just think it's sad to throw away the old traditions.'

'Old traditions are so sweet,' Lysandra said, 'but not very functional.'

'And your list is very functional, isn't it?'

'Oh, it's been an immense help to people like us in the construction industry.'

People like us. She was talking about herself and Garth.

'But it's so false,' Faye said helplessly.

'False?'

'Artificial. This isn't the real anniversary list. It's just a way of selling more washing machines.'

'The modern customer demands appliances already installed in a new house-'

'Fine, then do that. But don't pretend it has anything to do with wedding anniversaries. I'm sorry, this just isn't what I agreed to help with.'

For the first time Lysandra was nonplussed. 'Well, if you'll-excuse me.' She hurried away, and returned a moment later with Garth.

'It had better be something important for you to have dragged me away from that meeting,' he said and, although he was speaking to Lysandra, Faye felt the words were directed at herself.

'We've got a problem,' she said, speaking pleasantly. 'I'm afraid I misunderstood why you wanted me. My fault, I dare say.'

'Well, I'm sure we can sort it out,' he said, also speaking with determined pleasantness.

'To me the tenth wedding anniversary means a gift of tin or aluminium, not diamonds. I didn't even know there was another list.'

'Well, surely you don't mind having diamonds?' he asked, frowning, and she knew he didn't really understand.

She shouldn't have started this, she thought. Why not just keep quiet and play her part? But some core of her, which had kept quiet too often in the past, insisted on standing firm.

'I do mind. If we're going to tie your new range in with our tenth wedding anniversary, then I think we should do it properly.'

'You're surely not suggesting that I give you tin?'

'It's what you're supposed to give,' she said stubbornly.

'Only from a sentimental point of view, surely?' Lysandra said. 'But this is a business decision. Mr Clayton and I have explored the matter from every angle and this decision offered optimum results.'

'Tin is the right thing,' Faye persisted. She met her husband's eyes, silently pleading with him, Don't take her side against me. Say at least that you understand my point of view.

But she knew Garth didn't understand a thing when she saw the anger flare in his eyes. He took her arm and drew her away from Lysandra, speaking in a soft, furious undervoice. 'If we'd still been living in a two-room flat it would be the right thing. But we've moved beyond that, in case you hadn't noticed. I'm a successful man, marketing a range of luxury houses for successful people. I can't celebrate that range with a tin plate. It would make me a laughing stock.'

'I'm sorry you feel that my standards make you a laughing stock, Garth, but that's the way I feel. I think you should do this without me.'

'You're a vital part of this promotion-'

'So why didn't you explain it to me properly?'

'I explained everything I thought needed explaining. I didn't know you were going to go off on this sentimental flight of fancy.'

'Thank you very much.'

He gritted his teeth. 'We'll talk about this tonight.'

'Tonight will be too late. I'd like to talk about it now.'

'Faye, don't do this to me, please. I've got a million things on my mind-'

'If I'm such a vital part of this, perhaps one of those things should be me.'

'All right, all right! I handled it clumsily. I'm sorry. Now can we just get on with this?'

'Without me.'

He was pale. 'You're not serious.'

'Garth, it never was a very good idea to out me in the press show. You and Miss Bates will handle everything perfectly together.'

Without another word she turned and walked out. Her head was up and she seemed calm, but inwardly she was seething with anger. As she reached the lift she heard a pattering of footsteps and turned to see Lysandra. When the lift doors opened Lysandra followed her in.

'What an unfortunate misunderstanding,' she said, smiling brightly. 'But I can assure you, Mrs Clayton, Garth didn't mean to upset you in any way.'

'I beg your pardon!' Faye said in frosty outrage.

'He doesn't always understand things the way we women do. Men aren't sentimental, are they? I promise you, Garth would be devastated to think-'

'How dare you?' Faye interrupted her fiercely. 'How dare you presume to explain my husband to me?'

'I assure you, I'm only-'

'You know nothing about him. Nothing!'

The lift had stopped. Faye stormed out and immediately pressed the button to make the doors close again. Her last view was of Lysandra gaping with astonishment.

Her fury sustained her all the way home but once there it began to seep away, to be replaced with weariness. The expensive silk clothes felt like an actor's costume for a role that was all wrong for her and she hurried to change them for dark green trousers and a pale yellow shirt. It was a lovely day and, with a linen jacket about her shoulders and flat shoes on her feet, she was ready for a stroll in the grounds.

'Come on,' she said to Barker. 'You're missing the children, aren't you?'

He padded amiably after her as she wandered into the trees. Faye threw the ball and was cheered to see him bound after it, obviously not in pain. But neither did he move with the vitality of a young dog and it brought home to her again how old he was. It was another reason for being angry with Garth.

'We're the same, you and me,' she said, sitting by the stream and fishing in her coat pocket for a biscuit. 'He's making use of us both to get what he wants. Underneath all his clever talk, that's the bottom line.' She stroked his ears. 'How's that for a mixed metaphor? What am I talking about? You wouldn't know a mixed metaphor if it jumped on you, not unless it was offering titbits.'

As if by a signal Barker began to sniff her coat. 'All right, here's a biscuit. Leave my fingers behind! What an idiot I was to make an issue of it! What else did I expect? We made a business deal and that's the only reason I'm here. Who cares what list he chose? It's all over between us, anyway.'

She settled herself more comfortably on the grass and stroked the furry head that was resting on her leg.

'You know who I was really mad at, don't you?' she mused. 'That woman. She acted as though she owned him. And she actually dared to explain him to me. To me't To his wife. I know him better than anyone. Oh, what does it matter? I'm not really his wife any more.'

She gave a sudden chuckle. 'But you should have heard me getting on my high horse with Lysandra. I've never done that before. Didn't know I could. That showed her. If you ask me, she sees herself as the next

Mrs Clayton.' Barker woofed agreement and eyed her coat significantly.

'OK, one more! But don't you dare suggest I'm jealous! She's welcome to him. It was just her being so rude that bothered me. Hey, I said one!'

They lingered together, enjoying the beautiful afternoon, until the sun began to set.

'Time to go in,' she said reluctantly. 'I'll bet he'll be home early tonight, and he'll have plenty to say to me.'

She was right. Garth arrived half an hour later and came looking for her. 'Can we talk?' he asked in an edgy voice.

'Yes. I'm sorry. It shouldn't have happened.'

'Whatever got into you to leave me with egg on my face like that? Everyone was expecting my wife to be there. I had to say you'd been taken ill. Are you going to do that on the big night?'

'No, of course not. The whole thing took me by surprise. I'd never heard of this other list. Why didn't you warn me?'

'I left everything to Lysandra. Besides, what difference does it make which list we use?'

She shrugged. 'None at all, I suppose.'

'You made a fool of me and I can't stand that. We had a bargain and you're not keeping it.'

'Garth, I'm sorry. What I did was-unprofessional, and I regret it.'

'Why, for heaven's sake? Why?'

'I told you, I was caught on the wrong foot. And that new list is horrible. You're only dragging me in because you think you'll sell more houses if you can make people feel warm and good. But there's nothing warm about washing machines. It's all so cynical.'

'I think I know best about marketing my own product.'

'You don't know much about families and these are supposed to be family homes-sorry, "product", since you have a problem with the idea of homes. You want to sell them to couples with children, people who love each other. Well, most wives and mothers would rather have a piece of tin given with love than all the diamonds in the world in this calculating way.'

'Tin! For Pete's sake!'

'I can remember when you didn't despise tin.'

'I can't.'

'Then it's your loss. When we were first married we ate off tin plates that we bought at a second-hand camping store. In fact, we didn't even buy them. You mended that man's boiler for free, and he gave us some things for the flat.'

'Oh, yes, and I felt ashamed because I'd started our marriage by failing you. I wanted to give you the moon and we ended up with stuff that nobody else wanted.'

'But I didn't care,' she said wildly. If only she could make him understand, even now. 'I was happy just to be with you. I thought you felt the same.'

'I was never happy until I could give you the nice things you deserved. I worked like a Trojan until I had enough for my own little builder's yard, and then a big yard. And then the sky was the limit. I did it for you and all you can do is hark back to the days when I had nothing to give you, because I was nobody.'

'You were somebody to me,' she cried. 'And to the children. But that wasn't enough for you. You've turned into such a different man.'

'Thank goodness!' he said abruptly.

'I'll never say that. I'll never stop mourning the man

I lost. He was all the world to me, but he went away and never came back.' She could see by his face that hi didn't understand. They were strangers shouting in the dark, and a sudden burst of anguish made her cry, 'Oh, Garth, don't you remember?'

He was silent awhile before answering. 'Maybe my memories are different to yours,' he said at last, seeming to speak with difficulty. 'We obviously didn't find the same things important.'

'We thought we were together,' she said with a sigh. 'And we were travelling separate paths all along. And now here we are, in sight of the end.'

'Don't,' he said sombrely. 'Don't look back, Faye. We both know that's a mistake. We've each chosen our lives.'

There was a sadness in his face that she hadn't seen before. Suddenly she leaned over and kissed him. It was an impulse. She wasn't even sure what she wanted to come of it, except perhaps to evoke the old Garth, even if only fleetingly.

For a moment she thought it was happening. After a brief surprise he kissed her back, with a kind of yearning ache. She could feel him trembling, though whether with passion or emotion she wasn't sure. She tightened her arms, seeking to reach the part of him that lived behind the proud barrier. Her strong resolutions vanished. If only she could still touch his heart…

'Garth,' she whispered in a pleading voice, 'try to remember…' He lifted his head to search her face. She could see his eyes and read their trouble and confusion. Then he tensed and broke free from her.

'This isn't a good idea, Faye. You were right all along about it being over.'

'Yes,' she stammered. 'Yes I was…' 'There's nothing for us now but to see this through to the end and say goodbye.' A shudder went through him. 'So, for pity's sake, let's get it over with quickly.'