The Sisters Page 24

  Carlotta spoke first. ‘So you’re wealthy?’

  ‘I have money, yes,’ said Frank carefully.

  ‘From where?’ asked Chris.

  ‘Dot com, a few investments, and app I invented, I started with family money,’ he answered.

  Chris nodded. ‘Frank came to see me to float this idea. We met a few weeks ago. I was sworn to not tell you. I’m sorry.’

  He smiled at the sisters. Only Violetta and Carlotta looked at him in return with any sort of understanding.

  Violetta spoke for Grace, feeling her pain and anger across the room. ‘Why didn’t you tell Grace?’ she asked Frank quietly.

  ‘Because I’m private, and I wanted our relationship to be about us. When I found out who she was it made it easier, but Grace darling, you accepted me for who I was without money, now please accept me for who I am with,’ he almost begged her across the table.

  Grace looked at him with almost hate in her eyes. ‘Did you think I was some gold digger? That I would ask you to come and solve all my family’s problems?’ she spat at him.

  ‘No, not at all.’

  ‘I don’t get it, Frank. I don’t understand. You promised me no secrets.’

  ‘I know, it’s not a great way to start a relationship but I wanted to tell you and I thought this was the best way. To make a big gesture, I guess.’

  His voice trailed away and Violetta felt sorry for him. He didn’t understand that Grace wasn’t the big gesture type of girl and his almost gauche announcement was exactly what she wouldn’t have wanted.

  ‘Relationship?’ laughed Grace as she stood up. ‘There is no relationship, Frank. You have wasted your money, I am afraid. I signed those papers for my family, but as far as you and I are concerned, we’re over before we even began.’ She turned to her sisters. ‘I will speak to you later to let you know where I am. Don’t call me.’

  Frank sat stunned.

  Grace stepped out of the room and Frank sat in silence. ‘Well, that was a royal fuck up,’ he said to himself.

  Carlotta shrugged her shoulders. ‘You should have told her, Frank.’

  ‘I realise that now,’ he said sadly.

  Violetta looked at Spencer who sat with his mouth open.

  Frank stood up and walked to the door. ‘I hope I see you again,’ he said, and then left the room.

  ‘Oh my God,’ said Violetta when he left. ‘What a fucking debacle.’

  ‘Want me to investigate him? See what I can find out,’ asked Spencer.

  ‘Absolutely,’ said Carlotta.

  Chris picked up the contract and slid it to Spencer over the table. ‘You’d better check this out too. I’ll get the legal team here to look at it as well.’

  Spencer spoke. ‘Chris, can you give me a moment with the girls?’

  Chris stood up. ‘Of course. Carlotta, can I see you afterwards?’ he asked.

  Carlotta looked away. ‘I have a few things to do, I’ll call you.’

  Chris refused to make a scene in front of Spencer and Violetta and left the room.

  Spencer took a deep breath. ‘I am glad Grace isn’t here. I think she has had enough news today.’

  Violetta put her hand over her mouth; she knew what was coming.

  ‘I received a call before the meeting,’ he said slowly. ‘The tests results are back.’

  Carlotta looked at Violetta and then back to Spencer. ‘What? What did they say?’ she asked.

  Spencer smiled at her and then at Violetta. ‘It seems that I am indeed your father.’

  35

  ‘One week till Christmas,’ Carlotta said from the safety of Violetta’s apartment, looking at the grey skies that threatened to bring snow.

  Violetta smiled. ‘I think I might organise something for us all.’

  ‘Shit, don’t you have enough to do?’ asked Carlotta, as she lounged on her sister’s sofa. ‘With Pajaro going crazy, how can you keep up with everything… and that dinner for the hospital you are planning?’

  Violetta shrugged. ‘I like to be busy. Anyway, Pajaro is fine, the stock is selling, thank God. And the dinner is on New Year’s Eve, so I have time.’

  ‘Well, if you want to do it, then go ahead. I’m not much use, I’m afraid,’ Carlotta said, adjusting her wristbands.

  ‘Do you think Chris and Alexia would like to come to Christmas dinner?’ asked Violetta carefully.

  Carlotta was silent for a moment. ‘I don’t know,’ she answered.

  ‘Have you told him?’ asked Violetta, looking at her flat stomach.

  ‘Nope.’

  ‘Fuck, Carlotta, the man deserves to know.’

  ‘I know, I just haven’t found the time,’ Carlotta said with a frown.

  ‘Find the time then. You don’t do anything all day except annoy me,’ said Violetta good-naturedly.

  ‘I will, I just have to find the right moment. I think Frank’s little outburst taught me a thing or two about timing.’

  ‘I know. How is Grace, have you spoken to her?’ asked Violetta.

  ‘She’s OK, she’s disappeared somewhere, refuses to tell me where in case I blab to Frank, which I wouldn’t do,’ said Carlotta peevishly.

  Violetta was quiet, thinking about the receipt from the drugstore she deliberately had left Chris with. He must have worked it out by now and yet he hadn’t made any attempt to try to speak with her sister. Men, she thought, and then she thought about Jeff and smiled to herself.

  ‘What are you smiling about?’ asked Carlotta lazily.

  ‘Nothing,’ said Violetta, blushing.

  ‘Your doctor?’ teased Carlotta.

  ‘He’s so great, Lotty. Really, I can’t wait for you to talk to him outside of the hospital. I really like him.’ She beamed at her sister.

  Carlotta smiled at her sister’s joy. ‘I’m happy for you, sweetie.’

  ‘I’m so sick of the TV thing though. We can’t go out anywhere because it would be bad for Jeff and bad for the TV show, so we have to sneak around everywhere. It’s so boring. I want be real, you know?’

  ‘How long do you have to go till it’s finished?’ asked Carlotta.

  ‘Two weeks. Two weeks too long,’ moaned Violetta.

  ‘That’s lame.’

  ‘I know. The last shoot is the night of the fundraiser dinner on New Year’s Eve. Thankfully we can sit next to each other then, because it’s work, but I can’t even flirt or hold his hand or anything.’

  ‘Poor Violet,’ said Carlotta.

  ‘Shut up,’ laughed Violetta.

  ‘So I will organise Christmas then. Mom will be home and Spencer will be with us,’ she said excitedly.

  ‘Are you going to call him Dad?’ asked Carlotta.

  ‘I don’t think so, he’s just Spence to me,’ said Violetta, thinking. ‘I told Grace.’

  ‘I know, she told me. She and Spencer have been talking.’

  Violetta's buzzer rang. ‘Who’s that?’ she said as she got up.

  ‘If it’s Chris tell him I’m in South America,’ said Carlotta from the sofa.

  Violetta rolled her eyes at her as she left the room. She walked back in, her face ashen. ‘It’s some detectives to see us.’

  Carlotta sat up. ‘What do they want?’

  ‘I don’t know, but I think we are about to find out,’ said Violetta, as she went to wait by the front door.

  The men walked into the room and nodded to Carlotta.

  ‘Please sit down,’ said Violetta, gesturing to the chairs and clearing a pile of magazines from one of them.

  The men sat down. ‘We have come with news about your father,’ one said, looking at Carlotta.

  Carlotta went to speak but Violetta interrupted her. ‘Absolutely, what do you know?’ she asked.

  ‘We have news that your father’s body has been found in his villa in Morocco.’

  ‘Body? He’s dead?’ said Carlotta.

  ‘Yes, there was a fire. He was the only one deceased. We got the news last night,’ the other man said.

&
nbsp; ‘Fuck,’ said Violetta aloud. She was strangely emotional and looked down at the table, concentrating on the pattern in the wood.

  ‘Through investigations by authorities over there, it seems that Matthew Sanger has been charged with his murder.’

  ‘Murder? Oh my God,’ said Carlotta, looking at Violetta.

  ‘What happened?’ asked Violetta.

  ‘He set fire to the villa and tried to rescue his mother and your father, but the plan went wrong, and while he was able to get out his mother, your father was overcome with smoke inhalation and he couldn’t get him out. The word is he was trying to be some sort of a hero, something about showing your father his worth, I believe he said in his statement.’

  ‘Oh my God,’ said Carlotta again.

  ‘Yes, so of course you may wish to bring his body back, we can get you all the details. I understand this is a trying time for you with your father’s involvement in the missing money from Pajaro and him being implicated with your mother’s injury.’

  ‘What will happen to Matthew?’ asked Carlotta.

  ‘He will face court over there, although he has confessed to his part,’ said the detective, not caring since it wasn’t in his jurisdiction.

  ‘So that’s it then?’ Violetta asked.

  ‘Well, not all. I believe his lawyers will be in touch with you in regards to the details about his will and his final request,’ he said, getting up.

  The other man stood next to him. ‘I am sorry for your loss,’ he said, unsure if this was the right thing to say.

  Carlotta stood also and let the men out, returning to see Violetta still sitting in shock.

  ‘You OK?’ she asked as she sat down on the floor at her sister’s feet.

  ‘I don’t know. I feel sad sort of, for Leon and for Matthew.’

  Carlotta nodded. ‘I know. We need to tell Grace.’

  ‘I’ll call her,’ said Violetta.

  ‘I’ll call Spencer.’ Carlotta pulled out her phone.

  Violetta walked into the bedroom and dialled Grace’s number.

  ‘Hey, it’s me.’

  ‘Hey,’ said Grace.

  ‘Listen, I have news.’

  ‘What now?’ asked Grace, ‘I don’t think I can handle any more.’

  ‘Leon’s been found dead.’

  Grace said nothing so Violetta continued. ‘Matthew’s been arrested, he’s been charged with murder. He lit a fire.’

  Violetta couldn’t even hear Grace breathe on the other end of the line. ‘Gracie, you there?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m here,’ Violetta heard Grace say softly.

  ‘You going to be OK?’ she asked. ‘Want me to come and be with you?’

  ‘I’ll be OK. I just need to process it.’

  Violetta didn’t know what else to say. Poor Grace, she thought, her world had been rocked the most.

  ‘Darling, I’m doing something for Christmas,’ said Violetta, trying to coax some joy from her sister. ‘Mom will be home and Spencer and Carlotta, please say you can come.’

  ‘I don’t know, Letty. I’ll see.’

  ‘OK, I’ll save you a seat,’ said Violetta, knowing not to push. ‘Just tell me you’re safe.’

  ‘I’m safe,’ said Grace. ‘Is Lotty OK?’

  ‘She’s fine, whining and bitching on my sofa.’

  Grace laughed a little. ‘Has she told Chris yet?’

  ‘No. Don’t even start.’

  ‘I have to go. Call you later,’ said Grace.

  ‘OK, bye darling, call me anytime,’ said Violetta, and she sat thoughtfully.

  Carlotta walked into the bedroom. ‘I rang Spencer. He had just heard and was heading to a meeting with Leon’s lawyers. Apparently he hadn’t changed his will, so the money he took is being returned to Pajaro. Melanie is a fool. Now she has nothing and her precious son is in jail,’ she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

  ‘How was Grace when you told her?’ Carlotta asked.

  ‘Detached. Odd. I don’t know what to do about her. I hope she’s not drinking again.’

  ‘Have you heard from Frank?’ asked Carlotta.

  ‘No, you?’

  ‘Nope,’ said Carlotta.

  The sisters sat in silence and then Carlotta stood up. ‘I’m going.’

  ‘Where?’ asked Violetta.

  ‘I’m going to see Chris.’

  ‘What?’ Violetta’s mouth dropped open. ‘Why now?’

  Carlotta shrugged. ‘Because there is so much bullshit in this family right now, I thought I should add to the drama.’

  Violetta smiled at her. ‘I understand, you want to get it out of the way.’

  Carlotta touched her stomach. ‘I think I want to keep it,’ she said, her face flushing.

  Violetta stood up and hugged her sister. ‘I’ll support you whatever you want.’

  Carlotta clung to her. ‘I love you.’

  ‘I love you too,’ said Violetta.

  Carlotta rang Chris as she left Violetta’s apartment but he didn’t answer so she left a message. As she walked along Madison, she looked at the shop windows. It felt good to be out after hiding inside for so long.

  She stopped at the window of Bonpoint. She had never looked inside a children’s store before, and she pushed open the door and entered a French provincial dream. As she wandered about touching the cashmere wraps and the tiny cardigans and knitted hats, she wondered at the size of them and if her baby would be that small.

  Without thinking, she found herself buying a small linen horse with a bell around its neck. As the girl wrapped it carefully in tissue and boxed it, Carlotta felt the moment was surreal.

  She took the elegant bag that the girl handed her and walked from the shop and back onto the street. Chris still hadn’t phoned her back and she resigned herself to him not calling her ever again. She had all but formally resigned from Pajaro. Grace had disappeared. Violetta was the only one who wanted to stay there.

  Carlotta glanced at her reflection in the mirror as she passed another shop. She looked fine, not a hint of pregnancy. Five weeks, the doctor had said. Thank God it wasn’t Berconi’s, was her first thought, and then she had thought of Chris. She knew he didn’t want children or marriage or anything remotely pedestrian. But somewhere deep down, Carlotta did want that. Not for anything else than losing the loneliness that followed her around.

  As she walked towards her own apartment, she checked her phone again. Still no word from Chris. She sighed as she took the elevator up to her mother’s apartment. As the doors opened, she was shocked to see Chris sitting on the floor outside her door.

  ‘What the hell are you doing?’ she asked.

  ‘You rang and then my cell ran out of charge and I figured I would meet you back here,’ he said sheepishly.

  Carlotta opened the door and stepped over him. ‘Well, come in then,’ she said, and put the shopping bag on the floor.

  Chris got to his feet and walked inside, shutting the door behind him.

  ‘So what’s the deal?’ he asked. ‘Why are you avoiding me?’

  ‘I’m pregnant, Chris.’

  ‘I know,’ he said, putting his hands in his pockets.

  ‘How do you know? Why didn’t you say something to me?’ she demanded.

  ‘I knew because I guessed and I didn’t say anything because it’s your body and your choice,’ he said, covering up Violetta’s revelation to him.

  Carlotta stood and crossed her arms. ‘I don’t expect anything from you. Not marriage, not money, nothing. You can be as involved as you like.’

  Chris nodded. ‘What if I want more?’

  ‘Well, we can work out a custody arrangement, I guess.’ Carlotta turned from him to try to hide her tears.

  Chris walked over to her. ‘Carlotta, you are as stubborn as a mule,’ he laughed. ‘It’s you I want.’

  She turned to look at him. ‘Really? You know I’m crazy, right?’ she said, tears falling down her face.

  ‘I know,’ said Chris, ‘but I’m twice a
s mad.’

  ‘Lucky we have Alexia,’ they both said at the same time, and burst into laughter.

  Chris pulled her to him and kissed her and Carlotta felt herself relax for the first time since she had found out she was pregnant.

  ‘I love you, you crazy woman,’ said Chris. ‘I don’t need to be married to tell you that but if you want to be married then we can be.’

  Carlotta laughed. ‘I love you too, Chris, and thank you for saying that. I don’t really want to be married at this point but I do want to be with you and Alexia.’

  ‘So, we don’t but we do?’

  ‘Yes, that’s exactly right. We don’t right now, but we might one day. I have to sit down,’ Carlotta said quickly, the dizziness returning.

  ‘Sure, sure, you OK?’ he asked. ‘Water?’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Chris returned with a glass of water and sat beside her. He rubbed her back as she sipped. ‘How far gone are you?’

  ‘Five weeks. Don’t worry, it’s yours,’ she said defensively.

  ‘I never doubted it for a minute, I was just asking.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘It’s OK,’ he smiled.

  Carlotta rubbed her temples. ‘Leon’s dead,’ she said.

  ‘What the fuck?’

  ‘I know. It’s crazy. Matthew lit a fire and pretended to rescue him but his plan didn’t work and now he been charged with murder,’ she said tiredly.

  Chris shook his head in disbelief. ‘Your family is insane.’

  ‘I know. You really should run far away from me,’ she said, and lay back in the chair, her shoulders sagging.

  Chris lay back next to her and put his arm around her. ‘But it’s fucking fun!’ he said.

  They laughed until they cried. And then went to meet Alexia after school.

  Alexia cried on Chris’s shoulder when he told her. ‘Are you OK, sweetie?’ he whispered.

  ‘I wished for this, Dad, I wished so hard. I wished harder than when I wish that I could walk again.’

  Chris held her and Alexia reached out for Carlotta’s hand.

  They were a family.

  36

  Grace stood at the edge of the ocean and felt the sun warm her bones. Deciding to come to St Barts had been the smartest thing she had done all year, she thought, as she looked at the crystal clear water of Flamands Bay.