Take a Chance on Me (23 page)

‘It's definitely not about just showing your face, is it,' she said, tenderly.

His answer was a crinkle in the corner of his eyes. ‘See you later, Ms Turner.'

‘We'll chat later, right?'

He paused. ‘Right.'

‘See you later, Missah Anderson.' She smiled.

He went to kiss her on the cheek, then thought better of it as she turned awkwardly, reaching instead for his hand as if to shake it. He ending up patting her arm. They stood apart, slightly embarrassed.

‘Get your glad rags on this afternoon. The ones you kept. I guess the ones you sent back weren't so glad.' He looked at Sadie with a sideways glance. She made a face at him.

‘I will be paying for them myself, thank you. And the, er … phone. Will be just a loan. For now. OK? But I'll make my rags look perfectly adequate, don't you worry.'

‘You
wow
that Bill Galloway and it won't matter
what
his son thinks.'

‘I will, Mac.' A beeeeep sounded from outside.

‘Looks like the bus is leaving. Hurry.'

She rushed to the door and waved back. But he was gone.

As Sadie was lining up to get back on board the coach, the air filled with a loud thudding, and a helicopter taxi appeared in the sky overhead. The whole yard was suddenly full of windswept, cheering children, rushing to wave to the helicopter as it rose up into the sky from behind the trees, and disappeared in the direction of the beach. Mac was at the window and waved back at them, and, Sadie thought idly, at her too.

Up in the helicopter the children were now just diminishing dots hundreds of feet below. Mac let his face go, and immediately it became furrowed once more. He turned away from the window.

Another home, another wrench to leave them.

It wasn't a question of saving them all – even Mac's pot wasn't bottomless. And often it wasn't just about the money. These kids needed love. But he wasn't the one to rely on for that. Whatever money he could give, however, he would, and he'd keep on giving for as long as he knew he could make a difference. Giving his time was another matter. It meant giving of himself. And some parts he just wasn't ready to give.

But in a year's time, if all went according to plan, all that would be different.

He gave a command to the pilot to descend towards the beach a few miles in the distance, the sun glinting off the golden sand and vivid blue water. He felt a pull in his stomach and he closed his eyes.
Children's homes.
Each time it drained him, as much as it energised him.

Too many memories, too much pain. Twenty years ago one of those kids would have been …
Snapping his eyes open again, he shook away the chains anchoring him to the past and looked out the window.

The helicopter pilot began his descent and Mac felt adrenaline start to flow. Nothing helped him escape the past more than his extreme sports – except they'd had to become more and more extreme over the last few years to satisfy the growing emptiness within. Surfing some waves would have to do for now – he had to find some way to clear his mind. And get some serious sea swimming in, so that his training didn't go completely to pot.

He'd revealed a little more of himself than anyone ever saw today. To Sadie Samantha Businesswoman. So, most of all, he needed to clear away the image of Sadie's face, soft in wonderment, watching him hold the little boy. And he definitely needed to banish his innate instinct to hold her too. 'Cos that just wouldn't do. Wouldn't do at all.

Besides, he needed to focus. Because in about three hours it was make or break time for the deal, and possibly for Sadie's future. And what he hadn't told her was that after this morning, it could go either way.

Sadie got back to the hotel and showered for the second time in five hours. Humidity had a lot to answer for. It had been a busy morning – all that science and seeing Mac's soft side all before lunch.

An hour later, she was still in the bedroom, with two half-finished cups of coffee sitting beside her. She was sitting on the bed with her legs up, her chin on one knee, checking for any messages on her new mobile phone. There they were at last – the latest performance results from the early trials on the water samples. She read them through, then sent a quick text home, and left the phone to charge.

Still no word from Mac.

She'd at least expected a heads up. Still, she reminded herself, it was probably Alexis who was getting the briefing from him right this minute. Probably somewhere in the hotel. Maybe even just the two of them, alone in Mac's room, she was probably …

Brrrrrrrinnng.

The room phone rang and she nearly jumped off the bed to answer it.

Mac!

‘Daaarling!'

‘Oh, it's you, Mum. You're up late.'

‘Yes, well the girls insisted on watching the TV with me and George.'

‘Mum! I told you about—'

‘Darling, we have news. I did leave a message earlier, at least I think I did. But I've got you now. Anyway, Georgia passed her Greek! I mean German! All on her own! See how clever she is? Yes, you are my smooch-coochy … what? They're not
your
cheeks, they're your mother's cheeks – and mine by proxy, so I'll pinch them if I want to! Anyway, go to bed, you can talk to her tomorrow. If she finds out I let you watch the late movie she'll … oh, here you are then.'

The plaintive voice of Sadie's youngest came on the phone.

‘Mum?'

‘Hello, darling. Told you you could do it. Did you use that verb conjugation I told you about, and—'

‘Mum …'

‘What?'

‘We miss you.'

A lump in Sadie's throat just about stopped her saying ‘Nana driving you nuts again, huh?' Instead, she said, ‘I miss you too, darling.'

‘Mum … if … if you can't afford to pay for the trip. We spoke about it. We'll give up the places. If you need us to.'

‘Let's see, my lovely,' Sadie replied, then got onto small talk as quickly as possible for a couple more minutes before Georgia gave her a big ‘mmmmmwah!' good night kiss, and handed her back.

‘Sadie, are you still there?' said her mum.

‘Yes, Mum.'

‘How's it going?'

Sadie slumped onto the bed. ‘To be honest, I don't know.'

‘What? Haven't they given you an answer about signing the contract yet? Will it be long? Can I buy my sports car yet?'

‘Mother …'

‘Well, it's nice to have something to look forward to darling, that doesn't involve George and bowls.'

‘I thought it was Herb.'

‘No, Herb's gone off with Greta. Anyway less about us and more about you. When
will
you hear, then?'

‘I really don't know, Mum.' And Sadie went on to have a quick word with her other daughter, who was unusually quiet. Sadie's creeping guilt began to make its way once more into her psyche. She badly missed home. But this trip was so important. And she needed someone to talk to about it all – and with her sister, Helen, incommunicado for a week or so, she decided to update her mother on everything that had happened. She normally wouldn't share everything with her in such detail, as it usually came back to haunt her, but Sadie felt lonely so it all came tumbling out. She had to admit she did feel a little better afterwards.

‘Well, don't forget we all love you. And think you're amazing and clever and all those things a mother should say to a daughter.' Sadie's mother paused. ‘And so often doesn't … I don't … Not often enough, darling.'

Sadie choked up a little at her words. Her mum went on, ‘Abi and Georgia understand, too, by the way. A big bill arrived this morning – one that wasn't on your list. So I had “the chat” with them earlier this evening.'

‘The chat?'

‘That the latest school trip had better be a no, after all, since it's just out of the question given your budget right now, and the extended deadline was yesterday, so they've both decided to turn it down, and agreed to tighten their belts too, till this is sorted.'

‘That explains a lot.'

‘Well, I told Abi being the only one in the class not to go to China is character building. And Georgia can stay with her friend, Suki, whose parents are getting a divorce so she can't go either and at least they can share each other's pissed-offness. After all, we've all had our fair share of disappointment in our lives, haven't we? I said haven't we, darling? Sadie?'

Sadie couldn't speak – she felt the lump grow exponentially bigger in her throat. Her eldest was going to miss out on the one trip she'd been talking about for a year. No wonder she was quiet.

Sadie felt the tears prickle and shook herself.
Just a little longer – so close now, so close. Think positive, think positive.

‘Well, it's bedtime now, for us at least. We'll talk again tomorrow. Nice to hear from you. Glad your back in mobile communication. I'll give the girls the news that they can harass the hell out of you again now, instead of me. Plus they can slag me off via the wonders of social media. Like those trawls.'

‘Trolls mum, you mean trolls.'

‘Whatever. Goodnight, sweetheart. And I'm sure it'll all work out, you'll see. Glass half full and all that. Now talking of glasses, where's my Chardonnay.'

Sadie said goodbye and dabbed her eyes with a tissue. She really wanted to go home but this was it now. At the big meeting this afternoon the heads of terms should be signed, and her future secured. At least Mac seemed sure it would. But her initial excitement at the cut and thrust of being thrown into the middle of a business battle had been replaced with a sense of anticlimax. Especially now she hadn't heard a word from Mac. She had a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. And she desperately hoped he'd be in touch soon. Unless something was the matter.

She got up, showered yet again, got changed and ready to go out, and was about to walk out the door when there was a knock.

Mac?

‘Hello, Sadie.'

Bill Galloway stood at the door.

‘I was wondering if you'd join me for a brief spot of lunch?'

Over lunch the old man looked troubled, but he carried on a conversation with Sadie nonetheless. She remembered him mentioning that he'd have liked a daughter once upon a time, and she had to admit, he reminded her just a little of her father.

As they ordered drinks, Bill quizzed Sadie about her work. He wanted to know her opinion of the plant, the science and more about her planned studies. Then Sadie told him about Peter's speech from the gantry – and that he only needed to break some loaves and share some fishes to complete the image.

‘You make me laugh, Sadie. In some ways you remind me of my late wife, God rest her.'

‘I bet she would have been proud of Peter and of what you've achieved.'

The old man hesitated, his smile fading. ‘In some respects, I'm sure she would.'

The subject turned to his support for the children's home.

‘Yes, when Peter's mother was alive we made many visits.'

‘The children are well looked after there, aren't they?'

‘Nowadays the homes are great, yes, but it wasn't always that way. My wife, she grew up in a home – it never left her. Kindred spirits, she said. We often went to visit the children together – especially in the early days.' The old man's eyes were wistful. ‘She always loved children but we were too busy back then. What with starting up the hotel, and everything.'

‘So the hotel came before you set up the first air taxi company here?'

‘You've done your homework.' He chuckled. ‘Yes, and the little mineral water plant, and the local bakery. Most of them have gone now though.'

‘Wow, it's a wonder you ever found the time to have children at all.'

‘Mmm,' Bill said, uncomfortably.

‘And the invention of Frish? Was that after Peter came along?'

‘Yes, I was always dabbling. Thelma – that's my wife – used to complain I spent too much time out in my den. It was only the garage, but I'd turned it into a lab. Helped me cope with the pressure of all those businesses. Once a scientist, always a scientist, but then you'd understand that, right?'

Sadie just smiled.

‘Ahh, yes, those years were the best. Little Peter always wanted to help me, always wanted to be involved, but he was quite an accident-prone young lad, always breaking things and knocking things over. Found him using my expensive equipment to make his own concoction once. Had to lock the lab door in the end.'

‘Well, he seems to have turned out fine.'

‘More credit to his mother than to me, really.' Bill looked skywards. ‘You see, Thelma, Peter's all down to you!' He chuckled and sipped some of his wine. ‘No, I was too busy selling Frish. Just making enough to sell locally to our friends. We had queues around the block back in the day, you know.'

‘Yes, I do know, you were telling me the story when we met at the Awards Ceremony.' Bill looked blank. ‘Two weeks ago? Where we met? Remember?' Sadie explained. Surely he remembered, it was only a fortnight ago.

‘Er, oh, yes, yes, of course I do. Occasionally get a bit foggy nowadays, I'm sorry, my dear.' Bill opened a bottle of Frish and glugged it down.

‘You said they came from far and wide to sample it. Miracle water, you said they called it! You must have been very proud.'

‘I was. It made a lot of people better. But it wasn't enough to save Thelma.' Bill gazed into the distance. ‘All the years of hard work to make it all a success. But by the time it was at its peak she was very ill. So Peter and I fulfilled her legacy, took it commercial after she passed on. Built a plant, then another plant. Now we must continue as best we can. We must expand to keep up. “Run before you can walk”, Thelma would have called it. Now we have to find a way to do it properly – that's where you come in, Sadie.'

‘I hope so. Gosh, you've been a busy man, Bill.'

‘Maybe too busy. Life goes by, you know? There's only so much you can do. Peter fights me. He doesn't agree, you know, with my offering you the chance to raise the funding we need.'

‘So I gathered.'

‘I'm sorry, Sadie. He is headstrong – only young still. He's only in charge of the plant, and cannot wait to be in charge of it all. He means well, but he's in too much of a hurry.'

‘Headstrong kid, huh? I've got two of those!' Bill patted her hand and Sadie felt a pang of missing her kids. She decided not to elucidate. ‘So does that part of him come from you – or his mum?'

‘Me, I'm afraid. Thelma was always the sensible one, a calming influence on both of us.'

‘And who does he look most like?' Sadie added, keen to distract Bill from a topic that obviously caused him some angst.

‘Ahh, well, you see, neither of us.'

Sadie looked perplexed.

‘It's not widely known but … we couldn't have children, in the end. Left it too late, you see. Peter was a special child – chosen by us.'

‘Not from the home?'

‘Yes. It was a natural step. It's not something he likes to talk about, however. Just like Mr Anderson.' The old man sighed, and poured some dressing on his salad. ‘They should get on well really.'

‘I'm sorry, what do you mean?'

‘Well, you know, when we found out Mac also grew up in a children's home, I felt it was fate. Destiny sends us these connections, you know?'

Sadie did her best to swiftly digest what she'd just heard.
There's another surprise – no wonder he showed such affinity with the kids this morning.

‘Like my winning that competition, only to come here and meet you? And having the scientific connections you needed right at that time for the product to be taken seriously?'

‘Exactly, my dear!' said the old man, and clinked glasses with Sadie.

‘Well, they say everything happens for a reason.'

‘One of my favourite sayings. Oh, you are indeed another kindred spirit, I knew you were. My instincts told me we would work well together. I just wish my son felt the same. He has … ahh, issues. Always has had. Mind you, without that there would be no Frish.'

‘Really?' asked Sadie, leaning forward and putting her elbows on the table. ‘Tell me more.'

‘He always seemed more calm and in control when he'd drunk enough water instead of rubbishy sodas. We banned them – long before people knew about these things. Then I just kept going till I found a formula he didn't mind drinking lots of.'

‘Why did you call it Frish?'

‘Frish was what Peter called it. He said it made him feel that way.'

Sadie laughed.

‘Said he'd never ever felt “frish” when he was at the children's home. Made me and his mother laugh. And the name stuck.'

‘Well, I think it's the name of a toilet cleaner back home,' she joked, making Bill laugh out loud.

‘I'm sure that won't matter, once our Frish is as big as we're hoping it will be. If Peter has his way it'll take over the world.'

‘Does Peter ever go back to the home? To help out?'

‘Never. He has been too busy, what with his science degree he's continuously studying for. Or that's what he calls it – studying. I think he's been a bit too distracted by the trappings of success. You need to be dedicated, like me. Like you, Sadie.'

‘Thank you, Bill. If nothing else, I'm dedicated for sure.'

‘If only Peter were too. But he is a good boy. Most of the time, anyway.' Bill's eyes clouded over a little. His half-hearted attempt at eating a forkful of salad was interrupted by a call from across the lunch hall.