'Karen!'
It was Owen Chissolm's voice. She turned and waited for him to catch up to her, and David broke away from her handhold and ran to greet him. The old man smiled and bent to return the greeting, chatting indulgently to his grandson for a minute or two before resuming his approach to Karen. The sober business suit of this morning had been replaced by casual slacks and a knitted shirt, and he looked more friendly than formidable.
Karen no longer feared him. He had been kindness itself to her and she did not know how she would have coped without him this morning. She could not even summon up any resentment towards the growing affinity between grandfather and grandson. Owen Chissolm was a good man.
'You'll get your trousers wet, Pop,' David warned.
'Then I'd better walk on the other side of Mummy and leave the splashing to you.'
He fell into step beside Karen and David happily resumed his water games. Karen knew that Owen Chissolm had been to the hospital again. It had been an enormous relief this morning when he had told her that his son had passed a peaceful night and seemed a little stronger. Even so, she still could not think of yesterday's encounter without shame.
She wished she had been more controlled, more dignified, and above all, more sympathetic to Hal's state of health. Even though she had only spoken the truth. If Hal had wanted children, he should have married Kirsty--to Karen's mind, that was the truth which exonerated Kirsty of having wronged Hal in anyway.
'Is ... is everything all right?' she asked stiffly.
'Hal is holding his own, if that's what you're asking.'
'Yes.'
She felt his sharp glance at her but kept her own gaze averted. No matter how good Owen Chissolm had been to her she could not feel kindly towards his son.
'There is one thing. Hal wants to see you again, Karen,' Owen Chissolm stated softly.
She clenched her teeth against a bitter retort, then swung a hard, mocking gaze to the man beside her. 'You mean he wants to see David.'
Owen Chissolm shook his head and eyed her with discomfiting concern. 'No, he's seen David, Karen. One look was enough to prove he was the father of the boy. As it was for me. A sick room is no place for a child to be visiting.' He paused and his voice softened to appeal. 'He wants ... needs ... to talk to you, Karen.'
'What about?' she grated, barely hiding the revulsion she felt at the thought of facing Kirsty's lover again.
'I don't know--he didn't tell me. I would assume that it's about David. Maybe Kirsty--I don't know.'
Kirsty! No, she didn't want to hear anything about Kirsty from Hal. She couldn't bear it. The memory of the pain and despair in Hal's eyes flashed into her mind and she thrust it away. He couldn't really have loved Kirsty. None of this would have happened if he had done the right thing by her. He was selfish and uncaring of anyone but himself.
'No, I won't go,' she said decisively. She had fulfilled her part of the bargain she had made with Owen Chissolm and even though she had known from the beginning that there would be more to it, she couldn't face that now. Not yet. She lifted eyes which held a mute plea for understanding. 'I'm sorry. It wouldn't do him any good, you know to Hal, I mean. I'd get upset. I can't ... I just can't feel ... indifferent to him.'
'You haven't given him much of a chance, Karen,' Owen Chissolm pointed out gently. He sighed and offered her a commiserating little smile. 'But it's been a very grim day for you. Perhaps you'll give it some thought.'
She didn't want to think about it but she nodded.
If Hal lived she would have to see him soon enough. His reaction yesterday indicated that he would want access to David.
'Are there any special flowers you would like me to order for the service tomorrow?'
Tears stung Karen'S eyes. Flowers--a wreath for Kirsty. Grief welled up again and she shook her head dumbly. She would do it herself when she went back to the hotel.
'I've had Kirsty's suitcase of belongings put in your room, Karen,' Owen Chissolm added gently, and handed her a sealed envelope. 'This was given to me this morning and I've held it back until now because you looked so distressed. Kirsty was wearing it.'
Karen knew what it was before she tore the envelope open and the fine gold chain with the little jade bird fell into her hand. Kirsty had bought it in Hong Kong, along with the little jade koala bear which hung around Karen's neck--their twenty-first birthday presents. 'This is me, as free as a bird,' Kirsty had declared gaily, 'and you're as lovable as a koala.' They had always worn them, another link between them. And suddenly Karen knew what flowers to buy. Strelitzia ... Bird of Paradise ... with the blue of the sky for a freewheeling bird and the fiery gold of Kirsty's wild spirit. Tears spilled down Karen's cheeks and there was nothing she could do to stop them.
Owen Chissolm gave her arm a gentle squeeze. 'I'll take David for a walk to the end of the breakwater, he can watch the fishermen for a while. All right, Karen?'
She nodded. He was good with David, drawing him smoothly away to give her time to recover. He was good to her too. Maybe she should see Hal, Karen thought miserably, if only to repay Owen Chissolm some of his kindness. The thought persisted at the back of her mind, a twinge of guilt which not even her grief for Kirsty could dispel.
She had regained her composure by the time they returned. David was full of chatter about the little drummer fish he had seen being caught. Owen Chissolm accompanied them back to the hotel imd had dinner with them before he took his leave for another visit to the hospital. He did not press Karen for a change of mind on Hal's request, but she was very conscious of the refusal he would be taking to his son. She felt mean, and she didn't like the feeling.
She did not sleep well. The next morning Owen Chissolm arrived at her door with an armful of parcels. 'Toys for David. I hope you don't mind, but they should keep him amused while we're away at the funeral service.'
Karen could not object. Again Owen Chissolm had thought of everything. Harper, his valet, had been assigned to baby-sit, and he arrived while David was still tearing open parcels in wide-eyed excitement. Harper had been very helpful in getting her and David settled into their rooms at the hotel, and he was a kindly man, very correct and polite, but with a gentle warmth in his manner which was automatically endearing.
Short and rotund, he was impeccably dressed as befitted a valet, and his sparse, greying hair was carefully combed over his balding crown. Gold-rimmed spectacles dominated what was an otherwise bland face and he looked far too formal to squat on the floor with David, but he proceeded to do so, apparently quite prepared to play with him.
Karen gave him a few practical instructions which he assured her would be carried out. David made no fuss about her leaving him; he was too entranced with his new toys. Karen wondered wryly if a child could be easily bought, then discarded the thought. Owen Chissolm was not trying to buy David. And Hal? Only God knew what Hal would do about David in the future. But maybe she should see him, if only to find out.