The Diamond Dad

But underneath he was as bad as ever. No, worse! To exploit his neglected children and his mockery of a marriage, showing the world a false picture of harmony, so that he could make money; even she had never thought he could do anything so monstrous. She could have wept to think of the feelings that had lit up the world for her recently. And it had all been a wicked mockery.

Garth was late home that night and Faye waited until he'd said goodnight to the children before she spoke to him.

'You're very quiet,' he observed.

'That's because I've been doing a lot of thinking.'

'About us?'

'About you. There is no "us", and there never will be.'

Something in her voice made him look at her sharply. 'What's up?'

'I've discovered the nasty little game you're playing.'

'Faye, what are you talking about? What "game"? I'm not playing games.'

'Oh, no, the making of money is deadly serious to you, isn't it? How stupid of me to forget it!'

'What's happened?' he asked quietly.

'I called you at work today. You left your papers behind on the sofa. But you were in a meeting and couldn't be disturbed.'

He made a sound of annoyance. 'I'm sorry about that. They should have put you through. Next time-'

'Garth, it's not about that. It's about the anniversary range-or should I say, the tenth anniversary range?'

He drew in a sharp breath. 'Damn!'

'Miss Bates naturally assumed I knew, since I'm part of the publicity. I'd have to be, wouldn't I, since you're featuring your happy, united family?'

'Faye, will you just hear me out? I was going to tell you at the proper time, in the proper way.'

'And what would have been the proper time and way to tell your wife that you've been going through the motions of wanting her back so that you could exploit her, and your children? It's all been a wicked pretence; the charming husband, the attentive father-anything to get us back under this roof in time for the press campaign. No wonder you pulled every trick! How could you have sold yourself as the perfect family man while we were living apart?'

'Will you let me speak? It's not the way you think-'

'Garth, you don't know what I think because if you did, you'd shrivel up inside.'

'That's why I didn't tell you before. I knew you'd misunderstand. This isn't a deep laid plot. Actually, it was you who put the idea into my head.'

'Oh, please-'

'It's true. When you came here that first night, everything you said about the tenth anniversary-I'd been searching for an angle for this range and suddenly it all fell into place.'

'And of course you had to make use of it.'

'Yes, I did. You know what I'm like. If a good idea comes to me I'll go for it. You solved a problem I'd been racking my brains over. It was almost like Providence, as though you'd been sent.'

'If that's how you think, I don't wonder you see me only as an adjunct to your business. I came here to talk about the end of a relationship that once meant something to both of us, and you thought Providence had sent me to solve your marketing problems. What were you doing when you kissed me? Conducting a feasibility test?'

'How dare you say that?' he snapped. 'That kiss was real. You knew that at the time; we both did.'

'Nonsense! You were faking. And so was /.'

Garth grew very pale and there was a look in his eyes that she'd never seen before. 'Would you like to prove that, right now?'

'Not now or ever. I'll never kiss you again, Garth. It's over. Finished. If there was any hope we could get back together, this kills it. I'm going to have that divorce, any way I can.'

'All right,' he said unexpectedly. 'I'll give you one.'

'What?'

'I'm offering you a deal. Stay here just a few weeks longer. Help me out with this publicity. Play my "game" if you're so sure that's what it is. Then you can have a divorce on any terms you like.'

'I don't believe you,' Faye said slowly. 'This is another trick.'

'I swear it isn't. An easy divorce. Your terms. The only condition I make is that afterwards I see my kids as often as I want-as often as they want. And I'll want to see them plenty.'

'You'd better. If you let them down I'll never forgive you.'

'I won't let them down, Faye. Things have changed. You think it's all been an act, but it hasn't. I've learned to appreciate them now and I'm grateful to you for helping me do that. But I need your help again, one last time. Cooperate over the tenth anniversary, and I'll never ask you for anything else again.'

'What exactly do you want me to do?'

'Stay here. Let the world think we're a happy family. And don't see Kendall Haines.'

Faye gave a bitter laugh to cover the pain. 'I see. This is nothing but an excuse to stop me seeing my fiance.'

'Don't call him that,' Garth snapped.

'It's what he is. Oh, Garth, you're so transparent! You really thought I'd be daft enough to fall for this one? Kendall is the man I'm going to marry and you're not going to separate me from him. And if that spoils your publicity, why don't you hire someone from Central Casting? She'd probably make a better job of pretending to be your wife than I would.'

'You don't give an inch, do you?' Garth said bitterly.

'I feel safer that way.'

She left the room before he could answer and slipped away into the grounds, where she could lose herself among the bushes. At last she sat down on a tree stump and stared out at the stars. It was all so beautiful and peaceful, but there was no peace in her heart.

She covered her eyes, trying to fight back the tears.

She knew that only strength would help her now, but she didn't seem to have any left.

She felt a freezing shock against her fingers, as though an ice cube had touched them. It turned out to be Barker's nose. He'd followed her.

'It's all right,' she said, drying her eyes. 'Everything's fine.'

He pushed his head under her hand and looked at her out of beautiful eyes. He didn't believe her.

'You're a lovely old boy, aren't you?' Faye said, putting her arms around him. It was a relief to hug the sturdy body and hide her face in his thick coat. Barker's tail thumped the ground. He was doing what he did best.

As a child, Faye had confided her small tragedies to an all-wise teddy bear. Now there was Barker, warm and responsive, who would listen without judgement and break no confidences.

'I've been so stupid,' she told him sadly. 'I thought I was strong enough to cope with Garth, but I was kidding myself. I wanted him to be like he was before: wonderful. And that was really silly of me, wasn't it?'

His eyes were so full of understanding that it was almost as if he'd spoken. Anyone had the right to be silly.

'Yes, but I was worse than silly, because I know what he's like, yet I still let myself- Well, anyway it's over between us.'

A small crease appeared between Barker's eyes. Sure about that?

'It was over two years ago,' she said, fondling his soft ears. 'I love Kendall now.'

At the sound of Kendall's name, Barker gave the soft, yearning woof of a dog who'd discovered aniseed and never forgotten his benefactor.

'You're perfectly right,' Faye said, brightening. 'Kendall's the one I need to talk to.' She rubbed Barker's head gratefully. 'Why didn't I think of that myself?'

He sighed. Because you're not crazy about aniseed.

She knew Garth was watching as she drove away. He would guess, of course, where she was going but she was too angry to care.

Kendall received her news thoughtfully. 'And this way we'd be sure of getting the divorce?' he asked.

'So he says. How do I know he'd stick to that?'

'Oddly enough, I believe he would. I don't like your husband, but I think he's a man of his word.'

'You're right,' Faye said slowly. 'But still-it would mean we wouldn't be able to see each other for weeks.'

'We might sneak the occasional meeting.'

'No,' she said regretfully. 'I can't expect Garth to keep his word if I don't keep mine. We must stay apart, to make sure we can be together afterwards.'