Natalie Rivers: The Kristallis Baby

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For my sister, Claire.

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

C ARRIE stared numbly at the four coffins lined up across the chapel. Apart from little baby Danny, snuggled in her arms, nothing seemed real. How could it be real? How could four people she loved be dead?

She and Danny were alone in the front pew. She shifted him on her lap so that she could look into his face, and the moment they made eye contact a massive grin lit up his features. She smiled back at him tremulously and let the priest’s words wash over her. If she listened to what he was saying she knew she’d start weeping.

She couldn’t let herself think about her beloved cousin Sophie and her husband Leonidas, or about the aunt and uncle who had brought her up. She couldn’t think about the terrible motorway accident that had killed them all and left Danny an orphan or she knew her grief would overwhelm her. If she gave in to it now she might never stop crying. For Danny’s sake she had to be strong.

He was all that she had now.

Slowly she became aware that organ music was playing, and she realised the service was over. She stood up stiffly and walked out of the chapel, holding Danny close to her chest. At twenty-five years old, the only other funeral Carrie had ever attended was her mother’s, but she’d been very young at the time and had no memory of it now.

Making the arrangements for today had been a daunting prospect, and she’d had to do it all on her own. Her father hadn’t helped her. He hadn’t bothered to come when she’d told him about the accident, and later, when she’d called to tell him the time of the funeral, he’d almost seemed surprised.

‘I can’t get away at the moment,’ he’d said. ‘I’m completely tied up with work.’

‘But it’s family,’ Carrie gasped. She’d learnt not to expect much from her father, but his intention to stay away from the funeral genuinely shocked her.

‘Your mother’s family, not mine,’ he replied.

‘My family, too.’ She heard her voice break as she spoke. ‘When you left after Mum died, they were all I had.’

‘Look, it sounds like you’ve got everything organised,’ he said, refusing to be drawn by her comments. ‘You don’t need me there. I’m sorry about the accident, but whether or not I come to the funeral won’t make any difference to them now.’

‘It would make a difference to me,’ Carrie had said to the silent telephone after her father had rung off. If, just once in her life, he’d been there for her it would have meant something.

She’d wanted to tell him about her intention to care for Sophie’s baby, six-month-old Danny. But how could a man who’d abandoned his own daughter as a baby understand?

She stood outside the chapel in the chill November air and clutched Danny to her. Most of the mourners had drifted away now, and the few that still lingered were talking quietly in groups. She bent her head down to press her cheek against the soft baby curls on the top of Danny’s head and let out a long, shaky sigh. Soon she would be able to leave, take him away from this place of sadness.

She hadn’t thought beyond the funeral. There’d been just too much to take in. But one thing she knew for certain was that she’d always love Danny more than words could say. And she would do everything she could to make him happy.

‘Miss Thomas?’

Carrie lifted her head and found herself looking at a mature man she had never seen before. He was studying her with an expression so cold and hard that it sent a shudder running through her.

‘My name is Cosmo Kristallis.’ His voice was deep and heavily accented.

Carrie’s eyes widened in surprise. It was a shock to realise she was face to face with the estranged father of Sophie’s husband, Leonidas. This man was Danny’s grandfather.

‘I’m so sorry about the death of your son,’ she said, instinctively reaching out a hand to touch his arm.

The moment her fingers brushed the heavy woollen sleeve of his long winter overcoat she knew she’d made a mistake. Her sympathy wasn’t welcome, and neither was her impudent touch.

‘My son was already dead to me.’ Disdain dripped from Cosmo’s voice as he looked down at her hand on his sleeve. He didn’t withdraw his arm or bother to shrug off her fingers. It wasn’t necessary. She was already snatching her hand away, but not before she felt her fingers turn to ice.

‘Then why are you here?’ Carrie held her voice steady despite the unpleasant emotions that were churning through her. If he really thought so little of his own son, why had he bothered to travel from Greece to be at his funeral?

‘When you contacted me to tell me about the funeral I realised there were some things I had to make plain to you,’ Cosmo said. ‘Specifically concerning the child you are holding.’

‘Danny?’ Carrie took a step backwards and wrapped her arms even tighter about the baby. What could he want with Danny?

‘As I said, my son was dead to me a long time ago. I will never acknowledge that child as a Kristallis heir,’ Cosmo said, his hand gesturing towards Danny. ‘That brat will never see any of my money.’

‘Your money?’ Carrie repeated, confused and horrified by what she was hearing. Danny was an innocent baby who had just lost both his parents. Why was this man so hostile, and why was he talking about money?

‘Your cousin was a scheming little gold-digger,’ Cosmo said. ‘All she wanted was to get her hands on my fortune.’

‘Sophie didn’t want your money. All she ever wanted was to live happily with the man she loved and raise a family,’ Carrie said, feeling her eyes swim with sudden tears at the thought that her cousin would never be able to live that dream now. She’d never see her child grow up.

She blinked furiously, determined not to start crying, and stared at Cosmo Kristallis coldly. Sophie and Leonidas weren’t here to defend themselves, so she would have to do it. They had been good people and she’d loved them both. She wouldn’t let him slander them any more.

‘That child is not my grandson,’ Cosmo said flatly.

‘Yes, he is,’ Carrie said. ‘The thought that you are his grandfather makes me feel sick, but nevertheless he is your grandson, and I won’t let you tell any more horrible lies about Sophie or Leonidas.’

‘I will never acknowledge him,’ Cosmo said. ‘And if you ever contact my family again you will live to regret it.’ Then, without giving Carrie a chance to respond, he turned and strode away.

She stared after him, realising she was shaking. She’d heard many unpleasant things about Leonidas’s Greek family, but until that moment she’d never really understood why he had hated his father so much.