Page 219 of The Moon Sister
‘Well, if it makes you feel better, I’ve been wishing for years that you twowoulddivorce. And if you were only staying with Mum because of me, then you shouldn’t have done. Even if it hurts right now, Dad, you’ll be much happier apart, I’m sure.’
‘You know what, Zara?’ Charlie’s eyes glistened as he gave her a weak smile. ‘You’re incredible.’
‘I’m my father’s daughter,’ she said with a shrug. ‘So, now let’s go back to Beryl and whyshewants to leave.’
‘I might have to get another whisky before I can tell you that.’
‘I’ll get it,’ I said, jumping up and taking Charlie’s glass to refill it. ‘Are you absolutely sure you don’t want me to go?’ I asked him as I handed back the glass.
‘No, Tiggy, because this is the bit that affects you, and every other employee at Kinnaird. I mentioned it to you in Spain, but I want you to know exactly why the future is so uncertain.’
‘What is it, Dad?’ urged Zara. ‘Just get on and say it!’
‘Right, here goes: when I was a little boy, my best mate was Fraser – he’s Beryl’s son, Zara.’
‘Blimey!’ Zara’s face was the epitome of shock. ‘Then no wonder she’s feeling bad, what with Mum running off with him and stuff.’
‘Yes, I’m sure she is, but I’m afraid there’s more.’ Charlie hesitated for a few seconds before continuing. ‘Anyway, you know how few kids live on or near the estate, so, because we were the same age, as I said just now Fraser and I were inseparable. We did everything together; my father even offered to pay for Fraser to come with me to boarding school when I was ten.’ Charlie shook his head. ‘I thought he was being kind but—’
‘That’s all very nice, Dad,’ Zara cut in. ‘But what actually happened?’
‘Fraser and I had a big fight when we were at Edinburgh Uni together. He stole Jessie, my girlfriend – or in fact, at the time she was my fiancée. The two of them left university and went off to Canada where Jessie was from. And subsequently, I met and married your mum. I can honestly say I edited Fraser from my mind for years, so when he turned up out of the blue this Christmas, I was completely taken aback.’
‘I remember,’ I muttered to myself.
‘And now . . . he’s done it again and stolen Mum,’ said Zara. ‘What a bastard! I know you said he was your friend, but he sounds like he just wanted everything you had.’
‘I think you’re right,’ Charlie sighed, ‘he did. And being the idiot I was, I was always happy to give it to him. The real problem was that nobody had ever told me the truth about Fraser, although looking back, it was pretty obvious.’
‘What was the truth, Dad?’
I watched Charlie pause uncertainly, a pulse beating in his temple.
‘Come on, Dad, I can take it. It can’t get much worse,’ Zara encouraged him.
‘I’m afraid it can, darling. Okay . . . well, my dad – your grandfather – wasn’t very happy with your granny. The bottom line is, he and Beryl, well, they were lovers for years.’
‘Grandpa and Beryl?!’
‘Yes. Dad met her years before he met my mum, but Beryl didn’t come from the kind of family that my father’s parents felt was suitable for the bride of the Laird. So he married Mum, but Beryl soon followed him up to Kinnaird. And here’s the punchline, Zara: the upshot was, that Beryl got pregnant and had Fraser a couple of months before my mum gave birth to me.’
There was silence in the room as we took in what Charlie was saying.
‘Oh my God, Dad!’ It was Zara who eventually broke the silence. ‘So you and Fraser are really brothers?’
‘Half-brothers, yes. And now I know, I realise I must have been living under a rock for most of my life. If you look at the photos of my dad – Fraser, with his height and love of shooting and whisky, takes after him in every way. Probably everyone saw it except me. What a complete dunce I’ve been.’
‘God, Dad, that’s really rough. I’m so sorry.’ Zara gave him another tight hug.
‘Has Fraser always known he was your half-brother?’ I asked Charlie.
‘No, he said his mum – Beryl – gave him that news just before he and Jessie eloped to Canada. She told me recently that she thought it might stop him doing such a terrible thing to me, but it obviously didn’t. It wouldn’t have stopped my father either. He did exactly as he pleased for his whole life too.’
‘But what about Granny, Dad? Did she know about Beryl’s affair with her husband?’
‘I don’t know, Zara. Remember, she died in a riding accident when I was seven. Very convenient for Dad,’ Charlie sighed. ‘It’s no wonder Beryl has always felt territorial about this house. The chances are, she became the mistress here in all but name once Mum had died and I’d been packed off to boarding school with Fraser.’
‘Do you hate your dad?’ Zara asked. ‘Like, for doing that to your mum? I would. I mean, I hate Mum now for doing this to you.’
