David’s eyes flashed with irony. ‘In other words, they love you, they hate me, but they need us, and Crawley’s no good to them.’
The reason for that was soon apparent. After the first day of the hearing of the court case, Michael Crawley skipped the country, leaving behind massive debts, much ill-will, and Paul Jordan out of a job.
Privately, Caitlin was relieved that Michael Crawley had removed himself from their lives. A term of imprisonment or a huge damages bill awarded against him w
ould only have fed his malevolence towards them. This way he was no longer a time-bomb that might one day explode. Justice might not be served, but justice did not prevent innocent victims from being hurt.
David’s mother was the innocent victim of other people’s reactions to her superficial disfigurement. Probably no hurt was meant, yet the hurt given left deeper scars than anything else. Caitlin understood how much easier it must have been to withdraw into complete isolation. Yet if the rest of the world were blind, David’s mother would be accepted in the same manner as any other person. That was the cruelty of it.
Caitlin resolved to be blind to anything but the person inside. And there was something else she could do, as well, something she knew from her own experience of loneliness.
The morning set aside for the meeting came. David had not spent the night with Caitlin. She knew he would be doing everything in his power to make everything turn out right, to soothe his mother’s fears and give her all the assurances he could. Caitlin was acutely aware of how critical to their future this meeting was. At the end of it a choice would be made.
She dressed quietly in a black skirt and cream blouse. Her make-up was minimal. It seemed tactless to draw attention to her superficial attractions.
She left her apartment in good time to arrive at the house in Lane Cove at ten o’clock. She drove with concentrated care and attention. The last thing she needed was any kind of accident to delay her. She did not want to add to the tensions inherent in the situation by keeping David and his mother waiting. That would be unforgivable.
She was a few minutes early. She counted very slowly to ten before approaching the front door. It was important to look relaxed even though she was churning inside.
David appeared almost as soon as she had rung the doorbell. It was obvious that all was not well. He did not return her smile. His eyes skated over her in apprehensive appraisal and fastened on the basket she was holding.
‘I brought your mother a gift,’ Caitlin said in explanation.
He gave a slight shake of his head, as though he knew that wouldn’t help, but he refrained from comment. ‘Come in, Caitlin,’ he said flatly, without a trace of favourable anticipation in his voice, more a resignation to seeing out the inevitable.
He led her into the lounge-room. Mrs Hartley was standing by a window, ostensibly looking out, her back turned to Caitlin’s entrance. Her soft blonde hair looked perfectly natural and was styled to cover her neck. Her arms were folded in a self-protective hug.
‘Mum, Caitlin’s here,’ David announced quietly.
No response, except a tightening hunch of her shoulders.
‘Mrs Hartley, I’ve been so looking forward to this meeting,’ Caitlin softly pleaded.
‘I’ve told my son I wish him every happiness with you, Miss Ross,’ came the tremulous reply. ‘I mean that...with all my heart.’
‘I have no doubt you do,’ Caitlin replied.
‘I can only spoil things for you.’ It was said with dull certainty. ‘It’s best that you make a life without me.’
‘That’s not true, Mrs Hartley. It’s not true for David and it’s not true for me,’ Caitlin pressed in urgent response.
‘I’m sure you mean well, Miss Ross, but I know I can only be a source of embarrassment to you. And to the children you and David might have. I don’t want that.’
Caitlin’s heart sank. David’s mother was not rejecting her. She was rejecting herself.
‘Mrs Hartley, I appreciate, very deeply, the sacrifice you’re prepared to make, but I would like the chance to get to know you. David loves you very much...’
‘I’ve been a burden on him for many years.’ She shook her head. ‘I should have died with his father. I wish I had.’
‘Mum, please...’ It was a cry of anguish from David. He moved to her side and turned her gently towards him. ‘You’re not being fair to Caitlin, Mum. Nor me.’
‘Life isn’t fair, David,’ she said brokenly.
‘No, it isn’t,’ he agreed. ‘But you don’t have to shut doors that open to you. Please...give it a chance, Mum.’
She bowed her head, shaking it with such an air of hopelessness that tears sprang to Caitlin’s eyes.
David drew his mother into his arms. ‘I can’t leave you to yourself, Mum. It’s no use asking it of me. I can’t.’ His eyes sought Caitlin’s over his mother’s head, begging her understanding, tortured with the conflict of two loves. ‘It would haunt me for the rest of my life.’