Chapter 69 Surely She Would

• Surely she would be more ready to be open with him when they met this morning. He had won her trust last night. More than her trust. They had made love for hours. It had to mean more to her than one night of sex with him.
The eleven o’clock appointment time they had agreed upon came and went. The photographs were spread across his desk, ready for Christabel to see, but the minutes kept ticking past as Jared waited and waited for her to arrive, his inner tension rising with the return of his earlier thoughts.
He remembered his toast to being free.
This one night, she’d answered.
One night.
He’d been so sure he could make it more.
Somehow he had to make it more.
A knock on his office door brought a leap of hope. She’d come. A bit late but…
His mother entered.
Jared slumped back in his chair, disappointment knifing through him.
“How was the trip?” she asked.
He summoned the energy to announce an enthusiastic, “Great!” then recollected she had spent the weekend with the Connelly family, planning the wedding between Samantha Connelly and his brother Tommy—true love having finally won out for those two. A stab of envy hit him as he asked, “Got the wedding on track?”
“They’ve settled on having it at Kununurra.” She walked over to his desk. “Photographs of Christabel’s designs?”
“Yes. They were a big hit with the Hong Kong traders.”
She perused the shots he’d taken of the display. “They do look splendid. You were right about her talent, Jared.” Her gaze swept up, the sharp intelligence in her dark eyes nailing him. “Will she do more for us?”
He smiled with ironic whimsy. “Who can tell with Christabel?”
“She’s your enterprise, Jared.”
He shrugged. “I had intended negotiating a new deal with her this morning. She hasn’t shown…yet.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“I don’t have the right to order her time. You know that. The choice is hers.”
“Nothing has changed?”
He knew it was an oblique reference to last night. She would have been to the house after the flight back to Broome, probably changed clothes before coming on here. Vikki would not have held anything back from his mother.
“Not in that respect, no,” he answered, denying her any more personal insight.
Her gaze wavered. The corner of her mouth almost turned down into a grimace but she checked it. Jared sensed her vexation. She didn’t like the situation with Christabel Valdez. There were too many unknowns for her to feel comfortable with it. Jared well understood her feeling, but it wasn’t going to stop him. Some things couldn’t be stopped.
She affected a dismissive little smile. “Well, I just dropped in to say hello. I must go and check my mail. We’ll discuss the Hong Kong business after lunch.”
“Fine,” Jared agreed.
A tactful retreat…in case Christabel did come this morning…although it was now eleven-forty and looking highly unlikely.
He watched his mother leave. She always moved with dignity and grace. Everyone in the Kimberly referred to her as a great lady—Elizabeth Picard King of Broome and King’s Eden. She was sixty-two but the only giveaway to that age was her white hair, which looked quite stunning framing a relatively unlined face—still a very striking face, dominated by her eyes and the strength of character that always shone through.
He loved and admired his mother. His father may have been the major influence in his two older brothers’ lives, certainly Nathan’s—the oldest son—and perhaps Tommy’s, as well. Lachlan King had been a legend in his time, as had the King men before him, running the great cattle station of King’s Eden.
Jared had loved and respected his father but he’d never wanted to walk in his shoes or take on his territory. Whether it was because he was the youngest son of three, or because he’d been more drawn to the Picard family’s pearl industry, he’d always felt closer to his mother than he had to his father. His mother was a very special person, the most special in his life before Christabel.
Now…he had to find the answers that would make sense of Christabel’s decisions. He couldn’t force them from her. What he needed was more time together. She had denied him that this morning. Perhaps the strength of feeling between them last night had frightened her off. She might think he’d feel justified in making demands, putting pressure on the independent stance she insisted on maintaining.
Jared was quite certain that would not be a winning move. If she was feeling vulnerable, better to let her make the next move when she wanted to. She had to want to be with him, Jared reasoned. As much as he wanted to be with her. So it was a matter of leaving the door open for her to enter when she chose.
At twelve noon he picked up the telephone and dialled the number for the Town Beach Caravan Park. As expected, the call was answered by the manager, Brian Galloway, an old-time Broome personality. He was a big man with a big booming voice and a big beer belly, generally liked by everyone.
“Brian, it’s Jared King here.”
“And what can I be doing for you?” came the jovial response.
“I was expecting Christabel Valdez here at Picard headquarters this morning. She hasn’t kept her appointment. Could I leave a message with you for her to call me at her convenience, set up another business meeting?”
“Sure thing. Leave it to me. I’ll make sure the little lady gets the message.”
“Thank you, Brian. It is important.”
“No problem. Do it as soon as I can.”
“I’m much obliged.”
She had shown interest in the photographs yesterday. She would surely want her curiosity about the display of her designs satisfied. A business meeting could not be threatening to her. She had always kept control over what she did for Picard pearls. If she was feeling nervous, apprehensive over what he might have assumed from last night, this assurance of strictly business should give her enough confidence to walk through his door again.
Then what?
Grab her and make love on the desk? Make her feel so much that she’d spill out why they couldn’t be together? His hands clenched into hard fists. He had to get hold of something he could fight, and fight he would to his dying breath. Christabel was his woman, and after last night, he had every right to fight for her. If only she’d let him!
The surge of fierce aggression gradually ebbed and he settled back into accepting the mental challenge she’d always posed. Giving her time and space had worked before. He’d give it a chance to work again before going after her. But the urge to confront was so strong, it was going to be hell holding a patient line, now that he knew what they could have together.
So how long would he give her?
Until he couldn’t stand it any longer.
No call came that afternoon.
No call came on Tuesday.
By the end of the second day, Jared could not contain his frustration at Christabel’s silence. They did have a business arrangement. The courtesy of a call didn’t cost much.
If she’d got his message.
He snatched up the telephone and called Brian Galloway again.
“Jared King here, Brian. Were you able to get my message to Christabel Valdez?” he asked, schooling his voice to a tone of pleasant inquiry..
• “Yep. Gave it to her yesterday when she came back with her daughter after school.”
“Ah…thank you.”
“She’s been out all day today, as well. Might not have been convenient to call you. But she’s home now. Do you want me to give her a reminder?”
“No…no…that’s fine. Just wanted to be sure she got the message. Thanks, Brian.”
She was home now, he thought, as he put the telephone down, itching to drive straight over to Town Beach and…but what could be said—or done—in front of Alicia? Bad move. He had to wait for Christabel to come to him. Time alone together. That was what he needed for progress to be made.
Besides, the fact she’d been out both days until Alicia came home from school meant she’d been deliberately avoiding any personal visit from him. Maybe she needed time to think, to reappraise the situation. He could only hope she was moving towards positive decisions, not negative ones.
Wednesday…
He’d been at his office desk for an hour when he remembered Alicia chatting to him about a special school excursion to the bird observatory. He was almost sure she’d said Wednesday. Which probably meant Christabel would have accompanied the class group. Mothers were called upon to help supervise such outings.
He’d been pushing paper around his desk, keyed up for a call that wasn’t about to come. Deciding on some physical activity, he got up and went to his mother’s office, poking his head around her door to announce, “I’m going out to the pearl farm, see how the shell fishing is progressing. I’ll be back after lunch.”
She simply nodded, aware of his disinclination to talk.
Half an hour later he was on the Beagle Bay Road out of Broome, hoping for a day of distraction. He was no longer expecting any calls. When his car phone beeped, he frowned at it before leaning forward and activating the receiver. It wouldn’t be Christabel. She didn’t have this number.
“Jared King,” he said, automatically identifying himself.
“Jared…” His mother’s voice. “…I have some gentlemen in my office inquiring about Christabel Valdez.”
Every nerve in his body leapt to red alert. He put his foot on the brake, slowing the four-wheel drive to a halt while his mind zipped through possibilities.
“Men in suits?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Where are they from?”
“I’ve been given to understand that Mr. Santiso, Mr. Vogel and Mr. Wissmann have flown all the way from Europe to talk to Christabel. At the moment they are trying to locate her. Brian Galloway of the Town Beach Caravan Park informed them of her connection with Picard Pearls and mentioned that she might have contacted you today.”
Big guns from Europe. The formality in his mother’s voice meant she was dealing with power. The long shadow of Christabel’s dead husband?
“Yes, she did,” Jared lied. “In fact, I’ll be meeting her in about an hour’s time.”
Long before the men in suits got to her!
“At the pearl farm?” his mother smoothly inquired, knowing there was no way they could reach her before he did, even if he was speaking the truth.
“Yes. I would expect Christabel to be back in Broome in time to pick her daughter up from school this afternoon. However, if they want to pass on a message…?”
He heard his mother offer what he’d fed to her and snatches of the ensuing conversation. Finally, “No message, Jared. Thank you for your information.”
They didn’t need to leave a message, Jared reasoned. They thought they had Alicia as hostage to Christabel’s return to Broome.
Santiso, Vogel, Wissmann…he recited their names, memorising them as he turned the four-wheel drive around and headed back to Broome as fast as he safely could. The bird observatory was eighteen kilometres on the other side of the township. He prayed Christabel was there with her daughter.
This was crunch time.
He knew it in his bones.
Christabel was frightened of men in suits.
She had to choose him.