Chapter Thirteen
Lucky for Some, Unlucky for Others
Charlotte Chapman watched Kaylen as she slept peacefully in the guest room. Kaylen had turned up that afternoon in tears, unable to stop shaking. The Chapman�s were able to calm her down by getting her into a warm bath and feeding her nice hot homemade vegetable soup. Kaylen calmed down and told them about what Carolyn had told them. She started crying again and they just held her while she got the horrible story out to these people that were virtually strangers but yet it felt right to be talking. Kaylen was exhausted after talking to them and they put her to bed where she now lay.
Back in their sitting room Lady Charlotte and Lord Albert discussed the distressing outcome of their decisions. They felt wholly responsible for the difficulties Kaylen had faced and now for the depressing truth. They felt sad because of the pain that had developed from what they had meant as a true symbol of their love for the baby their daughter brought into the world. If they had been able to get a glimpse of what Kaylen would endure then they would have no qualms about keeping her and bringing her up themselves. It wasn�t like they could not afford another mouth to feed and she wouldn�t have to worry about the lies and deceit that Kaylen had to deal with now. They rang Alex�s home to ask him to come and see her, without telling what had happened. They didn�t know who else would be able to help Kaylen get through this. They didn�t really know her that well other than genetics and they wanted Kaylen happy and able to deal with the problems. The Chapman�s felt responsible and didn�t think they could give the answers on this one without someone who knew Kaylen better. Alex didn�t really want to come back to London because his sister had a ballet recital he wanted to attend. The Chapman�s decided that if he wouldn�t come to them, they would take Kaylen back to their county estate, only a short distance from where Alex�s family lived.
The next day Lord Albert, Lady Charlotte drove out to the country with Kaylen quietly watching the scenery go by. Kaylen thought about arriving at the Chapman�s apartment last night. It was more than just a normal apartment; it took up the entire penthouse floor of a large apartment block. She wondered what their country estate would be like. It would be good to see Alex again, but was that really what she wanted. Now that they were back on English soil everything had changed. Kaylen got the feeling that he wasn�t into her now. The Alex in New Zealand would have jumped in the nearest car and sped back to London. She had started seeing a new side of Alex when they were in the plane and on arrival into Heathrow he hardly said goodbye. Kaylen wanted to go to the country because she had never liked London and with now it was just full of all the people back there with only hurtful and horrible things to disclose. At least the country air might help to clear her head somewhat.
A couple of hours after leaving London the car pulled off the road and through an impressive set of gates that opened at the command of a remote within Lord Albert�s car. They wound through a small stand of trees and past what looked to Kaylen to be a wonderful house with a neat white fence around. She enquired after it, thinking it was the Chapman�s home but found it was the residence for the house and farm staff. The continued up the road a small way before coming out of the trees in front of the largest house Kaylen had seen outside of Pride and Prejudice. There was a lake in front of the house and the car drove under one part of the house into a courtyard that led to the garage. Kaylen climbed out and marvelled at her surrounds. She knew they were rich, but to own what seemed to her to be a castle � that was a different story. What kind of situation had Kaylen found herself? This was more than she could imagine. There was no way she would fit into this family. Kaylen felt she would be like the old shoe discarded in the pile, the girl with the borrowed clothes or cheap department store sales. What good could come of all this? But then she thought of all that she had just been through. Nothing on this earth was as bad as going through any of those conversations or listening to those words.
Kaylen was introduced to the staff as they made their way through the foyer. She was looking around as if she was on some kind of school trip, scared to touch anything and go into any rooms she may not be allowed admittance. There were antiques all around the interior of the rooms. The d�cor was stylish and sophisticated and matched perfectly with the furniture and ornaments. Lady Charlotte showed Kaylen where the kitchen was, should she need snacks or anything. The cook was a kind lady who would offer to cook anything for Kaylen morning, noon or night. The staff was on duty in the kitchen from 6am till 10pm, any other times by arrangement or just fend for your self. Kaylen followed Charlotte up the back staircase, which led almost direct from the kitchen, through the second level where the library, Lord Albert�s study, a couple of spare bedrooms and sitting rooms, and bathrooms. The next floor up had more bedrooms, and the guest room that had been made up for Kaylen. She walked into the room, which would have easily been the largest bedroom she had ever seen in her life. Everything was perfectly designed, and the centrepiece was an exquisite four-poster bed complete with curtains. A large fully equipped bathroom led off through one door, a huge wardrobe another, and French doors led to a private balcony. Kaylen put down her bags and followed her grandmother down the formal winding staircase. The upper level was the private residence of the Lord and Lady of the house, with their personal sleeping and bathing areas. The next stop on the tour were the formal dining and sitting areas, less formal family areas with televisions that had all the mod cons, the games room and then around further to the indoor heated swimming pool and spa. This place had everything anyone could ever need. The gardens and exterior living areas were also immaculate and gorgeous. Kaylen felt all her earlier worries and fears about being part of this family evaporate. The only thing she felt was love. They really cared about her and how she felt. When the world cast her out into the cold they swept in and offered her soup.
An hour later as Kaylen lay in her own personal spa bath, full of bubbles and aromatherapy oils, the phone next to her started ringing. She answered it and discovered Alex had arrived at the house with his parents and family for dinner with the Chapmans. Kaylen begrudgingly pulled herself out and thought about which of her rags she should wear. As she came out of the bathroom in her robe she was surprised to find Lady Charlotte sitting in one of the armchairs. �Kaylen, we know you have been through a lot in the last few days. Albert and I want to know that we want you to be as comfortable as you possible can while staying with us, but we do not want to put any pressure on you to stay or to be part of this family. I do not know if this was presumptuous of me, but I looked at some of your things earlier to find out what size clothes you wear. I hope you like these, I had my sixteen year old granddaughter pick them out.� Charlotte held out a pile of clothes towards Kaylen. There were a mixture of trousers, shirts, tops and dresses. �We do not expect you to change, Kaylen. We did this because we understand you have been overseas and haven�t got a lot of things at the moment. Do not wear these things if you do not want. We are not trying to say you are shabby. I�m sorry, this isn�t coming out very well.� Lady Charlotte laughed, and Kaylen smiled.
�I know what you are trying to say, Charlotte. Thank you very much, this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. You have put me up in this wonderful house and you are both so accommodating. I feel I should be thanking you for being so nice. I would love to wear one of these dresses. I was just contemplating what to wear without looking like a complete homeless person, even though I am.� Kaylen smiled and started looking at her new clothes.
�Kaylen, we know you will not want to live with us forever but know that as long as you want it, we will never let you be homeless. You are part of our family now, you will always have a home with us.� Kaylen stopped looking through the clothes and went and hugged Lady Charlotte. She was so comfortable here that she did not want to let go. Lady Charlotte left so Kaylen could continue to get ready for dinner. It wasn�t like what she was used to, dressing up for dinner. What she had been used to was coming home from work and throwing some pasta in pot and stirring in sauce, sometimes she would just eat out of the pot as she read the latest novel on her bedside table. Kaylen put up her hair and went downstairs; she was also wearing shoes, which was a change from normal. The guests had arrived and Kaylen found them all in the sitting room with the butler getting people drinks from the bar in another room.
Albert put his arm around Kaylen and motioned her forward to do the introductions. �Elaine and Michael, this is our granddaughter Kaylen. Alex, no need to introduce you two is there.� Alex laughed quietly to himself; she was already being sucked into their kindness. He noticed the new clothes and shoes; it hadn�t taken very long for her to morph into another Chapman. The two friends at least acknowledged themselves but both felt that a wall had built up between them. Alex knew exactly what it was; Kaylen was yet to find out. The next guests to arrive were Albert and Charlotte�s second daughter, Elaine�s friend, and her husband. Lady Caroline Chapman-Leith breezed in the door with Jonathon, daughter Emma-Leigh and son Jonathon Junior. Alex shook his head; the show was about to begin. Kaylen watched him wearily out of the corner of her eye as she was introduced to the new arrivals.
The group sat down with their drinks and conversation began. Alex and Kaylen managed to find themselves on opposite sides of the room. Kaylen could feel that something had become strained between them. It was a strange feeling considering how close they had been in New Zealand. Maybe this was the real Alex and the guy she new in New Zealand was no more. Whoever this person was, Kaylen didn�t know if she liked him much. He was pretty much ignoring her and hardly talked in general. This was completely different to the happy go lucky guy who made them all get up in the Karaoke bar in Auckland and then skip all the way back to their hostel.
Dinner came around soon enough and the party moved to the formal dining room. The table was beautifully laid with flowers and candles, and the lights had been turned down to make the rather large surrounds more intimate and conducive to chatter amongst the guests. It was easy for Kaylen to tell that dinner parties were a regular occurrence in this family and that Lady Charlotte was the perfect host. The night was going so well and Kaylen was having so much fun (except for the distance with Alex) she had almost managed to forget about her family troubles. The feeling was swept away when Elaine looked up from over the pheasant and smiled at her. �Kaylen, have you been able to catch up with your Aunt since you arrived home?� Alex wished she had stayed with her aunt and hadn�t tried to be someone she wasn�t and put on all of these airs and graces.
�Ah, yes. I caught up with her and my cousin- ah brother yesterday after getting off the plane.� Kaylen hadn�t known what to call him, and the mix up just slipped out of her mouth.
�Your brother? I thought you were an only child.� Mr Haverty chimed in, not knowing the whole story, which only Lord and Lady Chapman knew. Kaylen hadn�t even told Alex this part of the story, nor did he know about the money. There had been no reason to burden him with more disaster story of her life.
�I found out my that my adoptive father had an affair with one of my mother�s sister�s and the person I thought was my cousin is now technically my brother.� Kaylen sighed and went back to concentrating on her roast potato.
�What? Wow, are you telling the truth? Why didn�t you tell me this before?� Alex dropped his fork onto the plate and looked at Kaylen. What else was she keeping from him? Even if they hadn�t seen each other since the plane she could of let him know.
�I, ah, didn�t want to worry you with anymore of my drama. Lady Charlotte, you will have to thank the chef for this lovely meal. Does anyone want any more gravy?� Kaylen asked, trying to move the topic away from her self. Alex put down his napkin and excused himself from the table. Kaylen excused herself as well. It was time to deal with the Alex factor. �Alex, wait up!� She ran after him as he headed towards the door. Kaylen caught up with him and spun him around. �Can we talk please?� He followed her to one of the small downstairs reading rooms, and she shut the door behind them.
�So, what is up, Kaylen?� Alex sat down and slouched down with his legs out and his arms crossed.
�I want to know what the big issue is, Alex. Why is it that ever since we were in the air you have changed? I know that Charlotte and Albert phoned you when we were at their house in London. What is it that I have done to deserve this kind of treatment?� Kaylen pulled her hair out of the twisted arrangement it had been in, the pins were hurting her head.
�You went to them, that is why. I wanted you to stay the Kaylen you were. There is no reason you should want to change. I know what these people are like and they aren�t like you, or at least the you that I knew. I wanted to believe that you wouldn�t run off to the Chapman�s just because they have money and it was something new. I thought you were a better person than this; I thought you didn�t need all the fancy houses and nice clothes. I thought you were going to come back and try and make it with your family because they care about what happens. So now you know what the big issue is!� Alex smirked and watched as Kaylen paused at a particular set of books. Her hand ran over a first edition copy of all of Jane Austen�s novels. Kaylen knew it was time to let any feelings of Alex drift away. From what he had said she could tell he didn�t really care about her. It wasn�t that he thought she had changed; Kaylen suspected it was because she was now living in the life that Alex was accustomed. Alex could no longer preach to her about the evils of the upper class because she now had some claim to the same standard of living. She had not changed, but she would let him know what had changed and what had led her to be staying with her grandparents.
�I don�t know if that old Kaylen exists anymore. So much has happened over the past few weeks, even the last few days. I don�t know if she can be anymore. Everything has changed. Alex, you really do not have much belief in my scruples do you, so I will let you off the hook. I did go to my aunt�s house and had planned on staying there for a little while during the readjustment process into England. While there, within the first hour I found that conditions had been introduced by which I did not feel comfortable being there any longer.�
�So it became too hard and you left because you could not handle the pressure. No one said it would be easy Kaylen but I would have helped.�
�And no one said I would find out my mother had cancer and faked her own death!� Kaylen spat out her statement and watched Alex�s face receive the news. Before he could say anything Kaylen continued. �My mother had cancer which resulted in her being unable to ever conceive and give birth to a child. Her and my father decided to adopt a baby and bring it up as their own, without ever letting me know I was adopted. She was so desperate for children of her own she decided to create one. As you know I grew older and darker, they had to come up with the story of my mother�s adultery as the cause of my conception. They never adopted any other children because the web of lies was so deep they almost couldn�t see out. My mum continued to get sick every now and again, so they took out a mortgage to pay for the treatment. When it came to the time they knew she wasn�t going to get any better, they didn�t feel like they could tell me the truth about her having cancer. I was completely ignorant to the truth and had no idea she was sick. My mother would have known for months when she was going to die.� Kaylen continued to walk around the room and Alex followed her with his eyes.
�I look back and it is no wonder whenever I said I was going to come home and visit they were always just about to go somewhere, or my mother was out. In fact she was in and out of hospital for the last six months of her life. They couldn�t even give me the chance to say goodbye and yanked her from me literally in my sleep. I got a phone call at six in the morning to tell me she had been involved in an accident and died instantly. The truth was that she was still alive for three hours as I was weeping in my flatmate�s arms. They waited for a nice big crash to happen fairly near their home and hired it for the scene of their crime. My mother was still alive when I was mourning her death. How do you think that makes me feel Alex! My father had no intention of telling me after she was buried and I always wondered why he didn�t seem that sad when she meant everything to him. It is now I know that he had months to deal with the grief and all he was doing after her death was putting in place plans to support his son and screw me over! I think I stayed long enough and heard enough from my aunt to know I didn�t need to be there anymore. My grandparents have been so warm and welcoming and you want me to throw that back in their faces when all my life they had done the right thing.
Kaylen stopped walking and stood a few metres in front of Alex. �Go now Alex; you disgust me with your flimsy words and your staring gaze. I thought you jumped to assumptions in New Zealand because of the mitigating circumstances, I know now that you have a cruel side that cannot be hidden away from this world. Be thankful for everything your parents have given you and the standard of living that you are accustomed. Do not ever take anything for granted ever again you horrible creature. I am here because I need someone to be here for me, the Chapman�s are wonderful people who have only ever shown me kindness in the few days I have known them, and I am virtually a stranger to them. My family has shown me nothing but lies, deceit and hurt when I have known them my whole life. I am only now learning what family really means. Please do not think I am taking anything for granted. I am going up to my room now, farewell Alex Haverty, for I no longer want to know you!� Kaylen turned and walked back through the door and marched upstairs with her head held high. It was not until the door was firmly closed and she was lying in the safety of her bed that the tears came once more.