Chapter 12
Grant flew out on the 9 am flight to Melbourne. He hadn’t slept at all the night before. Tizzy dominated his thoughts every waking moment. And even now, instead of going over his notes during the flight, he found himself thinking about Tizzy, trying to comprehend the situation that existed. Surely by now Tizzy knew how he felt about her. Hadn’t he given enough hints, didn’t she realize that he was not the kind of man to play around with women’s feelings? He knew people had the perception that he was involved in one affair after another. But that was far from the truth. The reality was that it had been well over four years since he had any kind of serious relationship with anyone. Suddenly things appeared clearer to him. Had Tizzy been the reason? He had told himself that his work had been the most important thing for him. But here he was prepared to throw away a quarter of a million dollars. He was prepared to change the entire set up of his company. Hell, he did not even want to attend this presentation. All he wanted to do was be back to Sydney. Just see her once more. He knew it was time to talk to Becky. She was already close to guessing the truth about his feeling anyway.
At 11.30 am he was standing near the overhead projector. For the first time in his life, he had a hard time concentrating. Every time cobalt blue came up on the screen, he saw Tizzy’s eyes. Grey, reminded him of her clothes. Yellow took him back to her room. He was glad when the lunch break was called. The first thing he did was to ring Tizzy, on the pretext that he wanted to speak to Becky about her afternoon meeting. Tizzy was as polite as she was with everyone, quickly transferring him to Becky’s line. He was disappointed when she had not even asked him about his presentation.
Becky on the other hand showed she was glad to hear from him. She assured him that everything was under control. When he asked if he could speak to her on his return, Becky invited him for dinner, and asked him to drive straight from the airport to their place.
As Becky spoke to Grant, her eyes were focused on Tizzy. She had been worrying about Tizzy from the moment she had walked into the office. For one thing she was very quiet. For another, she had dark circles under her eyes. She refused to take any kind of break despite having started work at 6.30 am. Not even stopping for lunch.
And now there was sadness in her eyes. Tizzy appeared to be concentrating on her work, but Becky knew she was listening to every word Becky was saying. Her hand had not moved during the entire phone conversation.
After Becky hung up, she invited Tizzy as well. She said it would complete the table and they could discuss the problematic files over dinner. Tizzy excused herself. She said she wanted an early night, as the headache had kept her awake the night before. She did look tired and Becky did not force her to go. What Tizzy did not tell Becky was that she had already asked Branson to meet her after work. She intended to sort things out with him. She had to find out why he had lied to Grant.
The rest of the day was again a busy one. Roger dropped in a couple to times to check on Becky. Even he remarked on how ill Tizzy looked. Then he told them of his conversation with Grant about the Lundy file. “Grant must be going mad. Branson put Lundy on to us. And just when it looked like Lundy was ready to discuss details, Grant has asked me to pull the plug on the negotiations. This Branson-Mallaby rivalry is going to cost Grant heaps.” Both Becky and Roger kept glancing at Tizzy to see the reaction. While they could see her tense up, she did not contribute in any way to the conversation. All three knew the situation was getting well and truly out of hand.
At five, Roger came to collect Becky. They once again asked Tizzy if she would like to join them. Again she refused their invitation, asking them to enjoy themselves. After they left, Tizzy finally let down her guard. Her hands covered her face as the tears fell freely.
Tizzy was meeting Branson at 6.30 pm at ‘Pancakes abound’. She had always loved the pancakes there, but for the first time, she was not in a mood to eat them. She would have asked Branson to come to her home, but a public place allowed her the freedom to walk away if things got unpleasant.
She left work at six, went home, fed the dogs, and was at the restaurant at 6.30 pm. Branson was already seated at a table. He rose as she walked to it. This time she just nodded to him. After they had given their order and the drinks had been placed in front of them, Branson spoke first
“I am glad you rang, I was thinking of doing the same. I wanted to apologise for my words the other day. I was angry with Mallaby and his accusations. I want you to know that I would not hurt him or his business.”
“I am glad to hear that. I am leaving the company soon. I honestly don’t want your relationship with each other to be affected in any way because of me.” Tizzy was honest
“It won’t be. I was hoping we could be friends too.” Branson asked
“Peter, I can only offer ‘friendship’ and I only want ‘friendship’ in return. Nothing more.” Tizzy was still angry with him for the things he had said about Grant but found that she could not bring herself to dislike the man. She had come with the intent to telling him that she never wanted to see him again. But found that she could not do that either. So she hoped he would understand what she was trying to convey. He had.
“I have, only ever wanted that myself.” he said
“And you won’t ask me to move into your home?” that should clear up the air without having to ask why he lied, she thought
Branson looked down for a moment then said, “He told you”
“Peter, did you really lose a daughter?” she asked immediately. She wondered if he had lied to her about that too, to win her sympathy.
“Tizzy, my child, I would not lie about that. Yes I lost my daughter. And yes, I looked for that daughter in you. I am still doing that Tizzy. I will never stop doing that. I am sorry about telling Grant before I spoke to you. I realize now, that I should have asked you first. I intended to. I am an old man now and the house is much too big for just one person”
“I can’t Peter. I have a home and I have my dogs. Besides ..” she started then changed her mind. There was no point in saying that such a move would only make Grant more upset.
Just then Branson saw Becky enter with Grant and Roger on either side of her. He crossed his fingers and hoped that their plan was going to work. If Becky had her own way, it definitely would. He noticed Becky direct Grant into the chair that directly faced them. That meant Becky had seen them on entering the restaurant. Once their drinks arrived, he noticed the three get deeply involved in their conversation, to the point that Mallaby had not once raised his eyes in their direction. ‘Come on Becky, get him to look in our direction. That was the plan, remember!’ he thought.
At Branson’s table he asked Tizzy about her future plans. Between sentences he gave a quick glance towards Becky’s table. He looked at Grant. Grant looked grave. He wondered what it was that Becky had just told him
If he could have overheard Becky, he would have heard her say, “Grant a couple of days ago, I thought Tizzy’s leaving had something to do with Branson’s interest in her. I now believe differently. I think you are the reason she is leaving.”
“Me! In what way? What has she told you?” Grant was stunned by Becky’s comments. Did Tizzy dislike him that much?
“Grant how do you really feel about Tizzy?”
“Who is asking, her colleague or her friend?” Grant questioned her in return
“I guess both. As her colleague, I want to know why you accepted her resignation. And as her friend I’d like to know why you are letting her go?” Becky began playing with words
“I am only, her employer, I can’t force her to stay against her will. And I am not letting her go Becky. Tizzy was never mine to let go.”
“Were you hoping she would have been.” Becky asked again.
“I thought for a while, that there would be more to our relationship than just work, but I was wrong. Tizzy wants to leave as soon as possible. There is nothing that I can do to hold her back” he said
“Roger told m
e about some of the changes you had been planning. Maybe if she hears of that, she might change her mind. I know she loves it at work.”
“She knows about them. I saw her last night. She is going to start her own business. Roger, you won’t believe, what! Advertising through the internet.” then he let out a small laugh “Talk about coincidences.”
“What coincidences?” Becky looked from one to the other.
“Actually I had forgotten to tell you about this one. Grant was setting up a separate division that would only deal through the internet, so that Tizzy would not have to interact with people personally.” Roger explained
“Grant, you would have done that for her?” Becky was thrilled.
“I even told her that she would only have to deal with Roger and me, but that seemed to have made her even more adamant about leaving.” Grant related
“Oh Grant, I think that is Tizzy’s problem. She can’t handle working with you anymore.” Becky said
Becky realised too late that the words expressed a totally different meaning to what she had meant to say. Grant looked devastated on hearing her words.
“She hates me that much?” he inquired
“Hate you Grant! Gosh you men are really blind. Actually all except one, Branson.”
At the sound of his name, Grant exploded
“Not you too! He has Tizzy eating out of his hand. Now he has you oozing compliments.”
“Did I just see the green eyed monster in you Grant? Wow, you have got it bad. Who would have thought Mallaby would one day be jealous of a man almost twice his age, and for someone like Tizzy.” Becky winked at Roger
“Oh leave him alone, Becky, Grant doesn’t feel that way about Tizzy. I know she is your friend but she is plain, and ...” Roger began and when he hesitated pretending to seek a terrible word to describe Tizzy.
“Roger don’t. Sorry mate but I don’t want to hear anything against her. Even if she was as plain as she pretends to be, I would still not have liked anything said that was derogatory” Grant was not rude, just firm.
“What do you mean, ‘pretends to be?” Becky asked
“Becky have you ever seen her with her hair loose and without those hideous glasses. She has the most beautiful eyes that I have ever seen. There should be a law against people with such eyes hiding them behind glasses.” Grant was once again seeing the blueness of them.
“And when may I ask, did you see all this?” Becky asked. One week away and a lifetime of events had already happened.
“The night I stayed at her place..” Grant began
“You what! Why didn’t Tizzy tell me any of this? That little devil! She has left out all the interesting bits.” Becky was smiling as she cursed Tizzy.
“Look it was all innocent. We worked late, I offered to take her out for dinner, she had leftovers, we ate, I was exhausted and fell asleep, ‘on the lounge” Grant said emphasizing the last three words. “Then in the middle of the night she woke up screaming. I went in. She was absolutely traumatized. I had to scream her name and mine to get her out of the trance. That’s when I really saw her. Not harsh and uptight as she makes herself look, but soft, vulnerable and so utterly beautiful. I guess that’s when I realized that, I had fallen in love with her.” it was out
“In love? You in love with Tizzy! Grant if that is true, what are you doing getting engaged to Trisha?” Roger asked
“Engaged to Trisha? What gave you that idea? Branson brought up her name as well.” Grant was curious now.
“Well she has been the only person we know that you have been seeing on a regular basis. For the past three years the rumor has been that you have been in love with the model.” Roger put in
“I was never in love with Trisha. Trisha and I consoled each other after Tom’s death. I thought it was common knowledge, that Trisha was Tom’s fiancé. She too had as hard a time getting over his loss, as I did. In fact just last week, we had dinner together and she announced that she was engaged to a friend of ours. She feared I would think that she was being disloyal to Tom’s memory. We were never an item. She could not get over Tom. And I wanted to concentrate on the business. Actually, she is coming down next weekend. I’ll bring her over to meet you both. She is bringing Mike with her. That’s the man she is marrying.” Grant was glad he had sorted that out
“I am sure we will like her. Tizzy liked her. Said, she was stunning.” Becky said
“I suppose Trisha is. It’s funny how different they both are. Trisha dresses up to look stunning, Tizzy goes out of her way to make herself look unattractive.” Grant said making the comparison.
“She has her reasons Grant. Her unattractiveness is her security.” Becky said
“I am sorry, I don’t understand.” Grant began
“Grant this is in total confidence. If you had not acknowledged your love for her, I would not have said anything even now. But the time has come for Tizzy to come out of her cocoon and I think you are the person to bring her out.” Becky started
“Becky, tell me all that I need to know.” Grant saw a ray of hope in Becky’s words.
“Tizzy was born illegitimate. Her mother fell in love with a man she did not know was married. By the time she found that out, she was pregnant with Tizzy. Twenty-eight years ago, it was hard for single mothers, even harder if you were unmarried. Her family asked her to choose between an abortion or marriage to the father of the child. She could do neither, so she ran away. Becky then related all that Branson had told her and ended with ‘the two men involved were killed as their car crashed into an oncoming truck as they tried to escape. Six months later when Tizzy was released from hospital, she turned to her mother for support. By now her mother had gone deeper into depression and guilt. I guess in her guilt and frustration, her mother blamed the incident on Tizzy. The clothes she wore, and the hours she kept. Tizzy left town, taking with her all the money she personally possessed. She left behind everything else from her clothes, make up, high heels, and even her jewellery. She has never worn any of them since.”
Grant could not believe what he was hearing. He could feel the pain she must have suffered. Understand the humiliation at her mother’s words. No wonder she was plagued with the nightmares. He remembered the slash he had seen on her arm.
“Tizzy said her eyes hurt in the light. I had not believed her when she said that. Were her eyes hurt in the attack as well?” he asked Becky
“There is nothing wrong with them, thank God. When she asked the men, why had they picked her, one of them had growled, “It’s those blue eyes. We chose you because of those gorgeous blue babies.’ She has kept them hidden from public view and once outside her home her horrible glasses are her constant companion. You and I are the only ones to have seen her without her shades.” Becky related.
“It took her over two years to build up enough courage to even speak to a man again.” She continued “That’s why she hates meetings and presentations. That’s why she won’t trust herself with a man alone.”
“Becky darling, I think that is no longer true. She let Grant into her home. And now she is sitting with Branson. Don’t stare, but” Roger did not go further, for Grant was already glaring in that direction. The atmosphere was suddenly charged. Since Becky and Roger knew Tizzy had been there all along, it was Grant who was responsible for the change.
“Roger, so it is. No wonder she did not accept our invitation for tonight. Well, well, well, this is interesting.” Becky pushed the subject further.
Just then Grant rose. “Where are you going? I hope you are not going to fight with Branson?” Becky for the first time that evening was scared. Grant had always been such a level headed person, that she had not anticipated this angry reaction.
“No Becky, much as I dislike seeing that man anywhere near Tizzy, I would not do that to her now. Not after knowing what she has been through. I would be no different from those two vile creatures before.” he said, putting a reassuring hand over her shoulder.
“You won??
?t argue either.” she asked
“That would equal verbal mauling. I don’t ever want Tizzy to see a violent act or hear an angry word again. No, I am just going over to talk. If I don’t talk to Tizzy now, I think it will be too late. There is a lot that needs sorting out. There are too many misconceptions to be cleared.”
“Grant just one more thing. Be kind to Branson. In his own way, he really does love her too.” Becky added
“I don’t mind if the entire world loves her, as long as she is in love, with only me.”
Grant was suddenly very determined that Tizzy was his. Only his!
“What if she does not return your feeling, what then mate?” Roger put in
Grant looked at them, then at Branson and Tizzy.
“Love has been known to blossom after marriage. Look at so many people who have had arranged marriage. Their love for each other is no less real, than those that have love marriages. I am prepared to wait for her to feel the same way about me, as I do about her. A lifetime if need be.” Grant put in
“You are going to ask her to marry you?” Becky was thrilled but still concerned.
“I am going to ask her alright, and if she does not listen to my reason, you our dear friends are going to play cupids and convince her.” With a wink, he was walking towards Tizzy.
Becky clasped her hand over Rogers. And the lady seated at the table next to them wiped away her tears.
Tizzy saw the last of the interactions. When he stood up, she thought she was hallucinating. Then she blinked her eyes. They were still there and Grant was looking in her direction. What were they doing here? Becky had invited him for dinner. Of the many restaurants to choose from, how on earth did they manage to end up in the same restaurant twice?
“Peter may we leave?” Tizzy’s hands were shaking.
“Tizzy, I said once before, never hide from battle and never run from love. I have known for a long time that you were in love with him. And despite his pig headed behavior with me the other day, Grant is everything I would like your husband to be.” Branson knew he had only a few seconds more before Grant was within hearing range.
“Peter, you don’t know what you are saying. He is not in love with me, he is marrying Trisha, and please don’t say anything to Grant. I will disappear forever if you do that.” Tizzy feared the worst.
“And what if I say you are wrong on all three counts.” Grant was by her side.
Tizzy could hear her heart thumping against the ribcage again. She should have been used to this feeling by now, she had felt it for over a week, but the thumps seemed to be getting stronger almost deafening. Grant had heard their conversation, how was she going to face him now? She would have to go away, to some other city, maybe Perth. And in future she would remember never to give a lift to any man.
As if fearing she might bolt, Grant rested one arm against the back of her chair.
“Peter, would you mind if we exchange tables. You already know Becky and Roger and I need to talk to Tizzy, alone” Branson shook hands, and left saying,
“I’ll be at that table if you need me.”
“She won’t.” Grant was abrupt
Branson turned and walked away, giving the impression of a man controlling his anger. But as he looked at Becky and Roger, he was beaming from ear to ear. His eyes said, “It worked.” Then instead of heading towards Becky and Roger, Peter stopped at the table beside them, where the solitary lady looked at him.
“Did you see her Betty? That is your granddaughter.” The next minute, he was holding his sobbing wife.