Broadchurch: Sins of the Father: Episode 8, Part 7
Title: Broadchurch: Sins Of The Father
Date of commencement: September 22 2013
Date of completion: December 24 2014
Series: Broadchurch, a sequel to the original, and following on from Life Without Joe
Rating: M
Authors: tkel_paris and tardis_mole
Summary: Two years after Danny's death, life is slowly getting back to normal in Broadchurch. But Hardy's happy life is about to be turned upside down by a spectre from the past he had hoped had been laid to rest. Someone from his past wants to talk to him, someone wants revenge, someone wants to see him ruined. But it's not one 'someone'. But first, he must face the girl in his garden.
Disclaimer: We own nothing, but this is based on Broadchurch by Chris Chibnal, with added clues from the novel by Erin Kelly. We gain nor financial benefit nor gratuities, only the enjoyment from writing and working together on this epic journey, shared for the enjoyment of others.
Dedication: Chris Chibnal, long time friend. bas_math_girl, for her beta. And each other for hopefully not ruining each other's lives for too long during the writing part.
Warning: If you have not watched Broadchurch in its entirety, do not read this. We mean it. You will be spoiled. Stop and go back. Now. Ideally you have seen the entire show, not just what was aired on BBC America if you live on that side of the pond, but this is understandable in either case. Also, if you have not read tardis_mole's Life Without Joe, that's okay. It's possible to read this without reading that, if you're not on Moley's approved list. You'll probably find this makes a little more sense if you have read it, but you should be fine without it. Take the time to read Erin Kelly’s novelization, if you can, as it provided certain details that helped with writing this. Though you won’t need to rely on it.
Authors' Notes: See Episode One, Part One. They're a bit long to include in each post.
Excuse me a moment... I have to celebrate because this is an accomplishment with a slightly bittersweet ending. But..
(Wilf-style happy dancing) “Ding, dong, the balrog's done! (humming to the tune) Ding dong, the massive balrog's done!” (huge grin)
/=/=/=/=/=/
Previously...
Episode Eight, Part Seven: Growing
At the general meeting in the CID room, the monthly updates were more promising than in previous months. All the major cases were in the CPS process. Broadchurch had once again sunk back into its usual petty crime status. It was more than enough for their small station.
And the rumour mill was in fine fettle as usual. Desai had had a baby girl. True. Frank was transferring to Weymouth CID. Not true. Hardy's son was due to have his surgery tomorrow. True. Much to everyone's relief. The only shame was that it had not already happened. And the Chief Super had a new man in her life. No one had missed hearing about that rumour. It had sent the office into a frenzy of speculation.
And no one could ask, because the Chief Super had not arrived at work. She was nowhere to be seen. But Desai, in for her KIT meeting, could swear under oath that she had seen the Chief Super downstairs, talking about taking her ‘little man out’.
Hardy frowned deepest of all. “I can’t imagine the Chief with a toy boy. Little man? What is he, a dwarf? She’s almost as tall as I am. Besides, I thought she was happily married.” He took a drink from his cup of coffee and looked up, seeing Elaine walking towards the CID doors. He quickly swallowed. “Boss is in,” he warned across the floor and made for his office as everyone shuffled into seats and began to act busy.
Elaine pushed the door open and called out a good morning. Several ‘morning, sir’ came back. She stepped into Hardy’s office as he was busy signing off paperwork. He looked up.
“Morning sir,” he said. “What can I do for-?” He then looked again.
/=/=/=/=/
Ellie heard the door click shut and shared the bemused and somewhat shocked looks of her colleagues.
“Am I seeing things?”
“She’s carrying a baby sling.”
“No... She’s older than I am... Isn’t she?”
“Quiet,” Ellie warned.
The outer doors swung inward and Super Sandra hurried in, “Morning. Anyone seen the Chief...?” Almost went right passed the glass fronted DI’s office, “Oh, never mind.” She slid to a stop and knocked and went in.
The DCs and DSs outside looked on in astonishment as a baby emerged from the sling half hidden beneath Elaine’s uniform jacket. Ellie stood up, realising there was something familiar about that baby. The baby now in her husband’s arms.
She slapped a hand over her mouth. She expected him to burst into tears. He had so wanted that baby to come home with them. But he didn’t; he smiled, as if it had been a stranger’s baby, or at the most the child of a friend. And the baby boy was smiling back. She had to smile at the man she loved playing with a tiny baby. His dad side was the best of his talents, in her book.
It was a pity, in a way, that they were not having any more.
/=/=/=/=/
The gathering at the Hardy-Miller home was huge. The living room, as big as it was, was packed. It was a combined birthday party and welcome home party. It seemed that most of the town wanted to welcome Daisy and Ben, and many seemed to want to make it up to their father for doubting him earlier in the year.
Help in English towns ran along charity rather than guilt, but once again their reluctance to trust the outsider who joined them had likely contributed to making an already bad situation worse. So many were trying their best to let him know that they would be on Hardy's side from hereon in, in whichever way felt natural and best to each person.
It felt a little weird to be part of the community, but he knew he would get used to it. He had children and a wife with ties to Broadchurch. He was likely going to be there until he was old, if not buried.
The younger him would have laughed at the thought. Him? Living in Broadchurch? The seaside town where he had hidden like a coward for twelve hours? He would have told whoever said it exactly where they could shove it. Not that his ideas would have been as creative as Ellie's.
It was strange having so many in the house at once, but it was a pleasant atmosphere. The Latimers had taken it upon themselves to be assistant hosts and make it easy for the newest Hardy children to feel at home in this new town to them.
Although the bigger reason was to celebrate Ben's return from the hospital just a few days before. The surgery was a success, and his life was saved. Although, he would remain in the wheelchair for a while yet. But he was much stronger than he had been, much to everyone’s relief. That was why the party had been postponed, to give him time to recover.
“Hardy, how is Daisy?” Mark asked him. “Chloe says she's fitting well into school. Hailey, too.”
Hardy was not sure how he was pulled into a conversation with Mark, Bob Daniels, and the rest of the five-a-siders. Football had never been his thing, but he knew enough to join in the general topics, which surprised him as much as it surprised them. But the conversational gambit showed that he had been accepted into their circle.
He turned and noticed Daisy and Hailey - who was still reluctant to return to Sandbrook until after the trial - seated with Chloe's circle of friends, evidently well-being filled in on the necessary knowledge to be part of their group. She had fitted well into school, for her final year and hadn’t fallen behind at all. “All her work has been transferred from her old school and has luckily only had to drop one class that clashed. The tutor for that subject offered her lunchtimes and three evenings after school to help her finish the course, rather than having to drop the subject mere months before the final exam.”
“Thank god for small miracles,” said Mr. Jenkinson. “Hailey's having a similar situation, only she has to start the entire year again to make up for the months she missed due to...” He left it unspoken. “Daisy looks much healthier.”
“Her new doctor at the hospital said that she had some ideas she wanted to run by Royal Infirmary in Weymouth. There might be some things that could help Daisy live more easily with her Crohn's, and even make it possible for her to go to university next September.”
Daisy wanted to be a doctor, if she couldn’t be a policeman. Maybe. He could hope she could have that bit of normality.
A sudden burst of laughter broke into his thoughts. He blinked. He hadn't heard that laugh in years, and there she was. Almost sounding like she had before the Sandbrook case fell apart. He did not remember Daisy laughing after that, now that he thought about it. And looking at the light that was in her eyes, he knew she was starting to be happy again. That the pain of having and giving up a child, piled on top of everything else she had dealt with, was slowly receding.
Thank God.
She had grown into a beautiful young woman. Her honey-blonde hair falling like a curtain around her shoulders. There was a smile he also hadn’t seen in far too many years. And looking at her, you couldn’t tell she had had a child. She had been blessed that way like her mother.
The accompanying laughter from Hailey - who was letting her hair grow so the dyed strands could eventually be cut off rather than dyed again - added to the smile on Hardy's lips. She, too, was healing.
And from the look on Mr. Jenkinson's face it was an increasingly common sound in their home. “We'll miss her when she goes, but that’s some way off yet,” he quietly remarked.
Nearby Olly was surrounded by well-wishers, his mother the formost of them. “Look at him! My son, in charge of the Echo!”
Olly turned a little pink, but the pride was too strong. “It's amazing, but it feels strange not answering to Maggie.” He turned to his mentor. “We'll miss you.”
“Oh, I'll come to visit. You're not getting rid of me completely,” Maggie teased. “I'll be checking in often with my best-selling protégé.” He hadn’t published his book yet, but the publisher was enthusiastic.
The words attracted the attention of Tom and his friends. “Your book has already got orders and it’s not even been printed yet,” Tom commented, a big element of cousinly pride in his voice. “We talked about it at school the other day. That and your article. I can imagine how mad Karen White must be, if she knows about it.”
Maggie and Olly exchanged smirks, ruthlessly suppressing the glee they both felt. Released just three weeks ago, the article had spread like wildfire and garnered the Echo hundreds of calls. “Amazing how something that holds back information about ongoing cases can prove a better seller than the detailed but flawed stuff she got to print,” Olly said instead. “Still, it won't be the same around here without Maggie Radcliffe. And now she's being deliberately vague about her plans.”
She smiled, knowing he was covering for her. “I'm glad we got the Herald to publish a sincere apology to Hardy and the other families. When is Karen's trial, again?”
“In three months,” Olly said. “About time, too. Once that and the other trials are done we can finally go back to normal around here.”
“A better normal,” Tom insisted, looking over his shoulder, willing to take time away from his own circle to make sure that his delicate new brother was okay.
Ben was seated in his chair, playing with Fred and other children their age, sitting around the table playing one of Fred's favourite board games. Ben was laughing along with them, looking so much healthier and off the oxygen. While he would never be well, he would be able to enjoy childhood again.
“Look at our honorary board bro,” said Adam Jenkinson. “Welcome regular at the park to watch us practice.”
Tom grinned. His dad had seen him showing off things on his laptop, and Ben had loved it. A mutual hero-worship was already in place, and Tom was loving it, too.
“You're proving as good a little brother as a big brother,” praised Lucy. “He's very protective of Daisy. She even seems to like it now,” she added to Hardy as he paused on his way around the room, picking up snippets of conversation as he went. He affirmed it with a smiling nod.
The twins were near Ellie and playing on the floor with Christopher. They were playing with a shape sorter, a stacking train and a walker trolley. Ellie was seated so she could watch them all. Natalie was seated next to her, hearing insights about children and motherhood. The light caught the engagement ring on her finger. She had finally accepted Coates's offer.
“The wedding will be next summer, now that my mum has been placed in a nursing home. I couldn’t take care of her anymore, even if I didn’t have the baby.”
The children on the floor had company in the vicar, who had never been seen smiling as much as he did when he was around his baby daughter and fiancée. Natalie’s house was up for sale and her things in storage, since she had moved in with Paul. Now their arguments seemed a bit more playful since they were planning for a future, but he suspected that they might discover they enjoyed the bickering - almost as much as Hardy and Ellie did.
Ellie smiled as Coates drew a bit closer, handing his daughter, Josie, to Natalie. “You certainly endured some pointed comments and teasing over your actions, once the initial anger about your choice had subsided,” she teased.
He grimaced before a good-natured smile crossed his lips. “Probably helped that the news about the arrests came so soon after. It gave the town something else to focus on.”
“Speaking of, why did some of the older members of town have odd looks when the news broke?” Ellie asked.
Natalie and Coates exchanged a tense look before he sighed, accepting responsibility for answering. “The priest who took advantage of her mum?” he replied quietly. “His name was Paul Cote. C-O--T-E. No 'A'. No ‘S’. No relation, thank god.”
As Natalie's twisted look showed her agreement, Ellie's eyes widened. “I'd forgotten about him.”
“Most preferred to,” Natalie softly said. “I'm just glad Mum finally softened toward my Paul. Probably helped that she got to see a grandchild before she went completely blind.”
Ellie cleared her throat. “I need a break.”
Coates and Natalie nodded, silently affirming that they had things in hand.
As she got up, Ellie was surprised that her husband had not yet tired of the crowd, but it seemed like he had earned Mark and Bob’s respect, and so they had found ways to make him feel comfortable talking about whatever they talked about. Given the look in Hardy's eyes, he was probably giving them a hard time about some sport thing that had happened the past week that they had lost at or missed hearing about.
It was good to see him finally feeling at home.
She stepped outside for a breather. The air felt good, chilly and a sign of the coming autumn. It was almost November. Which meant it was almost Christmas, as her dear old mum used to say. Christopher would be two years old soon. The second anniversary of the twins being conceived was coming soon. It would have crept up and passed her by, unnoticed, had Alec not reminded her of it that morning with a replay of the action. His words.
“Danny would have loved this party.”
Ellie started at the sound of Beth's voice. She saw a small smile of remembrance in her eyes, and allowed a little one of her own to appear. “He liked any reason to celebrate, didn't he?”
Beth sniffled and wiped away a tear. “He would have been a good big brother to Christopher.” She shivered, but it was not from the cold. “I hate to think that if wasn't for... what Joe did... that you wouldn't be able to be a mum to two children who needed one.”
And the twins would not exist, Ellie thought silently. She cleared her throat. “It's not something I like to think about.”
“I meant it when I said I forgave you.”
“And I meant it when I answered your accusation.”
“What accusation?”
It was branded in Ellie's mind and still plagued her, shadowed her every move, her every day, her watchfulness of her husband. As if she couldn’t quite trust again. “'How could you not know?'”
Cringing, Beth put a hand on her arm. “I was so angry. I couldn't believe that anyone could be married and not know what their spouse was like, but... truth was I didn't believe Mark could... you know. I was more angry at myself for not knowing about him cheating.”
Beth did not like to even mention the fling with Becca Fisher, Ellie knew. Not that she blamed her. She did not like to recall her husband's admission of the near proposition toward Becca, even though nothing had happened. He had been really lonely. She understood it, but it did not mean she liked it.
Beth continued, as if unaware of her friend's thoughts. “It was wrong of me to not trust you. I should have known that you would have done something if you had suspected for a moment.”
“I have an answer for you.”
“Another one?”
“Yes,” Ellie explained. “Because I had to help Alec stop asking himself the same thing, and the same question I have asked myself every day since, especially during this year's case. Could he be another Joe? I watch Alec and I shouldn’t need to. I love him, and I know he wouldn’t, but I can’t trust myself, my judgement. I’m trying to. And Alec; he felt that he should have known about his ex because there was reason to know that Tess was not someone he could trust. He’s felt so guilty about what she did that he didn’t know about. He would have known before I did who had killed the girl found in our driveway, but he had been pulled from the team and had to sit on what he knew for weeks, unable to speak out, unable to believe what he was thinking. And I waded in from deep end to the shallows, like it was syrup, and it took me weeks.”
Beth thought a moment, and took a deep breath. “We all have trust issues. But while mine might have been hardest to bear for me and in some ways justified when it comes to Mark, yours with Alec are unfounded. I’ve seen him with Christopher and he plays with him as if he’s playing with Harry. Kids are his absolute joy. He’s got a gift with them and seems to come alive. Since you had the twins he’s come out of his shell, where as when you had Fred, Joe went into one. And the difference since Ben and Daisy have come to live with you is even stronger. There is no way Alec is Joe.”
Ellie looked at her in gratitude for the support. She still needed to finish her answer. “It's possible for someone to hide things from you if you have no reason to suspect them of those things. If there are things going on in your life to explain them away, it's all too easy to accept the alternative explanations. Lucy was an easy target to explain the missing money because Joe didn't take responsibility. I had been expecting her to take from us. But he didn’t just lie to me, he let me think she’d done it. In Alec's case, he believed that Tess was fixated on becoming DI, so he felt confident that she would never do anything to jeopardise that. That belief was shaken by the robbery and utterly shattered with her committing murder. He certainly knows that now and has beat himself up over it for months. You know what made your words hit the hardest?”
Beth shook her head.
“I had asked the same question of a suspect in Danny’s murder. Her husband had abused her kids and she said she didn't know, but I had trouble believing that.”
Beth was aghast. “How can you compare your situation to that?! That had to be going on under her own roof. That should have been known. She had to have suspected something. What I heard happened in your house... that would have looked normal, as much as I hate to say it. I heard the evidence and the testimony, and as much as I wanted to scream at you, I couldn't. Not even that night, but maybe that was because I didn't have the energy to raise my voice. And I never could. Because the loudest scream in my head was at me. Why didn't I know my husband was cheating? Why didn't I know Danny was going out and meeting Joe behind our backs? You see? That’s what this was all about. I wasn’t angry at you. I was angry at myself. And I couldn’t tell you. I'm shocked that you and I both believed anything he said.”
Ellie accepted that. It seemed easier now that she knew and it made so much sense. “What got to me was that Joe had left the boys alone. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see it. It was Alec’s reaction to him leaving the boys on their own. According to his seconder he looked like he was about to read Joe the riot act, just for that.”
“There you go, then,” Beth chided.
Ellie fell silent, thinking. “We assume that we know someone, but sometimes we can never know what goes on in their heads. I wanted to believe that we had revived our marriage, but I think Tom was wiser than that. Even Fred... I don’t think he remembers Joe, and I think that's for the best. He had him every day, but it's Alec he’s attached to. Fred never said 'Daddy' until Alec moved in.”
“That's as much of a point against Joe's parenting skills as a medal for Alec's?”
“Maybe. But I guess what it all told me was that that sometimes we can have all the best detection skills in the world, and we can still be betrayed by our emotions or what we think we know about someone. That's the best answer I have. I assumed I knew Joe. Just as I assumed I knew everyone in this town. Alec said to not trust anyone, that anyone is capable of murder if pushed far enough. At one point I admitted to Joe that the longer the case dragged on the more I suspected everyone. But not the one person I should have. I came away from that wondering if I would ever be able to trust again, and I was pushed to that because I was faced with imagining I had married a second man capable of killing.”
Beth thought a moment. “As little as I trusted him, I don't think I could've thought Alec Hardy capable of killing anyone except in self-defence or in defence of another. Especially a child. His detachment... it was almost a blessing at first. No empathy, no pity, just a determination to solve the case. He had the right instincts. I just didn't trust them.”
“I didn't trust him then, either. That was because I didn't know the truth about Sandbrook. Now I understand why he kept it quiet. But there's a balance between keeping things private and telling too much. The correct balance in each case wasn't found, but I think we've learned enough here that we might keep it from ever happening again. Not that I ever want another murder to come to Broadchurch. I'd be happy if I never see another one in my life.”
Beth took a deep breath. “Me, too.” She touched Ellie's arm. “Thanks. I guess I never thought to compare my feelings of betrayal to yours. Yours was the worse of the two.”
“It doesn't alter that you were hurt.”
“But you needed a friend.”
“You weren't able to be the kind of friend you naturally are. You had enough to deal with.”
“Ladies, I didn't come out here to stop an argument.”
They both weren't surprised that Hardy stepped out. Ellie smirked. “Finally had enough football, did you?”
“The football is fine, the kids are fine, the food isn't burning. I just needed a moment.”
Beth smiled. “I'll leave you both to your quiet break.”
After she stepped inside, Hardy stepped closer to meet Ellie's eyes. “What was that about?”
“Giving her an answer to that question that you still ask yourself.”
He grimaced. “I could've lived a thousand years without knowing that answer.”
“But you stopped beating yourself up about it.”
“That's what you think. Have you?”
Ellie shrugged. “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. No,” she replied honestly. “Give it more time. Besides, you showed Joe up constantly and it seems I easily showed Tess up.”
“Almost from the start.”
“Almost?”
“I had to see proof that you were a good copper.”
They both looked up at the stars, the slightly cloudy night feeling very comfortable despite the chill in the air. Had to be the atmosphere inside and the joy in family being reunited at long last.
“The real reason I came out to join you is that the Chief Super has asked us to be godparents to Enoch.”
Ellie’s jaw dropped. “Oh god. Does Daisy know?”
He nodded quietly. “I thought she was going to scream or cry, but she didn’t. She brought me to shame with her maturity,” he whispered. “My god, Ellie. That’s my daughter in there. All grown up. And I was a granddad for those few short weeks. There’s few boxes left to tick.”
“Except godfather. Have you ticked that one?”
“No.”
“There you go. Still life to live,” she teased.
He breathed a laugh, kissed her sweetly and tucked her into his chest to wrap her in his arms.
“Six children under one roof,” Ellie mused after a long silence. “We're lucky the younger ones can share for now. What'll we do when they start growing and can't share the same room?”
He smirked. “I was thinking of applying for Income Support, but that’s a valid point, too. We could always open up the roof space. Or build an extension, just in case we end up adding another one.”
He was not surprised that she punched him in the arm. He slowly smiled. Life was good.
ĐĐ
The End
Date of commencement: September 22 2013
Date of completion: December 24 2014
Series: Broadchurch, a sequel to the original, and following on from Life Without Joe
Rating: M
Authors: tkel_paris and tardis_mole
Summary: Two years after Danny's death, life is slowly getting back to normal in Broadchurch. But Hardy's happy life is about to be turned upside down by a spectre from the past he had hoped had been laid to rest. Someone from his past wants to talk to him, someone wants revenge, someone wants to see him ruined. But it's not one 'someone'. But first, he must face the girl in his garden.
Disclaimer: We own nothing, but this is based on Broadchurch by Chris Chibnal, with added clues from the novel by Erin Kelly. We gain nor financial benefit nor gratuities, only the enjoyment from writing and working together on this epic journey, shared for the enjoyment of others.
Dedication: Chris Chibnal, long time friend. bas_math_girl, for her beta. And each other for hopefully not ruining each other's lives for too long during the writing part.
Warning: If you have not watched Broadchurch in its entirety, do not read this. We mean it. You will be spoiled. Stop and go back. Now. Ideally you have seen the entire show, not just what was aired on BBC America if you live on that side of the pond, but this is understandable in either case. Also, if you have not read tardis_mole's Life Without Joe, that's okay. It's possible to read this without reading that, if you're not on Moley's approved list. You'll probably find this makes a little more sense if you have read it, but you should be fine without it. Take the time to read Erin Kelly’s novelization, if you can, as it provided certain details that helped with writing this. Though you won’t need to rely on it.
Authors' Notes: See Episode One, Part One. They're a bit long to include in each post.
Excuse me a moment... I have to celebrate because this is an accomplishment with a slightly bittersweet ending. But..
(Wilf-style happy dancing) “Ding, dong, the balrog's done! (humming to the tune) Ding dong, the massive balrog's done!” (huge grin)
/=/=/=/=/=/
Previously...
Episode Eight, Part Seven: Growing
At the general meeting in the CID room, the monthly updates were more promising than in previous months. All the major cases were in the CPS process. Broadchurch had once again sunk back into its usual petty crime status. It was more than enough for their small station.
And the rumour mill was in fine fettle as usual. Desai had had a baby girl. True. Frank was transferring to Weymouth CID. Not true. Hardy's son was due to have his surgery tomorrow. True. Much to everyone's relief. The only shame was that it had not already happened. And the Chief Super had a new man in her life. No one had missed hearing about that rumour. It had sent the office into a frenzy of speculation.
And no one could ask, because the Chief Super had not arrived at work. She was nowhere to be seen. But Desai, in for her KIT meeting, could swear under oath that she had seen the Chief Super downstairs, talking about taking her ‘little man out’.
Hardy frowned deepest of all. “I can’t imagine the Chief with a toy boy. Little man? What is he, a dwarf? She’s almost as tall as I am. Besides, I thought she was happily married.” He took a drink from his cup of coffee and looked up, seeing Elaine walking towards the CID doors. He quickly swallowed. “Boss is in,” he warned across the floor and made for his office as everyone shuffled into seats and began to act busy.
Elaine pushed the door open and called out a good morning. Several ‘morning, sir’ came back. She stepped into Hardy’s office as he was busy signing off paperwork. He looked up.
“Morning sir,” he said. “What can I do for-?” He then looked again.
/=/=/=/=/
Ellie heard the door click shut and shared the bemused and somewhat shocked looks of her colleagues.
“Am I seeing things?”
“She’s carrying a baby sling.”
“No... She’s older than I am... Isn’t she?”
“Quiet,” Ellie warned.
The outer doors swung inward and Super Sandra hurried in, “Morning. Anyone seen the Chief...?” Almost went right passed the glass fronted DI’s office, “Oh, never mind.” She slid to a stop and knocked and went in.
The DCs and DSs outside looked on in astonishment as a baby emerged from the sling half hidden beneath Elaine’s uniform jacket. Ellie stood up, realising there was something familiar about that baby. The baby now in her husband’s arms.
She slapped a hand over her mouth. She expected him to burst into tears. He had so wanted that baby to come home with them. But he didn’t; he smiled, as if it had been a stranger’s baby, or at the most the child of a friend. And the baby boy was smiling back. She had to smile at the man she loved playing with a tiny baby. His dad side was the best of his talents, in her book.
It was a pity, in a way, that they were not having any more.
/=/=/=/=/
The gathering at the Hardy-Miller home was huge. The living room, as big as it was, was packed. It was a combined birthday party and welcome home party. It seemed that most of the town wanted to welcome Daisy and Ben, and many seemed to want to make it up to their father for doubting him earlier in the year.
Help in English towns ran along charity rather than guilt, but once again their reluctance to trust the outsider who joined them had likely contributed to making an already bad situation worse. So many were trying their best to let him know that they would be on Hardy's side from hereon in, in whichever way felt natural and best to each person.
It felt a little weird to be part of the community, but he knew he would get used to it. He had children and a wife with ties to Broadchurch. He was likely going to be there until he was old, if not buried.
The younger him would have laughed at the thought. Him? Living in Broadchurch? The seaside town where he had hidden like a coward for twelve hours? He would have told whoever said it exactly where they could shove it. Not that his ideas would have been as creative as Ellie's.
It was strange having so many in the house at once, but it was a pleasant atmosphere. The Latimers had taken it upon themselves to be assistant hosts and make it easy for the newest Hardy children to feel at home in this new town to them.
Although the bigger reason was to celebrate Ben's return from the hospital just a few days before. The surgery was a success, and his life was saved. Although, he would remain in the wheelchair for a while yet. But he was much stronger than he had been, much to everyone’s relief. That was why the party had been postponed, to give him time to recover.
“Hardy, how is Daisy?” Mark asked him. “Chloe says she's fitting well into school. Hailey, too.”
Hardy was not sure how he was pulled into a conversation with Mark, Bob Daniels, and the rest of the five-a-siders. Football had never been his thing, but he knew enough to join in the general topics, which surprised him as much as it surprised them. But the conversational gambit showed that he had been accepted into their circle.
He turned and noticed Daisy and Hailey - who was still reluctant to return to Sandbrook until after the trial - seated with Chloe's circle of friends, evidently well-being filled in on the necessary knowledge to be part of their group. She had fitted well into school, for her final year and hadn’t fallen behind at all. “All her work has been transferred from her old school and has luckily only had to drop one class that clashed. The tutor for that subject offered her lunchtimes and three evenings after school to help her finish the course, rather than having to drop the subject mere months before the final exam.”
“Thank god for small miracles,” said Mr. Jenkinson. “Hailey's having a similar situation, only she has to start the entire year again to make up for the months she missed due to...” He left it unspoken. “Daisy looks much healthier.”
“Her new doctor at the hospital said that she had some ideas she wanted to run by Royal Infirmary in Weymouth. There might be some things that could help Daisy live more easily with her Crohn's, and even make it possible for her to go to university next September.”
Daisy wanted to be a doctor, if she couldn’t be a policeman. Maybe. He could hope she could have that bit of normality.
A sudden burst of laughter broke into his thoughts. He blinked. He hadn't heard that laugh in years, and there she was. Almost sounding like she had before the Sandbrook case fell apart. He did not remember Daisy laughing after that, now that he thought about it. And looking at the light that was in her eyes, he knew she was starting to be happy again. That the pain of having and giving up a child, piled on top of everything else she had dealt with, was slowly receding.
Thank God.
She had grown into a beautiful young woman. Her honey-blonde hair falling like a curtain around her shoulders. There was a smile he also hadn’t seen in far too many years. And looking at her, you couldn’t tell she had had a child. She had been blessed that way like her mother.
The accompanying laughter from Hailey - who was letting her hair grow so the dyed strands could eventually be cut off rather than dyed again - added to the smile on Hardy's lips. She, too, was healing.
And from the look on Mr. Jenkinson's face it was an increasingly common sound in their home. “We'll miss her when she goes, but that’s some way off yet,” he quietly remarked.
Nearby Olly was surrounded by well-wishers, his mother the formost of them. “Look at him! My son, in charge of the Echo!”
Olly turned a little pink, but the pride was too strong. “It's amazing, but it feels strange not answering to Maggie.” He turned to his mentor. “We'll miss you.”
“Oh, I'll come to visit. You're not getting rid of me completely,” Maggie teased. “I'll be checking in often with my best-selling protégé.” He hadn’t published his book yet, but the publisher was enthusiastic.
The words attracted the attention of Tom and his friends. “Your book has already got orders and it’s not even been printed yet,” Tom commented, a big element of cousinly pride in his voice. “We talked about it at school the other day. That and your article. I can imagine how mad Karen White must be, if she knows about it.”
Maggie and Olly exchanged smirks, ruthlessly suppressing the glee they both felt. Released just three weeks ago, the article had spread like wildfire and garnered the Echo hundreds of calls. “Amazing how something that holds back information about ongoing cases can prove a better seller than the detailed but flawed stuff she got to print,” Olly said instead. “Still, it won't be the same around here without Maggie Radcliffe. And now she's being deliberately vague about her plans.”
She smiled, knowing he was covering for her. “I'm glad we got the Herald to publish a sincere apology to Hardy and the other families. When is Karen's trial, again?”
“In three months,” Olly said. “About time, too. Once that and the other trials are done we can finally go back to normal around here.”
“A better normal,” Tom insisted, looking over his shoulder, willing to take time away from his own circle to make sure that his delicate new brother was okay.
Ben was seated in his chair, playing with Fred and other children their age, sitting around the table playing one of Fred's favourite board games. Ben was laughing along with them, looking so much healthier and off the oxygen. While he would never be well, he would be able to enjoy childhood again.
“Look at our honorary board bro,” said Adam Jenkinson. “Welcome regular at the park to watch us practice.”
Tom grinned. His dad had seen him showing off things on his laptop, and Ben had loved it. A mutual hero-worship was already in place, and Tom was loving it, too.
“You're proving as good a little brother as a big brother,” praised Lucy. “He's very protective of Daisy. She even seems to like it now,” she added to Hardy as he paused on his way around the room, picking up snippets of conversation as he went. He affirmed it with a smiling nod.
The twins were near Ellie and playing on the floor with Christopher. They were playing with a shape sorter, a stacking train and a walker trolley. Ellie was seated so she could watch them all. Natalie was seated next to her, hearing insights about children and motherhood. The light caught the engagement ring on her finger. She had finally accepted Coates's offer.
“The wedding will be next summer, now that my mum has been placed in a nursing home. I couldn’t take care of her anymore, even if I didn’t have the baby.”
The children on the floor had company in the vicar, who had never been seen smiling as much as he did when he was around his baby daughter and fiancée. Natalie’s house was up for sale and her things in storage, since she had moved in with Paul. Now their arguments seemed a bit more playful since they were planning for a future, but he suspected that they might discover they enjoyed the bickering - almost as much as Hardy and Ellie did.
Ellie smiled as Coates drew a bit closer, handing his daughter, Josie, to Natalie. “You certainly endured some pointed comments and teasing over your actions, once the initial anger about your choice had subsided,” she teased.
He grimaced before a good-natured smile crossed his lips. “Probably helped that the news about the arrests came so soon after. It gave the town something else to focus on.”
“Speaking of, why did some of the older members of town have odd looks when the news broke?” Ellie asked.
Natalie and Coates exchanged a tense look before he sighed, accepting responsibility for answering. “The priest who took advantage of her mum?” he replied quietly. “His name was Paul Cote. C-O--T-E. No 'A'. No ‘S’. No relation, thank god.”
As Natalie's twisted look showed her agreement, Ellie's eyes widened. “I'd forgotten about him.”
“Most preferred to,” Natalie softly said. “I'm just glad Mum finally softened toward my Paul. Probably helped that she got to see a grandchild before she went completely blind.”
Ellie cleared her throat. “I need a break.”
Coates and Natalie nodded, silently affirming that they had things in hand.
As she got up, Ellie was surprised that her husband had not yet tired of the crowd, but it seemed like he had earned Mark and Bob’s respect, and so they had found ways to make him feel comfortable talking about whatever they talked about. Given the look in Hardy's eyes, he was probably giving them a hard time about some sport thing that had happened the past week that they had lost at or missed hearing about.
It was good to see him finally feeling at home.
She stepped outside for a breather. The air felt good, chilly and a sign of the coming autumn. It was almost November. Which meant it was almost Christmas, as her dear old mum used to say. Christopher would be two years old soon. The second anniversary of the twins being conceived was coming soon. It would have crept up and passed her by, unnoticed, had Alec not reminded her of it that morning with a replay of the action. His words.
“Danny would have loved this party.”
Ellie started at the sound of Beth's voice. She saw a small smile of remembrance in her eyes, and allowed a little one of her own to appear. “He liked any reason to celebrate, didn't he?”
Beth sniffled and wiped away a tear. “He would have been a good big brother to Christopher.” She shivered, but it was not from the cold. “I hate to think that if wasn't for... what Joe did... that you wouldn't be able to be a mum to two children who needed one.”
And the twins would not exist, Ellie thought silently. She cleared her throat. “It's not something I like to think about.”
“I meant it when I said I forgave you.”
“And I meant it when I answered your accusation.”
“What accusation?”
It was branded in Ellie's mind and still plagued her, shadowed her every move, her every day, her watchfulness of her husband. As if she couldn’t quite trust again. “'How could you not know?'”
Cringing, Beth put a hand on her arm. “I was so angry. I couldn't believe that anyone could be married and not know what their spouse was like, but... truth was I didn't believe Mark could... you know. I was more angry at myself for not knowing about him cheating.”
Beth did not like to even mention the fling with Becca Fisher, Ellie knew. Not that she blamed her. She did not like to recall her husband's admission of the near proposition toward Becca, even though nothing had happened. He had been really lonely. She understood it, but it did not mean she liked it.
Beth continued, as if unaware of her friend's thoughts. “It was wrong of me to not trust you. I should have known that you would have done something if you had suspected for a moment.”
“I have an answer for you.”
“Another one?”
“Yes,” Ellie explained. “Because I had to help Alec stop asking himself the same thing, and the same question I have asked myself every day since, especially during this year's case. Could he be another Joe? I watch Alec and I shouldn’t need to. I love him, and I know he wouldn’t, but I can’t trust myself, my judgement. I’m trying to. And Alec; he felt that he should have known about his ex because there was reason to know that Tess was not someone he could trust. He’s felt so guilty about what she did that he didn’t know about. He would have known before I did who had killed the girl found in our driveway, but he had been pulled from the team and had to sit on what he knew for weeks, unable to speak out, unable to believe what he was thinking. And I waded in from deep end to the shallows, like it was syrup, and it took me weeks.”
Beth thought a moment, and took a deep breath. “We all have trust issues. But while mine might have been hardest to bear for me and in some ways justified when it comes to Mark, yours with Alec are unfounded. I’ve seen him with Christopher and he plays with him as if he’s playing with Harry. Kids are his absolute joy. He’s got a gift with them and seems to come alive. Since you had the twins he’s come out of his shell, where as when you had Fred, Joe went into one. And the difference since Ben and Daisy have come to live with you is even stronger. There is no way Alec is Joe.”
Ellie looked at her in gratitude for the support. She still needed to finish her answer. “It's possible for someone to hide things from you if you have no reason to suspect them of those things. If there are things going on in your life to explain them away, it's all too easy to accept the alternative explanations. Lucy was an easy target to explain the missing money because Joe didn't take responsibility. I had been expecting her to take from us. But he didn’t just lie to me, he let me think she’d done it. In Alec's case, he believed that Tess was fixated on becoming DI, so he felt confident that she would never do anything to jeopardise that. That belief was shaken by the robbery and utterly shattered with her committing murder. He certainly knows that now and has beat himself up over it for months. You know what made your words hit the hardest?”
Beth shook her head.
“I had asked the same question of a suspect in Danny’s murder. Her husband had abused her kids and she said she didn't know, but I had trouble believing that.”
Beth was aghast. “How can you compare your situation to that?! That had to be going on under her own roof. That should have been known. She had to have suspected something. What I heard happened in your house... that would have looked normal, as much as I hate to say it. I heard the evidence and the testimony, and as much as I wanted to scream at you, I couldn't. Not even that night, but maybe that was because I didn't have the energy to raise my voice. And I never could. Because the loudest scream in my head was at me. Why didn't I know my husband was cheating? Why didn't I know Danny was going out and meeting Joe behind our backs? You see? That’s what this was all about. I wasn’t angry at you. I was angry at myself. And I couldn’t tell you. I'm shocked that you and I both believed anything he said.”
Ellie accepted that. It seemed easier now that she knew and it made so much sense. “What got to me was that Joe had left the boys alone. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see it. It was Alec’s reaction to him leaving the boys on their own. According to his seconder he looked like he was about to read Joe the riot act, just for that.”
“There you go, then,” Beth chided.
Ellie fell silent, thinking. “We assume that we know someone, but sometimes we can never know what goes on in their heads. I wanted to believe that we had revived our marriage, but I think Tom was wiser than that. Even Fred... I don’t think he remembers Joe, and I think that's for the best. He had him every day, but it's Alec he’s attached to. Fred never said 'Daddy' until Alec moved in.”
“That's as much of a point against Joe's parenting skills as a medal for Alec's?”
“Maybe. But I guess what it all told me was that that sometimes we can have all the best detection skills in the world, and we can still be betrayed by our emotions or what we think we know about someone. That's the best answer I have. I assumed I knew Joe. Just as I assumed I knew everyone in this town. Alec said to not trust anyone, that anyone is capable of murder if pushed far enough. At one point I admitted to Joe that the longer the case dragged on the more I suspected everyone. But not the one person I should have. I came away from that wondering if I would ever be able to trust again, and I was pushed to that because I was faced with imagining I had married a second man capable of killing.”
Beth thought a moment. “As little as I trusted him, I don't think I could've thought Alec Hardy capable of killing anyone except in self-defence or in defence of another. Especially a child. His detachment... it was almost a blessing at first. No empathy, no pity, just a determination to solve the case. He had the right instincts. I just didn't trust them.”
“I didn't trust him then, either. That was because I didn't know the truth about Sandbrook. Now I understand why he kept it quiet. But there's a balance between keeping things private and telling too much. The correct balance in each case wasn't found, but I think we've learned enough here that we might keep it from ever happening again. Not that I ever want another murder to come to Broadchurch. I'd be happy if I never see another one in my life.”
Beth took a deep breath. “Me, too.” She touched Ellie's arm. “Thanks. I guess I never thought to compare my feelings of betrayal to yours. Yours was the worse of the two.”
“It doesn't alter that you were hurt.”
“But you needed a friend.”
“You weren't able to be the kind of friend you naturally are. You had enough to deal with.”
“Ladies, I didn't come out here to stop an argument.”
They both weren't surprised that Hardy stepped out. Ellie smirked. “Finally had enough football, did you?”
“The football is fine, the kids are fine, the food isn't burning. I just needed a moment.”
Beth smiled. “I'll leave you both to your quiet break.”
After she stepped inside, Hardy stepped closer to meet Ellie's eyes. “What was that about?”
“Giving her an answer to that question that you still ask yourself.”
He grimaced. “I could've lived a thousand years without knowing that answer.”
“But you stopped beating yourself up about it.”
“That's what you think. Have you?”
Ellie shrugged. “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. No,” she replied honestly. “Give it more time. Besides, you showed Joe up constantly and it seems I easily showed Tess up.”
“Almost from the start.”
“Almost?”
“I had to see proof that you were a good copper.”
They both looked up at the stars, the slightly cloudy night feeling very comfortable despite the chill in the air. Had to be the atmosphere inside and the joy in family being reunited at long last.
“The real reason I came out to join you is that the Chief Super has asked us to be godparents to Enoch.”
Ellie’s jaw dropped. “Oh god. Does Daisy know?”
He nodded quietly. “I thought she was going to scream or cry, but she didn’t. She brought me to shame with her maturity,” he whispered. “My god, Ellie. That’s my daughter in there. All grown up. And I was a granddad for those few short weeks. There’s few boxes left to tick.”
“Except godfather. Have you ticked that one?”
“No.”
“There you go. Still life to live,” she teased.
He breathed a laugh, kissed her sweetly and tucked her into his chest to wrap her in his arms.
“Six children under one roof,” Ellie mused after a long silence. “We're lucky the younger ones can share for now. What'll we do when they start growing and can't share the same room?”
He smirked. “I was thinking of applying for Income Support, but that’s a valid point, too. We could always open up the roof space. Or build an extension, just in case we end up adding another one.”
He was not surprised that she punched him in the arm. He slowly smiled. Life was good.
ĐĐ
The End