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‘Why guilt? Don’t be. It would have been nice.’
Lizzie checked the time on her phone. She would have to leave soon to meet Thierry and Marie-Claire.
‘It would, but we’ll research the sailing when I get back. I’m just going to meet Marie-Claire and watch Thierry swim. I’ll be back in an hour or so.’
‘Aww, really? He loves the water doesn’t he? What a shame I have a treatment, I’d have come with you.’
Lizzie rushed along to Avenue de Benefiat to the pool where Marie-Claire and Thierry waited.
After changing, Thierry couldn’t wait to show off his new skill and he jumped up and down as he waited for the girls to get changed and deposit their clothes in the locker. Once they reached the water, Lizzie was surprised when Thierry just jumped in without warning. At once she followed in panic but Thierry’s small body popped back up and he immediately began splashing his arms and legs and swimming halfway across the pool.
‘Wow,’ Marie-Claire screamed with delight. ‘He really wants to show you.’
Lizzie caught his tired wet torso as he puffed and spluttered water from his mouth and nose. She knelt down, standing him against her thighs.
‘Well done, Thierry. I’ve got you but…’ She turned to his nanny now behind her. ‘Jesus, I can hardly breathe. He just went and I could hardly keep up with him. You’ll have to keep a really close eye on him. Phew. I wasn’t expecting that.’ She pinched his nose and wiped the mucus with her hand.
‘Yes, he is fearless. And, of course, I watch him close. With my life.’
Thierry began jumping up and down, ready to go again. Lizzie allowed him to jump and splash as she swirled him around. He laughed and giggled.
‘I want to swim again, Mummy.’
As Lizzie nodded, out of the corner of her eye she spotted a familiar figure being led by an older woman. It was Anton, Thierry’s father. The woman was instructing him to move his legs to walk in the water. Lizzie swallowed hard. It was difficult to believe he was still going through some basic rehabilitation. Her concern now however was to get out of the water and out of his sight. The last thing she wanted was for Marie-Claire to see him. And Thierry. She didn’t know if his father’s face and the attempt to abduct him still haunted his mind. She was sure it would still spook Marie-Claire. She knew she’d created a lot of damage soon after she’d struck him over the head with the champagne bottle six months ago. Seeing him now could bring another trauma on.
‘Marie-Claire, I’m so sorry. I feel extremely dizzy. Could we please go back to the changing room? Take Thierry please and turn and I’ll hold your shoulder in case I slip.’
‘Lizzie, oh yes, yes, of course.’ She took the boy in her arms and gripped his arms around her shoulder.
‘More swimming. I want to do more swimming, Mummy,’ Thierry protested, attracting more attention than Lizzie would have hoped.
‘Just ignore him, Marie-Claire. We’ll calm him down once we’re out,’ Lizzie told her as they climbed the pool steps and passed a parked wheelchair. She just prayed Anton wouldn’t spot them. ‘I’m right behind you and I’m OK. I’ll hold your shoulder. Keep walking.’
Marie-Claire did as she was told and did her best to control the wriggling, wailing Thierry as she led Lizzie through to the changing room.
Lizzie continued her faking performance for as long as necessary as they changed and made their way out of the building, which seemed cruel to Marie-Claire trying to console the teary Thierry and, once clear of the building, sped up her pace as they walked back to her apartment.
‘Oh, so sorry. I feel a little better now though. I’m really sorry, Thierry darling. We’ll go again another day. Mummy felt very sick and you wouldn’t like Mummy to be sick in the pool would you?’
When Lizzie got back to the office, she dashed to the cloakroom to tidy her hair and face. The mirror confirmed her inner state. She took out her make-up bag and rubbed in some moisturiser before adding her usual light foundation and blusher to her cheeks. After brushing her hair, she waltzed with some relief to Sophie’s consulting room. As she stepped into the doorway, she stopped as a tall male figure stood by her friend’s desk.
‘Oh, I’ll come back later, Soph.’
Sophie jumped up and called out, ‘No. Lizzie, come back. Your timing is good actually. Come in and meet Angus.’
Lizzie gripped the doorframe for a few seconds. ‘Angus. Oh, you’re Sophie’s colleague, er, associate?’ She peered directly at the tall figure holding out a hand and glaring at her with bright, cornflower-blue eyes and golden hair. ‘Very nice to meet you.’ She shook his hand.
‘Yes, well, we both lecture at the same college part-time. I was also practising in Belgium before I decided I needed a change so until I sort out where I want to put down roots, I’m at your disposal, ladies.’
Lizzie was immediately captivated by his Scottish accent. ‘Well, I’ve heard good things about you from Sophie whom I trust with my life.’
He threw out a warm smile which dimpled the sides of his mouth and a few laughter lines creased his eyes. Lizzie guessed he was close to his mid-thirties, a similar age to Cal and, she considered, good looking as well as, on first impression, charming.
‘Why don’t we sit down? My next client is not for twenty minutes,’ Sophie said pulling over another chair for them both and sitting back at her desk.
Angus pinched up his trousers at his knees before he sat. ‘I’m only too pleased to help out. The money, of course, always comes in handy. Actually, I was shopping and couldn’t resist popping in. It caught my eye, and Sophie just gave me a quick tour. It’s quite a set up you have here. Very impressive in fact. Sophie says you set up a few years ago in the beauty industry?’
Lizzie relayed some history of her buying the business about four years ago when Thierry was born and how luck and support from her best friend had secured her future.
‘That’s admirable. Shrewd too.’
‘More of a necessity really,’ she told him, trying to hide her blush. ‘Tell me more about what you’ve done?’ she asked, crossing her legs.
Both she and Sophie listened as he clarified his original Edinburgh accent and revealed his study background from Glasgow University to Europe, to America, Canada, Australia and back to Europe. Sophie had heard it all before, it seemed, but Lizzie was impressed that he’d done so much work reconstructing breast cancer patients as well as working in many cosmetic clinics with various procedures and support staff.
‘Well, we’re strictly day cases but you will have assistants,’ Lizzie said, comfortable that he sounded more than capable. ‘So feel free to come back Saturday with any further questions or to get more familiar with the place and the staff.’
Sophie smiled. ‘Good idea. The staff and consultants here are fantastic. And you’ll love Josephine, the Manager who you met. Oh but now I’m repeating myself.’
Angus chuckled. ‘That’s great, I love the enthusiasm.’
‘You’ll love Betty the cleaner too. She’s such a sweetie. And we may even have some male groomers by April too. A little expansion programme we’re doing.’
‘Yes. It’s pretty much an all-female institution at the moment,’ Sophie added.
As soon as Angus left reception, Sophie asked, ‘Well?’
Lizzie smiled. ‘Good choice, Sophie. He seems to have loads of experience. Very presentable, charming, so I’ll take your word he can do the job. It will be interesting to see how our clients respond. Eye candy for the ladies.’
Sophie’s arm wrapped over Lizzie’s shoulder. ‘I knew you would like him. Excellent.’
‘Yes, he’s very nice. Is he married?’
Chapter 6 (#ulink_74a7268a-b778-53fc-abc6-940f21cae8a3)
After settling back in the tiny loft, Cal’s breathing quickened as his son peered up to him. Was Jack assessing his trust? He could wait. As hard as it was not to speak, he wanted the boy’s version. What he’d learned from Lizzie was just hearsay as far as he was concerned. He wanted the facts. The nuts and bolts of the grief Jack had built inside him. He wanted him to deconstruct it piece by piece to him and replace it by building trust. Jack had spent his life wrapped in cotton wool. He’d never wanted for anything, nor anyone as far as he was aware. He’d had family and friends within a close community to watch out for him and provide for every need. He was a bright, athletic boy who was more than capable at anything he put his mind to. What the hell was troubling him? Cal scratched his head.
Jack licked his lips repeatedly, his eyes now peering down to a wooden rafter.
‘It’s difficult, Dad. You wouldn’t understand.’
‘I want to listen and understand. That’s why I’m here,’ Cal said, wishing he was in a position to wrap his arm around him and hold his son to make him feel safe. ‘It’s just between you and me. No one else will know. Trust me.’
‘It’s embarrassing though. I don’t know if I can explain.’
‘It’s me you’re talking to.’
Jack shifted his body forward and took a deep breath. ‘Well, it started with this girl Jessica Lawrence. She’s fourteen. She kept hanging around me for ages with her sister Samantha who is my grade. It started as a bit of fun, we’d tease her a bit but when we went to a party just before Christmas she brought along her friend Chloe. Her friend was nothing like her, you know, Dad, she was really hot, much more mature and I really liked her. I still like her.’
Cal nodded. ‘And then?’ he prompted with inner relief his son was opening up.
Jack licked his lips again and let out a sigh. ‘Well, obviously I knew this Jessica was on my case. Oh God, she’d bugged me all the time ringing me and texting me and, wherever I went, she was there. It was a joke. I even told her to get a life. It stopped being funny. She was annoying but I couldn’t get rid of her.
‘Anyway, I thought I’m never gonna get rid of her. I even told her sister to tell her to back off which back-fired. She accused me of being a tease. I couldn’t believe it. Anyway, I tried to ignore them. Then, after the New Year, I got Chloe’s number, bit the bullet and rang her. She could only say no. But, I couldn’t believe it. She said yes. I told her though not to tell her friend yet and she agreed. So we dated a few times but then, I still don’t know how this Jessica found out. But that’s what I mean, this is such a small town, maybe someone saw us out. I don’t know but this Jessica went ballistic when she found out. I mean, it’s not like I was dating her but she started giving me all sorts of shit. Calling me names and texting vicious messages. Then she started giving Chloe crap, calling her names and turning everyone against her.’ Jack held his head in his hands and blinked away the moisture filling his eyes. He then swallowed. ‘I mean, she was really nasty, the names and…Chloe didn’t deserve it and neither did I.’
Cal reached out and rubbed his shoulder.
‘Well, then she…she put a post on Facebook, on her sister’s but it was her. It said I’d tried to molest her and I gave her an STD. Dad, it was horrible! All the posts and comments after it were…like saying I was sick and a user. Dad, I didn’t do anything. I don’t know how someone could make something up like that. I wouldn’t touch that! Dad. It wasn’t true but now I’m the villain. Robbie knows it’s not true and some of my mates but Dad, some, there’s a group of seniors – they called me a pervert the other day.’ Jack lips quivered. ‘I…I just want to kill myself. I can’t face being here. I tell you it’s worse than a nightmare. It’s real. I think the post was removed, but I can’t walk down the street. Everyone thinks I’m some sort of monster. Girls walk the other side of the street. Chloe has ignored me. I don’t want to be here, Dad.’
Seeing his son’s eyes fill, Cal grabbed his son’s other shoulder and pulled him closer so that their heads met.
‘Oh Jack,’ he managed with a constricted throat. ‘No wonder you’re upset. That’s really tough, mate.’ He gripped Jack’s shoulders as they shook, swallowing hard with every muscle to contain his own emotion.
Although his heart ached for his son, he considered it best to stop talking and let Jack spill out his pain. This was serious stuff for one so young. Anger fired inside him burning his chest. Stupid, silly girl. She has no idea. He doubted talking to her would improve things. No, he told himself. There’s no point. Jack was thankfully OK. And he could talk about it. He’d confided. That was a massive step, albeit just the first. He may take a while to regain his strength and dignity but he was sure they could do this.
After several minutes Cal wiped his son’s tears with his thumb then reached into his pocket.
‘It’s a bit screwed up but you can use it. It’s clean,’ he said passing the boy a tissue.
Jack took it from his hand and broke into a smile. ‘Ha, like me really.’ He blew his nose.
‘Yep. You’ve done nothing wrong so you’ve nothing to worry about. You’re dealing with a child here who hasn’t learnt the basics. Kids are like that. And it’s what growing up is all about. It isn’t pleasant, far from it, but you will get knocks in life. Most folk are nice but occasionally nasty ones come along and surprise you. You’ve heard the phrase “I’ve seen another side to him”? Well there’s the proof.’
Jack raised his eyes and nodded. ‘I could have accepted it if she’d just slapped me or punched me but no, she made it, like, public! And what the fuck did I do?’
‘Dent her pride, shatter her dream. She was hurt. Her friend betrayed her. She’d perceived it as a personal attack and wanted to get even.’
‘But why would she be so malicious?’
‘Who knows? She’s immature and doesn’t know any better I suspect. And I’ll tell you something, it will blow over sooner than you think.’
‘No it won’t. The whole school knows about it now.’
‘People are too busy worrying about their own lives, believe me. OK, so you may get a group of silly girls with nothing better to do but tease but…’
‘Dad, seniors…they’re not…’
‘Those seniors will be off to college. You won’t see them.’
‘I’m talking about now. I’ve still got a couple of months before my SATs. I can’t go back. You don’t see it do you?’
‘Jack.’ Cal closed his eyes, momentarily numbed at his powerlessness to take away his son’s wound. ‘I do. I really do. I want you to understand that for you it feels and sounds a hundred times worse than it does for anyone you know. In your mind it’s a monster – but to everyone else, it’s a mouse. You might be the butt of the jokes for a few days, weeks maybe, but like you say, you’ve done nothing wrong so why would you hide? What message does that give?’
‘These kids can be pretty sick, Dad. And it’s not you that would be facing them every day. You could probably do it because you’re older.’ He shook his head and shuffled backward. ‘I can’t.’
Cal tried to sit up and not without bashing his head. ‘Ouch,’ he grumbled rubbing it.
Jack pulled a face and guffawed.
‘Well, good to see your sense of humour hasn’t dissolved,’ Cal grinned. ‘OK. I think we should go and find some space in the house.’
‘Oh God, Dad. Mom will want to know what’s going on.’
‘I’ll tell her we want to come in and go straight to the first-floor snug. Naturally she’s concerned so I’ll tell her you only want to talk with me for now. I imagine your pop is back by now too.’
Jack clenched his teeth and leant back with a protesting sigh. ‘Aww Dad, do we have to go in?’
‘No, but wouldn’t you rather be comfortable? And we’ve almost got through all these snacks.’
‘I don’t care if I starve to death at the moment and I don’t care if I don’t see my family again. Dad. They’re not to know.’
‘Sooner or later they will know. Someone is bound to say something to your mom. Wouldn’t you prefer she hear it from you rather than a distorted version from someone else?’
Jack, again, dropped his head in his hands.
Cal began to wish he had a magic wand because his boy looked like he could do with one right now. It was possible they would be here for some time.
Chapter 7 (#ulink_b2bba0d4-29f1-5bf8-8823-d9d53085358a)
‘Well Jack, I must say, you have impressed me. OK, so you’re still worried, but you’re to be congratulated for the way you’ve handled this.’
‘What do you mean? I don’t think I’m handling it at all.’
Cal, trying to ignore the cold gnawing into his bones, crawled back on his elbows. He was tiring and he had to keep his son interested. He thought for a moment.
‘You’ve gone through a hard time and not overreacted, number one. You made a decision to return home, admittedly not indoors, but you made sure you didn’t put yourself in danger – admirable. And, in the last two hours, you’ve not only put your total trust in me but you’ve spoken about the problem, calmly. In my eyes, and my experience, that’s impressive so, another high-five!’
Jack’s lips curled upwards as he slapped his father’s palm and then he pouted his lips proudly. ‘Yes. I suppose I have.’
Brushing Jack’s hair affectionately Cal said. ‘So, tell me, what are your options?’
‘Well, I think we should go in and discuss it because you must be freezing.’
Pausing for a few seconds to look to his son for confirmation, Cal wiped his brow.
‘Great idea. Follow me.’ Cal’s muscles grumbled at his command. ‘Well, once I can reactivate these bones.’ Cal unfolded his chilled body.
Jack jumped up. ‘Ah, come on, I’ll help you. I know you’re my dad but I didn’t think you were that old. Pops, I can understand, he’s old. Not you.’
‘Ahem. I wasn’t in a sleeping bag and it’s bloody cold,’ Cal said, wriggling himself slowly backwards.
Jack scooted nimbly around him and guided his father’s legs to a step. ‘There, wait until you’re balanced.’
Gradually Cal felt the blood shimmy to his feet. ‘Thank God,’ he said beginning the descent. He jumped the last step and held the ladder firm to steady his wobbly legs.
‘Hold on,’ Jack barked, securing his trousers. ‘You go and keep mom from the lobby and hall. Tell her we’re going to hang out in the snug and I’ll wait outside and sneak past. Don’t let her come out, please?’
‘Cool. Ready.’
