Unforgotten

by Clare Francis

  As they watched, Tom urged the boys towards their mother. As she embraced them Joe, the youngest, butted his head against her shoulder and began to cry in short, breathless sobs. Tom said something to his ex-wife. She nodded and, letting go of the children, stood up. Joe clung to her leg, while Matt, face contorted, rubbed tears from his eyes. Tom dropped a hand on Matt’s head and drew Joe gently away from his mother.

  ‘No winners,’ Ainsley echoed. ‘But a fresh starting point.’ He held out his hand. ‘Well, I’ll say goodbye, Hugh, and wish you the best of luck.’ On his way out he paused by Tom to touch his arm in farewell.

  Isabel came up and said, ‘Poor kids.’

  ‘They’ll be all right. They know he loves them.’

  ‘But they want their mum as well.’

  They watched as Tom said something to the children which seemed to cheer them up. Matt gave a small, brave nod while Joe stopped crying and attached himself to Tom’s hand. Linda spoke to Tom, and they both nodded as if settling on an arrangement.

  ‘When’s your train?’ Hugh asked Isabel.

  ‘There’s one in about half an hour, I think.’

  ‘I’ll drop you at the station.’

  ‘Thanks, because there’s something I need to ask you,’ she said determinedly.

  ‘And the answer’s going to be the same, Isabel.’

  ‘But I promise I’ve never wanted to work in a large firm. Never. I’ve always wanted to work in a small one.’

  ‘You’ve got to finish your training, and you can’t do that with a one-man band. Besides, there won’t be enough work for you.’

  Her look of disappointment was also an acknowledgement of defeat. ‘In a couple of years when you’re overwhelmed with work, then.’

  They were distracted by the sound of a child shouting excitedly and looked round to see Tom and his boys making for the door. Joe, holding tight to his father’s hand, gave a little skip, then as Tom held the door open for them Matt flung his father a bright grin.

  Outside, the day was overcast with spitting rain, but it seemed to Hugh that the path ahead was brightening. He would drive up to see Charlie at the weekend, he would go with him to a group therapy session, they would have a quick meal. Then he would return to the rented house and work on his second case as an independent solicitor, a complex conveyance for one of his old clients. And in the moments when his mind wandered he would remember love and kindness, he would disallow the rest.