For The Sake Of His Child

by Lucy Gordon

  ‘This?’ Gina asked him.

  He nodded vigorously.

  ‘You’re sure?’ she said faintly.

  He nodded again.

  ‘I don’t think we have a choice,’ Carson said.

  He paid three entrance fees and they squeezed into a car, Joey on the inside, Gina in the middle and Carson on the outside.

  ‘I don’t like these things,’ Gina said. ‘I never did.’

  ‘But you have both of us to look after you,’ Carson pointed out mischievously.

  A hideous wailing drowned him out. With a jolt the cars began to move, pushing through the black curtains ahead of them. Then they were inside, swerving violently from side to side, the ghastly moaning louder, sounding as though it was everywhere.

  Neon skeletons appeared and vanished. Gruesome figures loomed and leered. Gina glanced down at Joey, but she needn’t have worried. The flickering lights showed that he was relishing every moment.

  She wished she could say the same of herself. Of course her rational mind knew that it was only paint, cardboard and a few special effects. But her irrational side flinched from the things that swooped out of the darkness without warning. Something flapped in her face, making her jump and squeal.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Carson asked, slipping a protective arm about her.

  She had to make him repeat it, as the noise was playing havoc with her implant. Understanding, he said it clearly in a brief interlude of bilious green light, and this time she managed to follow his lips.

  ‘Of course I’m all right,’ she said, trying for dignity. But the effect was ruined by a huge grinning skull that appeared in front of them, getting bigger and bigger-

  Then the car charged right through it and the darkness enfolded them again.

  ‘Yuck!’

  Carson’s arm tightened. At the same time she felt his fingers gently on her chin, urging her head to look at him.

  ‘As long as you don’t turn into a skull,’ she pleaded.

  Crimson light came and went, casting his eyes into shadows and giving him a satanic look. It crossed her mind that if she were skilled in the traditional female arts she might use this situation. She could do a little swooning and screaming, then cast herself on Carson’s manly chest for protection, and the rest would follow. Maybe Victorian maidens knew a thing or two after all.

  But she’d been reared in a different school, and for the life of her she couldn’t have put on such a performance.

  Then help came in the form of a freezing skeleton that swooped down from the roof and caressed her face, before vanishing. Startled, Gina gave a perfectly genuine shriek and the next moment her face was buried against Carson’s shoulder. She could feel him shaking with laughter.

  ‘Beast!’ she said in a muffled voice.

  Through a break in the moaning she heard him say, ‘It’s all right, it’s gone now.’

  ‘I’m not looking up. That thing was disgusting!’

  ‘It’s safe, I promise you.’

  Tentatively she raised her eyes and found that they were in total darkness. The hellish moans had resumed, but there were no more flashing lights. She waited, ready to duck again if anything touched her face.

  But when she felt the first soft brush against her lips she didn’t duck. Nor did she want to turn away from what might be happening. Rather, she wanted to stay and make sure that it really was happening.

  It was the lightest of feather touches, a soft caress of lips on lips, now here, now gone. Perhaps real, perhaps imagined. In the darkness she couldn’t be sure.

  But then it came again, a little firmer this time, a lot more determined. Warm lips moving over hers, asking silent questions, receiving silent answers. And they must have been the right answers because his arm tightened around her shoulders and the pressure of his mouth grew more intense.

  She responded eagerly to the kiss she’d been waiting for ever since the first time on the stairs, when he’d backed off so soon. This time he wasn’t backing off, but holding her close, caressing her lips with fierce intent, telling her that he wanted her, desired her.

  And here, where the darkness gave privacy while heightening every movement and sensation, she could tell him of her own desire, and of the love and longing for him that filled every moment. She could caress his lips with her own, letting him know the things she didn’t dare to say. Now there was just the two of them in a place where all feeling was heightened, and everything was possible.

  In the din that surrounded them he could hear no more than she, so she was free to whisper his name against his lips. She could gasp as his tongue explored her, surrendering to the exquisite sensation of fire, knowing that he couldn’t be sure of anything except what her answering kiss hinted at.

  She was gloriously free to do as she liked in the enclosed world of wicked lights and ghastly visions, while joy pervaded her, and skeletons shrieked and gibbered around them.

  At last she felt his arm about her shoulders relax, and realised distractedly that they were coming to the end of the ride. They mustn’t be seen like this. She separated from him and composed herself just in time. The next moment they’d burst through the curtains into daylight.

  And there was Carson, laughing and relaxed, as though nothing had happened.

  Had anything happened? Or had it all been nothing but her own fevered imagining? Her lips still burned and her heart was beating fast from the passion that had surged up in her. Yet it seemed to her that Carson showed no sign of disturbance, unless perhaps his hands trembled a little as he helped her out of the car.

  Again, Joey demanded eagerly.

  ‘In a minute,’ Carson told him. ‘I need a moment to recover.’ He gave a sudden grin.

  ‘What is it?’ Gina asked.

  ‘I was just thinking what I might have been doing this afternoon. Going through the balance sheet, perhaps. On the whole, I think I prefer hooking plastic ducks out of the water.’

  As he spoke he was paying the stall keeper for a rod and taking his pick of the ducks that came floating by. He was rewarded by a toy that might have been shaped like a fish, but it was hard to tell.

  ‘What is it?’ Carson demanded, studying his prize from various angles.

  ‘Why don’t we ask Joey?’ Gina looked around and knew a flash of alarm. ‘Joey! Carson, he’s gone. Oh, my God!’

  ‘Relax,’ Carson told her. ‘There he is.’

  She followed his pointing finger and felt faint with relief as she saw Joey getting into one of the Ghost Train cars. As they moved off he waved at them cheekily. Then the black curtains engulfed him.

  ‘Wretched brat,’ Carson said without heat.

  ‘I suppose he simply got tired of waiting for us and decided to strike out on his own,’ Gina said. ‘I’m glad he feels so confident; it’s just-’

  ‘I know,’ Carson said with feeling. ‘I nearly had a heart attack. Let’s fortify ourselves with a cup of tea. There’s a little café just over here, and we can keep the Ghost Train in sight.’

  Gina sat down at a table while Carson fetched their tea. She felt as though she’d been through a wringer.

  There was a queue and it was several minutes before Carson returned. Gina kept her eyes fixed on the Ghost Train and, after a few moments, Joey reappeared. She managed to attract his attention, and he smiled and waved, but didn’t get out. He simply gave the man his money, and squeezed over so that a little girl in a red dress could get in beside him.

  The man held out his hand to the little girl. She didn’t move and the man began to talk, obviously explaining that she couldn’t ride if she didn’t pay. Joey tapped him on the arm and offered him more money. The man took it, and the cars moved off.

  ‘What are you staring at?’ Carson asked, returning with tea.

  ‘I think I’ve just seen Joey being gallant to a lady.’

  She described the incident and Carson grinned. ‘He’s starting young-just like his old man.’

  ‘You started at eight?’
/>   ‘I didn’t wait that long. When I was seven I was sharing my ice cream with Tilly next door. I can’t recall her last name, and even her face is a bit vague. But her appetite for raspberry ripple will stay with me for ever.’

  It was good to see him relaxing enough to be humorous. He was casually dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, and the sun had caught him, tanning his face, neck and forearms. For once the tension was gone from his face, and he looked simply a handsome, vital male animal.

  There was a small disturbance behind them and they turned to see a man and a woman, both middle-aged, with pleasant, worried faces.

  ‘What are we going to do?’ the woman asked frantically.

  ‘Don’t fret, Helen. She’s probably all right.’

  ‘How can she be all right, so alone and helpless? Excuse me-’ the woman pounced on Gina ‘-you haven’t seen a little girl, have you? She’s eight and she’s wearing a red dress-she wandered off-’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ve seen her,’ Gina reassured them. ‘She went on the Ghost Train. She’ll appear in a minute.’

  ‘But she hasn’t got any money,’ the man said.

  ‘Joey took care of that.’

  The couple sat down and introduced themselves as Helen and Peter Leyton.

  ‘Sally’s very vulnerable,’ Helen explained. ‘She’s Down’s Syndrome.’

  At that moment the cars appeared again and drew to a halt. Joey and the little girl were there, sharing the smiles of children who had enjoyed a fantastic adventure. Helen stood up and waved, but she couldn’t attract Sally’s attention.

  ‘Wait,’ Gina said as Helen started forward. ‘Let’s see what happens. Don’t worry about her. She won’t come to any harm with Joey.’

  ‘Gina-’ Carson protested.

  ‘It’s all right. Can’t you see he knows what he’s doing?’

  Joey was handing over more money, evidently having the whole situation under control. As the adults watched he took Sally’s hand protectively between both of his, and they were off again.

  ‘Well, I’ll be-!’ Peter was scratching his head and grinning. ‘What a nice kid your son is, Mrs-?’

  ‘He’s Mr Page’s son. I just look after him,’ Gina explained.

  ‘Well, someone’s doing a great job,’ Helen said. ‘He’s a real little knight in shining armour. You must be very proud of him.’ This was to Carson.

  ‘Yes,’ he said quietly. ‘I am.’

  ‘It’s so good to see Sally making friends with a normal child,’ Peter said. ‘Most of them flinch away from her, but your son treats her naturally, and that’s what she needs.’ He noticed a strange look on Carson’s face. ‘Is something wrong?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Carson said quickly.

  But Gina knew the pleasant shock he’d had at hearing his son described as a normal child. Because that was what anyone would think from Joey’s bearing. He wasn’t a victim. He was potentially a young man with a lot of confidence.

  ‘Sally’s a darling,’ Helen said, ‘but she’s got a will of iron. If she wants to do something she tends to wander off, so we have to look out all the time. This time we slipped up, I’m afraid.’

  ‘And she has a problem talking,’ Peter added. ‘Things don’t come out quite right and people don’t understand her. Then she gets upset.’

  ‘We haven’t had her long,’ Helen put in. ‘We’re foster parents, and we specialise in children with problems. It’s a kind of thank-you because our own three are all disgustingly healthy.’

  When the cars reappeared they could see that some sort of dispute was going on. Sally didn’t want to get out. Joey took her arm and urged her, but she wouldn’t budge. At last he climbed over her feet, grasped her hand firmly and pointed to the café. Faced with this display of authority, she gave in and meekly followed him, her hand tucked in his.

  Gina looked at Carson’s thunderstruck face, and her lips twitched. ‘I’ll bet Tilly Whatsername didn’t let you order her about like that,’ she said.

  ‘She didn’t. The one time I tried, I got ice cream all over my face.’

  Joey appeared at the table with his new friend, and protectively pulled out a chair for her. Sally had a sweet face and myopic eyes behind thick glasses. Her smile was enchanting.

  ‘We’re so grateful to you for taking care of her,’ Helen said to Joey.

  She was looking straight at him, so that he could lip-read easily.

  ‘Could you understand what she said?’ Helen added. ‘Most people can’t, I’m afraid.’

  Joey understood this perfectly. His smile contained a hint of mischief, and his eyes went from Gina to Carson, inviting them to share the joke.

  ‘What is it?’ Helen asked, catching the look. ‘What have I said?’

  ‘Joey’s deaf,’ Gina explained. ‘So Sally’s problem doesn’t matter to him.’

  ‘Well, I’ll be-!’ Peter fell back in his chair, scratching his head again. ‘I thought I knew about deaf children. We’ve fostered several. But I never guessed.’

  Carson had a strange look on his face. ‘My son has great style,’ he said simply.

  ‘Yes,’ Gina said eagerly. ‘That’s the word. Style.’

  Peter began to sign, introducing himself, Helen and Sally. Joey nodded and returned the courtesy, but he was interrupted by Sally, who pulled his shirt to indicate that she wanted something.

  Can we have some ice cream? he signed. Strawberry for Sally and chocolate for me.

  ‘How do you know Sally wants strawberry?’ Gina asked.

  I’ll give it to her. She’ll like it.

  And she would, Gina realised. She would like whatever Joey gave her, because it came from him. The little boy had found exactly what he needed-someone with bigger problems than his own. And, before their eyes, he was growing to meet the challenge.

  She met Carson’s gaze and found there what she’d hoped for-pure fatherly pride. His grin had a touch of self-consciousness, but the pride was unmistakable.

  Before they parted, that evening, they made plans to meet up with the Leytons next day. Joey’s eyelids were drooping, and after a meal he was ready for bed. Gina left father and son to say their goodnights, while she wandered down to the lobby and browsed the book stall. She bought a showbiz ‘news’ magazine, and looked idly through the pages, until she found a headline that made her stiffen.

  Angelica Duvaine-on the slippery slope?

  The story that followed was written in tones of sympathy that dripped with malice. After her role in the blockbuster Angelica’s career hadn’t taken off as expected. Good parts were thin on the ground. A TV project had just fallen through. Her romance with a notable producer had ended suddenly.

  Gina let the magazine fall into the waste bin. Suddenly she felt uneasy.

  CHAPTER TEN

  A FTER that the two parties met up at least once a day. Every morning began with a visit to the aquarium. Joey was a favourite with the staff, who became used to talking to suit him. Carson and Gina had little to do but linger in the background in case they were needed.

  One morning, when Joey was engaged in an earnest discussion, Carson said, ‘Do you feel safe leaving him in the care of the Leytons?’

  ‘Of course. They look after him as well as we can. Why?’

  ‘They’re taking Sally back to the funfair tonight, and for a pizza afterwards, and they’d like him to go too. I thought you and I could have a meal together.’

  ‘That would be lovely.’

  ‘Great. Now, if Einstein over there has finished, I need a cup of tea.’

  That evening, as he was dressing in smart clothes for the restaurant, Carson saw Joey in the mirror, standing in his doorway, and beckoned him over.

  ‘Are you looking forward to tonight?’ he asked.

  Joey nodded.

  We’re going to the funfair and I’m going to take Sally on the Ghost Train.

  ‘Good. Here.’ He put some money into Joey’s hand. ‘Buy her some ice cream as well. Girls like it.’ He winked at his so
n. ‘I know.’

  As Joey turned to go something seemed to hold him back. He looked at the carpet, then at his father. His whole body radiated awkwardness mingled with determination.

  ‘What is it?’ Carson asked.

  Do you like Gina?

  Carson nodded. ‘Of course.’

  Joey spread his fingers and moved his hands back and forth to each other. A lot?

  ‘Yes, a lot.’

  Keeping his fingers wide, Joey changed the angle of his hands so that they were flat, and moved them up and down, keeping his eyes on his father.

  ‘Yes,’ Carson said, understanding. ‘Lots and lots.’

  The movements became more vigorous, and his eyebrows were raised in enquiry. More than lots?

  ‘That’s enough,’ Carson said hastily. ‘I like her; let’s leave it there.’ He met his son’s eye. ‘How about you?’

  Lots and lots and lots.

  To Carson’s great relief, there was a knock on the door and Gina appeared, followed by the Leytons.

  ‘Better give us the number of your mobile,’ Helen said, ‘just in case of emergencies. Right, folks! Let’s be off.’

  Carson had half expected Gina to appear in the chiffon she’d worn the night of Dan’s ill-fated proposal. Instead she’d chosen something soft and dark blue that he hadn’t seen before. And now he realised that he wouldn’t have liked her in a dress she’d worn for another man.

  It was a warm evening and they strolled along the seafront, pausing to lean on the rail and watch the tiny waves breaking on the sand as the tide went out.

  ‘What were you and Joey talking about when I came in?’ Gina asked.

  He was about to answer when it dawned on him that he could hardly repeat that particular conversation.

  ‘This and that,’ he said vaguely. ‘I forget the details. Let’s go and have that meal.’

  To her relief he’d found a quiet restaurant, with very little background noise.

  ‘Is this all right for you?’ he asked anxiously.

  ‘This is fine,’ she said happily. ‘It really helps when someone thinks of these things.’

  ‘How ever did you manage in Bob’s Café that first day? There was a hell of a din in the background.’