Prodigal Son (Jensen Family Series)

by Michelle Day

  “And yet you married someone who treats you like a slave,” he shot back, rubbing his cheek and keeping his distance “I think you should leave before we both say something we’ll regret.” He frowned, the blow from her hand wounding him deeper than any words ever could.

  “He’s right Mon. You need to go home and take stock of things.” John finally spoke again “Come back when you’ve both had a chance to calm down.” He stepped aside as his sister left the room and followed her down the stairs, wrapping an arm around her shoulder before she stepped out into the street “Monica, you need to handle this more carefully, keep going the way you are and you’ll lose him.”

  “It feels like I already have,” she leant on him “He’s my baby John; we’ve always been so close.”

  “You have to let him grow up, he’s already very much his own man, he still needs you but he’s having trouble admitting it, he’ll come around. Whatever it is he isn’t telling you right now is obviously something he’s struggling with himself and he will need to get it straight in his own head before he can let you in on it. You know he’ll come to you eventually.”

  “I hope he does,” she kissed his cheek “Look out for him, I’ll leave it a few days then I’ll have another chat with him.”

  Paul was unpacking his bag when John returned to his room;

  “Ok, spill.” The older man spoke.

  Pushing a drawer closed, Paul put shorts, a t-shirt, trainers and a towel into the bag “I didn’t tell her, what makes you think I will tell you?” he asked.

  “Well, it’s just me and you here, you know I won’t tell anyone anything you don’t want me too.”

  “Thanks John but I do need to keep some things to myself. Eventually I guess I’ll have to say something but right now, I’m happy keeping it to myself.” He hefted the bag onto his shoulder.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To the gym, want to join me?”

  “You mean you want to be seen with this old codger?”

  “Yeah, besides, you keep yourself in good shape, let’s see which one of us has more stamina.” Paul grinned. A swift phone call to Matt while waiting for his Uncle assured Paul that his brother would also be at the gym to prevent any further pertinent questions.

  After a friendly warm up session on the treadmills and a more aggressive speed competition on the rowing machines, the boys left their uncle to the static weights while they hit the free weights, Paul spotting for Matt, amazed at the size of his twin’s massive shoulders as he hefted the bowing bar above him repeatedly.

  “If this bar drops, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold it.” Paul admitted as Matt lowered the bar to his chest. Although he worked out regularly, he was nowhere near as large as Matt; his lengthy, naturally athletic build prevented him from becoming too bulky resulting in his body being sleek and toned with perfect muscle definition. Matt’s short, stocky form took well to weights and his already large chest and shoulder muscles took no time at all in filling out, along with his rock solid thighs and halo of blond curls, Matt truly was a sight to behold.

  “You should up the weight and lower the reps.” Matt grunted with effort as with one final heave, he allowed Paul to guide the bar back into its stand.

  “I swear this thing has just heaved a sigh of relief,” he muttered as he began to remove weights for his standard twenty four reps. “I like the way I look,” he said to Matt “Besides, I’d look odd if I got any bigger.”

  “I wouldn’t look as big if I had some of your height.” Matt grumbled.

  “Bullshit.” Paul laughed “You’re lifting over twice as much as I can, maybe you should lower the weight and increase the reps.” He jibed as he lay back on the bench and waited for Matt to lower the bar to him.

  “Yeah, maybe,” he mused, watching his brother “Watch your breathing.” He warned, Paul was prone to going at the weights hell for leather and not concentrating on his breathing. which often left him out of breath. “How’re things at Grans?” he asked.

  “Ok, Mum called the Police in, she got a bit narked when I came on to the female officer and then wouldn’t give them any information.”

  “She’s told Tessa and I not to make any plans for tomorrow as they are coming to talk to us.”

  “Tessa doesn’t know anything.” Paul replied pushing the bar above him and counting “Seven,” he was already beginning to feel breathless and concentrated harder on his brother as he dictated the pace of his breathing.

  “I do though.”

  “You can’t say anything Matt.” Paul warned “Mum’s already had Carmen arrested once and all Helen does is scream at me down the phone, I haven’t been able to talk to her for nearly two weeks all because people have interfered.”

  “Don’t worry about it; I have your back on this. If it wasn’t for me opening my big mouth, Mum wouldn’t have twigged in the first place, they won’t get anything out of me.”

  “Thanks Matt, I owe you.” Paul finished his reps and replaced the bar in its stand.

  “We’re cool and even.” Matt slapped his sweating brother on the back then wiped his damp hand down Paul’s t-shirt “Gross,” bending to get a drink from the water fountain, Matt straightened up when Paul tapped his shoulder.

  “Take a look at John,” he grinned, gesturing to the other side of the gym where their uncle was in full Casanova mode, assisting a pretty young thing on the weights “At least I know where I get it from.” he laughed.

  “Yeah,” Matt agreed “Jesus, look at him go,” he sniggered “There’s life in the old dog yet, come on,” he nudged Paul “Let’s go and ruin his style.”

  They sauntered over to their relative, wiping sweat from their arms and faces “Hey, Uncle John, we’re going to hit the sauna, are you coming?” Paul smiled at his Uncle and the young girl next to him.

  John looked up from the most welcome sight of the nubile young woman and pulled a face at his sniggering nephews “Hello boys,” he said in the most derogatory tone possible “I’m just helping out Mandy here, I’ll be with you shortly.”

  “Hi Mandy,” Matt smiled “I’m Matt, this is Paul, we’re twins.”

  Mandy stood, she barely reached Matt’s chest and with him being the shorter of the three men, this made the girl positively tiny. “You don’t look like twins,” the standard reply.

  “We’re paternal twins, not identical.” Paul replied casting a glance at his uncle “If you look close enough, you can see the similarities,” also a standard reply but one that had worked on many occasions.

  Mandy stepped closer as they knew she would “You are both lovely looking boys,” she said as she scrutinized them “But I’m afraid I prefer something a little more mature.” She stepped back beside John who was now smiling broadly.

  “Fail,” he laughed “I honestly will be with you in a moment boys,” he turned his back on them and continued his previously interrupted conversation with Mandy.

  “Wow, we just got turned down.” Matt said as they walked away.

  “I know, it kinda hurts.” Paul answered.

  “Maybe John really is that good.” Matt pondered.

  “Yeah or maybe the twins’ thing is getting old.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Over the following two days, the two police officers paid several visits to Paul coming away empty handed each and every time. With the winter fast approaching, gardening work was at a minimum and Paul had his men working on house maintenance but with the weather now dictating his work schedule, he was becoming increasingly frustrated at being held back by the rain and while he had plenty of indoor work to occupy his work force, his own job close to his Grandparents house was going painfully slowly as it was all outside work.

  Although Friday morning dawned grey and cold, the weather forecast didn’t predict any rain making it possible for him to work. He left the house early, telling his Grandmother he would work until the light faded and not to bother with lunch. Working quickly and carefully, he was interrupted once by the o
ffices again trying their luck; he gave them a cursory glance before returning to work, not even bothering to throw his now customary sarcastic greeting at them. He packed up his work tools early and caught the bus into town where he purchased two mobile phones, one for Carmen, the other for himself, on the way out of town he passed a jewellers, glancing in the window, a silver Celtic knot ring caught his eye, he stepped off the street and into the old fashioned shop, not hesitating or wanting to look at anything else, he purchased the ring knowing without a doubt that Carmen would love it.

  Returning home to his Grandparents house, he showered and changed before joining both Grandparents and John for their evening meal of Paella, the discussion around the table conducted in Spanish and only covering that days current events had Paul relaxed and feeling very much at home it was only when Paula dropped into the conversation that as it was his parents wedding anniversary at the weekend, a small get together consisting of his family and Michael’s parents was planned for Saturday evening. He enquired if it was strictly necessary for him to attend, the stern look he received from Jackson told him that yes, his attendance would most definitely be required. After dinner was over, he disappeared into his room, making a number of phone calls, one in particular to a mini cab in order to get his gifts to Carmen even though it would cost him hundreds.

  Monica was shocked by Matt’s refusal to give the police any information on Paul’s relationship with Carmen. Apologising profusely to them for her son’s lack of co-operation as she guided them to the front door. The officers informed her that they hadn’t had any luck with Paul either and with her permission they would like to take him to the police station and question him further as they often encountered a change of attitude when teenagers were confronted with a station environment. Monica readily agreed.

  Matt was waiting for her in the kitchen when she had finished with the police officers and launched into a well practised speech of how out of order he felt she was in pursuing this situation and for trying to put words in his mouth during his interview. The realisation dawned that Paul and Matt had spoken before the police arrived hit her like a freight train, it was more than obvious to her that Paul had asked his brother to stay silent and that Matthew was doing as his brother asked, the pair of them as thick as thieves. She turned her anger at her youngest child onto the one standing in front of her and a full scale argument ensued complete with slamming doors and stomping up the staircase.

  Carmen opened the package given to her by the taxi driver shortly before eleven o’clock that evening under the sceptical gaze of her friend. She knew the reason for the phone, Paul had explained to Helen that his mother had stopped his contract and his original phone was as good as useless, the reason behind the ring was less clear but she loved it and prised it from its decorative box, sliding it onto the middle finger of her right hand. The letter Paul had enclosed with the gifts had her in tears, for all the trouble his mother had caused, he apologised, the rest of the letter was filled with his feelings for her and his plans for their future and all of the things he had so far kept locked inside.

  She waited until she was sure Helen was asleep before she removed the mobile phone from its box and turned it on. Her heart was pounding as she dialled his number, knowing it was late but needing to talk to him, to hear his voice, she jumped as the phone on the other end of the line began to ring, the sound seeming unbearably loud in the otherwise silent house.

  Paul turned over in his sleep and pulled the covers up over his shoulders, the ringing phone had disturbed him and he wished someone would answer it. Suddenly he jumped on realising the sound wasn’t the house phone, it was his new mobile and only one person had the number.

  “Carmen?” He asked feeling stupid as it had to be her then comforting himself with the knowledge that she didn’t know he had purchased the phone for the sole intention of talking to her. He struggled with the covers and managed to sit up as he listened to her speak, his hopes swelling with every word from her mouth. They talked for hours, finally getting to say all the things they had yearned too until eventually, Carmen told him that the battery on her phone was just about to die, he promised to call her the following day, smiling and happy as he snuggled beneath the covers again.

  When he finally crawled out of bed the following morning and sauntered down to the kitchen, it was to find Monica sitting with her parents waiting for him to surface. He greeted all three adults and then proceeded to make some breakfast while Paula provided him with a steaming cup of tea.

  “Once you have eaten, you need to get dressed, you are coming to the police station with me.” Monica told him.

  “Has something happened?” he asked.

  “Everything is fine, you’re presence has been requested.”

  “This again? What’s the point Mum? I’m not going to tell them anything.” The bright, sunny mood he had woken up with evaporated with her words.

  “You will do as you are told, it’s only a matter of time before you realise that what happened was wrong and then you will want some recompense.”

  A silent car journey later and Paul and Monica were shown through to an interview room where they were left to wait. Monica passed the time rummaging through her sizable handbag while Paul looked around the dismal grey room, drumming his fingers on the melamine table in front of him as he observed the chips in the paint and scrapes along the walls giving the room a general unkempt air. He sat forward, elbows on the table as two officers entered the room and introduced themselves.

  Sitting opposite the boy, the female officer could clearly see what her colleague who had previously interviewed him was talking about; he was a work of art to look at with dark brown, almost black fashionably scruffy hair, olive skin and large almond shaped, inscrutable brown eyes rimmed with thick black lashes above impressive cheek bones, a straight nose and full lips. The green t-shirt strained over broad shoulders, the sleeves clung to the muscled upper arms and the fibres stretching under the expanse of chest with each breath. His lower arms were tanned and tapered down to large, work roughened hands with long, elegant fingers. She couldn’t see his legs but deduced that they were long as she pulled her chair closer to the table as his feet were resting on the floor, crossed at the ankle almost on her side of the table. She made eye contact with him as she finished her evaluation and was surprised to see that he was appraising her with equal interest, he didn’t look away when her eyes met his but the lazy grin that twitched the side of his lips and the twinkle in his eye was unmistakeable and she knew without a doubt that this boy would stick to his guns, making this little episode nothing more than a waste of everyone’s time, he exuded confidence and arrogance in equal measure, he knew without a doubt that if he didn’t give anything away, they didn’t have a case.

  Try as they might, they couldn’t get him to own up to having an underage relationship with his teacher, the situation not helped in the slightest by the prompting from his mother. Eventually, Paul smiled, crossed his arms over his chest and leant back in his chair, his bulk making it creek in protest.

  “I’m pretty sure I am correct by thinking that you have nothing to go on, you can’t bring charges against me in any way shape or form therefore, if I were to get up and walk out of that door, there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop me?” He questioned, the most he had said all morning.

  “That’s right.” The male officer confirmed.

  “Fine.” He stood, putting his weight on his fingertips as he leant closer to the officers “I’m sure the taxpayers would appreciate you wasting their money on this fruitless venture especially as you have failed on no more than five separate occasions to get me to talk. Did you really think I would be intimidated by this situation?” He turned to Monica “Are you coming? I’m done here.”

  “No you are not.” Monica scowled.

  “Look Mum, if you want to stay in this..” he paused, looking around the room “Ahem, delightful room, that’s up to you, I’d quite like a lift home but I’ll h
appily catch the bus if you feel you need to stick the knife in further.” He held the door open for her and before passing through himself, turned back to the officers and shot them a dazzling smile.

  “Bloody full of himself that one.” The male officer commented, shuffling his notes

  “Yeah but you have to hand it to him, he handled himself very well, mark my words, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with when he’s older.”

  Paul went straight to his room when Monica dropped him off at his Grandparents house, he had left her no room or cause for conversation on the way home and Monica knew that if she didn’t let this situation lie she would lose her son. She resolved to tell him at the weekend that she was prepared to drop the charges and that she would very much like it if he were to return home.

  He helped his Grandparents over the weekend to prepare for the meal they had planned for his parents, setting up the long dining table, extending it and adding the additional leaves so that the guests would be seated with plenty of elbow room. He attempted to help Paula in the kitchen but only managed to get in the way; he ran laughing from the kitchen, his Grandmother brandishing a large wooden spoon at his retreating back.

  After a stint at the gym and a quick shower on returning home, he settled down on his bed and flicked on the television, finding nothing of interest to watch, he reached for his phone and dialled Carmen’s number, smiling broadly when she answered. His smile was short lived however as he explained the police station fiasco, kicking himself for mentioning it as Carmen flipped out, screaming down the phone at him, telling him in no uncertain terms what she thought of his mother.

  Although he wasn’t exactly seeing eye to eye with Monica at that precise moment in time, Paul felt his hackles rise at Carmen’s insults of the woman who had given him life and he let his temper have full rein, keeping his voice low, he told her succinctly how he felt, not giving her room to defend herself and when he had finished, promptly hung up and turned off his phone, breathing heavily. He lay back on his bed, his hands in his hair as he replayed what he had said in his mind “Shit,” he whispered, knowing he now had an awful lot of apologising to do to both women.