The Man Who Sold His Son (Lanarkshire Strays)

by Mark Wilson

  Interlude

  Some time ago…

  “You can’t continue to behave like this and expect to keep your career, James.”

  He was angry this time. Really angry. The veins on his boss’s neck and forehead bulged with each word, threatening to spray frustration and anger up the wall. He hadn’t seen Grayson this angry since their university days.

  Sinclair didn’t bother with the usual apologies – he meant them, each and every time – and didn’t bother offering any of the promises or assurances that normally trickled from his mouth. I’ll see a counsellor, I’ve turned a corner, things will be different: he’d never meant those, not even a little. Instead he simply nodded along, face impassive.

  Grayson the line manager disappeared for a moment, and his friend of twenty years re-emerged.

  “It’s been ten years since she left, you need to move on.”

  They all assumed that; all thought the same thing: Fiona leaving him had left him depressed. He’s not been the same since. All that potential, wasted.

  Sinclair nodded along passively. His silence made his friend disappear and the line manager came roaring back.

  “Right, I’m done with this shite, James. Consider yourself suspended… indefinitely. There’ll be an opportunity for you to straighten yourself out and appear in front of the board, six months from now. At that point, your future within this organisation will be decided.”

  Grayson’s face softened once again. Sitting, he bored his eyes into Sinclair’s, pleading with him.

  “Get some help, Jim. It’s not too late to have some sort of a career. You’ll be demoted: there’s nothing can be done about that now. You won’t get to be in theatre again, but you could still be here.”

  Sinclair gave his friend and boss a final nod-cum-shrug.

  Grayson sighed loudly and flicked a gesture at the door.

  “Go pack up your things, Doctor Sinclair. Go home and call a therapist.”

  Sinclair rose mechanically from the chair, and left his boss’s office for the last time. Leaning his back against the door, he fetched a hip flask from the pocket of his white coat and drank deeply.

  8

  “Gavin Ennis today embarked upon a visit to North America with the intention of inspecting his facilities in the northern States. Mr Ennis, as always, is hands-on in his management of his global company and will be visiting seven Synthi-Co facilities during the trip, engaging in tours of each one and Q&A sessions with his employees. A spokesman for Synthi-Co, US, stated that, ‘The doctors, technicians and medical staff in these manufacturing plants are hugely excited about Mr Ennis’s visit. Many of our scientists are huge admirers of his and relish the opportunity to engage with the founder of our company.’

  “Mr Ennis is globally regarded as the man who first identified the decline in human reproductive capability and offered a solution with his Synthi-sperm...”

  Alex swiped at the Holo-Screen, causing the news report to vanish but leaving Ennis’s bio onscreen. He reclined back into his chair. Ennis seemed to be everywhere at the moment, with the media virtually canonising the man. Unable to shake off the discomfort he’d felt during and after their meeting on the beach and with Tommy’s apparent connection with the man, Alex had spent much of the previous ten weeks since Sarah’s incident researching Gavin Ennis. Despite having read dozens of articles, watched scores of news clips and spoken to several colleagues in the industry, Alex still hadn’t found anything in Ennis’s personal life or his career to justify his unease and suspicion of the man. It was time to accept that he’d been focusing on researching Ennis as a distraction from his worries and that the man had been simply showing his son a kindness.

  Alex stood from his chair and approached the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, stretching his arms behind him to crack his upper vertebrae as he went.

  “I told you that that motorcycle of yours would wreck your spine, Dr Kinsella.”

  Alex smiled tightly and turned to acknowledge his visitor.

  “You did, Mina, but I’ve got to have some fun.”

  Mina beamed at him and nodded. “Yes, you do, Dr Kinsella.”

  As he watched her face break into a conspiratorial grin, a wave of guilt passed over him, causing him to turn his back on her and return his attention to the window and the view of the Clay Crescent Highway below.

  “That was a long time ago, Mina.”

  Closing his office door gently, Mina stood to Alex’s right and gently took his hand.

  “I’m not coming onto you, Alex. It was a joke.”

  “I know.” He smiled at her. “Sorry. It’s just been a little… difficult at home recently. You know?”

  Mina, of course, did know. She and Alex had been friends for years before they had had their moment together at the office party. They’d confided in each other many times over the years and both valued the other. After they’d slept together, their friendship had become strained with Mina worrying about Alex, but trying to keep clear for fear of complicating things for him. Alex actively avoided Mina in case Sarah got the wrong idea. Recently, however, they’d begun rebuilding their friendship, both relieved to have the other back in their respective lives but still unsure of the dynamics of their friendship. Standing holding Mina’s hand, Alex felt conflicted. He enjoyed the comfort from his friend but felt guilty for taking it.

  Mina let his hand go and delivered a savage punch to his right shoulder. “Cheer up for God’s sake, Alex.”

  The punch broke the tension and brought the first genuine laugh from him in weeks. “Ouch!”

  “Don’t be such a pansy, Alex. Sarah’s doing great, so relax a little.” Turning to leave, Mina noticed the active window on the Holo-Screen and peered at it for a closer look. “Ennis, eh? A wee man-crush on our hands here, have we?”

  Alex laughed again, finding it easier to do so.

  “Na. I ran into him on the beach in Gullane a few weeks ago. Tommy wandered off and Mr Ennis took him for an ice cream before coming to find us. I wasn’t too chuffed at the time, but it seems he meant well and I suppose we were lucky that he found Tommy and brought him back to us. Tommy loved the guy. They got on very well actually.”

  Mina squeezed her eyebrows together into a puzzled frown. “Really?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  Mina shrugged and flicked her hair back over her shoulder, clearing her view of the screen.

  “Nothing really, Alex. It’s just that, as you know, I worked for Ennis for a couple of years before I came here. Lovely man, very caring of his employees, generous to a fault with pay and bonuses, but he had a strict rule in place in every building he owned. No kids, ever.”

  Alex shook his head.

  “So what? He owns medical businesses. Labs, hospitals, research facilities. It’s standard practice that only authorised personnel are allowed inside these type of workplaces, or patients, of course.”

  Mina stroked the back of her neck thoughtfully.

  “Yeah, but Mr Ennis didn’t allow kids anywhere near any staff events; parties, barbecues, sports days. He had a thing about photos of kids in workplaces. He believed that they distracted the workers and banned them from the offices and labs. Rumour was that he hated kids. As warm as he seemed when I worked alongside him, he’d snort with disapproval if he passed someone even speaking about their kids.”

  Alex scratched at the light stubble on his cheek. “That’s odd. He and Tommy seemed to enjoy each other’s company. Ennis might have just been being nice, but kids don’t pretend. No, there was genuine warmth there.”

  Mina shrugged. “Maybe it’s just a work thing for him Alex, I don’t know.” Punching him again in the same spot, she told him, “Gotta go. Coffee later?”

  Alex nodded. “Yeah, and thanks Mina.”

  “What for?”

  “For being a good friend,” Alex said.

  Mina smiled and left, leaving Alex to stare at Gavin Ennis’s image smiling at him from his Holo-Screen.

  A few m
oments after Mina left, Alex’s Holo-Screen flickered to Vid-Mode and Sarah’s image appeared on call-waiting. He flicked at the Holo-Screen, accepting her call.

  “Hi, love. How’s things?” he asked his wife.

  As Sarah’s face appeared, Alex smiled at how well-rested and happy she looked. Her eyes were alive with an excitement and warmth he’d thought would never return. Alex felt his heart swell as Sarah returned his smile.

  “Great. I’ve been over to Glasgow Uni and have spoken to Professor Anderson. I can pick up my course right where I left off if I want to. I do want to, Alex.”

  “That’s wonderful news, Sarah. When do you start?”

  “Actually, that’s why I called. I have to start on Monday and that means after-school club for Alex. I have the form here and it has to be signed by both of us and returned this afternoon. Can you make it home in the next hour or so, Alex?”

  Shaking his head Alex replied, “Can’t, love. I’ve a meeting in fifteen minutes with the board. Just sign it for me?” Sarah could do a flawless version of his best signature, the one he used for official stuff.

  “Okay, good idea. Look I’ve got to go, I want to catch the school office before it closes. I’ll see you tonight?”

  “Absolutely. Will I make chilli?”

  “Please. Love you, Alex.”

  Sarah flicked at her screen, cutting him off before he could reply.

  Alex looked once again at Gavin Ennis’s face which had reappeared on the screen before motioning for the Holo-Screen to power down.

  Gathering his Holo-Tablet, he headed to the boardroom feeling happy and free.

  9

  “It suits you, y’know,” Alex said.

  “Thanks. I found it at the back of the wardrobe, figured that now I can fill it out again, I should.” Sarah smiled and blew a loose strand of hair from her right eye.

  “I didn’t mean the dress,” Alex said, “I meant, being busy, enjoying life. It suits you, love.”

  Sarah’s eyes sparkled, catching the light from the candle, as she nodded her agreement. Alex soaked up the warmth.

  Whatever thoughts Sarah’s near-death had propelled through her vaped-out brain, she had responded to them in ways that Alex wouldn’t have dreamed possible a year ago. The careless, self-obsessed and badly depressed addict had vanished and in her place sat a vibrant and reinvigorated young woman, finally at ease with herself. This Sarah talked of five-year plans, holidays, career moves. This Sarah was patient and kind. She was engaged in the world again, worked hard and laughed frequently. This Sarah had finally begun to form a bond with their son. She felt like the girl he’d known his whole life once again.

  Alex reached across the little table and gently cupped her cheek with his hand. “Happy anniversary, Sarah. I’m so proud of you.”

  Sarah nodded her thanks. She did that a lot, nodding in place of words. Especially when she was reluctantly accepting praise.

  They’d left Tommy to spend the night with Alex’s mum and come to Pacitti’s, once a tiny chip shop, now an à la carte restaurant on Hamilton Road, to mark their special day. Having been together since childhood, they marked many days as anniversaries. First met, first kiss, first time they made love, married, went on their first holiday, Alex’s birthday. There were a near infinite number of days to acknowledge and to celebrate. Today’s anniversary was the most important to Alex. The one he thought he’d never experience. Today marked a year of sobriety for his wife.

  Sarah had emerged from her hospital bed determined to reclaim her life. She’d sat in their apartment hugging her knees, blanket wrapped around her shoulders, sipping from a mug of tea in the first shaky stages of withdrawal and promised Alex that she would change. She didn’t promise to be a better mother, or a better wife. Those changes were too huge, too unattainable. She didn’t talk of going back into education, which seemed an impossibility for the emaciated wreck sitting there shaking, trying not to spill her tea. “I’ll stay sober tomorrow,” she’d promised. “After that, we’ll see.”

  That first day of sobriety had, in itself, seemed an impossible task to her, but she stayed clean that day, and the next. She visited the doctor; she accepted therapy and medication and ignored her withdrawal for the next three weeks. Sarah made a good recovery and had suffered no permanent damage from her accident, not physically at least.

  Her counsellor had persuaded her to begin a course of anti-depressants, which she’d responded to within ten days or so. An element of confidence or interest or drive had sparked in her as the drug had reconnected faulty neurones, firing unused pathways into life once more. She’d told Alex that she felt as though she’d been asleep for years and had rewoken , feeling “like her old self”, determined to start afresh.

  She’d begun to slowly take control of her life and to rebuild her relationship, with Thomas. She’d wondered aloud more than once if that was even possible, but Alex had tried his best to encourage and develop her new-found positivity, suggesting to her that she could perhaps return to her studies and complete her university course. “So far as Thomas is concerned,” he’d told her, “he’ll always forgive you, Sarah. You’re his mother and he loves you.”

  Sarah hadn’t looked convinced but had begun to push her fears aside, ignoring the voice that told her she was useless, and persevere with her plans. Slowly, she’d begun to re-enter the world and to win a little of Tommy’s trust. The boy had practically been her babysitter at times when she’d been vaping and had been ever more protective of her since her hospitalisation, but he was slowly relaxing into their new relationship.

  As a couple they were much happier and spent evenings cuddled on the sofa, discussing their small family’s future. Alex had started to believe that perhaps they’d turned a corner and, at last, could be the family he’d dreamed they would be when he’d first become a father. Part of him was waiting anxiously for it all to fall apart again, though. He ignored that part of his subconscious, painted a smile on his face as best he could and tried to appreciate the fact that his best friend and wife seemed to be coming back to him at last.

  They spent the remainder of the evening discussing work and university, laughing at Tommy’s antics at his eleventh birthday party the previous week and marvelling at how much of a little man he was becoming. Mostly they smiled and enjoyed each other’s company.

  As Sarah thumbed the Holo-Pad to pay for the meal, Alex asked, “Do you fancy taking a walk?”

  Another nod.

  Stepping out onto the busy café and restaurant-lined street, they walked in the opposite direction from their apartment, hand in hand, towards Bellshill city centre and its many bars.

  Waking sluggishly, Alex blinked hard and rubbed the crust of sleep-snot from his eyes. He cocked his head slightly, listening to confirm that it had been the buzz of the intercom that had woken him. A few seconds passed, during which he absent-mindedly turned over to spoon his still-sleeping wife, absorbing the warmth from her as she pressed her bottom into him. As his eyelids closed over again the intercom buzzed a second time. Sighing, Alex reluctantly untangled his limbs from Sarah’s, pulled on some sweat pants and a T-shirt and headed towards the intercom at their front door.

  Glancing at the clock on the device he noted that it was past ten a.m. Can’t be Mum and Tommy. Too early on Sunday for them.

  He jabbed at the intercom, sound only.

  “Can I help you?” he asked.

  A gentle voice with an Irish accent came over the speaker.

  “So sorry to bother you, Dr Kinsella. This is Gavin Ennis. We met last year at Gullane?”

  Alex flattened his hair and shook off the last of his sleep. Jabbing at the Holo-Cam activation, he watched as a small image of Ennis appeared in front of the intercom.

  “Mr Ennis. What a nice surprise.”

  Gavin inclined his head a little to acknowledge Alex before continuing.

  “Is young Thomas at home this morning?”

  Alex face darkened. “No. He’s not. What’s
this about, Mr Ennis?”

  Offering Alex a warm smile, Gavin replied, “Perhaps we could talk inside, Dr Kinsella?”

  The distrust and unease Alex had felt last year when he’d met Ennis on the beach and during his research of the man rushed back, filling him with suspicion. Without replying, Alex pressed the entry button and watched the holographic form of Ennis slide through the building’s door.

  Whilst Ennis made his way up to their apartment, Alex calmly showered, dressed and finally woke Sarah and explained that they had a visitor. Her face flushed a little when she realised that she had no memory of the encounter on Gullane beach, lost in the haze her former-self had retreated into. It then dawned on her that Alex had left their visitor waiting in the hallway whilst he showered and dressed.

  “Alex. You left him in the hall?”

  Alex nodded. “I wanted time to think. If he’s that keen to see us, he’ll wait.”

  Sarah’s face flushed again, with anger this time. “Stop being such a… man. Go and let him in while I make myself presentable,” she said, heading for the en-suite.

  Alex sighed and made his way to the front door. As ever, Ennis was congenial, assured and composed.

  “Is Mrs Kinsella home?” Ennis asked.

  “She’ll be a minute,” Alex replied curtly.

  Ennis threw him the same warm smile. “I think it best if we wait for her, as my visit concerns her too. Actually, it concerns all three of you, but I was relieved to find our young Thomas is out this morning.”

  Ennis indicated a Holo-Image of Thomas on the sideboard and moved into the apartment towards the mantel to scan over the other family Holos perched atop.

  Alex watched him passively, his dislike of the man growing in response to the casual manner in which he carried himself. He moved through the world like it belonged to him and its people were an amusement for him.

  After a few minutes long silence, during which Alex bristled and Ennis floated from one part of the living room to another, examining family moments captured in Holo-Images, Sarah swept into the room, still pulling her hair up into a pony-tail.