by Karen Aldous
She then pulled out the photo behind it. She smiled to herself and had to admit, she and Cal did make a handsome couple. That’s what people told them at Sophie and Charles’s engagement before Christmas. And, since that photo, she had fallen even deeper in love with him. She adored everything, his eyes, his smile, his gorgeously toned body, plus he was an attentive lover. God she’d never had so much pleasure. And he was so considerate and caring in many other ways. Thierry was crazy about him too. The fact that he often cooked him pizza quite possibly helped, but Cal always talked and played on Thierry’s three-year-old level which was so endearing to watch. As she peered at Cal she remembered him squeezing her waist in that photo too, making her squeal with delight and her loins ache for him. The final photo was of the four of them, Cal was mockingly down on one knee along with Charles who had genuinely proposed to Sophie for the camera again on the night of their engagement. Sophie’s rock of a diamond sparkled from her left hand which was resting lightly on her décolletage. All four of them brimming with joyous laughter.
Lizzie placed each photo down on the desk and smiled. It wouldn’t be long before Sophie and Charles were man and wife. They had designs on a wedding in the summer and Charles, in his usual unassuming manner, announced he would surprise his bride with something special. Sophie had been delighted, if not a little apprehensive. Lizzie considered it a lovely romantic gesture she was sure her friend would love. Sophie only had to worry about her dress, flowers and her bridesmaids, although the first person she requested was Thierry as her page boy. Cal, as best man however, was sworn to secrecy and he’d been as good as his word.
It was just after five-thirty as she was walking back to her apartment when Lizzie checked her mobile. Still nothing back from Cal.
Chapter 4
‘Dad.’
‘Jack…yes.’ Cal’s voice sang from his heart as it swelled and a huge sigh blew from his airways.
Reaching the latch entrance, he reached up to a cord and switched on a ceiling lamp. He heard a sudden scuttling sound. ‘Jack.’ He stretched his neck to seek his son.
‘Yeah. I’m here but don’t make me go in or go to school tomorrow. Dad, I’m staying here or you take me to England. I hate it here, Dad.’
Cal climbed the four remaining steps slowly, gauging a fear in Jack’s plea he’d never witnessed before. As he turned to follow the voice, his eyes met the scrunched frame tugging at a dark-blue sleeping bag. The roof space was small and shallow. Jack’s deep-hazel eyes bulged, confirming Cal’s suspicion.
‘How long have you been here?’ Cal asked, now attempting to crawl into the cramped space.
‘I got cold down…I was down at the marina but I got back here just before it got light. Mom will make me go to school. Dad, don’t tell Mom where I am.’
‘Your mom is beside herself with worry. You need to explain, Jack.’
‘She won’t listen, she’ll send me to school.’
‘There are a lot of people out there searching for you so they need to know you are safe.’
Cal just wanted to stay and talk but he had to let Kelly know and the guys who had spent the entire night out in the bitter cold with no sleep. God knows, they needed a rest.
Cal took a deep breath. ‘OK. I’ll do a deal. You promise to stay here and I promise I won’t let her up. I’m going to tell your mom you’re OK because she needs to tell everyone to stop searching. I’ll be right back, alone, I promise. Is that a deal?’
Jack slid back down into the sleeping bag. ‘Not Mom? No I said.’
Cal shook his head. ‘Your mom will be relieved you’re here. I’m telling her, not because you have to go to school but to stop the panic and the search. There are a lot of people worried about you, Jack. I’m just going to tell them that we will talk alone. Just you and me. I’m going to make that clear.’ He paused, searching for Jack’s approval. Jack continued to look down, fiddling with the sleeping-bag zip. ‘Is that clear, Jack? Do you trust me?’
‘Will you be staying here, Dad? I want you to stay. Mom will send me to school.’
‘I’m going nowhere, son, until I’m happy you’re happy.’
After several seconds, scared eyes peered up. ‘I trust you, Dad, but Mom will start fussing and bossing…’
‘Jack, do you trust me?’
Cal watched as his son lay still, contemplating, his eyes flitting back and forth to the zip and back to him. He could only imagine what was going on in Jack’s mind. He knew Kelly was controlling and just loved to tell her friends about every detail of her daily dramas. Was this what his son was afraid of? Did she inadvertently humiliate him? He was sure he wouldn’t have appreciated it himself at sixteen. One thing was certain and that was, this boy was intent on hiding or running away. What was it his son couldn’t face?
‘I want to go away, Dad. I want to be with you but not here. I want to go to England.’
‘I understand you’re struggling, Jack. We can talk about this. Give me five minutes and…’
Both their heads turned as Kelly shouted from the back door. Cal glanced at his child.
‘Five minutes and I’ll be back. Trust me?’ Cal raised his hand for a high-five.
Jack grimaced and raised a hand to his father. ‘Don’t bring her here, please.’
‘I promise.’ Cal scratched the back of his head. Torn between trying to keep his son calm and needing to let Kelly know her son was safe, Cal couldn’t make false promises.
‘Trust me. Five minutes.’
He scrambled back down the steps and across the neat-lawned garden. For a house worth several million dollars, the garden was relatively small, only a hundred foot long by, Cal guessed, eighty foot wide. The summerhouse was at the end of it and away from the house. It made sense he would take refuge somewhere close. He wondered if Jack had been planning this for some time. It wasn’t the most obvious place to have a sleeping bag to hand. He was sure the space would have been checked the previous evening. He stepped into the back lobby.
‘Oh Cal, there you are. Still nothing to report but Lizzie rang you,’ Kelly said as Cal entered the kitchen lobby.
He headed straight for the unit where his phone was charging in the kitchen and waited for Kelly to follow. At once, he saw Bob, Brett’s father leaning on the island and Harry raiding the fridge and Bea throwing her coat onto the back of a dining chair.
Kelly then spun back grabbing her hair in frustration. ‘Nothing at the harbour. Bob, you should go home and get some sleep. Cal can…’
Trying to maintain a calm mood, Cal interrupted softly. ‘Look, it’s OK. Well, the good news is that I’ve found Jack and physically, he’s fine but…’ He threw up a hand as Kelly’s eyes and mouth shot wide whilst her body almost bounced in the air ‘Yes, I know you’re all excited and everything, but he has asked for privacy. And I respect that. And, Kelly, I’m asking you do too. Give him a little time. He has asked to speak to me alone, and again, I respect his wishes and hope you will too. The important thing is he is safe. He was in the summerhouse loft. He hasn’t said where he was yet but…’
‘Aww I just want to see him and hug him,’ Kelly’s eyes pleaded, ‘to tell him how much I love him. That’s odd. We checked the summerhouse and the garage.’
‘He said he got there before light.’
Bob and Kelly glanced at each other. Then Bob nodded with relief spread across his face. ‘Great news. Relieved for you all. I’ll go tell Maria and the guys.’ He wrapped his arms first around Kelly then Cal.
‘Bob, I can’t thank you enough,’ Cal told him as he picked up his phone. ‘So, Kelly, I’m going back to him now, so wait for my instruction please. Actually, I’ll take a couple of cans of drink and a few snacks if you have them. I don’t suppose he’s had anything to eat.’
‘Can’t he come in and talk?’ Kelly insisted, siding up to her son Harry and clutching the refrigerator door then browsing among food items. ‘You could both go to his room.’
‘If and when he’s ready.’
‘No, Harry. You’ll have to wait. Cal, has he said why he’s hiding out?’ Kelly said gathering an armful of drinks and packets.
‘Let’s take it a step at a time shall we? Keep Harry and Bea in here. Have you got a bag for those?’
Kelly grouped the items together and then pulled out a plastic bag from a drawer handing it to Cal. She then scoured a further cupboard snatching huge bags of snacks.
‘Take these too. I really don’t know what he’s making such a fuss about. He’s bright, confident, has friends. What the hell is he worried about?’
‘I’m sure it’s just a phase. A teenage blip.’
‘Tell him, whatever it is, I’m here for him.’
With a bulging bag of food and drinks in his hand, Cal returned to the garden and into the summerhouse and climbed back up the steps. He knew Kelly’s heart was in the right place, he just wasn’t sure if she, or he for that matter, could penetrate and unfurl Jack’s inner world. His naval training had prepared him for many situations, including dealing with younger officers’ emotions. This, however, was different. He was emotionally attached himself. It wasn’t easy witnessing your own child in a dark place.
Crawling back into the loft space felt claustrophobic but he kept his head low and blew out a grateful sigh seeing Jack still wrapped in the sleeping bag.
‘Well, I may have taken a little longer but I’ve brought us some goodies. Here.’ He placed the bag down beside Jack and watched as his son’s hand scrambled inside it.
‘Cool, I’m starving.’ Jack’s voice croaked with a little more gusto as he opened a bag of crisps and scooped a handful into his mouth. He then took a can and pulled the ring.
‘Yes, your mom thought you might be. She was really worried. She cares a lot. She says she loves you and wants to hug you.’
Jack shrugged his shoulders. ‘Huh, doesn’t sound like her.’
Keeping a watchful eye on Jack, Cal took a can of cold Cola from the bag too. He pulled the ring and sipped quietly.
‘So, tell me why you don’t want to stay here.’
Jack dropped an empty bag into his lap and pulled the ring on another can of Cola.
‘I just can’t. And don’t ask me why. I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘How can I help you if I don’t know what it is you need help with?’
Finishing his second drink, Jack put down the can and gripped his hands together as he turned, slunk down and rested on both elbows.
‘You wouldn’t understand, Dad.’
Feeling the urge to straighten his back, Cal remained still and silent, just biting at his lip as Jack’s thick-lashed eyes shifted from the can to his. He swallowed hard as his chest tightened. He couldn’t recall a time when Jack had been this quiet. Usually he was bursting with energy and news with so much to tell him. Just weeks ago at the New Year party, and his birthday the day after, Jack was eager to relay his progress at school, his plans with his friends to set up a band; to be lead guitar and write his own songs. Now he appeared drained, gaunt even. Jack had clearly lost his mojo, his lust for life. Cal’s heart wept before jarring. Finally he stretched out his legs and leant on his arm facing his son.
‘Jack, let me in, tell me how I can help?’
Jack thought for a moment then raised his lashes. ‘Can I come back to England with you?’
Cal tipped his head, confused. ‘I’m not living in England any more. I’m in the south of France.’
‘Oh.’ Jack frowned. ‘You said you had found the land but I didn’t realise you moved already.’
‘Well, I moved in with Lizzie when we got back from here in January. I thought I’d told you. Well, perhaps we spoke generally at New Year, so maybe you were playing with Harry at the time. Anyway…’
‘My friend Robbie is going to live there and go to college there. He said I could stay with him.’
Cal felt a chill gush through him. ‘You’re just sixteen. That’s too young to be in London alone,’ he told him, aware his son still had a lot of growing pains to go through before he had any chance of independence.
‘I’ll be with Robbie. He’s two years older than me so I won’t be alone.’
‘Jack, I need to understand what it is you’re running away from before we can even begin to think about what you are going to do after your SATS. I’m here and happy to help whatever it is. And, I’m not here to judge. Whatever it is, it’s OK. Do you understand?’
Grinding his teeth, Jack peered up, examining his father’s face.
‘I promise I’m not a monster. I’m listening. I want to help. The sooner you get whatever it is off your chest, the sooner you can move on with your life. That will be your escape, no running off to London. We will work through your problem, nobody else’s. Yours. I’m your dad and it matters to me. Jack, I love you, and I care. Understood?’
Cal raised his arm and a flat palm for a high-five. Jack slapped it, breaking a nervous smile.
‘Good, I’m glad that’s understood. So is it just your problem or is there someone else involved?’
As frustrating as it was, Cal oozed out patience. He shifted his aching arm, lifting his body up to lean on the other arm. He didn’t want to suggest going into the house for fear of Jack blocking him out again. Jack wriggled about too though suggesting he was becoming more comfortable.
Jack cleared his throat. ‘Can I just ask you, would you come to London and live there if I lived there?’
‘Not up for discussion. You are running away from something here.’
Jack peered down biting his lip. ‘No, it’s what I really want. I’ve thought about it and it’s definitely where I think my future is.’
‘So finish your SATS here and then we’ll talk about London.’
‘Dad. I really want to go now. I can finish them in London. I can go to an international school.’
Cal reached out and lifted his son’s chin. He searched his eyes for a moment. ‘Jack, explain to me why now is so important? What has happened?’
Chapter 5
‘Hi, Annatia,’ Lizzie said, ‘sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. I was hoping to speak to Cal. He’s had to rush over to his son in the States so, I’m still not sure if he’ll be back for Friday to show you around the house. I may have to cancel.’
‘Oh, I hope it’s nothing serious,’ Annatia, their friend and interior design expert, asked with genuine concern in her voice.
‘Hopefully not. A teenage episode. I’m waiting to hear.’
‘Ouch, tough age. Send him our regards. Well, if you want to go alone, I’m still available. Have you got keys?’
Lizzie agonised for a few seconds. She would love to see it. Cal had shown her a few photographs and, although it appeared somewhat dilapidated, she couldn’t wait to see it and what could be done there. He’d even offered to drive her up but she insisted she would wait until all the legal work was completed and he officially got the keys. In truth, she wanted to share the moment with Cal. It was his after all.
‘I think the best thing is for me to speak with him. I don’t think he’ll be back before Friday and, in all honesty, Annatia, I wouldn’t want any decisions made without him there. He talks about the vines and his plans as I’m sure Jes knows but, he doesn’t know much about the building. I’ll try him again. I don’t want you wasting your time.’
‘That’s fine, honey. Let me know when you can. I’m sure he’ll get in touch with Jes anyway. I think he has some rootstock on order.’
‘Thank you, Annatia.’
Lizzie was now close to her apartment and as she put her phone in her bag, searched for her keys.
Thierry ran to her as soon as she stepped inside the door. ‘Hello, Mummy.’ He grabbed at her trousers. ‘I did swim today, Mummy.’
Lizzie immediately bent down and squeezed him in her arms and kissed him.
‘Hello, darling. Wow, well done. You are a clever boy.’
‘I swimmed like this.�
�� Thierry threw himself to the floor and began to wave his arms and legs. ‘And I not have my armbands on, Mummy.’
Marie-Claire popped her head out from the kitchen area wearing a large grin. ‘Bonsoir, Lizzie.’
Lizzie’s face burst into laughter as she straightened up to watch her son demonstrate. She glanced up briefly. ‘Bonsoir, Marie-Claire. How amazing. He’s really swimming?’
‘Yes, just two strokes but he swam on his own. No armbands.’
‘Thierry, I’m so proud of you. Good boy.’ Lizzie knelt down again and stroked his hair as he continued stretching out his arms.
‘Will you come swimming, Mummy?’
‘I’m sure I can manage an hour, darling.’ She glanced back at Marie-Claire. ‘When will you go again?’
‘We can go late morning tomorrow. Eleven-thirty or twelve, before his playschool at two.’
‘Yes, sounds perfect. I can’t wait. You can show Mummy tomorrow.’
‘Then can we go to the park?’ Thierry asked getting up and sliding up to his mother.
‘Well, you’ll want some lunch before playschool so we won’t have time.’
‘Thierry, your dinner is ready,’ Marie-Claire announced.
‘Come on, clever boy, let’s go wash your hands,’ Lizzie said clasping his hand and leading him to the cloakroom.
After dinner and puzzles, Lizzie followed her usual bedtime routine and read to Thierry after his bath. She insisted she would bath him as Marie-Claire was going out with her new boyfriend, Patric. It was the first time Lizzie had known her to have a proper boyfriend and after the trauma with Anton last year, she was thankful Thierry’s nanny was seemingly unaffected and now happy. Patric was twenty and just a year older than Marie-Claire. His family lived locally too, just a few miles along the coast in Antibes where they also had an automobile business. Lizzie had only met him briefly twice, but he seemed a really nice lad and they were well suited; they both loved sport and music. It was just after eleven-thirty when Marie-Claire returned and had just made a coffee in the kitchen. Lizzie was on the sofa reading.
