Still no movement.
Arthur and Gretchen moved as one towards the bush where he’d been hiding, Gretchen breaking into a jog. “Jordan!”
Arthur jogged after her, flinching at the jolt in his prosthetic leg, and reached the bush as she’d squatted down to shake Jordan. “Jordan!” Her voice raised in a slight panic.
“Mum?” The sleepy voice assailed Arthur’s concern.
“Game’s over. It’s time for lunch. Did you fall asleep?”
Jordan yawned. “I guess so.” He shifted and spotted Arthur. “Did we win?”
“Yeah, you chose a killer spot.” He bent down and pulled the boy out from the little hole he was in and helped Gretchen brush the dust from his clothes.
“Stop it!” Jordan moved away, face red. “I can clean myself.” He slapped at the dirt and looked around to check who was watching. The others were already heading back to the beach.
Jordan ran to catch up.
Gretchen sighed. “I’m being embarrassing again.”
“You care. When he’s older, he’ll appreciate it.”
“Did your mum ever embarrass you?”
The question took him by surprise, made him stop. He’d avoided thinking about his childhood for so long.
“Sorry, was that too personal?”
Arthur shook his head. “No, it’s fine. I always thought Mum was so cool. She was fun, and loving, and such a contrast to my father.” He kept walking. “I probably embarrassed her more than the other way around.”
“I’m sure she was never embarrassed of you.”
“I used to go through these stages when Dad was home and just after he left when I would try to emulate him.” It was cringe-worthy. “I’d tell her how she should behave and sometimes I’d do it in front of her friends. She must have hated it.”
Gretchen ran a hand over his arm. “I can tell you, as a mother, she would have understood where it came from, and she would have loved you anyway.”
Her kindness undid him. “I wasn’t a great son. I put Dad before her, I wasn’t there when she needed me, I didn’t even know she was addicted to painkillers.”
She squeezed his hand. “It wasn’t your job to be there for her. That was your father’s role, and he failed her, just like he failed both you and Amy. That’s all on him, not you.”
Her words lessened some of the guilt, but he wouldn’t absolve himself of all of it. “Thanks, Gretchen.”
She smiled. “Any time.”
They reached the towels where Amy had spread out an amazing feast. “This looks incredible, Ames.”
“I made some melting moments for you.” She offered him a container.
He took one, speechless. His mother had made them melting moments for afternoon tea sometimes, but he hadn’t had any in years. He bit in and the flavour took him right back to those days. He forced himself to swallow and then he said, “It’s just like Mum’s.”
Amy smiled. “It’s her recipe. I’ll give it to you when we get back.”
“I’d like that.” This was a new beginning for him. One where he never had to worry about what his father thought. He could draw and paint openly, read the books he wanted to read, maybe even try dating.
He glanced at Gretchen.
If he was brave enough.
Chapter 12
