Her heart clenched. She didn’t want to hurt Jordan, but it would show him the truth. “Only if you stay silent so he doesn’t know you’re listening,” Gretchen said. Jordan hesitated and then nodded and she answered. “Kurt.”
“I told you not to mess with me. Did you get Jordan in the car or have to follow him home?”
Gretchen put her finger to her lips. Kurt hadn’t waited around to find out, which meant he didn’t know Arthur walked Jordan home. “That’s none of your business. What do you want?”
“I want information about the Stokes and so do my colleagues.”
“What about Jordan? You said you wanted to spend time with him.”
Kurt laughed. “Kids are so gullible.”
Jordan’s bottom lip trembled.
Gretchen stretched her hand across the table, but he pulled away. She hated this, but she needed to ensure Jordan understood the truth. “So you spoke to him after school just to cause trouble?”
“You need to understand I mean what I say. Jordan could disappear and you’d never see him again.”
She wanted to be sick. “You would hurt your own child?”
“Those I deal with wouldn’t hesitate.”
“Can’t you protect him from them?”
“If it’s him or me, he’s expendable.”
Jordan paled, his face screwing up in pain. He’d heard enough. Gretchen hung up the phone and reached for him. Jordan wailed. “I hate him! I wish he’d die!” He flung back his chair and raced to his room, slamming the door behind him.
Gretchen’s vision blurred as she got to her feet. Damn Kurt to hell.
Arthur placed a hand on her arm. “You need to call the police.”
“I have. I called Dot last night, but I didn’t expect it to escalate so rapidly.” She glanced towards the bedrooms. “Will you stay? I’d like a chance to explain everything, and Jordan might want to ask you questions about your father.”
He nodded.
She needed to make it up to this kind man. Had to tell him she wasn’t being nice to him because of Kurt. “I was going to cook sausages for dinner. You could join us.”
“How about I cook them while you speak with Jordan?” Arthur suggested. “I imagine he needs a hug.”
She nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Thank you.”
She tapped on Jordan’s door and pushed it open. Her baby lay face down on his bed, his bunny rabbit under one arm, sobbing his eyes out. Her heart broke for him. She sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on his back, gently rubbing it. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“Go away.” The voice was muffled and lacked any real conviction.
“No. You could do with a big hug, so I’ll wait here until you’re ready. I love you, baby.”
He shifted, his face peeking out from under his arms. “Dad doesn’t.”
“No,” she agreed. “But your dad doesn’t love anyone. He never loved me, and he doesn’t love his parents. The only person he loves is himself.”
“It hurts.”
“I know it does. It hurt me for a long time too, before I realised we were better off without him. We’ve been pretty happy here in Retribution Bay. What do you think?”
“I like it here. Melbourne was boring.”
“It was.” She continued to rub circles on his back.
