“Come round the back. I want to tell you something.”
He led the way to the small stock room where he kept a desk and a laptop which he used for day to day stock taking and ordering. He was pretty sure Bez watched the occasionally porn film on it too, which was why he knocked before entering if Bez was in there.
“I’m hoping this is good news?” Iain rested against the door after closing it behind him.
Scott felt incredibly nervous, more nervous that he’d been when he’d told his parents that he wasn’t going to pursue a career in music, despite having trained to do so. This was life-changing. For everyone.
“I think it’s the best news I’ve had.”
“Does it beat when we gave you tickets to Glastonbury?”
Scott laughed, remembering that summer. “Yeah. It does.”
Ringing filled the room and his dad fumbled to pull his phone out of his pocket. “Sorry, son. I need to take this. I’m so sorry.” He answered the phone and his voice grew soft, tender even. “Hey. Is everything okay? Did it go alright?” There was a pause. Scott couldn’t hear the other voice. “I’m so glad. I was thinking about you all day. Yeah, sure. I’ll see you later. About ten. And you’re off tomorrow? Yeah, yeah. See you in a bit.”
Scott saw his father’s face flushed and a smile that he vaguely remembered from when he was young and his parents had still been in love.
“I take it you’re seeing someone?” He was glad. He wanted his father to have a partner, someone to share things with.
Iain nodded. “For a few months. It’s fairly serious.”
“When do we get to meet her?”
Then Iain’s expression changed. Worry, apprehension.
“Dad. What’s the matter?”
His father moved still dark hair back off his face. “It isn’t a her, son.”
Scott froze, digesting what his dad had just told him. “Well, that’s a slight surprise.” Although he wasn’t sure it was. His dad hadn’t dated much since he and his mother had split. She remarried, but the two of them had stayed friends, happily sharing parental duties. But they hadn’t divorced until Alex was nineteen and well away at university.
Since then, his dad had sometimes quietly dated but there had never been anyone he’d introduced to his sons. Things made a little bit of sense.
“What’s he called?” Scott was not about to have a meltdown about this. He wanted his dad to be happy. If this person made him happy, then that was good.
“Graeme. He’s a doctor – surgeon actually. Look, this might make you uncomfortable. I was planning on telling you and your brothers – but I wanted to make sure it was serious first. No point causing a family drama and telling you your dad’s gay if it’s just a flash in the pan.”
He saw his dad take a large gulp and bite his lip, the same tell that Alex had when he was worried.
“I don’t really care if you’re gay or straight or get off on watching reality dancing shows, as long as I never have the finer details. But I am glad you’ve met someone who can make you happy. This Graeme – what’s he like?” Scott could feel his heart thudding through his ribs.
“He’s a similar age to me. He was married briefly, no kids. He’s a heart surgeon but specialises on working with kids. I’d like you three to meet him. I just need to tell Zack and Alex first. It’s bit of a shock, I suppose.” His father, the farmer, the one who’d explained about sex and girls to him nearly thirty years ago, had just made a very left of centre disclosure.
“Let me get my head round what I want to ask and I’ll come over one evening.” He rubbed his beard. Time for his confession. “You ready for this?”
“I’m pretty sure it can’t beat what I’ve just told you.” His dad stood up taller, his shoulders back. Proud.
“Pretty sure it might.”
“Go on then.”
Scott waited, watched his dad’s face. It was now creased with a smile.
“You’re going to be a granddad.”
He thought his dad was about to slide down the door and melt into a puddle.
“Keren’s pregnant. She’s only seven weeks though, so we’re trying not to tell people.” He couldn’t help the smile on his own face, partly at the news, partly at his father’s expression.
