“You lost everyone. You lost those you loved. That must have been awful. I’m glad you had Max.”
“He was so good to me.”
“I wish I’d had someone who loved me. But now, all these years later, it doesn’t seem to matter so much.”
“I’m angry for you.”
Newt rubbed River’s shoulder. “Like you were angry with your father? But you’ve been strong. You’ve not let it ruin your life and it might have done.”
“It ruined yours.”
“Well… It changed what my life would have been but now I can’t say that it ruined it.” He stared at River. “I’m not a fan of the idea that things happen for a reason but…”
“I hate him. Such a waste. My sisters. My mother. He was a selfish…bastard.”
Newt pulled him into his arms and pressed his face into River’s hair. “He wanted to save you all from being hurt. He was wrong but he wasn’t thinking rationally.”
“Bloody families.”
“I’ve always thought you make family what you want it to be. And that doesn’t have to include people related to you by blood. If a friend did something hurtful, then you’d walk away. Why shouldn’t you do the same if your family does something bad to you? The best family you can have is one that you choose or one that you create yourself. Max was your family. He might have had an ulterior motive to look after you if he wanted you to sign with him, but he cared for you. Still cares. He’s very protective.”
“I know.”
“Maybe one day, you’ll marry, have a family of your own and you won’t make the mistakes your father did.” Newt sighed. “You’ll make other mistakes but…”
River huffed into his shoulder. “Hey, I’m perfect.”
Newt chuckled, which was what River wanted to hear.
“When bad things happen in your life, you’re allowed to be sad,” Newt said. “But it’s important that you let yourself be happy too. We’ve both learned that. We can’t dismiss what went before, but as far as we’re able, we shouldn’t let it define our future. I mean, I still jump at loud noises, I eat too fast, I don’t like too much choice… I can’t shake off everything that prison did, but I hope I can in time.”
“I’m still afraid of heights.”
“I’m not surprised. It must have been fucking terrifying. He was insane.”
“Don’t know why I agreed to…climb for the film.”
Newt stroked River’s hair from his eyes. “You got talked into it. You have to learn to say no. Firmly. Let’s practise. Like some caviar?”
“No.”
“Like to pet a cobra?”
“No.”
“Like to climb Everest?”
“No.”
“Want to go to bed with me?”
River laughed but his heart thumped. He reached up to Newt’s mouth and ran his finger over his lips. “Hmm…”
Newt’s phone rang and they both jumped.
“It’s Max,” Newt said and answered it. “Hi.”
“The police want to come and speak to River tomorrow morning at ten.”
