‘Jed! Why do you have to be so difficult?’
‘I’m not being difficult. I’veneverbeen difficult.I’m thinking about what’s best for Aaron. He thinks I rejected him when I found out he wasn’t my biological son and it’s clearly left scars so I’ve no intention of making things worse by rejecting him for real.’
‘It’s not your job to sort out Aaron’s issues.’
‘I never said it was. I just said I wasn’t going to exacerbate them. Besides, I know what it’s like to be interested in art only to get pushed down another path so if Aaron’s in the same boat, I refuse not to be the voice of encouragement.’
A jaded art teacher had told me it was pretty much impossible to make money as an artist and that I should rethink my career choice. With no clue what else to do, I’d trained as a chef to work in my parents’ café because it seemed so much easier to follow their footsteps, but my heart had never been in it.
‘I don’t want you filling his head with nonsense.’
‘How is encouraging someone to pursue their dreams nonsense? Surely what I’ve achieved proves that.’
‘A shop in a past-its-best seaside resort? Oh, well done. Conquered the world.’
I sighed. How much energy must it take to be this angry all the time and cynical about everything? I could have defended the town and myself but what was the point?
‘I need to get back to the gallery,’ I said. ‘It’s closing time.’
‘I haven’t finished.’
‘I think you’ve said enough, don’t you?’ I turned and set off back towards the gallery.
‘Don’t walk away from me!’ she called, which was ironic considering she’d done it to me twice this evening. I continued walking.
‘I’m talking to you, Jed Ferguson!’ Her voice was even louder and, aware that passersby were looking at us, I took a few paces back towards her.
‘Do we really need to make a scene in the middle of the street?’
‘Stay away from Aaron.’
‘Why? What difference does it make to you if I give him a few pointers with his art while he’s here? He’s not about to start calling meDadand want to move in with me. It’s just three months and then he’ll be back in Sydney.’
‘Jed!’ She actually stamped her foot which made me want to laugh but somehow I managed to contain it. Laughing at her would be like poking a sleeping dragon.
‘For once in your life,’ she said, her tone angry, ‘can’t you just do whatIwant?’
‘For once?I spent the whole of our marriage doing what you wanted so I think I can be forgiven for not agreeing with everything you say now that we’re divorced.’
She narrowed her eyes at me. ‘I wish I’d never married you.’
I winced. If she wanted to hurt me, she’d succeeded but I wasn’t going to show her that. I was going to rise above it.
‘I’m sorry you feel that way because I don’t. Being married to you created Erin and Lucy and, for a while, Aaron too. I’ll never regret having my children.’
I paused, my eyes fixed on hers, challenging her to respond but she was unusually quiet. As far as I was concerned, the conversation was over so I strode back towards the gallery. She didn’t shout after me which was just as well as I’d had more than my fill of Ingrid today.
As I reached Yorkshire’s Best, the door opened and one of the customers who’d been in the gallery when Ingrid appeared stepped out holding a large paper bag. She smiled at me and I smiled back but I couldn’t summon the strength to form any words. I felt drained after that encounter with Ingrid but I also felt fuelled with enthusiasm to help Aaron.I’d been adamant earlier that he needed her permission but if she wasn’t being supportive of his artwork and Declan wasn’t either, who else did he have? No matter how high among the stars a person’s dreams were, nobody had a right to say they could never be achieved. We wouldn’t all achieve our wildest dreams but we should at least be able to try.
13
TARA
After my team left on Saturday, I was surprised to see Jed crossing the cobbles. I’d been invited to a family meal at his parents’ house to celebrate Erin and Zack’s final night before returning to university tomorrow and I was meant to be seeing everyone there at seven.
‘Everything all right?’ I asked as I unlocked the door, concerned by Jed’s downcast expression.
‘It’s been a dramatic day.’ He stepped inside the café and gave me a soft kiss which sent my heart fluttering. ‘Aaron turned up this morning asking for his wombat.’
