Chapter 15
Jack couldn’t stop talking about his encounter with Dr O’Hara, or as he now knew her, Tara. He’d gone into work the following day full of optimism. However, there was oneslightreservation. It had been clear to Jack that the mention of his dad’s company, if not his name, had caused a reaction in Tara. He wasn’t fully convinced of her explanation either. To him it sounded a touch lame. A horrid, dull feeling washed over him when contemplating it. Surely she didn’t have any ‘connection’ to him? He hated to admit it, but his father did have form, as much as his poor mother – and the rest of the family – hated to admit it. But there it was, forever hovering in the background like a bad smell.
Austin Knowles had had an affair. If Jack was being completely honest with himself, he suspected the affair that very nearly split his parents up hadn’t been the only one. It was certainly the only one he and his sister had known about, but, looking back over his childhood with adult eyes, Jack was persuaded his dad had always played away. Incidences flashed through his mind; mum in tears, late at night, waiting for her husband to return home; the stilted, silent breakfasts charged with tension; the forced, false bravado she often displayed – all this had begun to make sense to Jack and his sister now. He also, as an adult, saw how attractive his dad was to women. Basically, he was an older version of himself. Not only did people compare them in personality, but looks too. Jack knew exactly how he was going to age, just by looking at his dad. But Jack was adamant that he wasn’t going to end up like his dad and vowed to himself he’d always be faithful and never cheat on his wife.
When he’d raised the matter with Natalie, she’d been evasive, not wanting to discuss their father’s indiscretions too much. Andanyway, it was all in the past, she’d said. Well, almost. Jack totally understood, he didn’t’ want to think badly of his dad either, and besides, ever since the affair they all knew about a couple of years ago, his parents seemed to have been happy together.
Even so, he couldn’t forget the look on Tara’s face when she realised his dad was Austin Knowles. Should he have questioned her further? No, he reasoned, it might have appeared a little odd. Instead he decided to accept her explanation. Given time, the right moment may rear its head when he could probe deeper. For now though, Jack was just pleased he’d finally made contact and that it had gone so well.
Before Tara had left, he’d asked her out for a drink, which she’d been pleased to accept.
‘I’ll introduce you to our local,’ he’d suggested.
‘Ah yes, The Smugglers. I’d like that,’ Tara replied with a smile.
So, with a hot date on the horizon, Jack had a spring in his step as he entered the warehouse to find Robin studying the plans.
‘Hi, Rob,’ he said, breezing in.
Robin looked up, surprised. ‘You seem in a good mood.’ He smirked, knowing what was to follow. He wasn’t wrong.
‘Oh, I am. The time has come,’ he announced with a wide beam on his face.
Robin laughed. ‘Don’t tell me. You’ve made contact with Dr O’Hara?’
‘It’s Tara now, actually,’ replied Jack rather smugly.
‘Of course it is,’ said Robin with a grin, pleased for his friend, but not at all shocked. Jack then filled him in, omitting the detail about his dad. ‘So, you’re meeting her again then?’ asked Robin with a sly smile.
‘Yep, taking her to The Smugglers,’ answered Jack with a wink. ‘Anyway, what were you looking at?’ He tipped his head towards the sheet of paper Robin held.
‘The adjoining walls,’ replied Robin.
‘Right, which ones are coming down?’ said Jack, studying the detailed plans. ‘These two?’ He pointed to the area that was going to comprise of the first two apartments to be renovated.
‘I think so,’ agreed Robin. ‘Then we can concentrate on the reconfiguration of flats one and two.’
‘Good.’ Jack rubbed his hands together, eager to get on. He loved this stage in the process, when the building was about to become an empty shell, ready for them to make an impact and put their stamp on it. Robin rolled up the sheet.
‘OK, let’s get the sledgehammers,’ said Jack. He loved knocking down walls too. It gave him a real sense of satisfaction, plus it was good exercise and let off any built-up tension.
Later that day, after he and Robin had bashed down the two walls and cleared all the debris away, Jack drove home knackered and in dire need of a hot, relaxing bath. Striding up the wooden steps, his eyes cast over the hot tub on the decking. Oh, sod it, he thought, he was going in there tonight. After switching it on and letting it heat up while he had a quick shower, Jack changed into his swimming trunks and eased himself into the soothing, simmering water.
‘Ah,’ he sighed, eyes closed, relishing the sensation. He had a bottle of beer propped on the side and reached out for it. The cool liquid refreshed him. He looked up at the dark sky spotted with stars. ‘This is the life,’ he told himself with contentment. The only thing missing was Tara.
Once again, his thoughts turned to yesterday and how well they’d got on. She was easy to talk to, no empty silences or awkwardness… apart from the mention of his dad. Jack begrudged that his dad had made him feel this way. In reality,Jack resented his dad full stop. Yes, hewasa good father in many ways. He’d helped him tremendously in the past, no question. But what Jack resented was thehusbandhis dad had made. His mother was a saint for tolerating him. Jack hated it when she joked about him being like his dad.
‘Like father, like son,’ she’d often say, but to Jack this simply wasn’t true. OK, so he’d had a reputation for being ‘Jack the Lad’, but that was ages ago, when he’d been younger. He liked to think he’d outgrown that. Now, in his early thirties, Jack’s attitude had changed, of course it had. It was frustrating sometimes, the way people treated him, like Rob for instance. He knew his best friend hadn’t taken him seriously about Tara. But why? Because they’d been like brothers since the age of seventeen and he’d known him in his heyday, Jack analysed. Even so, he didn’t want Robin to assume Tara was going to be just another fling. Well, she wasn’t going to be, was she? Plus, Tara was a mum, there was a son to consider, which Jack took very seriously. A cold chill ran up his spine at the thought of ending up like his dad. No, he told himself sternly, he wouldn’t. He’d seen the damage caused to his mum. He definitely was not going to be like his dad. All he needed was the love of a good woman, that’s all, and up until now he hadn’t met the right one.
He tried to rationalise his innate attraction towards Tara. Was it because she was a doctor? Did he subconsciously trust and feel secure in some way? She was certainly goodlooking, that’s for sure, clearly looked after herself, was intelligent and showed a caring side. A perfect combination in Jack’s eyes.
Jack took another gulp of beer and leaned his head back against the side of the hot tub. With his eyes closed, he tried to relax and get in the zone. Allowing the soft bubbles to flow over him, he breathed in deeply, then out slowly, listening to the sound of the shore. How blissfully peaceful it was out here, enveloped in the cove. And, he reminded himself, none of thiswould have happened without his dad. He also had a lot to thank his father for too.
