Jack too was reflecting on last night. Instead of feeling better about the situation with Tara, the evening had brought more complications than any form of clarification. Sighing, he decided to get a beer from the fridge. As he stood by the kitchen window tipping his bottle back, he caught sight of a flickering of light outside the window. Looking more closely, he saw a figure sat on a large rock by the side of the bay. They had just lit a cigarette.Who the hell was it? Jack didn’t like the idea of some unknown hanging about near his house at this hour. He quickly made his way outside to face them.
The figure turned sharply at hearing him approach. Close up, Jack recognised him. It was Calum. Since when didCalumsmoke?
‘Calum, what are you doing here?’ Jack asked quietly. Calum shrugged his shoulders and took a long drag of his cigarette. ‘I take it your mum doesn’t know where you are?’ Calum shook his head and looked down. ‘You better ring her. She’ll be worried.’ Still there was no reply. Jack went to sit on the rock next to him. ‘What’s the matter, Calum?’ he gently asked feeling sorry for the lad.
‘I’m sick of it all.’
‘All what?’
‘Them, Mum and Dad. I’m constantly stuck in the middle. Everything was fine untilshecame along.’
‘She?’
‘Melissa, dad’s new wife. Dad’s newpregnantwife.’
‘Oh, I see.’
He stubbed his cigarette out with force. ‘Dad’s a dickhead.’
‘Hmm,’ Jack diplomatically offered, whilst secretly agreeing with him.
‘Mel was all right at first. She couldn’t do enough for me.’ Then he gave a harsh laugh. ‘But now I realise it was all an act, just to look good in front of Dad. As soon as her baby comes along, I’ll be shoved out of the way.’
‘I’m sure you won’t, Calum.’
‘I will. And do you know something else? Dad regrets the whole thing. It’s obvious. It’s written all over his face.’ Another harsh laugh followed.
‘We need to let your mum know where you are, mate.’
‘Fine. You ring her then.’
Jack pulled out his mobile and made the call. Within a quarter of an hour, he was driving Calum safely home. Tara came rushing out down the corridor.
‘Thanks so much, Jack,’ she gushed while throwing her arms around her son.
‘Just glad I saw him,’ he replied, once more appreciating how much Tara had to contend with. Then his eyes moved to Richard, who was standing at Tara’s door looking mutinous. He patted Calum on the back. ‘See you around, buddy.’
‘Thanks, Jack.’ Calum gave him a half smile.
Jack leaned forward and whispered, ‘Talk to your mum. And ditch the fags, mate, seriously.’
Tara overheard and gave him a questioning look. Jack winked reassuringly at her. ‘I’ll catch you tomorrow,’ he mouthed. Tara nodded her head discreetly. He looked towards Richard again, who was staring stony-faced at him.
The next morning, Tara sat at the breakfast bar staring into space. She was on her second cup of coffee, waiting for Calum to put in an appearance. Already Richard had been hounding her with text messages, like she had all the answers.
How is he? Keep me updated.
She was itching to speak to Jack, desperate to know the full details of exactly what had happened. It would be interesting to hear what he had to say, judging by his solemn expression, which was so unlike Jack. Plus, what he had whispered to Calum about talking to her? Surely Calum knew he could confide in his mum? Apparently not. Guilt started to edge its way in.Whencould her son sit down and talk to her? She was ‘always at work’ as he had recently commented. The coffee was starting to leave a bitter taste in her mouth. Her absence from the home was taking its toll. But what choice did she have? Someone had to keep the roof over their heads.
Her mind cast back to Richard and Melissa’s new house with all the trimmings inside. Melissa didn’t even work now. Once again, the injustice of it all stung hard. Again Tara reminisced the lifestyle they’d had as a family. Looking back, she now realised just how comfortable they had been; three holidays abroad a year, two in the summer and a winter break skiing; a beautiful, big Georgian home that she and Richard had enjoyed renovating together; an up-to-date wardrobe of clothes, not to mention the jewellery Richard often treated her to (that huge diamond engagement ring of Melissa’s suddenly shot into focus). But what Tara missed most of all was the part-time working hours. She’d had the perfect work-life balance. It had given her the freedom to spend time at home with Calum, but also the interaction with colleagues and patients she craved.
Tara allowed herself to remember the good times as a family. There had been plenty, she reluctantly acknowledged. Saturday nights when the three of them shared a takeaway, chatting about the week they’d had, cheering Calum on from the sidelines while he played football, barbequing in the garden with neighbours, blasting out music and dancing into the early hours… The list was endless. And now look at them. They weren’t a family any more. They were separated. Not talking. Richard was about to make a brand-new family.
She heard Calum slope into the kitchen and turned to face him.
‘Coffee?’ she asked with forced brightness.
‘Thanks,’ he mumbled and sat at the breakfast bar, knowing full well what was to come.
