Tara and Claire exchanged a look.
‘You’re going to have to tell him, Tara,’ hissed Claire in a low voice.
‘I know. I will.’
But there was no need. Calum had heard every single word, and what’s more, he was about to take matters into his own hands. He was fed up with being treated like a kid. He was fifteen in a few months. It was about timehemade the decisions.
The next morning Tara woke with a heavy heart. All the emotional trauma was building momentum. It didn’t helpknowing she’d have to tell Calum everything either. Upon seeing his pale face, she wasn’t surprised to hear he was feeling unwell.
‘I feel sick,’ he complained, then returned back to bed.
Tara wasn’t working that day, so was happy for him to miss school.
‘I’ll bring you some breakfast,’ she called.
‘Not hungry.’
Tara paused. Any suspicion she’d had of him hearing her and Claire last night started to rise. She decided to let him sleep, hoping he would feel better in a few hours. Luckily, Calum did seem better when he woke later.
‘Fancy something to eat now?’ asked Tara. ‘Something nice and light?’
‘Yes, please. Can I have egg on toast?’
‘Sure, coming up.’
They ate together with the radio on in the background.
‘You’re not going anywhere today, are you, Mum?’ asked Calum.
‘No. Why?’
Then there was a knock at the door. Tara frowned and went to open it. There stood Richard.
‘Richard? What are you doing here?’
‘I was summoned,’ he replied.
‘What?’
‘By Calum.’
‘But…’ Tara turned to look at Calum who was watching her.
‘Let him in, Mum.’
She blinked and stood aside.
Richard and Tara looked at each other, wondering what exactly was going on. Calum stood up from the breakfast bar.
‘I want you both to sit down and listen to me.’
As if in role reversal, Tara and Richard sat down silently side by side and stared up at Calum, waiting for him to speak.
‘I’m not stupid and I’m not a kid. Dad, I know you’re trying to get me to live with you.’
‘Well… now listen, Calum,’ started Richard.
‘No,youlisten, Dad,’ cut in Calum, ‘I’mnotliving with you and Melissa. I’m staying here, with Mum. The arrangements are staying the same. I’m happy with them. And you can’t tell me what to do, or how I feel. I’m not “little Cal” any more,’ he finished with a hard glare.
