Page 111 of The In-Laws

Amanda had chosen to have this conversation in a public place because she didn’t want them to end up shouting at each other. She wanted Ross to know what was going on and to help support Theo going forward. But she needed the conversation to be calm and constructive.

‘Is this true?’ Ross hissed at his son.

Theo shrugged. ‘I was doing just a bit now and then. It’s not like I’m addicted. I haven’t done any in weeks.’

‘Jesus Christ, Theo, I thought we were finished with this subject. Just how stupid are you?’ Ross snapped.

‘Not as stupid as you,’ Theo retorted.

‘Theo,’ Amanda warned her son, as Ross’s face turned a dangerous shade of red. ‘What’s important to know is that I’ve found Theo a therapist to help him figure this out. He’s only had two sessions so far, but I think it’s helping. Is it, Theo?’

Theo fiddled with a packet of sugar. ‘Kind of, like I’m not messing around with drugs any more. But the main problem is that I just hate it here. Like, I really hate it. I have no friends in school. I know I have Irish parents, butI feel English. I loved London. It’s my home and I want to go back. I don’t fit in here.’

Amanda looked at her son. He was pale with dark circles under his eyes. He looked miserable. She had been trying so hard to make everything work in their new lives that she had convinced herself that if Theo tried harder he’d fit in. If he just took more time and made more of an effort, he’d be happy in his new school and find friends. If he stopped messing about with cocaine and got help via therapy, he’d be fine. But looking at him now, she realized she had been wrong. You can’t force a square peg into a round hole. Theo was right: he was an English boy, he was different, he’d had a very tough time, and this new living situation did not suit him. But they had moved, and they were here now, and they had to make it work.

‘It’s been hard on all of us.’ Amanda could see Ross was trying to stay calm. ‘And I get that it’s not easy to make friends when you come into a school in the final year, but you just need to stick it out and things will get better.’

‘I can’t stay here.’ Theo began to get upset. ‘I can’t. I hate it. I know what I did was stupid, I don’t even know why I did it – I don’t like taking coke. I think I wanted to get caught again so you’d see how miserable I am. It’s like I’m completely invisible in that house.’

Amanda reached out and squeezed his hand. ‘I know it’s hard, love, but it’s only one year. And not even a full year. You just have to get through to the summer. If you do well in your exams, you can go to college in England. I’ll help you apply to any university you want.’

Theo looked up at her. ‘Really?’

‘Of course.’

‘But it’s so expensive and Dad has a new kid to supportand I hear you arguing about money all the time and … well …’

‘Oh, Theo, I’m sorry, pet. But things are clearer now that the child-support finances have been sorted out. In fact, we’ll be able to move out of your granny’s house soon and, don’t worry, we’ll find the money to send you to college in England. I promise you that if you study hard, stop messing about and behave, we will both one hundred per cent support you going to college in England. Won’t we, Ross?’

Ross nodded. ‘Yes, we’ll figure it out, but only if you stop with the drugs, Theo. It has to stop now. I’m serious. If we find out you’ve been at it again, you will be in major trouble.’

Amanda nodded. ‘Please, Theo, no more. I can’t take any more worry. I’ll move mountains to make you happy, but I won’t tolerate any more bad behaviour.’

Theo was visibly relieved. He broke into a smile. ‘Knowing I can go to uni in England is the best news ever. I thought I was trapped here. I can’t wait to tell the boys. Harry, Alex and Jools are hoping to go to Exeter. I could go there too.’

‘If you study hard, you can go anywhere,’ Ross told him.

‘I will. I promise, Dad.’

Amanda watched her son’s face light up. It was as if a burden had been lifted off his young shoulders. She had underestimated how much he was struggling. He had lived in London for most of his life – of course he felt more English than Irish. He was a fish out of water here. Englandwashis home. She put an arm around his shoulders. ‘I’m so sorry, Theo. This has been awful for you and we haven’t given you enough credit for coping as well as you have. Your whole world has been upended and it’s not fair.I promise you that, from now on, your dad and I will do everything we can to get you into whatever university you want. Once we move out of Nancy’s, things will be calmer and easier too.’

Theo hugged her back. ‘It’s okay, Mum. This has been horrendous for you, too. I don’t mean to worry you. Now I know this is only temporary, I can deal with it.’

‘We all need to do better and try harder to make this work, okay?’ Amanda looked at her husband and son.

‘Agreed,’ they said.

Theo sipped his coffee. ‘Joni and Janis told me about Melanie and Frank splitting up.’

‘It’s sad, but I think it’s for the best. They’re good friends and Melanie has been really generous,’ Amanda told him.

‘The twins don’t think so. They blame her for everything.’

Amanda felt the need to defend her sister-in-law. ‘That’s not fair. Melanie is the reason they live in that lovely house and go to that posh school. She works so hard to provide a good life for them. They need to remember that.’

Theo shrugged. ‘I’m just telling you what they said.’

‘I know, sorry. But I hate to see Melanie getting all the blame.’

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