Page 68 of Teacakes & Tangos
He’d been told he was fine to drive – but I’d be behind the wheel of his car for now if we needed to go anywhere. Not that this was likely because on the odd occasion I suggested we take a drive to the coast or out into the countryside, Dad always claimed he was too tired.
I worried that real clinical depression was setting in, and that maybe he was suffering from flashbacks. But I’d already talked to the GP and he’d seemed to think it was all quite normal. So I was at a loss as to what to do next for Dad.
Then one day, when I asked him gently if he’d been having flashbacks from the day of the accident, Dad shocked me with a sudden explosion of anger. Shouting that he wished I would stop asking him about ‘that woman’ because the memory might never come back to him, he got up and walked out of the living room and slammed the door behind him.
I’d stared after him in bewilderment.
I hadn’t even mentioned ‘that woman’. But clearly, she was on his mind for some reason.
He was normally so laid-back and he hated us ‘having words’ as he called it. But I put it down to his head injury. And I decided that if Dad had escaped with little more in the way of after-effects than a short temper, we’d probably got off quite lightly, really...
I’d thought I’d find it difficult working at the café when Dad was discharged from the hospital, but in the end, I found it a relief to escape for a while from the gloomy atmosphere at home.
I hadn’t heard from Xander for a few days when out of the blue, he called me one evening.
I forced a cheery smile when his name flashed up. ‘Hi, good to hear from you! How are you?’ My greeting sounded fake even to me, and I cringed to imagine how Xander must be feeling. But it was impossible to be natural with him now that things seemed so uncertain between us.
‘I’m fine.’ There was a pause. ‘You know, Anika... I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to cool things between us – not after finding out my twin brother is a first-rate arse and a criminal to boot. Dana always hated the fact that I had a brother with a criminal record. She was ashamed to be associated with Freddie through me and the rest of our family. But I promise you, I’m not like him at all. I know we share the same genes, being twins, but I wanted to let you know that our personalities are completely different, just in case you thought –’
‘What?No!’ I gasped in horror. ‘It’s not about Freddie. And of course I don’t think less of you just because Freddie’s gone down the wrong path. Honestly, Xander, it’s just...’ I swallowed hard.
How could I tell him the truth? That I was no longer sure he felt the passion for me that I was feeling for him?
‘It’s just that Dad really needs me right now,’ I said quickly.
‘Of course.’
I heard him breathe out. Then there was another awkward pause, during which I was breaking down inside, wondering if I’d ever see Xander again after this.
At last he said, ‘Look, Anika, if you ever need to talk, just give me a ring, okay? I’m always there for you.’
‘Thank you,’ I whispered, trying not to swallow because my throat was aching. ‘I... I’ll see you soon, Xander.’
‘I hope so,’ he said, and the call ended.
*****
The following morning, when I went downstairs just after seven, I was surprised to find that Dad was up and about already, looking as if he was going out. He was standing at the window, shoes on, finishing a cup of coffee.
‘What’s going on?’ I asked with a smile. ‘I was going to make you breakfast in bed. Your favourite. Blueberry pancakes.’
He smiled back and putting the cup down, he reached over and took my hand.
‘Sorry for snapping at you yesterday, love. I’ve... had things on my mind. Well, one in particular, which I’m going to put right this morning.’
‘Oh.’ I stared at him. He had a determined look on his face as he walked to the front door and I was suddenly worried. He’d been behaving so uncharacteristically since he got home from the hospital. And I wasn’t sure going out in the car was the right thing for him to do. Not that I could stop him, even if I wanted to. He seemed so determined this morning...
I caught up with him as he opened the front door. ‘Are you going to tell me what you’re doing?’
He paused but he didn’t look back at me. ‘Later, love.’ And he was gone, walking out to the car.
‘Do you want me to come with you?’ I called, but his door slammed, the car started and he was already driving away without even a wave back at me.
What on earth was going on? Should he really be going out on his own like this? What if something happened to him?
And then, of course, I had to get ready and go to work at the café so I wasn’t even going to be there to greet him when he got back.
During the morning, I phoned Dad whenever I had a spare minute. But I had a feeling he’d anticipated this because his mobile seemed to be switched off. He really was just as sharp as he’d always been!
