Page 125 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
As I knew he would Charlie does want to see his father.
So, when we get home from school, I permit Graham to come up to the top of the tower so Charlie is on familiar ground, and I allow them to spend some time together.
After I’m satisfied that Charlie is happy with everything, I leave them together playing with Charlie’s Lego, and I head downstairs for some fresh air.
‘How’s it going?’ Tom asks as I step out into the courtyard. I know he’s been waiting patiently outside since Graham’s arrival.
‘Fine. Just fine,’ I reply, sighing.
‘Come here,’ Tom says, holding out his arms, and I gratefully let him envelop me in a comforting hug. ‘You’ve done the right thing,’ he says softly, nuzzling his face into my hair. ‘You know that, don’t you?’
‘I hope so,’ I tell him. ‘I really hope so.’
As Tom is holding me, I notice Joey across the courtyard watching us. He holds his thumb up and nods. So I smile and do the same to him behind Tom’s back.
‘Why do parents cause us so many problems?’ I say, not really voicing a question, more a statement.
‘How do you mean?’ Tom asks, holding me back in his arms.
‘Well, for one, my son is up there having his first contact in years with his dad; then there’s you with your own estranged father—’
Tom nods in agreement.
‘Joey has had similar troubles, too,’ I continue, ‘and then there’s Clara – her father caused her no end of trouble producing an elder sister no one knew about.’
‘It seems like it’s men then, really?’ Tom says, smiling at me. ‘We seem to cause all the grief.’
‘Some of you, perhaps,’ I say, looking up at him tenderly. ‘I hope not all of you, though . . . ’
Tom leans forward so his face is close to mine. ‘I promise, for however long we’re together, that I’ll do my best to never cause you any grief. How about that?’
‘That could be a very long time, you know,’ I whisper, my lips getting even closer to his.
‘I do hope so,’ Tom murmurs just before our lips meet. ‘I really do.’
Against my better judgement, I agree to let Graham stay on for a couple of days so he can get to know Charlie again. He’s come up from London to visit Chesterford, so instead of him staying locally I agree to him staying at the castle.
‘How are you getting on with your dad?’ I ask Charlie one night just before he settles down to sleep. ‘Do you like spending time with him?’
‘Yeah,’ Charlie says, thinking about it. ‘It’s cool to get to know him.’
‘Good.’
‘But . . . ’ Charlie hesitates.
‘What is it?’ I ask anxiously in case I’ve done the wrong thing after all.
‘Is it all right if I still like being with Tom, Joey, Benji and Arthur better? Dad’s okay ’n’ all, but they’re all much more fun.’
I smile at him. ‘Of course it is,’ I insist. ‘You can like whoever you want to the best. It’s your life, Charlie. You make the choices, not anyone else.’
‘Thanks, Mum. I love you; you’re the best.’
Charlie rolls over and closes his eyes, and with tears in my own eyes I gently tuck him in, kiss him goodnight, and then I pause by the door just before I turn off the light, and I whisper, ‘I love you, too, Charlie. So very,verymuch.’
‘So,’ Graham says as we prepare to see him off after his short stay. ‘This was fun.’
‘I wouldn’t call it that exactly,’ I say, trying to remain polite for Charlie’s sake. ‘But Charlie has enjoyed having you here, so that’s all right with me.’ I swallow hard. ‘You can come again if you like.’
