Page 66 of Forgive Not Forget
“Of course. And Tom?”
Anna braced her arms against the steering wheel.
“Come on, it can’t be that bad, surely?”
Anna decided it would be best to just spit it out, like ripping off a bandage. “He was the one who spray-painted the abbey. He ran off on Saturday afternoon when the spray can fell out of the shed in front of me, and then he didn’t come home. Katherine found him later at the abbey, where he’d fallen off his bike and hurt himself. He’s okay, though. Katherine sorted him out.”
Laura took a moment to think and then sucked in her breath. “He won’t be when I get home. I’m sorry, I can’t believe it was him. He’ll be paying for any damage.”
“You are his mother, so it’s totally up to you how you deal with him, but I think Katherine really got through to him. He’s apologised. He was as good as gold yesterday. He was nice to Abi, and he helped me around the house.”
“Did he say why he did it?”
“He and I had a good chat once Abi went to bed. He said he was sorry and promised he wouldn’t do it again. He doesn’t seem overly happy about moving; he spoke about a BMX track he misses. I think it’s just a case of a bored teenager acting up. He was also very worried about losing you on top of his dad.”
“I knew moving would be tough on the kids, but it was for the best. I hadn’t quite appreciated that, although it helped me, it may not have helped them.”
“From what Katherine said, it seems biking helps him let off steam.”
“And I took him away from his BMX track, and his friends, and all the memories of his dad,” Laura replied, turning her attention to the scenery. “This is my fault.”
Anna bit her bottom lip. “It couldn’t have been an easy decision, whatever you chose to do. There was no right or wrong choice, so don’t beat yourself up. He’ll adapt; kids do, just look at Abi. Tom just needs a little extra support, I’m sure, and possibly something to focus on.”
“Thank you for saying that. It wasn’t an easy decision.” Laura blew out a heavy breath. “I’m sorry for the trouble he’s caused. Like I said, I’ll pay for any damages. You know, I never even thought about the paint in the shed. Then I’d never had reason to think it could be Tom. I’m guessing he used Steve’s metal detector as well?”
“It’s fine, all water under the bridge. The important thing is that he doesn’t do it again. He said he won’t, and I believe him. Katherine will contact the police and update them. I’m hoping she can convince them we’ve dealt with it; defacing an ancient monument is quite a serious crime.”
Laura seemed to steel herself before saying, “He’ll have to face whatever punishment they see fit. Now I’m fixed, I can do more with them.”
Anna laughed. “Quite literally ‘fixed’.”
Laura’s mouth dropped open.
“Too soon for jokes?”
A grin formed on Laura’s face. “Trust you to make one! Anyway, how are things with Kat?”
“The same. We haven’t really spoken this weekend, except for our little Tom emergency. I just feel I’ve backed her into a corner that she’s not going to see a way out of.”
“Katherine is a sensible woman. I don’t think she’s going to do anything drastic either way.”
“I hope you’re right,” Anna replied, exhaling a breath she felt she’d been holding in all weekend.
“At the end of the day you have to ask yourself: do you want kids, or do you want Katherine?”
“I want Katherine,” Anna said without any need for thought. “Kids with Katherine would be great, but just Katherine is more than enough. She’s everything to me.”
“Tell her that. Let her know she has your support, and then show her that support every time a memory of her dead wife comes and pulls the rug from under her. Because it always will — a smell, a saying, anything can trigger a memory, and nothing can tell us how we’ll handle it when it does.”
“Is this you telling me I’m the arsehole?”
Laura burst into laughter and then clutched her abdomen. “Ouch. Definitely too soon for jokes.”
“Sorry,” Anna said through clenched teeth.
“So, what does the rest of the day look like for you?”
“I have the day off, so I’m going to make you guys dinner, I’ll walk up and collect the kids from the bus, sort them a snack, and head home, I guess. Unless you want to be alone?”
