Page 69 of The Cornish Christmas Book Clu
She suddenly remembered what they’d been talking about. ‘We’ve got off track, haven’t we? Your dad. The way I see it, the worst that could happen is that he’s not interested in getting back in contact. You’ve lived without his presence all these years, so you’d survive. But if he was pleased and you had the chance to talk through things, wouldn’t that help?’
‘I suppose.’
‘How about I go up to the flat and make us a sandwich while you phone him?’ Tamara flashed an encouraging smile. ‘Cheese and pickle?’ It was a running joke that she hated even the sight and smell of the spicy brown chopped-up pickle mixture, and so he usually ended up making it himself. ‘Just this once. But if you chicken out of ringing, you’ll get peanut butter and honey instead.’ Toby’s favourite sandwich combination as a boy had become hers too, but it made Gage gag.
‘Witch.’
She dodged his attempt to grab her and left him, all the while laughing like a drain.
* * *
Gage’s attempt to focus on the question sheet in front of him was a miserable failure, but so far no one seemed to have noticed his lack of participation. His mind kept returning to his brief conversation on the phone with Wally Harris. He’d last seen his father about twenty-five years ago, when he’d told Gage’s mum and his thirteen-year-old son that he’d be away on business for a few days. They’d never seen him again.
‘Well, I’ll be darned. Who would’ve thought it? Little Gage. How’d you track your old man down?’
The lack of any emotion other than mild surprise threw him. He answered his father’s questions almost robotically.
‘I thought I’d surprise your sister next week and pop down for Christmas. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the grandkids. It’llbe good to have a pint with you, meet your girlfriend and see this little place you’ve got.’
That’s when Gage exploded and totally lost it. Wally’s casual attitude hurt far more than being told to sod off and not bother him again. After telling his so-called father what he thought of him, Gage threw the phone across the shop in disgust, and it knocked several books off the top of Emily’s creative decoration. Tamara must have heard the crashing sound and she rushed down to see if he was okay. Her quiet disappointment when she discovered the truth pained him. Not that she blamed him, or did she? Gage couldn’t be certain.
Very quietly she put the books back in place and told him his sandwich was ready.
‘Oi, Prof, wassup with you?’ Paul gave his elbow a sharp jab.
He didn’t miss Nathan’s sympathetic glance. Melissa’s husband was a different man tonight and all smiles. The couple were taking the train up to London tomorrow before catching the overnight flight to Nashville on Sunday to spend Christmas with the Rutherford family. They planned to return in time to celebrate the new year.
‘None of us can answer the last question, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be a piece of cake for you.’ Paul grunted. ‘We’re neck and neck with the girls, so we need you to get your brain in gear and stop Mrs Know-it-all Taylor wiping the floor with us.’
‘Sorry, mate.’ Gage gulped down his beer and wiped the foam off his mouth with the back of his hand.
‘Come on, Prof, we’re running out of time.’
Pixie was standing by the bell, preparing to ring it as a signal to stop writing and swap question sheets with the group next to them.
He quickly scanned the question and couldn’t help smiling. ‘Per Mare, Per Terram.’ Gage whispered the answer to his friends and hurriedly wrote it down. The English version of theRoyal Marines’ motto, ‘By Sea, By Land’, was more well-known, but the Latin version?
The laughingly called Bell of Doom rang three times. Gage’s spirits plummeted when he noticed Evelyn looking her usual serene self.
Nathan shifted into the vacant chair next to him. ‘So, whatisup with you, mate?’
It’d be easy to pass it off as nothing more than tiredness from working non-stop, but that’d be a lie and a slap in the face for a man who hadn’t shied from sharing his own troubles. Morosely Gage repeated the tale.
‘You’ve every right to be mad. I spent my whole life trying to please my father. Waiting for him to throw a crumb of approval my way.’ Nathan rested his elbows on the table. ‘It never happened and I’ve had to learn to live with that.’
‘I realise no one’s life is perfect and it’s far healthier to make the best of what we’ve got and let the rest go. Doesn’t make it easy.’ Gage drained the last of his beer. ‘The counsellor they made me see after my injury worked hard to steer me in that direction.’ He tapped his knee. ‘I was pretty down then.’ If he was determined to spill his guts, it needed to be a hundred per cent. ‘That’s sugar-coating it. I teetered on the edge for a while and couldn’t see the point in anything. I saw a strong body and strong mind as being the same, so one was useless without the other.’ A rough laugh dragged out of him. ‘I know — look at Stephen Hawking.’
‘What does Tamara think?’
‘She suggested I wait and see what happens when he comes for Christmas with Becky. If he doesn’t reach out, then I’ve got to accept I’ve done what I can and move on.’
‘Sensible woman.’ Nathan picked up their empty glasses. ‘Another?’
‘Cheers. And thanks. It’s good to see you and Melissa back on track.’
‘Your girlfriend has a lot to do with that, so anythingI’vedone to helpyouis small repayment.’
This sort of conversation would’ve embarrassed him no end in the old days, but the stoic Englishman mould didn’t suit him as much now. Gage would never turn into a full-on New Age man, but loosening the straitjacket that kept his emotions in tight check could only be a good thing.
