come in and go straight to the first-floor snug. Naturally she’s concerned so I’ll tell her you only want to talk with me for now. I imagine your pop is back by now too.’
Jack clenched his teeth and leant back with a protesting sigh. ‘Aww Dad, do we have to go in?’
‘No, but wouldn’t you rather be comfortable? And we’ve almost got through all these snacks.’
‘I don’t care if I starve to death at the moment and I don’t care if I don’t see my family again. Dad. They’re not to know.’
‘Sooner or later they will know. Someone is bound to say something to your mom. Wouldn’t you prefer she hear it from you rather than a distorted version from someone else?’
Jack, again, dropped his head in his hands.
Cal began to wish he had a magic wand because his boy looked like he could do with one right now. It was possible they would be here for some time.
Chapter 7
‘Well Jack, I must say, you have impressed me. OK, so you’re still worried, but you’re to be congratulated for the way you’ve handled this.’
‘What do you mean? I don’t think I’m handling it at all.’
Cal, trying to ignore the cold gnawing into his bones, crawled back on his elbows. He was tiring and he had to keep his son interested. He thought for a moment.
‘You’ve gone through a hard time and not overreacted, number one. You made a decision to return home, admittedly not indoors, but you made sure you didn’t put yourself in danger – admirable. And, in the last two hours, you’ve not only put your total trust in me but you’ve spoken about the problem, calmly. In my eyes, and my experience, that’s impressive so, another high-five!’
Jack’s lips curled upwards as he slapped his father’s palm and then he pouted his lips proudly. ‘Yes. I suppose I have.’
Brushing Jack’s hair affectionately Cal said. ‘So, tell me, what are your options?’
‘Well, I think we should go in and discuss it because you must be freezing.’
Pausing for a few seconds to look to his son for confirmation, Cal wiped his brow.
‘Great idea. Follow me.’ Cal’s muscles grumbled at his command. ‘Well, once I can reactivate these bones.’ Cal unfolded his chilled body.
Jack jumped up. ‘Ah, come on, I’ll help you. I know you’re my dad but I didn’t think you were that old. Pops, I can understand, he’s old. Not you.’
‘Ahem. I wasn’t in a sleeping bag and it’s bloody cold,’ Cal said, wriggling himself slowly backwards.
Jack scooted nimbly around him and guided his father’s legs to a step. ‘There, wait until you’re balanced.’
Gradually Cal felt the blood shimmy to his feet. ‘Thank God,’ he said beginning the descent. He jumped the last step and held the ladder firm to steady his wobbly legs.
‘Hold on,’ Jack barked, securing his trousers. ‘You go and keep mom from the lobby and hall. Tell her we’re going to hang out in the snug and I’ll wait outside and sneak past. Don’t let her come out, please?’
‘Cool. Ready.’
Cal couldn’t believe what just happened. He was convinced they’d be there all night. He peered up to the house. As expected, Kelly was at the kitchen door ready to pounce. He operated his legs in motion and marched in to her and led her inside the kitchen. She took some convincing to stay. She had Reuben bathing the children just so she could hover in case Jack came in, she’d told him. He wasn’t exactly comfortable but he stressed he’d promised Jack that was the deal and couldn’t risk him turning back. She finally relented when Cal assured her that her son was in good humour but wasn’t ready to face being questioned. She even insisted they have a warm meal she’d prepared. He did wonder if his vocation would have been easier in the diplomatic corps.
Feeling progress was at last being made, and getting a whiff of fresh herbs, he thought of Lizzie. How he wished she was here. He could really do with a warm hug and a good night’s sleep with her
Jack clenched his teeth and leant back with a protesting sigh. ‘Aww Dad, do we have to go in?’
‘No, but wouldn’t you rather be comfortable? And we’ve almost got through all these snacks.’
‘I don’t care if I starve to death at the moment and I don’t care if I don’t see my family again. Dad. They’re not to know.’
‘Sooner or later they will know. Someone is bound to say something to your mom. Wouldn’t you prefer she hear it from you rather than a distorted version from someone else?’
Jack, again, dropped his head in his hands.
Cal began to wish he had a magic wand because his boy looked like he could do with one right now. It was possible they would be here for some time.
Chapter 7
‘Well Jack, I must say, you have impressed me. OK, so you’re still worried, but you’re to be congratulated for the way you’ve handled this.’
‘What do you mean? I don’t think I’m handling it at all.’
Cal, trying to ignore the cold gnawing into his bones, crawled back on his elbows. He was tiring and he had to keep his son interested. He thought for a moment.
‘You’ve gone through a hard time and not overreacted, number one. You made a decision to return home, admittedly not indoors, but you made sure you didn’t put yourself in danger – admirable. And, in the last two hours, you’ve not only put your total trust in me but you’ve spoken about the problem, calmly. In my eyes, and my experience, that’s impressive so, another high-five!’
Jack’s lips curled upwards as he slapped his father’s palm and then he pouted his lips proudly. ‘Yes. I suppose I have.’
Brushing Jack’s hair affectionately Cal said. ‘So, tell me, what are your options?’
‘Well, I think we should go in and discuss it because you must be freezing.’
Pausing for a few seconds to look to his son for confirmation, Cal wiped his brow.
‘Great idea. Follow me.’ Cal’s muscles grumbled at his command. ‘Well, once I can reactivate these bones.’ Cal unfolded his chilled body.
Jack jumped up. ‘Ah, come on, I’ll help you. I know you’re my dad but I didn’t think you were that old. Pops, I can understand, he’s old. Not you.’
‘Ahem. I wasn’t in a sleeping bag and it’s bloody cold,’ Cal said, wriggling himself slowly backwards.
Jack scooted nimbly around him and guided his father’s legs to a step. ‘There, wait until you’re balanced.’
Gradually Cal felt the blood shimmy to his feet. ‘Thank God,’ he said beginning the descent. He jumped the last step and held the ladder firm to steady his wobbly legs.
‘Hold on,’ Jack barked, securing his trousers. ‘You go and keep mom from the lobby and hall. Tell her we’re going to hang out in the snug and I’ll wait outside and sneak past. Don’t let her come out, please?’
‘Cool. Ready.’
Cal couldn’t believe what just happened. He was convinced they’d be there all night. He peered up to the house. As expected, Kelly was at the kitchen door ready to pounce. He operated his legs in motion and marched in to her and led her inside the kitchen. She took some convincing to stay. She had Reuben bathing the children just so she could hover in case Jack came in, she’d told him. He wasn’t exactly comfortable but he stressed he’d promised Jack that was the deal and couldn’t risk him turning back. She finally relented when Cal assured her that her son was in good humour but wasn’t ready to face being questioned. She even insisted they have a warm meal she’d prepared. He did wonder if his vocation would have been easier in the diplomatic corps.
Feeling progress was at last being made, and getting a whiff of fresh herbs, he thought of Lizzie. How he wished she was here. He could really do with a warm hug and a good night’s sleep with her
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