Chapter 19

As she left the room, I stood up to go.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Aunt Mary’s voice asked from the doorway.

I sat back down again.

“Yes, of course,” I replied.

“I’m sorry David,” she said.

“For what?” I asked, “you haven’t done anything, have you?”

“I was the one who let her go to Manchester,” she said, “but I’m putting that one right, she won’t be going back there on Monday, she’ll be staying here and going back to school.”

“That’s your decision to make,” I said.

“And what about you?” she asked, “what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to Vancouver for the next six months, then I’ll decide what I do from there,” I answered.

“And you and Cal?” she asked.

I laughed.

“Oh, that’s over,” I said, flatly, “that was over when she didn’t come home when I asked her to. Today was just the final nail in the coffin.”

“I’m going to have to have a very serious talk with my daughter,” she said, coldly.

“Your decision, again, I’m sorry, but it’s no longer anything to do with me,” I replied, “I know it’s a bit like a typical teenager response to not getting his own way, but as an American friend of mine put it, when you’re a teenager, it’s OK to act like a teenager, at least sometimes.”

“Can I ask, what was it that tipped the balance?”

“The third task,” I said.

“But she didn’t do that,” she replied, “she told your Mum and I that she refused.”

“I think you’ll find she lied,” I said, “when I asked her about it, she looked well, broken, and fled upstairs sobbing. I think the full impact of what she’s done hit her then. Look, I’d better go, but I’ve told her I want a full list of everyone involved and what she knows about them tomorrow. Can you encourage her to do it?”

“What are you going to do with it?” she asked.

“Ask Cal,” I replied, “she knows. And Aunt Mary, none of this is your fault.”

“Thank you for that David,” she replied, “but I feel that at least some of it is.”

“No,” I said, “it’s not. It’s entirely on her. She was the one who made the decisions that she did. She was the one who went through with that third task. She was the one who struck the death blow and now she is the one who has to live with the consequences.”

“As am I,” she said, sadly, “I just wish she’d learn to think about consequences before she jumps into things with both feet.”

“Do you think she ever will?” I asked.

“She won’t be going anywhere until she does,” she replied, “and David, don’t worry, I’ll make sure she knows precisely where the blame for this lies, and if she does give you a list of those involved, please, don’t do anything about them that will get you into trouble. I hate to say it, but she’s not worth it.”

“But I am,” I answered, “and they’ve hurt me. I’ll make them pay if it takes me years.”

“Just don’t get yourself into trouble,” she said.

“I won’t,” I agreed, then stood up, “I’d better get back now. Thanks Aunt Mary. I think maybe Cal could use her mother now.”

“Well she’s going to be disappointed, because her mother doesn’t feel very motherly towards her at the moment, I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, later,” I said as I left the house.

Back at home Mum was in the kitchen, boiling the kettle.

“Is there any coffee in the pot?” I asked.

“No,” she replied, “your Dad took the last about ten minutes ago.”

“Damn,” I said, “I could have used one about now.”

“Rough time?” she asked.

“Very,” I replied, “everything I feared was true.”

“She told us she didn’t do the third thing,” she said.

“Well, it looks like she did,” I replied.

“So, even after what you told her, she lied to us?” she asked.

“It looks that way,” I answered.

“I’m so sorry son,” she said, “if I’d known this would happen, I’d never have pushed the two of you together.”

“Yes well, it seems we all get 20/20 vision with hindsight,” I said, “I’ll just have to get over it and get on. I’m sure Sandy will help.”

“Tell me about her, will you, you’ve hardly mentioned her since you’ve been home,” she said, “I know you ring her every night, and she works for the studio, but apart from that, nothing.”

“Would you like to talk to her?” I asked.

“Can I?” she asked.

I pulled my phone out and hit the quick dial button for Sandy.

She answered on the third ring.

“Hi,” I announced myself,” it’s me, how are things?”

“Good,” she said, “I can have my arm cast off this coming week, and the leg on probably a week later, so I should be running round when you get back, that’s in two weeks isn’t it?”

“That’s the plan, but it could change. I have a reason for ringing this early,” I said, “I have someone here who would like to speak to you?”

“Oh,” she said, surprised, “who?”

“My mother,” I answered, “are you all right with that?”

“Yes, of course, I’d love to,” she confirmed, “put her on.”

I handed the phone to my Mum, then wandered off to find my Dad.

He was in the living room watching TV.

“Hi son,” he said, “how’s your day been?”

“Awful,” I replied, “I’m afraid it’s finally over between me and Cal.”

“What your Mum told me about earlier?” he asked.

“I presume so, if she told you about Manchester,” I answered.

“That was it,” he said, “I’m sorry to hear it son.”

“Well, I’m young, I’ll probably get over it,” I said, “the biggest problem was, she was still trying to lay the blame on someone else. I need to talk to Andy.”

“Your brother?” he said, “you know his number.”

“No, my lawyer,” I replied.

“Why do you need a lawyer?” he asked.

“Because I need a private detective, in Manchester,” I replied.

“For what purpose?” he asked.

“To get me some information on some people,” I answered, “I’m out for revenge.”

“I hope you’re not planning anything illegal,” he said.

“No, just satisfying.”

“All right,” he said, “come to the golf club with me tomorrow, that way he can talk to you informally,” he said.

Dad didn’t normally ask any of us to go to the golf club with him, I was flattered.

“All right,” I said, “what time?”

“I’m teeing off at eleven,” he said, “so we need to leave here no later than nine-thirty.”

“Okay, I’ll be ready,” I said.

“Just remember, no jeans, t-shirts or trainers, just dress as you would for school,” he warned.

“Yes, I know Dad, I have been before,” I answered.

“Just reminding you,” he said with a smile.

“I shall consider myself reminded,” I replied, also with a smile.

Any further chit chat was ended by Mum coming into the room and holding out my phone.

“Sandy wants to speak to you,” she said.

I took my phone and held it to my ear.

“Hi,” I said, “sorry about setting my Mum on you, but she insisted.”

“Nothing to be sorry about,” she replied, “she’s lovely. Listen, I’m sorry about the problems with your girlfriend.”

“I don’t have problems with you,” I said, “any problems are with my ex-girlfriend Cal.”

“That’s very sweet of you David, but you knew what I meant.”

“I did,” I answered, “but I just wanted to set the record straight. You really think my Mum is lovely?”

“Yes,” she said, “though she did warn me of dire consequences if I didn’t treat you right.”

“That’s good, listen I may come back early,” I said.

“That would be great,” she answered, “and I have some information for you.”

Which is?” The three guys who assaulted me have all pleaded guilty to violent assault, in a plea bargain.”

“That’s where they agree with the prosecution to plead guilty to a lesser charge to avoid prosecution for something more serious isn’t it?” I asked.

“Basically yes, it’s a bit more complicated than that, but yes,” she said, second piece. Following their assault, I’ve had a full STD work-up done and I’m clean, and thirdly, and what you might think of as more importantly, I’ve been fitted with an IUD. No more condoms.”

We talked for a few minutes, but with the parents in the room I had to be suitably restrained before we said goodbye and ended the call.

I tried to avoid getting a look of satisfaction on my face, I think I may have failed.

“She told you then,” Mum said.

“Told me what?” I asked, putting on my innocent face.

“You know precisely what,” she replied.

“Yes, she told me,” I answered, “so what.”

I sat there hoping that Mum was not going to try and interfere in my love life this time. Dad just looked confused.

“Son, you don’t look happy,” she replied, “what’s wrong?”

“Nothing really,” I replied, “I’m just brooding over the situation with Cal.”

“It happens to all of us love,” she said, a sympathetic tone in her voice, “you’re young, you’ll get over it and, you have Sandy to help. She sounds nice by the way, not at all what I pictured an American girl to be.”

“Well, she’s half Greek,” I replied, “maybe that makes a difference.”

Mum laughed softly.

“Yes, perhaps,” she said.

After breakfast the next morning, Dad and I set off to the golf club, where he’d arranged to meet Andy in the, not yet open, nineteenth hole.

If asked, my Dad claims that his handicap is 14, I always tell the truth about his golf, his handicap is that he can’t hit a ball straight, but he enjoys playing so Mum doesn’t stand in his way. I’d brought my laptop with me, so I could at least get some work done while I waited for them to hack up half of the golf course.

Andy walked in about five minutes after us and came straight over to where we were sat.

“Hi David,” he said as we shook hands, “what gets you out of your pit at this ungodly hour?”

“You,” I said, “I need a little help.”

“Why,” he asked, suddenly suspicious,” what have you done that requires you to meet me here rather than at the office?”

“Nothing,” I said, “what I need is a private detective, in Manchester.”