Page 96 of Escape for Christmas
‘I’ve seen you tie yourself in knots trying to keep everyone happy: your mother, your patients – even our Tegan.’
Brody froze, his heart beating faster.
‘She’s our daughter, and we love her and want the best for her. For both of you. You do know that?’
‘I know.’
‘So if there’s anything troubling you, or her, you do realise you can always reach out to us? I know Tegan worries about us – about me – too much lately. She wants everything to be perfect. I know damn well it can’t be. I think you do too.’
Brody felt he owed Alan a degree of honesty. ‘Well, you know I lost Dad to a heart attack, so we’re both worried and want to help your recovery in any way we can.’
‘Yes, our Tegan would do anything to make me happy …’
Brody’s blood ran a little colder. Did Alan know something was up? They’d been so careful to keep up appearances since she’d got back.
‘And I’m not sure Tegan realises that the one thing thatwouldstress me out is if I thought people were keepingthings from me. If they were being less than honest with me, to spare my feelings. Trust in a relationship is important, and I’m a grown man, I don’t need to be wrapped up in cotton wool.’
With his stomach churning, Brody polished the saucepan with the tea towel.
‘I think that pan is dry,’ Alan observed and held out his hand for it.
‘Yeah. I think it is.’
Alan looked him straight in the eye as he stood up to put the pot back in the cupboard. ‘I’m strong enough to hear the truth and to know when something is wrong,’ he said. ‘And if I’d had another son, I’d be proud that it was you. Don’t think that means you have to be my son-in-law.’
Jesus! Brody had a lump in his throat the size of Mars. He wished Alan would leave off, stop tormenting him with honesty and kindness. He couldn’t cope. This was his chance to come clean too. Alan was holding out a lifeline, so why couldn’t he take it?
He murmured a thanks and, for once, was delighted that Tegan chose that moment to interrupt.
‘How long does it take to wash up? I came in to make the coffee.’ She put her arm around her father.
Alan kissed her cheek. ‘We’re done, and the pans are gleaming, thanks to Brody.’
He gave a weak smile. ‘I’ll make the coffee, if you like.’
‘We both will,’ Tegan offered. ‘You go and sit down, Dad.’
‘What do you think of Dad today?’ Tegan asked on the drive home to Felltop. ‘Is he looking more tired? I thought he didn’t eat so much at dinner.’
‘I thought he looked the same as Boxing Day. It’s a tiring time of year, but he seems to be doing pretty well to me, all things considered.’
‘Really? I hope you’re right. I only hope he doesn’t deteriorate before the op comes round. I couldn’t bear him to have any shocks.’
Brody stopped the car. ‘I’m sure he’ll be fine.’
Tegan turned to him. ‘You can’t promise that.’
‘I can’t promise anything, but your dad’s fully aware of the situation. He’s sensible and resilient. He’ll be OK. But you might have to go easy on him – I think he’s started to get a bit tired of all this fussing around him.’ Brody thought back to their conversation. Alan must sense that all was not as it should be between him and Tegan. He was giving Brody the chance to say how he felt, although Brody would never have dreamed of doing that without discussing it with Tegan first.
He felt anxious, yet also relieved that the time might finally have arrived when all the deception could end. Tegan had realised it wasn’t working and, while no situation was ideal, the best plan was surely to be honest.
His chest tightened from the cold the moment he got out of the car. Frost coated the ground and the stars twinkled above him in the great bowl of sky. Below, the village gleamed in the valley, yet across the field Sunnyside was in darkness. Sophie must be out or having an early night withthe cats as they continued to recover. Brody wanted to call her to see how they – and she – were, but daren’t with Tegan nearby, particularly after her comments about him always playing the hero around Sophie. Maybe Tegan would phone Wes later and he could find somewhere quiet to give Sophie a quick call.
Look at him: sneaking around in his own home. It was another reason he really had to sort out this situation, as he couldn’t carry on walking on eggshells like this.
‘Shall I make a drink?’ Brody offered when they were inside, greeted by Harold bounding up to him for some fuss.
‘Good idea.’
