A move to America would amount to Marcus giving up his position, and that would mean a serious demotion. Jake looked at the state of him and thought that perhaps such a move would not be a bad thing.
But Marcus lived for work. He had never taken a day off school or work in his life. Jake could forget any idea that these binge-filled drinking sessions would lead him to screw up at work; it was a nice thought, but it was unlikely to happen. And if it did, and he was sent to America with Lydia, this posed a more serious scenario – although Marcus might be safer in America, away from the pressures of work, away from Jake, would he be safer from the risk he posed to himself? Jake stared across the kitchen table at Marcus. He didn’t believe that he would.
Chapter 8
There was an alternative to finding a way to get Marcus to move to America. Jake thought of moving away himself, somewhere Marcus couldn’t find him. Although he knew there would be a permanent position waiting for him at his current school when he had completed his Initial Teacher Training and qualified, he also knew that he could apply to another local authority for a teaching post. He could start over. After all, he was free and single, with no responsibilities; nothing to keep him there. So why wasn’t he seriously considering it?
Jake’s attention wandered over to Faye. He watched her as she opened several kitchen cupboards before turning his way and throwing her hands up in exasperation. ‘Where do you keep the first aid kit?’
‘It’s in the cupboard under the sink unit.’ Jake cocked his head in that direction.
Faye found the box and sat down beside Jake. She spread the contents of the little white box on the table. Antiseptic cream, gauze and bandages.
Jake moved his right hand towards her.
Marcus lifted his chin and peered across the table at Jake’s wound.
Faye gagged.
‘What is it?’ Jake searched her face.
Faye got up from the table. ‘I’m sorry, I …’ she crossed the room and stood by the patio doors, her back to him, and took deep breaths. ‘I just can’t stand the sight of blood.’
Marcus started to laugh. ‘And you call yourself a friend?’ He turned in his chair to look at her. ‘Actually, who are you?’ Marcus looked at Jake and then back at Faye. ‘Wait – are you together?’
Jake knew what he meant bytogether. The look of shock on Marcus’s face at the possibility that he had moved on from Eleanor already was obvious.
Jake quickly said, ‘We’re just friends, okay?’
Faye added, ‘We’re also work colleagues.’
‘Colleagues? Then what are you doing here? Aren’t you both meant to be at school, or something?’
Before Jake had a chance to answer, Marcus asked, ‘Where were you last night, Jake?’
Jake’s eyes flickered to Faye. This was awkward. ‘I was out babysitting for a friend.’
‘And you stayed over?’
‘They were caught out in traffic and didn’t get home until late. I slept on their couch, if you must know.’ Jake avoided Faye’s gaze.
Marcus got up from the table and took the chair beside Jake that Faye had just vacated, and looked at Jake’s hands.
Faye turned around. ‘Jake, shouldn’t you go to the hospital to have that treated.’
Marcus looked at Jake.
Jake knew that taking a trip to casualty meant that Faye would have to inform the head where he was, and that might mean dragging his personal life – meaning Marcus – into it.
Jake looked at Marcus and rolled his eyes at that thought. He’d already put his career on the line by going in search ofMarcus. He was meant to be at work.
Jake glanced at Faye. They were meant to be visiting the police station to report his stolen bike. He didn’t want to get Faye into trouble with the head. He didn’t want to get into trouble himself and put his teaching qualification on the line. As it was, Jake knew he was taking liberties, making an excuse to leave work ostensibly to visit the police station to report a stolen bike when both he and Faye knew it wasn’t necessary. He could report it over the phone. It was only a bike – albeit a stupidly expensive one.
Jake thought it served him right. He’d been so preoccupied with thinking about Faye that he’d forgotten to lock it. It was just bad luck that an opportunist had noticed it. Faye must have seen the look on his face when he’d answered the phone to Lydia. She’d gone with him out of concern. Jake knew that now.
He nodded at Marcus to get on with it.
Marcus got out the antiseptic, some gauze and some bandages, and proceeded to dab the cuts, cleaning the wounds. ‘The bleeding is stopping, so that’s good,’ Marcus commented. Jake winced. Faye turned back to the patio door and focused on the view out into the garden.
