Hi
I'm not sure whether to leave this as a one-shot or carry it on- tell me what you think!
This is based on something I read in Gorgon's Gaze, which developed into a story. Please r n r!
Oh yeah, and I need a proper title for this story (better than 'Col's Story'), so if you have any ideas, please tell me!!! :)
Anywho... on with the stroy!
"Daddy!" an excited three-year-old squealed at the top of his lungs, at the site of his father walking up the driveway.
Colin Clamworthy ran full-pelt up to his father, who lifted him up to hug him.
"Happy birthday, Colin!" Mack Clamworthy smiled at his son's obvious pleasure at seeing him.
His smile dropped when a woman with blonde ringlets and blue eyes stepped out of the doorway. She stared at him, silently.
"Hi Cassie," Mack mumbled through gritted teeth.
"It's Cassandra." Cassandra's icy stare sent shivers down Mack's spine.
"Daddy, let go!" Colin kicked at Mack's leg; Mack released his grip on Colin, which had tightened at seeing his ex-wife.
Colin bounced up and down with excitement. "Daddy, I got a belly-flopper! I weel belly-flopper!"
"Huh?" Mack was confused. "You got a what?"
"A belly-flopper! Come see!" Colin grabbed his father's hand and dragged him towards the house. Cassandra let them pass, and then shut the front door with a sigh.
"Oh, a helicopter." She could hear Mack's voice coming from the living room.
"Yeah, what I said!"
Cassandra plastered a smile on her face, for her son's sake, and walked into the living room. Mack was making the helicopter fly around the wall, to the delight of a laughing Colin.
"Colin, why don't you get your Daddy a slice of cake? Go and help Gran to cut him a slice."
"Yeeeaaahhh!" Colin bounded out of the room, followed by a smiling Lavinia, who had been sitting quietly in an armchair in the corner. Cassandra turned to Mack.
"What are you doing here?" she asked icily.
"I was passing Hescombe with the guys, and decided to call. Is there a problem?"
"Um, yeah, there's a problem!" Cassandra replied indignantly. "You never bother to come and see Colin, and, all of a sudden, you turn up at the door with no notice!"
"Well, can't I see my own son on his third birthday? Is that such a crime?"
Cassandra wanted to say so many things, but she kept her mouth firmly shut.
"Well?" Mack prompted.
"Have you got him a present?" she tried a different tactic. Mack's cheeks darkened slightly in colour, but not enough to call it a blush. "I thought not." Cassandra folded her arms smugly.
"I was just so busy, and I only called at the last minute, and…"
"Busy? Since when have you ever been busy? You do bits of work here and there, just to earn some money to live off, and then you're off again, roaring around all over the place on that piece of scrap metal, which should have been thrown on a scrap heap a long time ago. And why? Because you're not brave enough to stay here and look after your son, who you don't even want!"
Mack opened his mouth to make a snide remark, but Cassandra wouldn't let him speak.
"You're so wrapped up in your life of biking and deep-sea diving with that ridiculous fish, that you're neglecting your own son. When was the last time you came to see him?"
"Uh…"
"My point exactly. You're a good-for-nothing, low-life…"
"Cake!" Colin re-emerged back into the living room and thrust a paper plate with a huge slice of cake on it into Mack's hands.
"Thanks, kid." Mack ruffled his son's hair affectionately and took a large bite of vanilla sponge cake. "Happy birthday," he said again, through a mouth full of cake.
"Ahhh… it seems like only yesterday you were born." Lavinia had settled back into her favourite armchair at Cassandra's house. Cassandra's jaw tightened at the memory of Col's birth, when she and Mack had still been together. Just.
Mack tried to change the subject, but didn't make a very good job of it. "Yeah, I can't believe you're already…" Mack trailed off, his voice wavering. The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence.
"I'm three, Daddy." Colin pointed to the cards lining the fireplace, all adorned with giant number threes. "See."
"Y-yeah, I knew that! I was just testing to see if you remembered." He gave Colin a playful thump on his shoulder, which nearly made him topple over. Cassandra caught him and steadied him.
"Are you ready for your present?" she asked, with excitement in her eyes.
"Yeah!" replied Colin, jumping up and down.
"Okay then; sit with Gran while I go and get it." He sat down at Lavinia's feet, cross-legged and still bouncing slightly.
"Calm down, Colin!" laughed Lavinia. "I think you've drank too much fizz!"
Colin giggled and burped loudly. Lavinia rolled her eyes, whilst Mack just laughed.
Cassandra came back into the living room, with a brown paper package. It was a box shape, and looked quite heavy. She laid it gently in front of Colin, who immediately started ripping off the paper as soon as the present touched the floor.
"Aaaargh!" Colin squealed and turned around, burying his face in Lavinia's skirt. Lavinia pulled him up onto his knee and hugged him.
"What the…?" Lavinia stared at Cassandra in alarm.
"Cassie, why have you got him a…" Mack trailed off at Cassandra's glare she shot at him on hearing his old pet name for her. He hastily corrected himself.
"Cassandra, why the hell did you get Colin a snake?"
Cassandra gave him a 'look'. Suddenly Mack realised. He glared at her with pure hatred.
"Can I have a word with you in the kitchen?"
"What were you thinking? Do you really think his third birthday is the right time to test if he's inherited your gift?"
"I had to know at some point! Buying him a snake was the best way to find out. I needed to make it look like an ordinary present, so his birthday was the only option."
"Cassandra, he's three!" Mack huffed in exasperation.
"Like you care about how old he is," she shot back. "You couldn't even remember his age."
"I just forgot- I've been away from him for so long."
"Yeah, and I'm trying to keep it that way. And as for forgetting- if you opened your eyes and looked around the room you would see his age plastered all over the cards his friends and family have got him." She emphasised the word family. "I don't see a card form you up there."
"If you're trying to keep me away from Colin, why'd you expect me to get him a card?"
"He's your son!" she almost shouted at him.
Mack bristled at her aggressive tone. "I don't know what your problem is! I turn up to his birthday and you moan about me seeing him; you say you're trying to keep him away from him, and then fly off the hook when I don't get him a birthday card! There's no pleasing you!" Mack was shouting now.
"It's not me you need to please! It's him!" She pointed to the living room door, and then gasped when she saw a small boy standing there. His eyes were brimming with tears.
"Mummy, why are you and Daddy shouting?" Colin asked in a small voice. A single tear spilled over his eye and rolled down his cheek.
Cassandra's tone immediately changed. "It's okay, sweetie. Come here." She made a move to pick him up, but he turned and ran back to Lavinia, who swept him up into a hug. She glared at Mack and Cassandra.
"Couldn't you do this some other time?" she hissed.
"Gran, want to stay with you tonight." Colin mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Okay, baby, you can sleep wherever you want. We'll go upstairs now and pack you some clothes." Lavinia was already half way to the door.
"Colin…" Cassandra started towards them.
"No!" Colin looked scared. "Want to go with Gran!" Cassandra pulled back, hurt that her son didn't want her.
When Lavinia and Colin were out the room, Cassandra turned to Mack.
"Go."
"Excuse me?"
"Go, before you cause any more disasters!" she shrieked at him, pointing to the door.
Mack stood for a second, then slowly made his way towards the door. He opened it, and then turned back.
"Tell Colin I said 'happy birthday'."
And he was gone.
