Chapter 2 – Companionship

Brian Johnson looked up from his monitor when he heard the familiar sound of the door handle being executed and the door to his office being opened.

"Hi Uncle, or should I call you Brian, or perhaps Mr Johnson" said the petite beauty standing in the doorway.

"I think you're a little old for Uncle now, considering you wish us to treat you like a young woman; Brian will do fine" he countered. "How are you, pumpkin?"

"I thought you wanted to treat me like a young woman!" Leila said as she placed a small pile of mail on Brian's desk and renewed the half empty cold mug of coffee sitting on the placemat with a steaming hot fresh one. "I'm fine, how was your evening – with mum."

"As candid as ever it could be with your mother; when you want to talk about travel, the garden, work, business, etc she is fine, but once I start getting down to basics of home and love she shuts off, retreats into her shell and won't say a word on the subject. I know she can't seem to loose her memory of the past, possibly never will … but she has to start thinking of moving on, sixteen years is a long time in anyone's book. Has she spoken to you again about your father, Leila?"

"She tried last week, after she received that invite. You know, the one like yours. All she would say is that I have his eyes and his temper when I want, and that he is dead – killed in some tragic accident. She never elaborates. Says that his whole family has gone now, and all she has is this one picture of them together and her one diamond earring. Maybe this meeting you have with your old friends on Sunday can help to take away some of her pain and open her up again!" Leila concluded

"Yes, I hope so!" Brian said "perhaps then I can hope for something more too."

"Yes, but it would be weird you being my dad after all this time of you being my uncle." Leila interjected as she made her way out of his office.

Brian followed her retreating form through the doorway. "Kids" he mocked to himself "you can either love 'em or hate 'em … and I can safely say I love that one as if she were my own."

He looked over his desk to the large framed photo he had of 'the breakfast club' sitting there. There they all were, the five of them, looking like what? Chivalrous knights? Saviours of mankind? Idols? He knew not what, but he knew they stood for one very good cause, that that would cross boundaries and make people see that anyone from any walk of life deserves to be heard, regardless of where they live or how much money they have. A band of missionaries spreading their word to anyone that would listen. He remembered their meetings on Saturdays, especially those conducted when John could join them as he wasn't needed in detention. Claire had really straightened John out, and he in turn could not do more for her, they had been so much in love. Even now Brian knew she still loved John, would never forget the love of her life, the father of their child.

He remembered back to the day he saw Claire for the first time in about two years; he was still in college then learning his trade. She had phoned him to arrange a suitable time to meet up and they had ended up going to the small coffee house across the street from the campus. She, at first, had seemed apprehensive about the whole meeting but as the afternoon wore on she confided in Brian and told him that she was expecting John's baby. She had told him that there had been a terrible accident whilst John had been at work and had been killed as a result. She was at her wit's end and she needed help. Her brother had kindly let her rent the small unit he had on his land and was helping her through school but she had said she needed more, a father figure for her baby and would Brian be prepared to help. He jumped at the chance, he had always held a torch out for Claire in his small way, never letting anyone know in case John found out, but he realised this was his chance to give something back and care about the woman he secretly loved.

Although now it wasn't much of a secret, Claire knew and understood but could still not bring herself to love someone new. She had said he wasn't her type but Brian still believed if he was there for her enough she would fall for him one day. He cast his mind back to Leila's twelfth birthday, after the celebrations were over and Leila was in bed, Claire and Brian had started talking about the weekly meetings 'the breakfast club' had enjoyed. The conversation had soon turned to the question of Claire and John as it invariably always did, Claire had cried, well sobbed, and Brian had comforted; and once the situation had calmed they had made a pact – that if the two of them were still single at 45 they would marry so as to have companionship throughout their 'autumn' years. "By that time" Claire had laughed, "I will probably have grandkids and will need some help".

"Ehm" Leila cleared her throat.

"Yes, Leila." Brian looked up. "Sorry I was miles away."

"Mmm." She responded knowingly "Well your 9 am appointment is here, do you wish me to show them in? And would you like me to exchange that full mug of cold coffee for a fresh one?"

"Yes and Yes" he said brightly, showing a sorry look on his face for the cold coffee "show them in please, Leila."