Part 3
(Thank you to everyone who has sent a review. They are much appreciated.)
The next morning Peter knocked on Neal's door. "Come on Neal, time to get up."
"G'way," a muffled voice said.
The door opened and Peter walked in. He pulled the covers off, "Up and at them," he said.
"Peter!" Neal whined
"Up. Shower and put your suit on."
"Suit?"
"Church. I told you about church when I asked you to bring a suit." Neal grabbed the covers and pulled them back up. He snuggled under the covers.
He was just going back to sleep when he heard his door open again. "Peter I told you to go away."
The covers were pulled back. He squealed when he saw it was Helen. He was so glad Mozz had persuaded him to bring pyjamas. "Time to get up. The one thing I insist is that all my family attend church on a Sunday and then we all eat together. If you want breakfast you need to be down in 15 minutes. I don't want to have to come up here again."
Before Neal could complain Helen had left. He could see now where Peter got his forcefulness from. Helen may be a small woman but she was used to being obeyed.
He saw Peter smirking as he came down stairs. He was going to wipe that smile off his face. "Helen I don't go to church," he said.
"Then this will be a new experience for you," she said. "You can leave the hat here though."
"I always wear my hat," he said.
"Not today son," John said.
"Best just to give in graciously," El said. "I did."
Neal took his hat off. Shona appeared. "Mum have I got time for coffee?"
"Just. Neal eat up."
Satch came and poked his nose into Neal's hand. "You're lucky boy, you get to stay here and sleep."
Soon they were on their way. Neal travelled with Peter and El
"Has your Mum always insisted you go to church?"
"Since we were kids. We tried to get out of it as we got older but Mum has ways of making you do what she says."
"Wish she'd teach me how to do it," Neal said. "I could do with getting you to do what I say."
"I think it should be me saying that," Peter said.
"I always do as you say," Neal said. Both El and Peter laughed at that remark.
They pulled up in front of the church. Neal held back while everyone was greeted. Everyone seemed to know Peter. He felt himself pulled forward. "This is Neal, he's a colleague of Peter's."
"You work for the FBI?" the minister asked.
"In..." Neal started to say.
"Yes he does," Peter said. "He's a consultant."
"You look very young to be in the FBI as a consultant, you must be very good."
"I am," Neal said.
"And modest," John said.
John ushered them into the church. They all sat down at one pew.
Neal opened the bible that was sitting on the small shelf in front of him. "You have seen it before," Peter quipped.
"Very funny," Neal said. "In fact I've copied quite a few pages of one of the oldest bibles. I had to do it in Latin. It was very ornate."
"And you did this for?"
"Peter!" his mother scolded. "This is not the place to question Neal."
"Sorry."
Neal looked round. The windows were not stained glass. He wished they were it would have given him something to concentrate on. He looked back at the bible when everyone stood up. He felt himself pulled to his feet and a hymn book raised in front of him. He loved singing but he wasn't sure of the tune or words. By the third verse he was joining in. Quite a few people looked round to look at him. "You have a lovely voice," Helen whispered to him.
"Thank you."
The minister started to talk and Neal let his mind wander. He felt someone smack his knee. "Sit still Neal," Helen said. He hadn't noticed that he'd started to tap his foot.
He was so glad when the service was over. He felt like running out just like the children had. Twice Helen had smacked his knee and twice John had had to pull him up to his feet to sing. He hated the way Peter smirked at him.
When they got back to the house Neal changed clothes and offered to take Satch for a walk. "We'll come with you," Danny and Harry said.
"Don't be too long," Helen said.
They went through a gate at the back of the property and then started walking up a path. "There's a great pool up here where we can go swimming," Harry said.
They took a side path and then walked along a track. It opened out onto a large area of water. Dad and Uncle Peter like to come here to fish. There's a small boat house just over there." There was a loud splash beside them and a huge spray of water flew up.
"Satch!" Neal called. "Come on." But he was having too much fun. He chased some of the ducks. "Get out of there Satch," Neal shouted. Satch just turned to look at him then took off after some more ducks.
Danny looked at his watch, "We should go back. Maybe he'll come out and follow us."
"He's not the brightest dog, is he?" Harry said.
Neal would not allow Satch to be called stupid," He's clever dog, it's just he's not used to all this freedom." He turned again to shout," Satch get out here now." He then looked at his watch, "You go back. There's no point in all of us being late. Tell Peter to come." The two boys took off.
Neal called and called and then finally Satch swam over. "Come on you idiot." Neal clipped his lead on him and made to walk back. Peter came running up the track.
"You got him out?" Neal looked at Peter as if to say that's obvious. "Why did you let him off his lead?"
"I didn't see any harm in doing it. I let him off in the park at home."
"This is not home. Satch is terrible when he gets near water and ducks. Last time I had to get the boat out."
"You could have told me."
"You'll know for next time. Come on, let's not make Mum any more annoyed that we're late for lunch." They jogged down the road, Satch running beside them.
"He is not coming in like that," Helen said throwing a towel at Peter and Neal.
"It's not my fault, he let him off," Peter said pointing at Neal.
"Now who sounds like a child?" Neal said.
"Dry him off quickly, we've all been waiting."
Neal and Peter quickly rubbed him down and then went in to sit at the table. "Shona say grace."
It was a lovely meal and Neal felt almost sleepy after he'd finished.
"Did it really take Uncle Peter 4 years to catch you?" Danny asked.
"And you sent him cards on his birthday," Harry said.
"And a lovely bottle of champagne for our anniversary, which was lucky because Peter forgot," El piped up. "I felt I knew Neal as well as I did Peter."
"Yes, I managed to evade capture for 4 years even with all the resources the FBI had," Neal boasted.
"But I did catch you. And then you spent nearly 2 years in prison."
"I was going to get time off for good behaviour."
"Until he decided to escape."
"You escaped from super max?" Harry said in awe.
"It was easy," Neal said. "As easy as doing this," he held up Peter's wallet.
"How many times have I told you not to do that?" Peter said grabbing the wallet.
"It's too easy. That's why I don't do it very often."
"Neal, Peter! As you two were late for lunch, you can wash up."
"Don't you have a dishwasher?" Neal asked.
"I do but maybe it will teach you to be on time."
"Mum that's not fair, I went to help Neal."
"Alright then, you can clear the table and Neal can wash and dry."
"It's not good for my hands to..." Neal was about to explain.
"This young man is not up for discussion."
"It was Satch's fault," Neal whined," and he's Peter's dog. He should have him better trained."
"Neal," John said. "Stop complaining and do as you're told." When Neal didn't move he said, "Now!"
There was a ring of authority in the tone that John used that had Neal going into the kitchen. Peter cleared the table. Neal was up to his arms in suds. Peter picked up a cloth. "You wash I'll dry,"
They were soon finished. "Thanks," Neal said.
"I think Colin and the boys are playing baseball, want to join us?"
"Sure."
Peter was surprised when Neal hit the ball hard and it flew up over the trees. "I thought you didn't play sports," Peter said.
"I said I didn't have anyone to practise with. I played at school but there was no one to take me to games so I never got to play for the school. The others said I let down the team because I couldn't be bothered."
Peter felt a wave of sympathy wash over him. No one had helped Neal with anything. The kid must have brought himself up. "What about the friend that taught you chess?"
"She wasn't always around."
"We could do with you on the White Collar baseball team. We'll be playing next Saturday."
"I bet they won't let me play."
"You're a member of White Collar."
"Do they allow bets?" Neal asked.
"No they don't."
John came out with Shona and El. "Right let's get into teams. Five dollars says my team will win," John said.
"Betting? Is that allowed Peter?" Neal joked. He ducked as Peter's hand shot out to cuff him on the ear.
Neal and Peter ended up on the same team as El and John. It was a competitive game. John's team won by one run. Neal came over to John after the game," Do you have to share the $5?"
"I'll buy us all an ice cream in town tomorrow."
"Chocolate chip," Neal said. He sucked his finger.
"What did you do?"
"Splinter," he said.
"Helen will take it out for you, come on."
"No I'm fine. It'll work its way out."
"What is it?" Colin asked.
"Splinter."
"It'll be fine. It doesn't hurt."
"Mum will sort it for you," Peter said.
"I don't..."
"Come on Neal," Helen said. Peter saw the look of fear in Neal's eyes. He grabbed Neal's arm before he ran.
He kept hold of his arm until they got inside. "Peter I don't like needles."
"Sit down Neal," Helen said. She took a box down from the cupboard. Neal's eyes went large as he saw her take a needle out. He got up but Peter pushed him back into the chair.
"I can't do this," Neal said.
"Yes you can," Peter said. "Trust me, Mum will do this as carefully as she can. Look at me." Neal turned his head towards Peter. Helen took hold of his hand and carefully wiped it.
"Tell me a story about one of your capers." Neal started to talk.
Helen was very careful. The splinter wasn't deep and she soon had it out. "Okay Neal, it's out."
"It is?"
Helen smiled. "I've had a lot of practice. And you're not the only one that doesn't like needles. Peter here isn't that fond of them either."
"I was 10 Mum and it was a huge needle."
"Peter, the dentist uses the same size of needles as everyone else."
"It looked big to me." Peter had let his arm loose. Neal stood up.
"Neal I'd like to get this chess game finished today," John said.
Shona came to watch them play. "You are good. Dad always beat us easily."
"Sh! Shona," John said.
Shona stood up and saluted, "Yes sir."
Neal laughed. He wasn't used to seeing family interact like this.
"You young lady are pushing it," John said.
"I'm going," she said.
Neal looked back at the board and concentrated on trying to win.
"You beat Dad?" Peter said incredulously.
"That he did," John said. "You are an excellent player," he said to Neal. He turned to Peter,"He always seemed to be at least one step ahead of me."
"In my business I always had to be one step ahead. Especially of Peter. He should be good at chess."
Neal couldn't believe how tired he was that night. He didn't even complain when Peter told him to go to bed.
TBC