Chapter 6
Since his stint in rehab, Louis Fairhead had now been clean from drugs for: two years, three months, and eight days. Alcohol consumption though: an hour ago. But, that wasn't his real problem: alcohol, it was the drugs or heroin, that nearly killed him every time he took them. But, after his Dad's heart attack, which he was part to blame for. Had Louis not had a fight with Max, Charlie wouldn't have gotten involved, neither would Lofty. Then Lofty wouldn't have been pushed into the tall heat lamp, which caused the catastrophic fire on the boat. And Zoe and Dylan wouldn't have jumped into the water. And Charlie wouldn't have tried to save Zoe from drowning, and ending up back at the E.D. having a massive Myocardial infarction, nearly dying.
Luckily the staff saved him, or he'd be left without his dad. Actually, thinking about it now. Seeing Duffy at the time, surprisingly made him cope with his Dad's situation a little better. More so than any of the other staff there, he'd never really gotten on with them anyway. She was someone who remembered him from being quite young, but also remembered his Mum, and how he lost her. So, having her there, as his Dad slept until morning helped a great deal. He appreciated her comfort, not that he'd say it though.
They sat in chairs in the corridor outside Charlie's room.
"He works too much, so I hardly see him." Louis replied.
"And Megan?" She asks.
"She was adopted. I can't see her." Louis replied.
"Oh, Louis, I am sorry." Duffy says, as she touches her hand with his, comforting him.
Louis just looks down at her hand, unsure how to react. It felt odd, someone he knew caring about him, only how he felt.
"Can't be easy for you sweetheart?" She asked.
"What?" He replied.
"Being on your own."
"I'm fine on my own."
"Are you?"
"What's it to you?"
"I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it. I'm just saying, it must be hard for you."
"Yeah, well I like it that way." Louis said, harshly.
"It's not your fault you know. He's always worked too much. That's all he's ever known. And I've known him thirty years." Duffy says, as she gently nudges him in the shoulder.
"Yeah, well, it's not like he ever put me first anyway."
"Louis, I can't believe you'd think that."
"It's true though. Sometimes I wish my Dad died in that car crash, and not my Mum."
"Oh Louis, don't ever think that, your Dad has done everything he could to take care of you."
"Really? All he cares about is the bloody E.D., always has, always will. I was never an option."
"Oh, well, there it is!" Duffy exclaims.
"What?" Louis says, taken aback.
"Baz, your Mum. Those are her words exactly." Duffy replies, folding her arms.
"What are you on about?" Louis asks.
"Tell me something Louis, what did your Mum really think of your Dad?" Duffy asks.
"Why?"
"Because Louis, I was there. I was the one your Dad turned to when your Mum left him to live in Birmingham. I was the one who helped him look after you when your Mum decided to move to Canada. And I was the one who helped him cope without you, when he had to leave you in Canada with your Mum. I was the one who helped your Dad come to terms with your Mum wanting a divorce, because she had started seeing someone else. I was the one who tried to talk your Dad out of selling his home, so he could pay the legal fees to get custody of you. But he refused, and did it anyway, to get you. But he failed, and your Mum got custody of you. He tried so hard to see you in Canada as often as he could, but he was struggling because of the legal fees he had to pay. Why do you think he worked so hard Louis? For you."
"What?" Louis looked shocked.
Louis stood up, and paced the floor, all the information rolling around in his head. He then turned to Duffy, and said.
"He sold his house, to get me?" He exclaimed.
"Yes." Duffy said.
"I never knew."
"No, I didn't think so. That's Baz for you, very one-sided." Duffy said, crossing her arms, and legs.
"All this time, and, I never knew." Louis said, with his hand to his forehead.
"Does it change anything Louis?" Duffy asks.
"Yeah, yeah it does."
"And, just because your Mum didn't think much of your Dad doesn't mean that he deserves you to treat him like you do. He is your Dad Louis, and he has always done what he can, for you."
"I always thought he felt like he was just lumbered with me when Mum died. I didn't know, any of this."
"And why would you? Charlie would never have told you."
"No, no he wouldn't would he?"
"And all this, him lying there is because of me."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm the reason he's lying there, the fire started because I had a fight with Max. Dad wouldn't have tried to save Zoe, if there was no fire. I'm the reason he nearly died."
"Louis, don't think like that."
"But it's true, why did he have to do that, be a hero?"
"Because Louis, that's just who your Dad is. He will always put the lives of others before his own. He always has."
"But, I can't be like that, be like him. I'm no hero."
"Oh, Louis, you don't have to be, you are your own person. He knows that, he just wants you to be happy, but happy and safe."
"I need to sort myself out don't I?"
"I think so."
"Thanks Aunty Duffy. Dad's lucky to have had you there for him."
"Yeah, well, I've not seen him in years Louis. Well, not until tonight that is."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm only here on a temporary working visa Louis."
"So you're not back here for good then?"
"No, no, I don't think so."
"You don't think so?"
"I'm not sure, it's complicated."
"Well, what ever you decide, I'm sure my Dad will be pleased for you."
"Yeah, yeah, he will."
"You've not told him have you?"
"No, no I haven't. We haven't actually spoken properly yet."
"Don't you think you should?"
"When the time is right."
"When do you go back?"
"Friday."
"In three days?"
"Yeah."
"But Aunty Duffy?"
"I know, I know."
"I'll come back Louis."
"Will you?"
"Yeah, I think I will." Duffy replied, as she squeezed Louis' hand.
They both sat there as the sun came up, and the corridor filled with morning light. Little did Louis and Duffy know how important their conversation had been for the other. Only time would tell.
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