COMING HOME

Chapter 9

Horatio followed the others into the kitchen. Eric served them all with some delicious pasta, and they all ate in near-silence. Horatio watched the incredibly easy relationship of Calleigh and Eric. Despite the fact that he knew they weren't romantically involved now, they seemed like an old married couple. The two children – not that Austin was really a child any longer – were clearly comfortable, part of a loving home. Family… Horatio felt an odd pang of regret. For what, he wasn't quite sure.

"Seconds, anyone?" Calleigh asked.

Austin held his plate out, but everyone else professed themselves full.

"Sorry, folks…" Austin tucked into his food while the others watched. "We athletes have to keep our strength up."

Horatio caught Patti's disgusted expression and smiled inwardly. He heard her murmur, 'Pig.' He wondered if his famous rapport with children still worked. He waited until she caught his eye, and smiled at her.

"So, Patti, I've heard you're the brains round here. What's your best subject?"

"Biology," she muttered, looking down at her plate.

"Bugs," Austin added. "Go on, tell him what your ambition is."

"Shut up, Austin!" She glared at him.

"Children…" It was Eric who gently chided them, with Calleigh's full approval apparently. "You should talk to him, Pats… He's one of the best forensic investigators in the country."

"Was, not is." It was Horatio's turn to look embarrassed. "Anyway, that's just not true. I was too much a cop. Forensics interests you, Patti? Which branch?"

"Entomology."

"We could have done with a good entomologist when I was in the lab. We had to outsource that… It's an interesting field."

"It can give you so much. An exact time of death. The size of the larvae… Which insects are present…" The girl's enthusiasm was obvious. She even made eye contact with Horatio.

"Your Mom once broke a case doing autopsies on mosquitoes… Not that that required an entomologist – it was just blood-testing… Do you want to work in a crime lab? Or haven't you thought that far?"

"I've thought. I could stay in a university and be an independent expert."

Austin looked ready to make some remark, and he saw Calleigh shush him. Instead, she said quietly, "Why don't you two go in the other room? I'll bring dessert in to you."

Rather surprisingly, Patti agreed. Having found someone with whom to discuss her passion, her teenage awkwardness dropped away.

"I think I'd rather work in a crime lab, but I don't want to be a cop first. I hate guns. I couldn't shoot anyone."

"Don't let your Mom hear you."

"She knows. She even took me to a gun range, but I flunked it. She just doesn't understand it."

"You don't have to be a cop. If you come out of university with a good degree, any lab would be pleased to have you. I'm sure Eric's told you that."

"I couldn't have him as my boss! I don't mean anything nasty," she added quickly. "I just know him too well."

"Why not? He's good. Anyway, you're jumping the gun – sorry, no pun intended."

She grinned, revealing that she was a very pretty young lady, once her teenage sullenness had retreated.

Horatio continued. "You might move. He might change jobs. One thing I learned – have plans, but be prepared to change them. Are your grades good?"

She nodded. "Better than Austin's ever were."

"Well, he's got his tennis. Each to his own, you know." He liked this studious girl. He felt she might be the odd one out in this household. He decided to be her ally. "Look, if you feel you want to talk about it, about forensics in general, about criminal work… and you don't want to talk to Eric or your Mom… call me. I mean it. Here, I'll write my number down…"

She smiled at his old-fashioned intent and handed him her phone. "Put it in here. Under 'H' – Eric calls you that…"

He did so.

"What do I call you?" Patti asked.

"Whatever you like, as long as it's polite."

"I mean – Uncle Horatio or just Horatio? Or H? Can I call you H?"

"If you'd like to. It's reserved for friends."

Calleigh came in with two bowls of ice cream, then left them alone again.

"She's 'encouraging me to talk'," Patti observed rather cynically. "She thinks I'm too shy."

"Are you?"

"Not really. I just can't be bothered to join in all the silly chatter that goes on at school. I've got one friend – Ally - Alison – who's the same as me…"

"Boyfriends?"

Her eyes dropped. "No."

"Patti, look at me… There's no requirement to enjoy gossip, or go out with boys unless you want to. Just be confidant in yourself. Don't feel the need to prove yourself by doing what everyone else does. Do they bully you?"

"No, not really." She smiled uncertainly. "It's hard though. They tease anyone who takes their studies seriously."

"More fools them. Patti, don't suffer in silence. If it's more than teasing, talk to your Mom. Or Eric."

"Or you?"

"Of course, if you'd rather."

"Were you bullied?"

Horatio laughed. "Oh, they tried. Red hair and a name like mine. And I enjoyed my studies too."

"What did you do?"

"First, learned to fight back. Then ignored them. Once they see it's not bothering you, they lose interest. It doesn't matter what people think of you, you know. I realise I'm sounding very old, but it isn't that important to be liked." He doubted he'd convince a teenage girl. "Be yourself. Be true to yourself." He chuckled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to preach at you."

"You're not. But it's easy to say, harder to do…"

"Isn't it always? Just keep sight of your goal – there, I'm doing it again! I'll shut up."

Eric came in to collect their dishes. "Coffee?"

The front door slammed and they heard a car pull away. Horatio raised his eyebrows, and Eric explained. "Austin, off somewhere. One of his friends picking him up. He's pestering us to buy him a car."

He went to the kitchen, and he and Calleigh came back with mugs, and a pot of coffee.

Eric continued, speaking to Calleigh, "I was telling H about Austin wanting a car…"

"I've said, when he reaches eighteen… not before. Same for you, Patti," Calleigh said firmly.

Patti pulled a face, but there was no argument. Horatio took his coffee and sipped it. Family… Patti disappeared to do homework, and the three adults relaxed and talked for the rest of the evening.

As Eric drove him home, he suddenly said, "You haven't lost your touch…"

"Meaning?" Horatio asked suspiciously.

"You've made a real hit with Pats. I've been told you're 'cool'."

Horatio chuckled. "And old enough to be her grandfather. She's a lovely girl."

"She doesn't make friends easily. Not one of the crowd."

"I realised that. Do you think she's being bullied?"

"Did she say so?"

"No, but I gathered there's some teasing… I tried to tell her to talk to you or Cal…"

"We'll keep an eye."

"Do you go to Calleigh's every evening?" Horatio asked curiously, then added, "Sorry, none of my business."

"It's no secret. I go once or twice a week, depending on work. Calleigh's an independent lady – you should know that! Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. You just seemed so comfortable with each other."

"Well, we are…"

"Do you have regrets?"

"About me and Cal? Sometimes, yes, I do."

"Is it too late?"

"Oh, I think so." Eric's tone suggested he didn't want to take the conversation further. They pulled up outside Horatio's condo.

"Thanks, Eric. You were right – it did me good. I enjoyed myself." He got out of the car, and headed inside, with a cheerful wave. "See ya…"

TBC