Part 10

Thanks to everyone who reviewed.

Neal did not want to come downstairs. Peter called again," Dinner."

He didn't move. Then he heard footsteps on the stairs. He hissed as he sat up. Peter walked in. "Did you not hear me call?"

"I'm not hungry."

"You must be, you haven't had any lunch."

"Just let me stay here. I don't want to see anyone."

"Neal!"

"Everyone will know. I can't face them, please Peter. I'll go home tomorrow."

"Don't be ridiculous." Peter looked down at him. "The only people that know you were punished are me, El and my Mum and Dad. Now everyone is waiting for you to come down so we can all eat."

"But it hurts," he said.

Peter almost laughed. "It's supposed to. Now go downstairs."

Neal reluctantly went down. "Are you feeling better?" Shona asked.

Neal looked slightly puzzled but said, "Yes." Peter bent down and said quietly, "We told everyone that you had a bad headache."

Helen set a plate down in front of him. "Eat up."

Neal was quiet during dinner. "You missed yourself today," Danny said.

"I'm not really into cycling," Neal said.

"Have you tried horse riding?" Peter asked.

"Can you see me on a horse?" Neal said. El laughed.

"I'm going to do some painting tomorrow," Neal said.

"I was thinking you could do some painting as well," Peter said.

"Thanks Peter."

"I was thinking the fence Dad," Peter said.

"The fence?" Neal almost squealed.

"Yes, put your talents to good use," Peter said.

"Very funny," Neal said.

"Well," Helen said, "the fence could do with being painted. It hasn't been done for awhile. Harry and Danny could help as well."

"Grandma!" they both said.

"Sounds like a good idea," Colin said. "Your Mum and I can go visit Granpa tomorrow."

"Granpa?" Neal asked.

"My father," Helen said. He lives on the other side of town. We're all having dinner with him and his wife tomorrow."

"You didn't tell me that Peter. I'll need to get a good bottle of wine to take with us so I don't think I can paint the fence today."

"Nice try Neal but we've already bought a bottle."

"I hope El bought it. At least she's got good taste."

"Fence tomorrow Neal bright and early. And you too Danny and Harry."

Neal groaned. "Can I see what paint you've got?"

"It's kept in the shed at the side of the house," John said.

"I'll go and look," Neal said getting up. He had an idea. He checked the paint and then came back.

"The fence has always been white," Peter said.

"I'll remember that," Neal said with a smirk.

"Neal!" Peter warned.

"I think I'd better get to bed now, I'll need all my energy for tomorrow," Neal said glad to have an excuse to get up.

The next morning Neal was up early. When he came down Helen was already making breakfast. "Do you ever sleep?" he asked.

She laughed. "Sit down and eat. I'll go wake Danny and Harry."

"You don't have to, let them sleep a bit longer."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You do enjoy pulling Peter's leg don't you?"

"I have to have some fun."

Neal finished his meal and went out to the shed. He took out the white paint and started to paint the gate and the surrounding wooden slats. Danny and Harry came to join him. They started painting the rest of the fence. Neal disappeared into the shed and came out with some coloured paint and a smaller paintbrush. "What are you going to do?" they asked.

"Paint," he said mysteriously.

Peter came down and headed for the door. "Stop!" his mother said. "Neal is doing just fine. Leave him alone."

"If you end up with a nude on your fence don't blame me," he said.

Peter watched Neal work on the gate and fence for more than an hour. He couldn't stop himself from going out. He gasped when he saw what Neal had done. "It's beautiful," he said.

"Thank you."

Danny and Harry came to look. "Wow!" they both said.

"Mum Dad," Peter shouted.

Helen and John came out. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, come look at this."

Helen put her hand to her mouth. "Is it alright?" Neal asked when she didn't say anything.

"Alright," she stuttered. "It's beautiful. Peter was right about your talent. What do you think John?"

Neal looked at John. It really mattered to him that both Helen and John liked it. "It's amazing Neal. All our neighbours are going to be jealous when they see it."

El came out. She looked at all the flowers, butterflies and birds Neal had painted. He had also written the name Burke across the top of the gate.

"That is beautiful," she said.

Neal got up and dusted down his jeans, "You deserve your favourite meal for this," Helen said.

"We painted the fence as well," Danny said.

"And very good it is too," she said.

"Can we go to the pizza restaurant?" Harry asked.

"Neal?"

"Yes. I'd like that."

Peter helped Neal put the things away. "It's about time you started painting for yourself instead of all the copying you do. You could do really well."

"I've been thinking about it. Why didn't you tell me about the meal at your grandfather's?"

"I was going to. My grandfather can be quite intimidating."

"May be I should just stay here."

"No. You're part of our family now. If I have to go so do you."

"He's not going to like having a con in his family, is he?"

"He's old fashioned. He is 92."

"What did he do?"

"He was a lawyer, a good one."

"Helen said his wife not her mother."

"My grandmother died just after my mother was married. Grandfather married his secretary a year later."

"So I need to dress for tomorrow night."

"It would be advisable. Grandfather always dresses for dinner."

"I'd like to get something for tomorrow night's dinner," Neal said.

"You don't need to take anything Neal. Now go wash."

"Are you saying I need to wash?" Neal asked indignantly.

"Look in the mirror."

Neal went in and shouted," Danny! Harry!"

They laughed. Neal ran out of the house and ran after them. He had been so engrossed in his work he hadn't noticed how much of the whitewash they had got on him. He tackled Harry, sitting on top of him. "You are going to pay for that." He was then knocked off Harry by Danny. They held him down.

"If we let you up you've got to promise not to retaliate."

"No," Neal said. "But I promise not to touch you."

They loosened their grip just enough for him to get up. He ran for the house. "You promised," they said running towards their grandfather for safety.

"I promised not to touch you," he said picking up one of the near empty paint pots. He swung the pot. "No!" shouted Peter. The paint flew out just as the boys ducked. The paint hit John in the face. Neal froze.

He looked at Peter. He couldn't believe what he'd done. He ran.

He heard someone shout, "NEAL!" but he kept going.

Danny and Harry burst out laughing. The paint dripped down John's face. John could see that Peter was struggling to stop himself from laughing. "Good look Dad," he said as Helen, El, Colin and Kristie came out.

"What on Earth happened?" Helen asked.

"Sorry Grandma," Danny and Harry said. "Neal was aiming at us and we ducked."

"Why was Neal aiming at you?"

"We sort of put whitewash on him while he was painting. If Uncle Peter hadn't told him this wouldn't have happened."

"Where is Neal?" El asked.

"He took off. I'd best look for him," Peter said.

"I'll go," John said.

"Looking like that," Helen said.

"I'll shower. Peter can check Neal's anklet."

Ten minutes later John came downstairs. His hair was still wet. He got into the car. "Where is he?" he asked Peter.

"He's heading for town. I'll phone you when he stops."

John drove off. Peter phoned him. "He's just on the outskirts of town."

"I can see him. We'll be home soon."

Neal ran into the park. He had no idea where he was going to go. Peter was going to be furious and he hated to think what John would do. How was he going to get back to New York? He'd left his wallet at the house. He sat down on a bench.

Neal was concentrating so much that he didn't notice John approach the bench. "This seat taken?" he asked. Neal nearly jumped out of his skin.

He jumped up ready to run. John grabbed his arm. "Sit down Neal."

"I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you just stay at the house and say that?" John asked.

"I… I don't know."

"Yes you do son. Why?"

"It's what I do. Once the con's over you run."

"I thought your conning days were over," John said.

"I don't think they'll ever be over. It's difficult."

"What's difficult?"

"Being a part of this. You all make it look so easy."

"What?"

"Being in a family. You're all so happy and it's so easy."

"It isn't easy all the time. We've all had arguments and said things we shouldn't. But being part of a family is taking responsibility for what we say and do and not running when things go wrong."

"I've spent most of my life running from something, it's not easy to change."

"You'll get there son but running every time something goes wrong is not how to do it."

"Are you mad?" he asked.

"No. This wasn't just your fault. Danny and Harry have to take some responsibility for this as well."

"Is Peter angry?"

"No. In fact he was trying very hard to stop laughing as were most of the family. You'd know that if you'd stayed around."

"Sorry."

"Even if it had been your fault running wouldn't have helped. That's something you're going to have to learn. Now let's go home."

Neal got up. "Thanks John."

"No more running," John said delivering a hard swat to Neal's backside.

"Ow!" Neal said. "I thought you said you weren't mad."

"I'm not. That's for not trusting us and running."

Neal went red as he noticed that other people had seen what had happened.

"Let's go home," John said.

"Morning John," a man said as they walked past.

"George. Good to see you."

"See you're still keeping your hand in." Neal blushed. "He's not one of Colin's boys though is he?"

"No, he's Peter's." He turned to Neal. "We'd best get back."

They got into the car. "Why did you say that?"

"What?"

"That I was Peter's."

"Well you are."

Neal couldn't believe it was as simple as that.

TBC