My thanks to Sylvain for the beta work
Runaway
Part 21
Micah had guessed that with Aaron out of the way, his mum and Paddy would take the opportunity to talk to him about things they perhaps wouldn't feel able to in his presence. He'd guessed right.
It had all been fairly light-hearted at first, Paddy telling him, amongst other such anecdotes, about the 'wild' Alsatian Aaron had begged him to keep, and how that had been the turning point in their relationship. The conversation had, as he'd expected, quickly taken on a more serious tone, Paddy thanking him for what he'd done for Aaron, letting him know just how worried they'd been about him. The older man had then hesitantly sounded him out, concerned that he might not be fully aware of everything Aaron had gone through. He was able to reassure him that he was, in the past week Aaron had told him everything about himself.
Chastity had said very little, she seemed to have lost her tongue since finding out what he did for a living, he'd put it down to her not being sure how to act around him. It seemed he'd got that badly wrong! When Paddy's mobile had rung, he'd taken the private call in the kitchen, leaving him and the brunette alone. Chas had then taken him aback with a coldly made statement.
"You and my Aaron. You're so different, it's not going to work!"
"It does work!" It did, and so very well, but before he had a chance to say anything more in defence of their relationship, she had tossed something else at him that caught him equally unaware.
"Me and Paddy, we're like chalk and cheese too, it worked for us but only for a little while, then I got bored, the spark, the connection just wasn't there."
Chastity certainly didn't mince her words, "You think Aaron will get bored of me?
"Yes... and hopefully long before you find he doesn't live up to your expectations."
"My expectations?" What did she mean by that? What was she saying? That one day he'd wake up and realise Aaron wasn't good enough for him? That rankled, and instantly put him on the defensive. He cared about Aaron, more than cared; his feelings for him were growing deeper each and every day. He knew that would never change and he didn't like her questioning his commitment and especially not the apparent reasons behind it. But then she was Aaron's mother, maybe that gave her the right? He told himself he had to be fair-minded here. "You love your son and I know you're concerned about him but..."
"You've only just met. He's still grieving for the man he loved..."
"That doesn't mean we can't have feelings for each other, that we can't know instinctively that we're right for each other..."
"He's not ready for another relationship."
"Don't you mean you're not ready for him to have another relationship, not one that takes him away from you?" He wasn't quite sure where that had come from, but the brown eyes had flashed angrily at his response and he knew he'd hit the nail firmly on the head.
"I know my son, and he's not over Jackson yet. You're just some rock to cling to in a storm, and when that storm passes..."
"Chas!"
Neither one of them had noticed Paddy walk back into the room, Micah didn't know how much the older man had overheard but it was obviously enough to anger him. He was relieved to see him, he didn't like where the conversation was going either. He might be a vicar but he was a mere mortal too, he had feelings, he could be cut to the quick just like everyone else, and sometimes it wasn't so easy to turn the other cheek. He was capable of snapping out something hurtful when wounded too; if Paddy hadn't made his presence known, he probably would have done just that at that moment. While he pondered on what best to say to avoid any further unpleasantness, Chas seemed determined to make the most of his silence.
"Well, it's true, we both know it is, Paddy. It's Father Ted here who's blind to the fact."
"That's enough." Paddy warned, wanting to make it clear he thought Chas was well out of line.
"Aaron isn't anything like you." As soon as the words had left his mouth, Micah was regretting them, he hadn't meant that the way it had sounded... or had he? Whether he had or not, Chas had flinched on hearing it, it had been taken as a slight and all three present in the room knew that.
He couldn't believe how badly things had deteriorated or how quickly. He didn't think he was entirely responsible for the upset, knew he wasn't, but he had played a small part in it and felt he should play peacemaker. "The last thing Aaron needs or wants is for us to be at odds with each other, after all we all want the same thing, we all want what's best for him..."
"And you, after knowing him all of five minutes know what that is. He needs his family around him..."
"I agree he needs his family, but I believe he needs me more, and I'm sorry if that's a hard pill to swallow, but it's true."
Paddy couldn't get his head around Chas' continued verbal assault on Micah, had she forgotten all he'd done for the lad? It was time he came to his defence, "Aaron wouldn't have come home today if it wasn't for Micah, we have him to thank..."
"He's just another of his good causes."
"What?" Micah exclaimed, just what the hell did she mean by that?
"Aaron said you work with the homeless, the runaways. You took him in, he's just the latest soul that needs saving."
He had to bite back on his retort, it wouldn't have helped any, would only have served to further inflame the situation. It seemed Chastity had taken a dislike to him and he wasn't sure there was much point in trying to reason with her either, not with the mood she was in. It might just be best for him to leave, beat a retreat; getting to his feet, he turned to look at Paddy, "I think it's best I go." He knew the other man would protest and he was ready to reassure him, only events were about to take another unpleasant turn...
The door crashed open, instantly claiming all their attention. A woman, a stranger to him at least, delivering some garbled message about Aaron, something about him being in a fight!
It had taken a second to register, but as soon as it did, he was making for the door.
TBC