It Takes One to Know One
Part 25
Paddy had got home and found the place empty, empty except for a sleeping Clyde. There were two untouched platefuls of sandwiches on the table along with two cold cups of tea; he didn't know what to make of that, both Aaron and Cai were bottomless pits when it came to food. He tried phoning Aaron to see where he and Cai were, and if there was something wrong, but all he kept getting was the 'not available' message.
Should he be worried? Yes probably! But before he started to fret over what was hopefully nothing he'd take a walk through the village and see if anyone had seen the two of them.
He checked the shop and called in on Marlon at the pub, and stopped everyone he met in the street. Having no success he then made his way down to the garage. Maybe Aaron had had to go and put a few hours in there and Cai had gone with him. He liked that idea... it was feasible.
Cain had been inside the garage, writing up a bill. Before Paddy could ask him if he knew where his nephew was the younger man was asking him a question.
"Have you brought the car back?"
"What car?"
"That would be a no then!"
"What?" Why was Cain talking in riddles?
"Aaron borrowed a car to go look for that little bruiser you're minding"
Paddy groaned and rolled his eyes, so Cai had done another runner, he should have known! "Bruiser?" What did Cain mean by that?
"He's taken another pop at Aaron. It could be you next. You sure you want him under your roof?"
"He's just a kid!" Paddy exclaimed defensively, "A troubled one yes but I don't think he's quite as troubled as Aaron was..." Paddy bit back on his words realising he'd probably just given something he shouldn't away.
"Aaron never hit you...or did he?" Cain's mind was working overtime now, "That time you were ...when you told everyone you were mugged, was that him?"
Paddy knew there was no point denying it now, but he felt compelled to warn Cain about opening his mouth to the lad, "Don't you let on you know."
He might never have shown it but he'd always respected Paddy for the way he'd looked out for Aaron, he respected him even more now. He knew he'd taken a lot of crap off the boy but to take a beating like that and still stand by him..."You should have told me."
"If I thought it would help him in anyway then I would have done."
Cain nodded, Paddy had known what he was doing with Aaron, and he'd done a bloody good job too. Who was he to question him taking on another problem teen, this was where he wound his neck in. "Well if there's anything I can do, where Cai's concerned."
Paddy forced a smile, "Just keep a car at the ready, we're bound to need one again."
As he'd walked back up the hill, he'd tried phoning Aaron again, again without any success. He decided to ring Jackson, lamblasting himself for not thinking of doing so before. He and Aaron were always texting each other, he'd be able to tell him something surely.
But Jackson knew nothing, after repeatedly trying to get hold of Aaron, first on his mobile number and then on the house phone he'd sensed something was wrong and was now making his way home, he was five minutes away.
As Jackson hurried in through the front door Paddy set two mugs of tea down onto the table, they were going to have to sit and wait this out.
"So according to Cain Cai hit Aaron?"
Paddy nodded, he'd not mentioned that to Jackson on the phone, but he was now telling him all he knew, which wasn't much. They were trying to put the puzzle together but with so few pieces it was impossible.
"Why hasn't he phoned one of us?" The fact he hadn't troubled Jackson.
The older man shook his head, he didn't understand it either, they'd all agreed they were in this together, that they shared responsibility for Cai. What the hell was Aaron playing at?
It was another half an hour before they were to find out.
They heard the front door open followed by the thunder of feet up the stairs, they knew that was Cai. Hearing the door close they stared expectantly at the hallway door, waiting for Aaron to finally put in an appearance. As he stepped into the room they in unison demanded "Where the hell have you been?"
Wasn't it Cai who should be getting a bollocking and not him? No he deserved one too. Cai had kicked off because of him...as they were soon to find out.
After sitting down between the two older men he quietly told them what had happened between him and Cai, finishing off with how Cai had gone out the bathroom window, "I messed up and I just wanted to sort it out myself."
"You didn't mess up." Paddy protested, "You handled the situation perfectly!"
Jackson was equally impressed, "You did exactly the right thing."
He'd thought so too at the time, he'd even congratulated himself but then Cai had done a bunk, "No, I pushed him too far, I didn't know when to back off."
"No." Paddy stated firmly, "He'd have run off no matter what, it's how he handles anything he finds upsetting, he distances himself from it physically or emotionally or both."
Aaron nodded, that made sense but he still felt he could have handled the situation better. He wanted to move on from that part now, they needed to hear the rest so he started detailing the remainder of the afternoons events. Both looked more than a little unnerved by the time he'd finished.
Jackson sat back in his chair shaking his head in disbelief, "He's planning on going back there isn't he?"
"I told him he wasn't to go there again, not on his own, he said he wouldn't but I think that's exactly what he's planning on doing."
"Any friend of that Wallis has to be as much of a lowlife as he is!" Paddy was really worried for the boy's safety now. They didn't have eyes at the back of their heads. They couldn't watch him 24/7, no one could. "I'll phone Gary, he needs to know about this."
"Don't tell him what he said to me." Aaron insisted.
"I think he needs to know about that too, he might make good that threat one day!"
"No, he won't. I know he won't."
Paddy looked to Jackson he had the deciding vote."
Jackson knew an accusation of that kind could tear their world apart. The possibility of it being aired truly terrified him but as he met Aaron's steady gaze he knew he had to trust his judgement here, "No, Gary doesn't need to know about that."
Aaron flashed Jackson a heartfelt smile of thanks before getting to his feet, "I'd better get the car back to Cain, I won't be long."
As the door closed behind Aaron Paddy heaved a sigh, "I'm really proud of him."
Jackson smiled over at the suddenly very emotional older man, "Me too."
TBC