Face to Face
Part 35
Jackson checked his watch, it was 2.20. Only five minutes since he'd last checked the time. It seemed a lot longer.
He was sitting in his van, worrying instead of working, well he couldn't do both, well he could but he tended to make mistakes and that usually proved costly and costly ate into his profits and his profits were negligible at the best of times...he was rambling to himself again! A sure sign that he was worried.
He hoped everything was going well with Aaron and his father but he had a nagging suspicion that a pile of the brown and smelly stuff was about to hit the fan.
He made no secret of the fact he disliked Gordon Livesy, he didn't know anybody who did. Understandably Aaron had feelings for him and that's why he'd agreed to the visit.
Aaron hadn't mentioned the visit in the days prior, he had steered well clear of the subject. Jackson hadn't pushed him to talk but Paddy lacked the same self control and had had his head bitten off for his pains.
2.25! Maybe he needed a new battery? He'd stop and get one on his way home.
The visit was an hour long which meant Aaron should be out soon after three, or before if things didn't go so well. Another half an hour or less and he'd know what had gone on and how it had impacted on Aaron.
eeeeeee
2.25! Clock watching, Paddy decided, was like watching paint dry or grass grow. He'd hoped for a busy afternoon's surgery, a rush of clients to keep his mind occupied but sod's law ruled the day and with only a constipated budgie and a puppy to check over he'd spent most of the last hour staring at the damned clock.
He wished Aaron had let Jackson go with, he'd have felt a lot happier knowing he was there. But Aaron's stubborn streak ran a mile wide and he'd been determined to go alone. Why though? Was he trying to prove something to himself? Or was he just fed up of their cloying concern. They were both guilty of it, him and Jackson, although Jackson could disguise his better, and usually got away with it.
"Here!"
Pearl had just pressed another cup of tea into his hands, his umpteenth of the day. She swore by the stuff. No matter the ill, it cured all.
"Thanks." Unfortunately it didn't stop him worrying, nothing would.
He heard the door open and breathed a sigh of relief, a customer, no matter how big or small he could lose himself in its problem for a while at least.
"Hiya!"
"Chas!" unless she was here to be wormed or treated for fleas he really didn't want to know!
"Have you heard from him yet?"
"No."
"No nor me, but then he'd phone you first."
"No he'd phone Jackson first." Which is how it should be Paddy thought to himself.
"Jackson should have gone with him."
"Aaron wouldn't let him." Chas already knew this so why were they going over the same old ground? He knew the answer to that of course. Like him, Chas would have felt better if Jackson was with her son.
eeeeee
He'd collected his stuff then gone through the exiting procedure. Finally stepping out into the fresh October air. He inhaled deeply in an effort to get the prison smell out of his nose. If only he could get rid of the nasty taste his visit had left him with too.
He had phone calls to make but right now he couldn't trust himself to speak. Head down he walked towards where his car was parked, unaware he was being watched.
He shouldn't have come; he'd gained nothing from the visit, he'd just been left with an empty feeling inside. He wasn't sure how to fill that space. With anger maybe or hate?
No. He'd spent so much time ridding himself of those two things, he couldn't let them take root again.
What did he tell Jackson? He'd want to know everything but sometimes it was easier to keep the hurt to yourself,
Jackson shook his head, he could tell just by looking at Aaron that things had gone badly. Even though it was what he'd expected he wasn't ready for it, not seeing him hurting like that.
He wasn't going to like the fact he was there either, that he'd gone against his wishes and waited outside for him. He'd just been so certain he'd need him. He might not want to admit that yet though.
He threw open the van door and got out. He'd managed to park behind Aaron but the younger man hadn't seen him yet. "Aaron." He watched the younger man's head snap up.
"What're you doing here?"
"I know you didn't want me here but..."
"Why'd you come then?" Aaron demanded irritably.
With just inches separating them now Jackson said, "I just thought you might need to hear me say I love you, right about now."
Aaron swallowed hard. That was exactly what he needed to hear right now.
TBC