Ch 4
Sorry for the delay – no excuses but I've been trying to persuade a stroppy 16 year old to 'Get in the car!' Of course, most likely no-one remembers this tale, I had to read through it, and there are a few parts I'd change now, so had to try and work round them – hope you wont notice the joins. If you do, please be kind and pretend you didn't.
Usual 'Don't own them' etc
"Sing sweet nightingale Make the night a little longer
Sing me a song of a night never-ending
Sing sweet nightingale
And I'll try to pretend
That tomorrow's nowhere near
And there's nothing to fear
Morning please don't come
Starshine glow a little stronger
Morning please don't come
Day don't break for you will take
My love away from me
Try to hold back the sun
I beg you morning please don't come" Tom Springfield
The desert wind lifted stray hairs and rippled his shirt. It was cold, he didn't feel it – wouldn't have cared anyway. The Milky Way curved across the sky, a jewelled ribbon, and he could name every one of the bright points of light blinking; mocking him. They would be the same stars tomorrow night but not in precisely the same position. Four hours' drive was a fraction of the earth's surface, it might as well be another planet, just wouldn't be the same. Nothing would be the same.
It had been three days since the call, since he'd slammed the door on his way out. Tracy's excuse was that his mother was sick, but he figured the old man had changed his mind, maybe he'd done some research and discovered there was at least one arrest warrant out on him. He smiled at that thought – it was to be hoped that the real Adam Pearson didn't visit that particular town. People had let him down all through his life, with the exception of Sky and David, they'd always been there for him. Even Angel had left him. He'd been angry when the test had proved positive and he realised life could – no SHOULD have been so different.
He hadn't said a decent word to either David or Sky for three days, and he hated himself for it, and just couldn't understand why he was behaving that way. Then came the call – Tracy would be coming tomorrow. He had wasted those three precious days, days he could have been making his final memories of the only people who'd thought he was worth something, only place he'd been happy. He could never get back them back. Instead of spending time with them, he was out here, his arms wrapped round himself as he used to in the foster homes to get some comfort.
'Dinner's on the table' David stood just by his shoulder
'Not really hungry' he responded
'Come on, Sky's gone to a lot of trouble, she'll be real hurt'
He sighed, unwinding his arms and legs. When he was standing, he almost matched David's height
'I'm sorry' John mumbled, dropping his head onto David's shoulder, John had never allowed anyone to touch him, so the movement took David by surprise.
'Come on, we'll go and talk to Sky'. David tentatively laid his arm on John's shoulder, rather than pull away as he normally would, John leaned into him.
'It isn't fair. He's got four other kids, why does he have to take me too?'
'You're his son, part of his family.'
'You are my family.'
'You'll have the chance to become the person you were meant to be' Sky said as she dished up their meal.
'I'm the person I am so I guess that's who I'm supposed to be. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Don't know what's wrong with me.'
'Don't you? I think I do…'
Whatever she was about to say was cut short in surprise when he gave her the briefest of hugs, and were they tears in those blue green eyes? Adam had never cried, she didn't think him capable, but they were definitely brighter than usual.
'Going to stay up tonight' John said, 'I'll try not to wake you, but the morning's going to come fast enough without sleeping the night away'
'You'll be exhausted' Sky protested. 'Probably sleep most of the journey'
'Planning on sleeping ALL of it' he grinned, 'That way I don't have to talk, or get talked at. Well, he can talk all he likes, I wont hear. Law may say I have to go with him, but no-one ever said I had to play nice'
'Try not to be as much of a pain as you were when you arrived here' David said
'Was a brat, wasn't I? Wonder you kept me'.
'Was?' Sky laughed.
'Angel said she was taking me somewhere safe, where no-one would hurt me ever again – and I have been; I've never been hungry, scared, or beaten, or moved without notice every couple of weeks or months.'
'You were moved a lot?' Sky's voice echoed her deep sorrow
'Gave up counting after 20 foster homes, mostly I was glad to go – though I always knew the next one would be even worse. I thought I'd be moving on with Angel, and I was scared when I woke up to find she'd gone.'
'Came as a surprise to us too' said David, 'but we'd known Angel for years, she never could be in any place for long. We assumed she wanted something different for you, you were clearly very bright, and not only needed but also deserved an education.'
'Won't have to go back to college, will I? Will they change the name on my records?'
'Don't panic, I've told your father all about it, he's going to see what needs to be done' David assured him.
'John…' Sky began but was interrupted
'Can…can I be Adam for one more night – please? Tomorrow I have to start being John Tracy – but let it be tomorrow.'
'Adam' she began again, 'I can't say I know how hard this is for you or your birth family because I don't have a clue – but just try to remember that they never forgot you, never stopped searching for you, and most certainly never stopped loving you. At least give them a chance'
Adam shrugged, but Sky knew her words had hit home by the tilt of his head and sideways glance at her.
After dinner, he went to bed, opened the curtains and lay awake watching the stars, wishing the night could last for ever.
After a time there was a gentle knock on the door
'Adam, we can't sleep either – we wondered if you'd care to share the not being able to sleep'
He opened the door, Sky was standing there. He nodded.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Jeff eased himself out of the limo and stretched out the wrinkles in his muscles. It had been a long drive with the prospect of a return trip tomorrow, but he would be taking his son home! He hadn't been so excited since taking John home the first time from the hospital. He decided to call in at the store to get an idea of the place where John had been living; Jeff tried to picture John coming in, did he come in? Would it have been often or a rare treat?
'So, you're here to take young Adam away' said someone behind him
Jeff turned, looking down slightly at the roundest person he had ever seen in his life. Sparkling hazel eyes bored into Jeff from beneath bushy grey brows on a gnome-like head, framed by a collar of hair which was attempting to escape.
'Small town – and I gave Sky the carton with that picture on it. Yuh know, we all said it looked like Adam, everyone agreed but we never thought it were.'
'You know my son?'
'Like I said, small town. Worked for me through summer vacations – an' wouldn't a had him if he hadn't been a dammed hard worker. Course weren't always like that – when he first came, he was wild. We didn't know what Sky 'n' David were thinkin', takin' him on. But guess they saw somethin' rest of us didn't, or mebbe they just felt sorry after his ma took off – well the woman we thought were his ma. He don't look much like you though.'
'Takes after my wife. How did you know I was here for him?'
'Saw the 'TI' on the car – kinda big hint, ya know? Spendin' the night at the compound?'
'No, I'm staying in town tonight.'
'Mrs Hawkins place?'
'Small town?'
'You got it. 'Bout half a mile down the street on the right.'
'Thanks. You said you gave the carton to Sky; didn't she normally buy her milk here?'
'They have a herd of milking goats – what would they want cows milk for?'
Jeff's went to his car and took out the two pictures he had of his son; one the little two year old toddler he remembered, and the other sent by Sky. His heart skipped a beat, as he realised how close he'd come to losing John forever. This was going to be a long night, he'd go to his lodging for the night and use the techniques he'd learned during his NASA days to sleep away the hours.
AN – if you want to listen to the song, it's here
watch?v=ZXdPV-SitHs&list=RDZXdPV-S