Chapter 6
A few days later, Rebecca returned home.
"I'M HOME!", she yelled, putting down her seabag.
"MUMMYYYYY", the two boys shouted, running to her and wrapping their arms around her.
"Hey guys! How are you? "
"Hey darling, how did it go?", Robert asked, walking over to her and kissing her.
"Great! Everyone was more than happy and did you survive?", she asked with a smile.
"Absolutely, your little dishes from the fridge were extremely useful and I even cooked a steak with chips", he replied happily.
"Wonderful! Thank you darling. And I have great news. Do you want to know?", she asked with sparkling eyes.
"Of course!"
"I made a new friend! Kate!"
"Huh? Our Kate?", he asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, absolutely. I ran into her in the hallway and she invited me to her home for dinner. She has a twelve-years-old son!".
Later, while they were sitting on the couch, she told him all about Kate.
"What a story! I can very well understand why she left Cairns suddenly", he said shaking his head.
"Indeed, she also said something strange", Rebecca mused, a cup of coffee in her hands.
"What?"
"Well, the day after the wedding, she had sand in her clothes. How can you get sand in your clothes in a motel?"
"Yes, it's strange. But, I remember someone telling us he woke up on the beach fully dressed with sand all over his clothes", Robert said, raising an eyebrow.
Rebecca's eyes widened, "Oh my Gosh, Dylan! He looked for her and like you said he woke up on the beach fully dressed with sand all over his clothes and she too had sand in her clothes. Shit! Duncan. Now, I know why the boy's face looked familiar to me. He's a younger copy of Dylan. Fair-haired and tall, just like him. Moreover he's twelve years old and the drama dates back to twelve years."
"You've got a point there, but Kate also is fair-haired", he said.
"It's not only that, it's his face. He has elements of both in his face. His nose, definitely hers", she said.
"And doesn't she really know or won't she admit it?", Robert wondered.
"No, my hunch is that she really didn't know it."
"Hmm. And are you going to tell her or him?"
"Rob, do you think I'm crazy? How do you think she would react if I called her up and said, hey Kate, do you know what? Dylan is the father of your son", she quipped.
"Hmm, that's not really a good approach. Maybe, you could you get these three together and see what happens?"
Rebecca shrugged her shoulders, "Pfft, I dunno. But, there was something else too. Some tension and the boy didn't look happy. I think she demands too much from him", she said worriedly.
"What can you expect from Princess Perfect, darling. She saw red when, on rare occasions, something wasn't hundred percent done the way she did. So, she transfers that onto her son. He has to be perfect", Robert said.
"Yeah and that, that's probably her major failure. Let's hope it doesn't turn out badly", she sighed.
Then, she smiled and patted his thigh, "Another week Rob and then we'll have a well-deserved holiday. Beach, barbecue, swimming, sailing, diving, hiking, shopping, seeing friends. I look forward to it".
He nodded, "Indeed, I can't see those stupid messages anymore. On the Hammersley, there was always something else to do!"
One week later.
"Eddy, Jo, did you choose the toys and coloured pencils you want to take on holiday? Tomorrow, we're leaving and we will no longer have time to pack!", Rebecca said to her two boys.
They looked at their mother sheepishly.
"Can I take them all?", asked Jo, the youngest.
"No buddy, you have to make a choice. Go ahead and I'll check back later", she replied.
"Okay mum", they said and ran to their rooms.
Robert looked at her with raised eyebrows, "You're optimistic Becca. They are going to take everything".
She looked at him in despair, "Darling, you don't have to remind me. I know, but they have to learn. I will need more time to put most things back in the cupboards".
He raised both hands and wanted to say something but at the same time the doorbell rang.
"Are you waiting for someone?"
"Nope. You?"
"Neither do I", he replied.
Rebecca sighed and headed for the door.
She was flabbergasted when she saw who was standing in front of their door.
"Madam Bomber?"
"Duncan! Wha…what are you doing here?", she asked baffled.
"May…may I stay here", the boy asked hesitantly.
"Uuuh, come in, uhm, what's going on? Is something wrong with Ka…your mum?", she asked, stepping aside to let him in.
He came in and she noticed that he was carrying a sport bag.
Robert saw him and just said, "Hi?"
Duncan nodded, "Sir".
He turned to Rebecca, "Mum is fine".
She took a deep breath, "What can we do for you?"
He shrugged and looked at the floor, "I left home. May I stay here?"
Rebecca looked at Robert who was shaking his head. She gave him and unspoken answer by raising her eyebrows and turned to Duncan. "Tell us what happened and why are you coming to see us".
At the same time, Edward and Jonathan pelted down the stairs to see who had come in, "Who's that, mummy?"
"A friend. Give us a moment guys. You have to pack your toys, right?"
"Yes mummy", they replied and left the living room.
"Do you want something to drink?", she asked him.
"A coke?"
"Yes, we have. A moment, please", she said and headed for the kitchen.
She came back, handed him a glass and invited him to sit down. They sat down, Rebecca next to the boy.
She looked at him questioningly, "You can tell us".
"I couldn't bear that anymore. I thought I could come here", he said hesitantly.
"Duncan, did your mother hurt you?", Rebecca asked worriedly, exchanging a glance with Robert who was also listening.
He shook his head, "No, never. But, it's…it's, it's never good enough for her. I do everything I can, but it's never perfect for her. Then I see the disappointment on her face and I know I'll be spending the next weekend nose in books once more, with her next to me, trying to teach me. When I finally think it's over, it's time for language lessons. I don't even know what a football looks like", he said dejected.
"That's what I told you darling. Kate wants him to be as perfect as she is", Robert bluntly remarked.
Rebecca raised her eyebrows to indicate that he was right.
"And why did you come to us?", she asked him.
"Because you're the only person mum can laugh with. You have two boys and you seem les stern than her. So, I thought, if I could come to your place, it would be better. I found your visiting card on the dresser", he said.
"Okay and how did you get here? You're from Sydney and here we are in Canberra", she asked.
"By train. I have a youth account and bought a ticket. The Maps app on my smartphone showed me how to find you".
"Hmm, and nobody asked you any questions about your age?", Robert asked suspiciously.
"No, everyone thinks I'm fifteen because I'm tall".
"Clever. But, does your mum know you're here?", Robert asked.
Duncan looked at him, "No. Of course not".
"Duncan, we need to call your mum to let her know you're here", she said.
"No!"
"It must be so. She probably called the cops to tell them you were missing, and now they are going to look for you. If they find out you're here, it will be considered kidnapping. Is that something you want huh?"
He shook his head, "No. But, should I go back?"
"No. We're going to settle something. Enjoy your coke", she said with a quick motion to Robert to go into the kitchen.
They headed for the kitchen and she turned to him.
"Becca, what did you say? That he can stay? We're leaving on holiday tomorrow! Send him back!", he whispered.
"Rob, think twice. If we send him back, no one knows where he will go. Here, he's safe. Put yourself in Kate's shoes. How would you feel if Eddy or Jo had gone somewhere and you didn't know about it or knew one of them was at Kate's house, huh", she whispered back.
"Hmm, and what about our holidays?".
She raised her eyebrows and sighed. "First we call Kate and then we'll see. Maybe there's a chance for a last minute booking. The bungalow we hired has enough rooms. He can stay with us", she said.
"Yes, calling Kate is a must. We have to do it now", she said, grabbing her phone from the kitchen table. She selected Kate's number and pressed 'call'.
"Kate McGregor speaking", she heard at the other end of the line.
"Hey Kate, it's me, Becca".
"Becca, I know you're my friend, but now it's not the time!", she replied irritably.
"Kate, I need to talk to you".
"Becca not now! I'm sorry, but I've other issues to deal with. Duncan is missing", Kate said desperately.
"Uh, Kate, that's why I'm calling you".
"What do you mean?", she snapped.
"Duncan is here. He stood on our doorstep half an hour ago", Rebecca said.
"WHAT?"
"Kate, he's here".
'Is he okay?"
"He's fine Kate".
Rebecca waited for an answer, but she heard nothing.
"Kate?"
The first sound she heard was a sob.
"What did I do wrong for God's sake?", she heard Kate say, who was visibly in tears.
"I gave him everything! I let him study. I spend all my time following his studies and supporting him. I do everything to make him the best and he runs away! Why? What more can I do?", she asked desperately.
"Kate, you didn't do anything wrong. I think the problem is that you've done too much", Rebecca said prudently.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean he can't follow you. He needs space. Give him a break and he'll come back to you".
"He can't follow me, he needs space and I have done too much! Now, I can't follow you Becca", Kate replied agitated.
"Kate, I hate discussing this on the phone, but we're too far from each other to come and see you. So I'm sorry to say it like this, but you're busy making him a Prince Perfect and a boy his age is not ready for it", she said.
It hit Kate like a freight train, "Oh my Gosh! Did I really do that?"
"It looks like it. Look, he can stay here for a while, but there's a little problem".
"And what's that?"
"Tomorrow we're leaving on holiday to Cairns. So, if we can't book him another ticket, we all have a problem", she said and saw Robert nodding affirmatively.
"Oh no! Now I'm screwing up your holiday too", Kate replied.
"Hey hey, it's not that bad. If you could calm down, then it's fine. Moreover, he'll be a good companion for our two boys here".
"Becca, thank you for everything you do for him, but I don't want it to be at your expense! Let me know what expenses you incurred and I'll pay you back for everything! Promise me!", she said.
"Yes Kate, I promise you, but what if we don't find a ticket?"
"Then, I'll come to your house and take him home!", Kate said.
"Kate, you are coming from Sydney and we're in Canberra!"
"I don't care Becca. If I have to drive the all night long, so be it. He's my boy".
"Yeah, okay. Let's try to get a ticket first. I'll call regardless of the outcome, okay?"
"Yes, fine…..thanks Becca and thanks to Robert too", Kate said faintly.
Rebecca ended the call and looked at Robert, "We've work to do".
He nodded, "Apparently, but now we have to tell him too", he said, motioning towards the living room.
She sighed and turned to Duncan, "Duncan".
"Look, we called your mum and now she knows you're here. But, we're about to leave on holiday in Cairns. She agrees that you stay with us for the time being, but we have to see if we can get you a ticket otherwise she's coming to pick you up", she told him.
"No! I don't want to go back!", he replied agitated.
"Mate, you have no other option. In your case, you can consider yourself lucky to be able to have a nice holiday in the tropics", Robert added in his well-known blunt way.
"No panic Duncan, first we'll try to get you a ticket, okay?"
The boy realised there was no other option and nodded.
Robert switched on the laptop on and opened the booking application.
They were lucky. The airplane wasn't yet fully booked and they were able to buy an extra ticket.
Then they called Kate to tell her they had a ticket for Duncan and would be leaving the next morning. Kate was more than happy and once again insisted on paying her son's expenses. On the other hand, she was left alone with the question of what she hadn't seen. Everything she did had to be perfect, so why did it fail? It was going to be a long time, fourteen long days before she could have a good chat with her son.
To be continued
