CHAPTER FIVE

" Two weeks." Laura muttered. The hearing would be held in Yabbie Creek Courts, so she would be in the city for awhile. But what about Jacob, who would look after him? She couldn't pull him out of school, he just enrolled.

" Now, perhaps we can find family or any of your friends who can prove Mr. Tate is an unfit father. We might even need your son as a witness."

" I will not have my son involved." Laura said firmly.

" But he is involved, he's the subject of this court hearing."

" No Morag. " Laura said firmly, " He's too young-"

" All right, all right, it was merely a suggestion. Do you have other family?"

" There's my father and my brother. My mother died about five years ago-cancer." Laura paused, " my family all loved Sam. They would never say anything negative against him. They wouldn't be much help I'm afraid. And neither will friends. Everyone just loved Sam Tate." She sighed, " They couldn't see for who he really is. They never saw his bad side."

" And what was his bad side?" Morag felt a bit sorry for this woman. Several years ago Laura married what she thought was the man of her dreams only to discover he was another crummy bastard.

" His temper. When he first lost his temper." Laura closed her eyes briefly as the memory of Sam hitting her came flooding back. That wasn't the first time he did it. The funny thing was, Sam never took it out on their son. Jacob was the apple of his eye.

" And that was when he showed his true colours." Laura continued, " and he never took it out on his son."

" Are you telling me he abused you?" Morag was shocked.

" Verbally abused me that's all." Laura fibbed. She wondered why she wasn't telling the whole truth. She figured it didn't matter much, they were trying to find a way to prove Sam was an unfit father to Jacob.

" And he never touched your son?"

" Not from what I've seen no"

" So in conclusion he was an unfit husband, not a father."

" Yes…" Laura trailed off when she realized she was going to lose her only child. And no one, not even Morag, would be able to do anything about it.

" I know you've been seeing him!" Sam screamed at Laura one afternoon.

" Seeing who?"

" Liam."

" Sam, we are just friends. He's married for goodness sake."

" So? You've been seeing him behind my back. I've read your text messages. They sounded a bit overfriendly for my liking."

" You are being paranoid Sam." Laura replied just as Sam gave her a stinging slap across the cheek.

" Don't you ever lie to me again you bitch." Sam whispered, his face red and blue eyes bulging. Laura turned away, covering the angry red welt with her hand.

A door opened and Jacob entered the living room. He had heard the slap and knew what his father had done. He glared at his father before pushing past him into the kitchen.

" Let's say we go to the park and shoot some hoops?" Sam asked lightly as if it never happened. Laura disappeared into the bathroom. She stared at herself and refused to cry. She wouldn't give Sam the satisfaction.

How had they come to this? Where has the Sam Tate she married gone?

Jacob walked out of Math class and headed for his locker. Tim spotted him and walked towards him.

" Meet us at the surf club after school." Tim told him as Jacob grabbed his Science book

" Why?"

" It's time for the third phase." Tim reminded him and Jacob stared at him stunned.

" Phase three? But I thought-"

" What? You think that swimming to a buoy would turn you into some kind of hero? I've already told you, you won't be getting any special treatment. You'll be the treated the same as everyone else. Got that?" Tim's eyes bore into his and Jacob looked away.

" Got it." Jacob mumbled as he headed for the Science labs. He couldn't believe it, he's been so confident he won the bully's respect.

Science was usually his best subject but today he could not concentrate. He wondered what Tim would make him do this time?

He met the others as instructed at the surf club. They were playing a game of pool ( well, only David and Tim were) until Jacob walked in.

" Good you're here." Tim greeted him.

" Why wouldn't I be?" Jacob asked him.

" I don't know, thought you'd chicken out is all."

Jacob didn't reply, " Well, let's get this over with."

Tim nodded towards Noah's Bar, " You have to be eighteen and over to buy drinks from there."

Jacob glanced over, " Yeah, so?" he asked.

" And I have a taste for vodka tonight. I want you to grab us two bottles of vodka-I like the lemon and limes flavor."

" I can't buy that stuff, I'm only fifteen."

" I didn't say buy," Tim said, " We'll distract Mrs. Hunter."

Jacob looked over at the Bar where Beth Hunter was serving a couple of guys. It didn't look particularly busy…

" I don't know…"

" This is your last chance to hang with us." Tim reminded him. Then grabbing David's arm they began causing a ruckus, and Beth Hunter was immediately distracted by the two boys.

" You know you boys shouldn't be in here," Beth exclaimed as Tim pretended to hassle David. The other boys joined in and Beth had her hands full.

Ok, it's now or never. Jacob thought. He glanced around and was confident no one was looking. He quickly darted around the bar and scanned the rows of alcoholic drinks. He spied the vodka and snatched two bottles. He stuffed one in his pocket and hid one behind his back and causally backed out. He whirled around and made his getaway, stuffing the incriminating evidence into his backpack.

Ten minutes later, the guys rejoined him.

" Well?" Tim asked a bit breathlessly.

Jacob opened his bag and Tim peeked inside.

" You really did it." Tim said, trying not to look too impressed. The kid had successfully completed all three phases without a hitch.

" I thought I was gonna get caught for sure." Jacob said trying not to sound or look to smug. " Do you want 'em?"

" Drink on a school night? Keep them at your house until Saturday." Tim said with a devilish grin. Jacob sighed, he would have to hide them real good. His mother cleaned his room on a fortnightly basis.

" Well, you are now a member. Congrats." Tim slapped him on the back. Jacob grinned but earned a dark glare from David. It was common knowledge that if a new guy was made a member, he was Tim's new best friend which meant David was now pushed out.

I did it, I showed them all. Jacob thought with satisfaction.