Sorry for the horribly long break! My muse has left me and I've been stuck with all of my stories for a while now.
I'm dedicating this chapter to Lyra Black who gave me the swift kick in the butt I needed to get arund to this story again. Thank you!
Please enjoy the chapter!
"You're just going to roll over and tell me?" Alex asked in astonishment. John arched an eyebrow and fixed Alex with a sidelong look.
"Do you want to know or not? I'm giving you a chance to ask. Hurry up before I decide to change my mind and drop you off somewhere." Alex didn't doubt that the old man would simply order him out of the car. From what he'd seen thus far he was certain that the man was senile.
"Alright," Alex began cautiously. "Why haven't I ever met you before, or heard any one talk about you." He watched John carefully trying to gauge his reaction. The old man's face hardened and he flapped a hand in Alex's direction waving the question off.
"Next question." He said simply.
"No, you said that you would give me answers. I asked that question and I want to know why." Alex said coolly. He stared at his grandfather's profile, waiting.
"I'll tell you when you're older." John grunted after a moment. "Ask me another question."
Grudgingly Alex let the question go. "Are you married?"
"Was. For a long time. Elizabeth died a while back. Thought I told you that already, said you were the only family that I got left." John's voice was gruff and Alex made a mental note to stay clear of talking about his grandmother.
"Sorry. Erm, where you close with my dad, or my uncle?" Alex asked, fearing what bringing up John's sons might result in. He had to know if he had known about their career though. He couldn't dance around that much longer.
"Was, before they got tangled up in the military and whatnot. After that I barely ever saw them. Met your mother a few times though, she was good for your dad. Very fine young woman Helen was." John offered glancing at Alex. "Do you remember her or your dad?"
"No. But I met some people who used to work with my dad. They told me a little bit about him. And Ian gave me an old photo album once." Alex admitted. He saw his grandfather stiffen in the seat next to him.
"You meet that idiot John used to run around with? Ash or whatever nonsense name he called himself?" John asked in a low voice. "Might as well have been the one who blew up the plane for all he did for your dad."
An uneasy silence settled over the two for a long moment before John coughed and turned onto another road. He seemed to be mindlessly driving through Chelsea with no clear destination in mind.
"Who did you say you were living with now? Young lady answered the phone when I called to set this up. She a relative of your mother's?" John asked, breaking the silence.
"No. I don't know if my mum had any relatives. Never met anyone who knew her well enough to tell me. That was Jack. Ian hired her on as a housekeeper when I was small. He was gone a lot, away on business he told me, so she became sort of a nanny for me."
Alex was trying to drop hints but the old man was dodging around them expertly. It was enough to make Alex suspicious of his grandfather.
"She seemed nice enough," Was all John said in response to Alex's explanation of Jack.
"She's great, really." Alex muttered. "So, erm, what did you do?"
"You mean my career? Was in the military since I was seventeen. Used to fly planes. That's how I met your grandmother. Picking up cargo in France and she was there are the airfield seeing her father off. She came from a military family as well. I'd be surprised if you go into anything other than the armed forces. It's run in the family for generations."
Alex stifled a chuckle. If only John knew the irony of what he had just said.
"Actually I was hoping of being a professional footballer."
"Bah, that's not a career." John spat. "You need a proper job; something where you use your mind. You seem to have a good one. Don't let it go to waste boy. Your wits are the best thing to have about you. Proper education and a good job is what you need."
Alex listened to the old man's grumblings half heartedly. It was a very paternal thing for John to say, grouching about Alex's choice in careers and in some way it reinforced Alex's decision to trust the man. He couldn't place the reasons for his trust but he had learned to listen to his gut.
He was pulled back to the present when John stopped the car and Alex realized that they were on the street outside of his house. John watched him unbuckle himself from the seat without a word and offered up a small smile as Alex climbed out of the car.
"I'd like to talk to you again." Alex said from the street. "If that's okay with you, I mean." He amended quickly. John smiled at him congenially and nodded. "Alright. I'll give you a ring then and we can choose a day."
"I'll call you instead." John said quickly, before Alex could close the car door. "It's easier that way. I'm not in the house much, you'd be hard pressed to find a time when I'm in to answer."
Alex blinked. "Okay then. You call me. If I don't pick up Jack will."
"I'll see you soon then Alex." John said with a nod. Alex closed the door and stood back as the car took off down the street before disappearing around a corner.
Leave a review!