A Year And A Half After The Accident – A Night To Forget
Knowing that many of the usual wedding traditions were out of the window, Jackson insisted the night before the ceremony they slept in separate houses, so they wouldn't see each other before the service.
"Let me get this straight. Of all the things we could have kept traditional you decided that we spend the night before our wedding apart, that's what you want?"
Aaron couldn't believe it.
"Since we had a joint stag night and neither of us have our dads giving us away it was this or you in a dress so take your pick."
"What would the dress be like?"
Aaron was seriously considering it.
"Don't be daft. It's once night with your mam, then in the morning I'm going to the B n' B to get dressed and Adam's coming here to help you."
"I know the plan. Aaron laughed. You have been repeating it in your sleep."
"I can't help it if I am excited. How are you feeling?"
"Nervous. He conceded. But the happiest I have ever been."
Aaron smiled and a sparkle appeared in his eyes.
"Good. Jackson returned his smile. I know something we haven't thought about. Who's taking whose last name?"
"Actually I have had an idea about that. We can use both. But it is up to you, because you proposed I should probably take your name."
"No. I kinda like that idea. Mr A and Mr J Livsey-Walsh. It has a certain ring to it."
"You like it?"
"Yeah. It is a great idea."
"I do have the occasional good one."
"If you say so. Jackson dodged Aaron's playful punch. Watch it. I don't want a black eye for the photos tomorrow. So, are you ready for the off?"
"Couldn't I just stay here? I'll sleep on the sofa."
"No 'cos you wouldn't and besides I have my vows to finish."
'Shit!' He had totally forgotten about them.
"I've just got to type mine up. I better go to get mum off the computer. He lied unconvincingly. I love you. See you tomorrow."
He kissed Jackson and then sprinted out of the door.
"They better be good Aaron."
Jackson shouted at his retreating back. Once out of ear shot, now completely panicked Aaron phoned Adam who was his acting best man.
"Aaron slow down and take a breath. Vows? How is it my fault? Give me half an hour to eat my tea and I'll meet you there. I'm not with Scarlett. Fine I'll call her. See you in a bit."
The ten minuet walk to his mums took less than five as his brain kicked into overdrive. She let him in and he stormed directly upstairs bypassing the fact his dad had been stood in the hallway and had even attempted to say hello.
He unpacked his clothes and wash bag, all the while breathing deeply trying to overcome the nausea he was feeling, however as he finally collapsed on the bed, laying back and closing his eyes, comprehension dawned. As he opened his bedroom door he came face to face with the man who had kicked him out and eventually given up on him.
"What do you want?"
"Hello, Aaron. How are you?"
"I said what do you want?"
"To talk."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"Your mum seems to think you do. Come downstairs we've ordered take out."
"I don't want food."
"Well come and have a brew at least."
"Can't. I'm busy."
"Aaron. I'm trying here."
"A bit late."
"That's not fair."
"You chose your new girlfriend over me. How is she by the way?"
"I have no idea. She moved in with Sam the milkman and I haven't spoken to her since and that was two months ago."
"So you thought you'd come crawling back here? Are you lonely or just bored?"
"Neither your mum called-"
"So you weren't even planning on visiting? You've come 'cos mum nagged you?"
"Aaron be fair."
"Fair! Nothing has ever been fair for me. I was abandoned and let down by you and mum, then the one person I grew close to, who I finally let in dies in a car crash I was involved in. So I am sorry if I haven't exactly been the perfect son, but all of this was overshadowed by me being gay, trying to kill myself, punching the lad I have fallen in love with, who I am marrying tomorrow and having to deal with you crawling out of the woodwork, but also his dad who is a homophobic prick. So don't talk to me about being fair."
He attempted to close the door in his face but his dad pushed it back.
"Aaron I am so-"
"Forget it."
"I had no idea."
"How would you? It's been a while and you didn't even call."
"You didn't either."
"You kicked me out. Not that it matters 'cos I had mam and Paddy."
"What about your…?"
"Boyfriend."
"Yeah. How long have you been together?"
"Over eighteen months."
"So a while then. And you're getting married?"
"Mum didn't tell you?"
"No. I thought you should have that pleasure."
Neither Aaron nor his dad had heard Chaz come upstairs.
"Thanks for that."
"Look can we just go downstairs and have our food?"
"Good idea it is getting cold. Oh and Adam has just arrived."
"Maybe we can have that chat?"
"I can't. I meant it when I said I was busy. I forgot all about my vows so I called Adam to help."
"Well we're not completely useless. Your mum and I have been there."
"Yeah and you downloaded yours from the web."
"Now there's an idea."
Aaron smiled.
"I was never great with words. I needed a little help."
"Yeah well now you know where you get it from."
Chaz teased.
"Okay enough. Aaron intervened. Lets eat. We can have that chat and I'd be very grateful if you could both help me."
He ushered them downstairs and into the kitchen where Adam was sat pale as a ghost.
"Adam what's up?"
"Hazel just called. You need to get back to yours."
"Why? What's happened?"
"It's Jackson."
"Spit it out Adam."
"He's been attacked."
"Is it bad?"
"I don't know."
"Adam?"
"She called an ambulance."
"Right. I have to go."
"I'll drive you the quad's outside."
"Or I could take you all."
His dad offered.
"Can you take us all to mine and then the hospital?"
"Yes. I'm glad to help."
"Thanks. Did Hazel say what had happened?"
"Jackson was out cold. It looked like he had hit his head. She saw his dad leaving."
"Did she call the police? Adam shook his head. Good. I am going to bloody kill him."
"No. His dad took charge of the situation. What you're going to do is take some of this food, get back to yours and stay with your man. Adam will wait with you. Hazel, me and your mum will go and have a word with his dad."
"But…"
"For once just do what I say. Trust me, we'll sort it. You need to be at Jackson's side when he comes round."
"He's right you know?"
"I know."
Aaron conceded.
"Right, Aaron in front to direct me."
"I can do that."
Chaz offered.
"Yeah and we've been there before."
"One time."
"Blackpool instead of Wales."
"You were distracting me and besides his house is less than five minuets down the road."
"True but the hospital isn't."
Adam watched their flirting amusedly, but Aaron was growing impatient.
"Hello. Emergency here."
They pulled up outside Smithy just as Jackson was being carried out on a stretcher. Aaron barely waited for the car to stop before he was running to him.
"Jackson! Oh God. Is he okay? I'm here Jay."
"Who are you?"
Aaron had shoulder charged into one of the paramedics.
"It's okay. That is his fiancé."
Hazel appeared in the nick of time.
"And them?"
"His mum, his best friend and-"
"My dad. Aaron sorted the introductions. Hazel, did Gerry do this?"
"I don't know I found him on the floor."
"But you saw his car? Adam told me."
"Aaron you have to understand he isn't a bad person."
"How can you say that? Just look at what he's done. No wonder Jackson is so against violence. That's twice he has hit him."
"He couldn't accept him being gay."
"That's no excuse. I know I more or less did the same thing, but I won't ever lay a hand on him again, because I love him."
"I know and Gerry does in his own way."
"He walked away from you twice."
"That may be true, but he has never stopped caring."
"Jackson doesn't see it like that."
"Neither did you. His dad interrupted. Sorry, but I was wondering if you, Chaz and I could maybe try having a word? I'm new to this situation and it has been a bit of a shock for me too, but my point is that our son's are together and I have never seen Aaron this calm or happy, so like it or not we will have to deal with it."
"We can give it a try."
Hazel smiled hopefully.