Face to Face
Part 18
Jackson had been in the middle of pricing a job when his mobile had rung. Paddy had been on the other end of the phone, at his wits end by the sound of it and desperate for someone Aaron trusted to find him and stop him doing something stupid.
Well it was too late for that. Marlon had seen him getting off the bus and then into his car! He'd already committed two offenses by simply driving off. If he was to assault his father on top of that then he'd be locked up for sure.
He had already driven over to Aaron's dad's house; there'd been no sign of Aaron's car and no answer at the door. So Paddy had then directed him to Livesey's office, he was still ten minutes or so away from there so if Aaron was there, the chances of him getting to the hothead before he did something he'd regret were just about nil.
All Paddy had told him was that Aaron was angry at his father and was missing. He could be anywhere, but you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to work out where he was most likely headed.
He'd wanted to deck the bastard himself last week and could understand Aaron wanting to do the same, especially after what he'd done to Paddy. But he had too much to lose. His freedom for one! And what would a prison sentence do to their relationship? What would it do to Aaron?
He'd tried ringing him, Paddy had too but he wasn't answering, well he was notoriously good at that! He'd texted Aaron while he was stuck at the last lot of traffic lights. Told him to ring Paddy and put his mind at rest. Had he forgotten just how ill the man had been?
Shit! Now he'd taken a wrong bloody turn. He was never going to get there at this rate!
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
The last time he'd been here he'd broken in and trashed the place. He'd done a good job of it too. His dad had turned up at his Uncle Zak's threatening him with the police but the Dingles had closed ranks and told Gordon Livesy they were all prepared to vouch for his whereabouts the night before. He'd been surprised at that. And at how his mother has defended him.
He'd not heard from the man again. There'd been no birthday cards, no Christmas presents, no nothing. He had another son to spend his money on now.
They'd been close at one time, him and his dad, when it was just the two of them. Then he'd met Sandra, and he'd been so busy chasing after her he'd forgot all about him. He moved the cow in, took her side every time there was an argument. She used to lie about him, say he'd done things when he hadn't. His father had believed her over him each time and when he'd got in his face about it, he'd hit him.
His father had never laid a finger on him before that. But having done it once he seemed to think he could do it again. Then he'd started getting into trouble and Sandra would be banging on at him, letting him know what a disappointment he was to his father. They got into this big argument and something just snapped inside and he'd hit her. Men didn't hit women, he knew that and he regretted it but there was no taking it back.
That was it as far as his father was concerned, the excuse he needed to throw him out.
His mother had taken him in, and he'd found himself living with a bunch of strangers, family he didn't know. He hadn't been there long when Chas took up with Paddy. Before he could turn around they were moving in with him. She wasn't with him long though, but long enough for Paddy to become important in his life.
Well he didn't have to break in this time, the door was open and he could hear his father on the phone. Laughing at something the other person had said. He wouldn't be laughing when he saw him walk in through the door.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
At last! Now all he needed to do was find a parking space. He didn't dare illegally park anywhere here. He couldn't risk being clamped in case he had to hunt Aaron down elsewhere.
There's his car! And look how he's parked! There was no danger of him getting his licence anytime soon. And certainly not in the next few years if he had laid into Gordon Livesy.
Now his phone was ringing again. "Paddy! Yes I'm there now and so is Aaron's car. Yeah, I'll ring you back ASAP."
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
"Sorry Phil, I'm going to have to get back to you!"
His father looked shocked to see him. He was obviously the last thing on his mind. No surprises there then.
He could see where Paddy had punched him, the remnants of a bruise visible on the right side of his jaw.
"What do you want?"
He sounded nervous, not half so cocky without a drink inside of him. Not that he'd needed a drink to turn nasty before. He must have read in the paper that his son was handy with his fists too.
So what did he want? Well when he'd first left the hospital his sole intention was to find his father and punch his lights out. But he'd been miles from any place his father was likely to be. He couldn't depend on a bus to chase him down. So he'd gone home and picked up his car. He was still angry then, still wanting to physically hurt him in some way.
His phone had been ringing constantly, he could have switched it off but he hadn't been able to. It was a reminder that he wasn't alone, that somebody cared about him, even if his father didn't. It wasn't until he'd pulled up outside his old house that he'd looked at the missed calls and full inbox message flashing on the screen. Paddy's and Jackson's names appeared over and over. He'd opened one text, the one from Jackson. He could tell he was angry with him.
He'd texted Paddy, told him not to worry that he was just trying to get his head sorted. Then he'd got out of the car and hammered on his father's door.
There'd been no answer there so he'd made his way here to his father's office. He'd sat in his car for a while; he wasn't so angry and was starting to think about what he was doing. If he was to get in any trouble while on community payback he knew he'd be sent to jail.
Paddy needed him, who was going to look after him if he was banged up? And Jackson, what about him? He wasn't going to wait around for him, now was he? Then there was his job at the garage, and his mum!
But as much as he'd reasoned with himself he had still got out the car and made his way here. He'd realised that there was something he had to do. Something he should have done long before now. It might have saved him and the people who loved him a lot of heartache if he had.
"I'm gay," He finally said. His father had been under the pretence of looking at his computer screen but that statement seemed to have got his full attention. He was looking at Aaron now like he had grown another head. Suddenly the older man was on his feet, storming around his desk until he was close enough to backhand him across the face.
Aaron stumbled backwards, his hand going automatically to his cheek. He stared steadily back into his father's rage filled eyes. "I'm still gay!"
The next blow almost knocked him off his feet. But he quickly righted himself wanting to say what he had to say to his father face to face. He could taste blood now, feel it trickling from the side of his mouth, he wiped it away then said,"Nothing you say or do is going to change that."
He'd half expected his father to hit him again but instead the older man turned around and strode over to his desk, leaning over and resting his hands on it, head bowed and his back turned towards Aaron.
"Because of you and people like you, I tried to hide what I feel inside. You made me ashamed just to be me. But not anymore, and if you can't accept me the way I am, then that's your problem not mine."
He knew his father had heard him, and he'd hoped for some sort of response but there was nothing. He'd had his chance, "Stay out of my life and away from the people I care about."
Turning around he was surprised to see Jackson standing just the other side of the door. He was smiling at him, maybe he hadn't been angry with him after all? But as he registered the signs of violence on his face, Jackson's smile quickly disappeared. The next thing Aaron knew he was lunging past him, trying to get to his father.
"No! Aaron said as he gripped Jackson's arm, "Like I said before, he's not worth it."
TBC