Face to Face

Part 23

"Anyone in?"

"Me!" Jackson smiled over at the dark haired woman peering around the front door.

"Aaron?"

"Walking Clyde."

"Oh!" Chas said, trying to sound disappointed, she knew exactly where her son was, and that was why she was here now. She wanted to speak to Jackson, on his own and in the privacy of Smithy Cottage. Stepping further into the room she gestured to the paper strewn kitchen table where Jackson was sitting and said, "You got a minute?"

Jackson was in the middle of sorting out some invoices, he'd really let that side of his business slide since he'd been with Aaron, now he was desperately trying to catch up. He really wanted to get them done before he took Aaron to see Paddy but not wanting to offend Aaron's mum he said, "Yeah, two if you like."

Chas flashed the young man a smile then stepped into the room settling herself in a chair beside him. "Thanks, this won't take long!"

There was something about the way she'd delivered that last line, that and the suddenly serious look on her face that had Jackson sit back in his chair and pin back his ears. He had no idea what she was about to say only that he probably wasn't going to like it.

"Aaron's only eighteen; he's still just a kid."

"I know how old he is." Jackson said evenly although a little taken aback by Chas' opening comment, he had an idea now that he was to be on the receiving end of a 'talking to'.

"You're what twenty-two, twenty-three?"

"Twenty-two. not exactly cradle snatching am I? Jackson forced a smile as he tried to lighten the tone of the conversation,

"You've been out how long?"

"What? Why?" What the hell did that have to do with her?

"You're his first boyfriend..."

"I know." Jackson interrupted; he was starting to get just a little pissed off now.

"You've had other gay relationships, he hasn't!"

"I know that too! Look you're telling me nothing I don't already know, so just get to what you really came here to say."

Chas eyed the young man steadily, it seemed she'd put Jackson on the defensive, she lowered her voice hoping to convince the young man she only had her son's interests at heart, "He might seem tough and unbreakable but he's easily hurt..."

"I know, and I've no intentions of hurting him." Jackson snapped, that was rich coming from her.

"You say that now but..."

"You've got a nerve..." Jackson bit back on his words; he didn't want to say something he would regret.

"What? Go on, if you've got something to say then say it!" Now she was on the defensive with an idea of what was coming.

"I know how vulnerable he is and I know why. His biggest fear is rejection and no wonder considering..."

Chas straightened her back and tilted her head upwards, she knew the blame was about to be laid at her door, and was ready to take it on the chin, "I know I've let him down..."

"Yes you did! You and that slap happy ex of yours! You both did a number on him..."

"Slap happy? What do you mean by that? Gordon never..."

"Yes he did!" Jackson insisted, nodding his head vigorously to emphasise the point. "I already know more about Aaron than you ever will so don't come here preaching to me about how easily hurt he is because I already know!"

Chas glared at the young man, a mix of anger and shock running through her veins. That couldn't be right about Gordon! He'd given her a mouthful for slapping Aaron once; he'd never been violent for her to know of. But then he was responsible for Paddy being in hospital now!

'My God!' Chas thought. That would explain why Aaron was so quick to let fly with his own fists. Leaping to her feet she stormed from the room, she needed to talk to Aaron, but not yet, not until she'd calmed down.

Jackson watched the irate woman leave, instantly regretting his outburst. Aaron hadn't actually said he didn't want her to know about his dad but that was the message he'd got. Jackson had wanted Aaron and Chas to strengthen their relationship, had encouraged Aaron to try harder at making things work between them and here he was getting on the wrong side of her, that was not going to help matters. Worse still he'd betrayed a confidence.

It was another half hour before the younger man returned home, Clyde with him. The dog bounded over to his water bowl, while Aaron eyed the mountain of paperwork questioningly. "Haven't you finished that yet?"

"No, I got distracted." Jackson said guiltily.

Aaron pulled a puzzled face, "By what?"

Gesturing to a chair alongside him Jackson said, "You're not going to like this."

Aaron took a seat, "What?"

"Your mum came round."

"You're right. I'm not liking it.!" Aaron grinned,

"It gets worse!"

Shrugging Aaron said, "She brought Carl with her?"

"No. I overreacted and..."

"Overreacted?" Aaron exclaimed, his mother had obviously overstepped the mark in some way. "What did she say?"

"She was worried about you, about me hurting you, you know emotionally and I..."

"So you told her where to go! Good." His mother didn't know when to keep her nose out; he was pleased Jackson had stood up to her.

"No, not exactly."

"What then?"

"I let slip about your dad."

"What?"

"Sorry I..."

"No, it's alright," Aaron knew how easy it was to have words with his mother; he usually ended up saying things he didn't mean to say too. She had a knack of rubbing people up the wrong way, that's where he got it from. "It's done now, forget it."

Reaching out to grip Aaron's hand Jackson said, "I don't want you to think you can't trust me."

"I know I can trust you." Aaron insisted, Jackson was one of only two people he did truly trust, and they'd gone out of their way to earn that trust.

"I don't want you thinking that I'm going to let you down at some point because I won't."

Aaron stared into the chocolate brown depths, seeing the sincerity there. He couldn't look away. There was something intoxicating in the older man's eyes, something else shining brightly there. Did he dare believe Jackson felt that way about him too?

TBC