Face to Face

Part 38

Aaron looked Paddy up and down, "Get dressed, she'll be back in a minute!"

Paddy glanced down at his nightwear, "Your mum's seen me like this before." She'd seen him in and out of his pyjamas 'but' Paddy thought wistfully, 'that was a long time ago now.'

Aaron screwed up his face, he hadn't wanted another reminder of the time his mam and Paddy were sharing the same bed. She hadn't spent that many nights there though, she'd soon hopped into Carl's, breaking Paddy's heart in the process. Aaron knew that the older man would take her back at the drop of a hat, and that he'd only end up heartbroken again. His mother being here now, in such a vulnerable state, was not a good idea but one night wouldn't hurt surely? He'd take her up to Zak's himself first thing in the morning, much safer for all concerned that she cry on Lisa' shoulder and not Paddy's!

Jackson had sprinted after Chas, quickly catching her up; they'd then begun a tug-of-war with her belongings.

"Let me help."

"I don't need your help!"

Jackson had heard that line before, many times from her son. He didn't take any notice of him at such times either. After finally wrenching the suitcase out of Chas' hand he tucked his free arm in hers and steered her around until she was facing Smithy Cottage. "I'm sorry. I was out of order, now can we please go back in there and put their minds at rest?"

They were standing on the corner of the road, lamplight making eerie the night's shadows, a cold autumn wind breathing through the trees and rustling the leaves that lay decaying at their feet.

Chas was now holding the young man's gaze. She couldn't quite believe Jackson had come after her, He'd been so angry with her and she couldn't blame him. Too late she'd realised she'd made a mistake by knocking on their door, but hurt had driven her towards the warmth of a light, to the promise of an understanding ear to unburden her troubles to. She'd just not given any thought to Aaron's reaction. Experience should have made her wise to that.

"At least Aaron's been lucky in love."

Jackson's face lit up at the unexpected comment, "And I do love him, that's why I reacted the way I did."

"I know." Chas said, her tears falling now for quite a different reason than Carl King.

Arm in arm they'd then made their way back into the warmth and were soon sitting around the kitchen table, sipping on the mugs of tea Aaron had made. But they were sitting in silence, an uncomfortable one, Aaron growing increasingly irritated by it.

"Are you going to tell us what happened?"

"Aaron!" Paddy warned, Chas would tell them in her own time.

Chas set down her cup, ready as she ever would be to tell them what just a few hours ago she'd been blissfully unaware of herself.

"It's been going on for weeks, I didn't have a clue, I didn't suspect a thing. How stupid am I? Eve's known for it, look at her and John Barton, the slut led him astray now she's got her claws into Carl."

"I bet he didn't fight her off!" Aaron spat scathingly earning himself another warning look from Paddy.

"No. I think he did most of the chasing, at least that's what 'she' says."

"Is that how you found out? She told you?" Paddy asked wondering if Eve had told Chas in an effort to split the two of them up."

"No. He was working late in his office; I thought I'd surprise him. I did too. I caught them kissing. Carl tried to make it sound like it was the first time and that she'd kissed him. He was playing the innocent but 'she' wasn't haven't any of that and said he was as guilty as her. I knew she was telling the truth just like I knew he was lying.

"I couldn't bear to look at him so I went home...back to his place, he followed and we had this huge row. The he left, drove off. I sat on the bed crying and suddenly realised a lot of good that would do me. So I packed my stuff. I knew Lisa would let me stay there but then...sorry, I should never have come here..."

"Rubbish. Of course you should've. You're always welcome here, you're welcome to stay here too, for as long as you like."

Aaron couldn't believe his ears, well he could, he just didn't want to. Paddy had just given his mam an open invitation and he was certain she'd take it. He looked at her wanting to warn her off but her gaze was fixed on Paddy. He heard her say, "No I couldn't." Then sat and listened to Paddy insisting she could and would!

An hour later the house was in darkness. All but Aaron in bed. He was standing looking out of his bedroom window, looking at the streetlamp lit village below.

Jackson lay watching him, reminded of another night, their first night together. Aaron had been worried about Paddy that night too, but for a different reason. He'd been able to reassure him then even though the situation had been a much more serious a one. But not tonight. Words weren't helping but he could offer another kind of comfort.

"Aaron come to bed. Please."

Heaving a weary sigh Aaron turned around and padded over to his bed, dropping into it and settling himself into Jackson's waiting arms.

"She'll end up back in his bed I know she will!"

"Paddy's?"

"Yeah! She'll be there all of five minutes then she'll be off like last time. Well I'm not going to let her hurt him again, no way."

Jackson tightened his hold on the younger man, "You might just be worrying over nothing..."

"No, I know Paddy. I know her and the two of them under the same roof is asking for trouble!"

TBC