Evie read through her emails with a sigh. She had already planned out her Sunday, she was taking the boys hiking. The picnic was already made. Now her daughter was coming over. The sprightly sixty year old wrote a quick reply 'meet you at the Car Park on Silver Valley Road at 10:30 and come hiking with us. Otherwise will be home at round 4, love mom.'
There was no way Grace would waste six hours on recreation with her mother or her son.
She then called upstairs "Get up! breakfast is ready."
Alex emerged first, washed and dressed. He sat and helped himself to toast, granola muffins and a large glass of juice. All week he had cleared his plate, her grandson had reported that Alex was not bulimic. It was one less thing to worry about for the moment, her new son may be just acting the compliant good boy, only for his problems to resurface once he was settled. The diet plan depended on plenty of snacks and extra food, as Tom still ate pizza, burgers and milkshakes to supplement her vegan diet.
The boys could gorge on pizza tonight, she would drop them off at Sergio's for a hockey night special. She was giving Alex freedom to explore his boundaries, to get to know Tom well, give their budding friendship space to grow and make this town home. Tom had grown up in a house on Point Grey Road and formerly gone to St. John's School, living the millionaire lifestyle with nanny, housekeeper, gardeners and parents who worked fourteen hour days. Three years ago Evie had been living in her studio in Nelson, 600km east of Vancouver, where Grace had grown up and left to go to college and never come back. She had moved to Port Nelson after Colm had moved out, trying to be there for her daughter and grandson. Grace had coped with being dumped by working even harder and pushing everyone away.
...,
In the cool misty morning, Alex put on his nearly new boots and coat. Both bought yesterday morning from the junk shop for 25 bucks. Preowned but obviously never worn, unwanted in last seasons colours. The coat was even a decent make and would do for a couple of winters.
The trunk of Evie's ten year old SUV was full of a variety of snowboarding stuff, a large first aid kit, a shovel, blankets, the picnic, several sketch pads and her camera bag.
Tom picked up the rucksack containing the all important food. He turned to face the trail and swore, seeing the white, spotlessly clean Range Rover Vogue parked up and a glamourous forty something walking over. "Fuck! Mom's here!"
"Red trail, meet you both for lunch at the Gorge Picnic Area. I'll deal with Grace."
"Morning Tommy. Are you going to introduce your friend." The dark haired tall woman asked.
Alex watched on as Tom grunted and walked away. He had the choice of being polite or being a friend; so he waved at the new arrival and ran after the other teenagers, he had only heard bad things about Mrs. McMorin.
Evie smiled and apologised "you'll have to forgive Alex, he's still a bit clingy with Tom."
"Why are you adopting the boy? I would think you had your hands full with Tommy. You've said you were too old foster when you moved to Port Moody. So, what's so special about this Alex?"
"Alex Rider is the boy who broke out of the school in France and alerted the authorities to the shenanigans going on there. You and your son are alive today because of his selfless bravery. He'a an orphan and needs a home. One I'm more than happy to provide. So what brought you out to wander the wilderness this morning in a pair of boot that cost more than my car?"
Alex ran to catch Tom up, the tall Canadian boy was blazing a trail to get away from his mother. The two boys then marched on at a good clip, coats zipped and hoods up to keep out the dank drizzle. The path forked and Tom without hesitation went left. "There's two routes to the picnic ground, easy and moderately taxing. This trail climbs, sometimes you get good view, but not today. Might see some wildlife though."
For an hour they walked in silence before Tom stopped under an overhanging tree for some shelter. The rain had stopped and the low cloud appeared to be lifting. He took a long drink from his canteen.
Alex then did the same, the had not passed any other hikers this morning. He then smiled and asked "Fancy a smoke? Cassian gave me some much needed supplies. He made some of the right type of friends at the Skate Park yesterday. There was the full choice of personal poisons. He said I should start off on weed and work up to the good stuff. So, my good man, ciggie or spliff?"
"I need a drag for pure relaxation, that bitch turning up has ruined the good mood I was in this morning. Show us your stash then Rider."
Alex pulled out the tobacco tin containing his dope, an orange disposable lighter and a packet of Marlboro cigarettes. Better to get 'caught' smoking cigarettes than anything illegal. "Cass said this is decent weed. Most of the stuff those guys were selling was junk made from garden herbs for the ignorant and unwary. Our Californian friend gave me a master class on how to get what you want for a price you are willing to pay. Never give the impression you are a user. Always make them think you are a dealer, low level just supplying your friends. You smell of desperation and you are going to get shafted. I now have some contacts, so it's guaranteed party time from now on."
"Good stuff costs money, you and I ain't exactly on easy street. My normal routine of doing jobs around the neighbourhood just pays for my boarding lessons and the slopes should be open by the end of the month. I'd be completely sunk if I had to find the cash for my ski pass as well."
"Getting cash is no problem to keep ourselves happy. I can always fall back on dipping people's pockets, should be easy when we both go skiing. I'll use you as my drop man. Fifty fifty split of the spoils." The fifteen year old then lit up the hand rolled joint and took a long inhale before passing it over to Tom. His game plan for Operation Complete Meltdown was well underway. Drink, drugs and sex were all weapons to get back at those that had misused him.