Dad?

Rory looked from Jim to Charlie and back again. Of course; that’s why he had seemed familiar to her. He looked just like Charlie. His son.

Charlie hadn’t taken his eyes from his father. His face was pale, and Rory had never seen so much fear in his eyes. She needed to do something.

‘Look, Dra… er, Jim. It’s late and your visit is a bit of a sho… surprise for Charlie. Why don’t you leave your number and he can call you if he wants to see you?’

Jim slid his attention to Rory. ‘And why don’t you mind your own business? You’ve done quite enough already. Couldn’t wait to move the boy into your house, eh? That’s why it took me so long to find him. I came down here weeks ago, but he was never in the same place long enough for me to grab him. Foster carers, the hospital, his mother’s place. Then he disappeared again. I even had to pick up some labouring work and find somewhere to stay. Mind you,’ he winked, ‘your mate has been pretty useful in that department lately.’

However unpleasant he was, Rory needed to stay calm. ‘I have no idea what you are talking about, but this is my home. I do not want you here. You need to leave.’

Jim ignored her and carried on. ‘She was pretty useful, actually, your Susie. When I bumped into her at the pub and found out she was a teacher, I realised that would be better route to Charlie – find out his school. Took a while to get the information out of her, though. Never mind, I’m here now.’ He turned to Charlie. ‘So, boy. Haven’t you got anything to say to your old dad? Have you missed me?’

Charlie was frozen. But he moved his head slowly from side to side.

Jim laughed nastily. ‘Well, I guess I asked for that. I wasn’t the best dad around, was I? Still, I had a lot to worry about in those days. The little spell away gave me some time to think. Plus I met some interesting people. People that know how to find someone you’re looking for.’

Away? Where had he been? Did he mean prison?

‘But I’m out now. Fresh start and all that. Get your stuff and let’s go. I’ve got a mate we can bunk with tonight and we’ll get on the road back home tomorrow.’

Charlie didn’t move.

The air was heavy. There was no way Rory was going to let Charlie go anywhere, and she knew from his expression he didn’t want to go either. She moved closer to him. She just needed to get him back upstairs and then get this horrible man to leave. Come on, Rory. Think!

‘Charlie, why don’t you go back to your room? Let me speak to your dad about this.’

Charlie turned his attention to her. His eyes were haunted. She wanted to put her arms around him and carry him upstairs herself.

He shook his head. ‘I’m not leaving you alone with him.’

Jim gave a hollow laugh. ‘Don’t worry, son. I’m not going to touch her.’ He stretched his arms upwards, then put them behind his head and leaned back. ‘I’m a changed man.’

Who the hell did he think he was? This was Rory’s sofa, Rory’s home, and she wanted him out of it right now. Her resolution to remain calm was wavering.

‘You can’t just waltz in here and whisk Charlie away. I am responsible for him and he’s not going anywhere tonight. Just leave your contact details; I will speak to Charlie’s mum and…’

‘Charlie’s mum?’ He almost spat the words at her. ‘Don’t speak to me about that slag.’

Charlie snapped out of his stare. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. ‘Don’t you dare speak about my mum like that!’

Jim sneered as he laughed. ‘Oh, we’re quite the big man now, are we? Planning on landing one on me, are you?’

‘Just go. I don’t want you here. Just leave us alone.’ Charlie’s voice was trembling. Was that fear or anger, or both? Rory put a hand on his shoulder.

‘Turned you against me, has she? Was it your mother or this one?’ Jim nodded at Rory. ‘Load of women around. No good for a boy. You don’t want to listen to them. Come on, get your stuff.’ He stood up.

Charlie took a deep breath. ‘I don’t need to listen to anyone. I remember.’

‘Yeah, well. Like I said, I’m different now.’ Jim stepped towards Charlie and stretched out a hand. ‘Come on. I’ve had enough of this. Let’s go. You can get your stuff later.’

Charlie was trembling all over now. Rory needed to do something. There was no way he was going anywhere with this man. But how to get Jim out of the house?

She stepped in front of Charlie and turned to face him. She held both of his arms and looked at him intently. She had to make him understand.

‘Maybe you should go with your dad.’ Charlie’s eyebrows hit the ceiling. ‘Go upstairs now and get some things for tonight. Don’t forget your new toiletries I bought you.’ Now his eyebrows knit in confusion. ‘They are in my bedroom. On the side table. And while you’re there, could you bring me my mobile phone which is there too?’

Finally, he looked as if he understood. ‘Okay. I’ll be right back.’ He looked from his father to Rory. She gave him a short nod. I’ll be fine.

Dragon Man took another step towards her as Charlie disappeared upstairs. ‘Do you think I’m stupid? You’re going to get the boy to do your dirty work and call the police?’

Rory moved so that she was between Dragon Man and the sitting room door. If he was going after Charlie, he would have to get through her first. And she wasn’t going to roll over easily.

‘Even if you get out the house with him, I am going to call the police straight away. How far will you get?’

‘You forget an important fact. I’m the boy’s father. I can take him anywhere I like.’

‘And you forget that he is old enough to decide which parent he wants to live with. If you take him against his will, the courts will class that as abduction, which I’m assuming won’t go down well with your probation officer?’ Rory had just made the whole of that up. Including the possibility that he was still on probation. But she was banking on the fact that Dragon Man would not know that she didn’t know what she was talking about. From the look on his face, she was right.

She had never seen a domestic abuser up close. Never experienced a man who would treat a woman the way this man had treated Charlie’s mum. She got a brief insight into how it might feel to be on the receiving end of someone like him as she watched the range of emotions that played across his face now. Incomprehension. Anger. Pure hatred. ‘You little bitch. I’m going to…’

The back door opened and John strode in. ‘Move away from her, right now.’

Dragon Man held his hands up and moved a step backwards. ‘What the hell are you doing back?’

‘None of your business.’ John walked up behind Rory and stood beside her. ‘I think I heard you being asked to leave.’

Dragon Man pulled his shoulders backwards. He looked like a cockerel. Or maybe just the first four letters. ‘I’m leaving. As soon as my son comes down, I’ll be on my way.’

The stairs creaked as Charlie came down them. He came into the sitting room and stood on the other side of Rory. ‘I’m not leaving.’

Dragon Man didn’t even look at Charlie. He addressed himself to John. He put his fist into his other hand and started to rub it. Rory had thought people only did that in B movies. ‘You’re a bloke. What the hell are you doing, siding with her? I’m the boy’s father.’

‘And the boy – Charlie – says he doesn’t want to come with you.’

Dragon Man lunged for Charlie and grabbed his arm. ‘Who’s going to stop me?’

In the next few seconds, everything seemed to go in slow motion. Charlie wrestled his arm free. John pushed Jim backwards so that he was standing on the rug. Rory dropped to the floor, grabbed the rug and pulled it hard. Dragon Man fell backwards, hitting his head on the coffee table. He was out cold.

For a moment, they were silent. Then John took Rory’s hand and pulled her up so that she could put her arms around a trembling Charlie. He put a hand on her back. ‘I knew you wouldn’t get around to putting anti-slip tape under that rug.’

---

After the police and ambulance had been and gone and Charlie was in bed, Rory and John sat together in the kitchen. Rory had debated whether to call Charlie’s mum at the hospital, but they’d decided it was better to go and see her in the morning so that she could see for herself that Charlie was safe. Rory had guessed rightly that Dragon Man was on probation – for GBH, the policeman had told her, off the record – and would be returning to detention at Her Majesty’s pleasure after being checked out at the local hospital. She’d warned the police officers escorting Jim to A&E that Charlie’s mum was also in that hospital, and they’d recommended Rory persuade her to get an injunction out against him before he left prison next time.

It was a relief to be sitting on her sofa next to John with a glass of wine in her hand.

‘How did you get here so quickly?’ Charlie had already told Rory that he had called John rather than the police. But that didn’t explain how he had arrived almost as soon as Charlie had ended the call. His van was fast, but it wasn’t a time machine.

‘I was still parked outside when I got Charlie’s call. I was angry with myself and I also didn’t like the look of that man. It didn’t seem like you were happy to have him there. So I hung around to see if he left.’

Rory took another gulp of wine. ‘Well, I’m very glad you did. That was scary.’

John shrugged. ‘Men like that are dangerous. And unpredictable.’

They sat for a while longer in companionable silence. Then Rory realised what he’d said.

‘Why were you angry with yourself?’

John put his wine down on the table and shifted himself around in his chair. ‘I was angry with myself because, yet again, I’d left without speaking to you.’

The butterflies were back. Don’t get your hopes up again, Rory. ‘Speaking to me? What about?’

John rubbed his nose. Then he rubbed his cheek with his knuckles. Then he cleared his throat. ‘About your boiler. I know you think you don’t need a new one but…’ He shuffled closer and looked her in the eye. ‘Are you really going to make me say it?’

Rory would have spoken, except the butterflies had somehow fluttered their way into her throat. She didn’t move. Or breathe.

John looked down and used his thumb to rub an imaginary smudge from the back of his other hand. He took a deep breath. ‘I know that you aren’t looking to meet anyone, Rory. That you like it being just you and Belle. I was happy on my own, too, but… every time I see you… there is something…’

She hadn’t imagined it. That feeling. And here it was again. ‘I know. I feel it too.’ She put her hand over his to stop him fidgeting. He looked up. Those eyes.

They sat in silence. Someone needed to make a move. It was her turn. ‘So, you saved me from the Dragon Man?’

A smile began to flicker at the corners of John’s mouth. ‘Technically, you were the one who pulled the rug out and sent him flying.’

‘So, I saved John Prince from the dragon?’ Rory smiled as John leaned in to kiss her. ‘I like the sound of that happy ending.’