“You memorized that review? ”
“It’s got subtitles, love. Turn it off, will you? ”
I watched the video again.
Over a thousand views already, and Ollie was the one who’d recorded it. He’d given the Rovers Return one star, complaining about squabbling staff, mediocre food, and lukewarm craft beer. And everyone in the pub was watching it on a loop. “I had no idea this guy was so popular,” Bibs said.
“I had no idea he was having such a rubbish time. He didn’t look like it,” I replied. “He was taking selfies with my beer and everything,” Ollie added. “Why have you poked the bear, love?
It’s not worth it. ”
“Exactly. ”
“Maybe if you hadn’t clicked off in front of this fella. You were the one plying him with alcohol.
”
“That’s a lie. ”
“It’s not what he said. ”
The argument spiraled. Ollie and I went at each other, and I could feel the old frustration boiling up.
He was defending the man he worked for, Idris, like a bloody carbon copy of some two-bit business wannabe. “You used to be your own man, and look at you now,” I said. “It was about me standing up for myself while you were purposely sabotaging,” he shot back. “Yeah, well, you didn’t get it right either.
Why don’t you try harder next time? ”
“Benjamin! ”
“You’re unbelievable. When are you going to accept I’m a fully grown adult capable of making my own life choices, including who I work for?
”
“You two, calm the farm,” someone interrupted. “What’s that noise? ”
I backed off, but the tension hung in the air. Then Brian walked in, far too early for a paper delivery.
He was holding a bunch of flowers, and I could tell immediately something was up. “What are you doing here at such an early hour? ” I asked. “Um, well, early morning paper deliveries,” he stammered.
“And where’s the paper? ”
“There. ”
“So it is. A truly marvelous service, Mr.
Packham. ”
I wasn’t buying it. He was up to something. And I had a feeling it had to do with my wife, Maggie.
Later, when I got home, Tim was there with Sally. And they had Lucy with them. She was sitting in the living room with her arms crossed, and I knew that look. She was shutting down.
“Tim, we should have discussed this,” I said. “I know that you mentioned that you like to play. ”
“It’s not fair on the other girls. What did you get for them, Lucy?
”
“It’s not going to make up for anything. I can’t be bought. ”
“Why don’t I make us some breakfast? ” I offered, trying to change the subject.
“Hey, as it happens, Tim and I, we’ve got something else we want to talk to you about,” Tim said. “Yeah, but it’s nothing to worry about,” Sally added. “Yesterday I managed to move your counselor appointment to today. ”
“I don’t want to go.
”
“Lucy, it is… ”
“I don’t want to sit in a brown and disgusting room. ”
“I know, love, but we really think it’s going to help if you talk to some… ”
“Going over everything that happened again?
”
“Look, Lucy, I know this is really hard for you, but us and social services, we wouldn’t be suggesting this if we… ”
“I’m not going. ”
The room fell silent. Tim tried to lighten the mood with pancakes, but it didn’t work.
Lucy just sat there, refusing to engage. And when the counselor, Beatrice, finally arrived, Lucy refused to speak to her at all. “I told you I don’t want to speak to anyone about anything,” she said. “Actually, we’re really lucky to have Beatrice come to us,” Sally tried.
“She’s ever so busy. ”
“No. ”
“We’re just trying to help you, love. I know it’s hard.
I don’t like talking about things, but when I do, I feel a million times better. ”
“Good girl,” I said, trying to encourage her. But Lucy just stared at the floor. Later, I had my own conversation with the counselor.
I’d been trying to figure out how to win over Mrs. Driscoll, and I’d asked for advice. They mentioned macaroons as a possible gesture. I wasn’t sure.
But then someone told me something that changed everything. “If it’s Maggie you’re talking about, I can tell you what she’s really into. ”
“Go on. ”
“Rod Stewart.
Because she thinks Eros sang about her. ”
“Ah, tickets to Rod Stewart it is. Might he be playing at the arena anytime soon? ”
“More likely Caesars Palace, but well done for trying.
”
I laughed. It was ridiculous. But I couldn’t help feeling like I was in over my head. Brian was courting my wife, and I was standing here talking about Rod Stewart.
“Brian, you’re the reason he packed it in,” I said to myself. “The dirty dog. If I could only get my hands on him,” someone replied. “We’ve got bigger things to worry about.
”
“Sorry, but if he’s making your mother smile… ”
“It’s Brian Packham. ”
“And she’s Maggie Driscoll. I think I know who’s getting the rough end of the deal.
”
I tried to push it aside. But at home, the tension between Ollie and me was still festering. Bonnie pulled me aside. “The way you spoke to Ollie this morning, babe, not cool.
”
“I’m just trying to make him see sense, love. ”
“There’s a way of doing it. I just feel like you need to show him some respect. ”
“I love him.
”
“I know you do. But that old competitive rugby girl comes on a bit too strong. ”
“You like me, old rugby girl. ”
“I love you, old rugby girl, but wind your neck in.
”
“I’m all I’m doing is trying to protect my son. You’re in the jaws of a shark. ”
“Bonnie, you’re right. I’m just popping in to see right.
I’m not late. No, you’re fine. There is one way you could show Ollie some respect. ”
“Mhm?
”
I didn’t want to hear it. I knew I was being stubborn, but I couldn’t help it. I just wanted to protect him. And I felt like everyone was against me.
Later, I found out that Jenna had tried to talk to Bernie on my behalf. It didn’t go well. “I hope you don’t mind, but I did try talking to Bernie for you,” she said. “And?
”
“Let’s just say yeah, you probably won’t be welcome in the ranch anytime soon. ”
“I guess there’s only one thing left to do. ”
“What? ”
“Pray.
”
“Didn’t think you were religious. ”
“To the majesty herself, Dolly Parton. ”
We laughed. But the tension was still there.
I felt like I was losing my son, and I didn’t know how to stop it. Meanwhile, Sally and Tim were trying their best with Lucy, but it wasn’t working. She was becoming more and more hostile. At breakfast, everything boiled over.
“Right, girls,” Sally said. “I’ll put some tea on, shall I? ”
“That popcorn’s for pudding, by the way. So, we’re having sausage and mash?
”
“No, we’re having sausage with braised apple. ”
“What is that, Nigella? ”
“No, it’s a salad. ”
Suddenly, Lucy picked up her plate and threw it across the room.
Food splattered everywhere. “Hey, what’s going on? She chucked it all over me,” Tim shouted. “It was an accident,” Lucy said.
“Liar. ”
“You’re the liar. You’re all liars. ”
“Lucy, calm down.
”
“You’re lying about the popcorn and you’re lying about bringing that counselor here. ”
“You know something, you could do a lot worse than Sally and Tim,” Tim said. “Oh, like your actual parents. So, let me tell you something, my dad isn’t a lowlife like yours.
”
“Lucy,” Sally gasped. “Show your feet. What? I’m surrounded by liars.
The only person that isn’t is my dad. I want my dad. ”
“Well, that’s just not possible. ”
“Well, I don’t just make it possible.
”
The room fell silent. Sally and Tim didn’t know what to do. They were trying their best, but Lucy was pushing them away with everything she had. Later, I went to the local shop and ran into Roxy.
She was on the phone, looking upset. “Are you okay? ” I asked. “Yeah, I’m fine.
Well, I’m only ever across the way if you need a shoulder. ”
“What do you want? ”
“Nothing. ”
“Is that your son, Harry?
He was on the phone, too. ”
“Yeah. I never told you his name. ”
“Hey, you.
Pick those up,” I said, pointing at a kid who was littering. “If a policeman saw you doing that, they’d arrest you. ”
“You’re a police officer. ”
“No.
”
“Then can I be all right, then? ”
“Move over. Thought your generation was all about saving the planet. ”
“Listen, mate.
I’m generation alpha. ”
“Well, let’s tell you what, your generation could do with a telling off from your mother. ”
“Hey, what’s this about his mother? ” a woman asked, suddenly appearing.
“I’ve just caught him littering. ”
“Jake, pick that up now. ”
“Do we have to? ”
“Yes.
”
“Happy? ”
“Ecstatic. ”
I could feel the tension everywhere I went. It was like the whole street was on edge.
And then I saw Lucy talking to a boy. It was a secret meeting. She was whispering to him, and every few seconds she looked over her shoulder. “I’ve not got long,” she said.
“Well, me neither. ”
“How are you doing? ”
“Well, I got forced to speak to some stupid counselor today. ”
“What did you say to them?
”
“That I hate saying it to them. ”
“Anything else? ”
“No. ”
“Promise?
”
“Yeah. I do probably love them though. ”
“All right, now that you’re best option. Just make sure you stick exactly to the story and everything will be all right, okay?
”
“Okay. Love you. ”
“I’ll call you when I can. ”
I watched from a distance, and something twisted in my gut.
She was keeping a secret. And the boy she was talking to, I didn’t know who he was. But I knew he wasn’t supposed to be around her. Later, I saw Lucy again, with another young woman.
They were playing around, laughing. But then the boy from before showed up, and things got rough. “Hey, you, put that away,” the woman shouted. “Too late.
This is well going on TikTok. ”
“Well, that’s not very nice. ”
“Just… ”
“If I see that on the social media, you’re breaking that little leg.
”
“Yeah, cool it. ”
“Did he just hurt you? ” I asked. “Yeah,” the woman said.
“Oh, just lean on me, all right. Come on. Freak it. Get off.
”
“All right, call the police. I left my phone indoors. ”
“I’m not going to do that. ”
“Why not?
”
“Because there’s nothing to call them for. He was just being a silly kid. ”
“You were on the floor. I thought he attacked you.
”
“She fell over. ”
“Oi. What are you doing? This is a really big mistake.
Misunderstanding. I’m so sorry. ”
“You stay away from my son,” the woman said. “It’s all right, mate.
He’ll be fine. Yeah. It’s all right. ”
I walked away, but I couldn’t shake what I’d seen.
Lucy was hiding something. And I knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out.
