Closing the door to the back room, where all the food was kept, Spencer answered the call from Debra. ‘Hiya. Everything okay?’
‘It’s Jax, Spence. Won’t go to school again. Said he’d run away if his dad tries to force him. He can’t keep faking illness either. It’s all getting a bit much now. Thought I’d let you know in case his anxiety levels are raised next time you see him.’
‘Thanks. Hopefully his school will find a solution.’
‘His dad is in talks with them, but he also wanted to update us. Bless Jax, his social anxiety has flared, but he’s taken a shine to our centre, so at least we can help with his confidence when he’s with us. It all helps.’
‘Thanks for letting me know.’
‘Bye, Spence.’
Spencer went back outside to see if Alice needed any help. She was sitting in the big blue comfy chair having a chat with Len, who often liked to come in just for a natter to ease his loneliness since his wife passed away. Leaving them to it, he went back to making up food parcels while worrying about Jax. The boy looked in good spirits over the weekend, but then again they were having fun.
* * *
Spencer scooped up the last morsel on his dinner plate and sat back, satisfied. ‘Thanks, Lottie. That went down well.’
Lottie laughed. ‘Didn’t last a minute. Have you eaten at all today?’
‘Yes, I was just hungry, that’s all. Had a lot of running around to do.’
His little sister’s sea-blue eyes held concern. ‘Have you taken on too much?’
Spencer waggled a hand while the other raised a glass of water to his mouth. ‘I’m okay.’
Lottie manoeuvred her electric wheelchair around the kitchen table so she was closer to his face.
Spencer laughed. ‘What you looking for?’
‘Any worry lines.’
‘Got plenty of those just from being your brother.’
‘Oh, ha ha.’
‘Seriously, Lott, I’m fine. Just a busy day. Plus, I was worried about Jax. Poor kid isn’t doing too well at school.’
‘Aww, does he need extra help?’
‘No. He has social anxiety, and it affects him in class. Chris, his dad, let us know.’
‘Something like home-schooling might suit him or smaller classes. The school will probably make those suggestions.’
‘Leo loves being home-schooled.’
Lottie started to clear the table. ‘I think that would have suited you.’
It was true. Spencer had little in the way of happy memories from his school years. He decided to change the subject. The last thing he wanted was to go back to his own past. So much of it still haunted him, so he preferred to ignore it altogether. Besides, he had more people to occupy his mind now.
He glanced at his sister stacking the dishwasher. She was all he had left in the way of family. When he’d heard she’d been knocked off her bike by a car, he was sure his heart left his body. There was no one in the world more important to him than Lottie.
‘Do you want to stay over tonight, Spence?’ she asked, glancing his way. ‘We can watch a film.’
He looked at the clock over by the window. ‘What time is Sam due back?’
‘He shouldn’t be too long. He’s faffing about at the new headquarters. No doubt his rumbling tummy will bring him home soon.’
Spencer smiled. He loved how much his sister was settled with a loving partner. Samuel Powell was a good man. She was in safe hands with that one, he was sure. Still, it didn’t stop him being there for her like he always had been.
