‘He slipped and bruised his arm.’ Harry looked to his wife.
Annette leaned towards him. ‘And what about him not wanting to swim? Or is that subject too boring for you to get into? No doubt you’d rather be at one of your own meetings, happily talking about stupid lemurs or other creatures for hours, but five minutes about your son, and, well, you just don’t care.’
‘Of course I care, Annette. But the way you acted, I thought they’d hurt him on purpose.’
Debra sat up. ‘I can assure you we would never—’
‘You threatened to close down the Sunshine Centre,’ said Harry, eyes still firmly on his wife.
It was quite possible Annette was going to explode. Her neck was redder than her face, and her teeth were on full display. ‘You know how big the next competition is for Ryan. He has to win, but thanks to this lot, he won’t compete. This centre clearly doesn’t build confidence. It hasn’t helped Ryan at all.’
Harry gently took her hand. ‘Annette, I know you’re upset, but—’
‘Upset! Upset!’ Annette stood, towering over him. ‘We’re talking about the Olympics.’
‘He’s ten!’ said Harry.
‘He’s in training,’ spat Annette. ‘I should have never brought him here. Confidence, what a joke. All he’s done is come home with stupid badges and no desire to swim.’
Spencer went to speak, but Harry turned his way.
‘He told me about the Sunshine Superheroes. He loves those badges. Well done. Such a good idea.’
‘Oh, now you’re being stupid, Harry.’ Annette fixed her glare on Spencer. ‘Your superhero malarkey ends right now. I’ll not have my son party to such nonsense any longer.’
‘What are you talking about?’ said Harry. ‘He loves earning his badges, and he loves this centre.’
The door flew open, revealing Ryan in the doorway. ‘And I hate swimming,’ he yelled.
All eyes were on the crying lad.
‘You’re supposed to be waiting in the art room,’ said Annette.
Ryan ran straight into his dad’s arms and sobbed some more.
‘Hey, hey, Ry,’ said Harry, soothing his child. ‘It’s all right, son.’
‘Please don’t leave again, Dad,’ were the boy’s muffled words.
Spencer’s heart broke in a million places, but he was so glad Ryan was using his words to communicate.
Watery eyes peered over Harry’s shoulder to look at Spencer. ‘I’m sorry,’ Ryan told him.
‘You have nothing to be sorry for,’ said Spencer.
Harry pulled his child back so he could cup his face. ‘Good to be able to have a hug, eh, son?’
Ryan sniffed as he nodded. ‘I wish you didn’t work away so much. I miss you.’
‘We always video call.’
‘I like it when you’re here.’
Harry brushed back Ryan’s blond locks. ‘How about you tell me what else you like, or should we talk about what you don’t?’
Spencer prayed Ryan wouldn’t shy away now. ‘You can speak freely. You’re in a safe space.’
Annette scoffed. ‘My son’s always in a safe space. The only time he wasn’t was when he was with you.’
