A week suddenly felt like an awfully long time.
“You sure you’ll be okay until Finn gets home?” Cole asked, picking up his own bag and his car keys off the table.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’m just going to watch a film, maybe have a nap with Angus.” Practically what I’d done most days in the past week.
“I’ll call you later, then.”
“Okay.”
With the house to myself, which felt weird after the three of us being there all week, I settled in front of the TV, tree lights twinkling happily, and snuggled down to watch yet another Christmas movie with Angus.
I must’ve dozed off,because the doorbell woke me up and I didn’t think the movie playing was the same one I was watching before. The doorbell buzzed again, and I wondered for a second if Finn had forgotten his key.
Yawning, I gently moved Angus off my lap and went to answer the door.
Of course it wasn’t Finn.
It was my mum, and she wasn’t alone. Standing next to her, looking a little uncomfortable, was my dad.
Well fuck me, they were probably the last people I’d expected to see when I opened the door. Together at any rate.
“Hey,” I said, yawning again. “What are you two doing here?”
My mum tsked. “We’ve come to see you, obviously.” She shivered and adjusted the two shopping bags she carried. “Are you going to let us in? It’s freezing out here.”
“Yeah, sorry.” I stepped back to let them inside. My mum had been round a couple of times since my fall, my dad had phoned, but it was the first time I’d seen him since he’d embarrassed me in front of Finn.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about having him here now.
My mum slipped off her shoes and went into the living room. I smiled as I heard her fussing over Angus.
My dad lingered in the hallway as I closed the door.
Oh goodie.
His gaze dropped to the cast on my arm, expression pained. “How is it?”
“Better,” I replied, lifting it a little. “Pain’s a lot less than it was this time last week.”
He grimaced and then sighed. “I’m sorry I haven’t been round to see you before now.” He looked down at his feet rather than look me in the eye, a very uncharacteristic thing for him to do. Between that and the apology, I was tempted to ask if he was ill. “I wasn’t sure of my welcome after last time.”
I huffed out a laugh, because neither was I. “You apologised to him.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t apologise to you.” He glanced up then, meeting my gaze, and I was surprised to see the regret in his eyes. “I’m really sorry, Jasper. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that or behaved the way I did.” He ran a hand through his hair, as if struggling to find the right words. “Your mother had a few choice words for me.” He smiled, expression fond. “And she was right as usual. I’ve just been too stubborn to see it.”
“As usual,” I muttered, without thinking.
Surprisingly he laughed. “I guess I deserved that.”
Who is this person, and what has he done with my dad?
“Are you all right?” I couldn’t help but ask, because this wasn’t usually how our conversations went.
“Not really, Jasper.” He smiled again, a touch wry. “I’ve behaved very poorly the last couple of years where you’re concerned, and I’d very much like to make it up to you. Or try,” he added. “If you’ll let me?”
I stood there, stunned, not really believing what I was hearing. “I don’t understand. Why the sudden change of heart?”
“Having to hear that your son’s been to the hospital two days after it happened made me realise that I’m not a person you think to call when something important happens. I’m not even anywhere on your list of people to call.”
