He and Scarlett were laughing about his appalling singing voice when it came to Christmas carols, how she’d forbidden him from singing loudly at any school recital, when Nathan saw a familiar figure sitting on the stoop of the brownstone between the two pine trees wrapped in lights and marking the entrance to the Inglenook Inn.
‘Kyle.’ Scarlett’s eyes lit up but faded the second they both got closer.
Was that a bottle of vodka in his hands?
‘What’s going on, mate?’ Nathan would pull her back if Scarlett got much closer. ‘Where did you get that from?’
‘Found it.’
‘Give it to me.’ He held out his hand. The Christmas tree in the lounge of the inn twinkled at them from its position, a low glow from the fireplace still burning helped him see that the inn was quiet at this time. Lucky for Kyle.
‘And what if I say no?’
‘You’ll probably get arrested sooner or later. You’re under age.’
‘You’re over age.’ Kyle began to laugh, a hollow sound, in an attempt to disguise a sadness that was written all over his face.
For once Nathan wasn’t angry, he was confused, shocked. It was almost like looking into a mirror because this had been him once upon a time when he’d thought the world couldn’t get much worse. ‘Scarlett, go inside please.’
‘Dad –’
‘Now, please.’ He expected Kyle to stop her from going past but he didn’t and Scarlett shut the heavy wooden door behind her.
Nathan sat on the top of the stoop beside Kyle. ‘Revolting stuff that, at least you could’ve picked something with a bit of taste.’
‘Don’t even like it. But it burns when it goes down.’
Nathan took the bottle from his hand and he didn’t resist. ‘Does Amelia know where you are?’ He didn’t answer. Nathan set the bottle down by the pine tree. His butt was freezing against the concrete. ‘What’s going on, mate?’
‘It’s my mum,’ he said before Nathan tried the question again.
‘What’s she done?’ She’d already shirked responsibility for her own child going by what Amelia had told him. What damage could she possibly do over thousands of miles?
‘She’s selling our house, she found a buyer already and has to move out. I heard her and Amelia talking on the phone.’
‘When was this?’
‘Right before I came here.’
‘I thought Amelia was with Paul.’ He was confused.
‘Jackass wasn’t around. Hopefully he’s buggered off. He’s not good enough for her you know.’
‘Language.’ Although there was a moment of joint appreciation of Paul’s unsuitability for Amelia. ‘What exactly did you overhear?’
‘Like I said, the house has gone, Mum is trying to find somewhere to rent close by and I heard Amelia offer to let me stay with her for a bit. Which means Mum wants me out. She threatened it once you know, now she’s going through with it.’
‘Having to move out for a house sale is hardly the same as throwing you out.’ But the rushing into it did seem odd. Why do it when Kyle was away and call to tell them? It didn’t make sense.
‘It’s the first step.’ He harrumphed. ‘I thought we were getting somewhere, me and Mum. I thought…I thought she wanted to spend time with me.’
‘Have you actually asked her what’s happening?’
‘I’m not talking to her. Auntie Amelia can do that, she can pick up my stuff and I won’t even have to embarrass Mum by going near her. She won’t ever have to see me again.’
‘If I were you I wouldn’t jump to conclusions.’
‘You’re a fine one to talk about making assumptions.’
