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“It’s like I’ve been saying all along. Baby steps, Ash, baby steps.”
Since coming around Hayden hadn’t been comfortable doing anything but holding his hand. He wasn’t scared of hurting him, just not sure where his head was at. He didn’t want to push for anything, knowing it could do more harm than good.
When Ashok leaned across the table and kissed him gently, he knew all would be well.
“I’m all for baby steps, Hayden.”
The doorbell rang, and Ashok jumped, a startled look on his face.
“It’ll be your mum. I’m here for you, just remember that.”
Hayden let her in, barely able to look at her. He’d not seen much of her since their altercation. Being anywhere near her brought out his nasty side, the one he’d tried hard to forget. He thought he was well within his rights to bring that part of him out under the circumstances, though, bitch that she was.
He rolled his eyes and shut the door as he heard her address Ashok in a way that made his skin crawl.
“Ashok, my darling boy.”
Fuck was he? If she cared that much for him, she’d have done something about that arsehole she’d married.
He entered the room to see Ashok in her embrace. She had her arms thrown around him, but Ashok was sitting still in his chair, not having moved an inch.
“Sit down, Mum. I just want to get this over with.”
“I see he’s told you.” She gestured to Hayden, and it was all he could do not to roll his eyes again.
“He didn’t need to. I heard you, Mum. When you were talking in the hospital. You defended that bastard. You said, and I quote, ‘a father does what he thinks he needs to do.’ Does that involve beating me, Mum? I thought you understood, but he’s got you so far under his thumb you can’t see what’s right in front of your face. He almost killed me this time.”
Ashok’s mother at least looked ashamed. “I know he did, and what I actually came to say was thatIreported him to the police. After I spoke with Hayden, saw what he’d done to you, I knew it couldn’t go on. I almost lost you.” She turned to Hayden again, and he was shocked to see remorse in her eyes. “We almost lost you.”
Hayden sat next to Ashok and took his hand, sensing he needed some reassurance.
“You spoke to the police? Here or back in London?” Hayden voiced the question he knew Ashok wanted to ask but was unable to.
“Here. I went to the police station and reported him. I told them where they could find him and, as far as I know, he was arrested. Your brothers are up in arms, but I couldn’t lose you. If I did nothing about it, I knew that you’d be lost to me forever. The others will forgive me, but your forgiveness means more to me than anything. You’re my boy, Ashok. I couldn’t let him do that to you again.”
“How did he find me? We were so careful.” Ashok found the words this time.
“He paid a private investigator and found you through, what’s it called, Instabook or something.”
“Instagram. That’s where he found me.”
Hayden was puzzled until Ashok filled him in, telling him about the post Seb had made.
“He didn’t know. I’d never told them why I left, never thought to ask them not to post pictures of me, but I suppose they wanted to show off their new tutor. Please don’t tell Seb. I don’t want him to blame himself, and I know he will.”
Hayden nodded his agreement. Seb would be beside himself if he thought he was the reason for Ashok’s beating.
“So, what happens now?” Ashok addressed his mum.
“The police would like a statement from you, but it’s just a formality, really. With my testimony and the diary I kept, plus the pictures, he’ll find it hard to dispute it. I took pictures of your injuries in the hospital too and added them into my report. I think he’ll go away for a long time based on those alone.”
Hayden had to give it to her. She’d come through for her son, and now they could live without looking around each corner or checking each dark doorway for threats.
She turned to Hayden.
“I saw how much he meant to you and realised you were right. I couldn’t condone his behaviour anymore. He wouldn’t have given up; he’s not that type of man, and he would have come to find him time and time again, no matter where he ran to. I couldn’t accept that, and at least we can all live free now. No longer in fear.”
Ashok reached and held his mum’s hand. “It was the right thing. We both know that.”
