The Riviera. Karen Aldous

      ‘I’m going nowhere, son, until I’m happy you’re happy.’

      After several seconds, scared eyes peered up. ‘I trust you, Dad, but Mom will start fussing and bossing…’

      ‘Jack, do you trust me?’

      Cal watched as his son lay still, contemplating, his eyes flitting back and forth to the zip and back to him. He could only imagine what was going on in Jack’s mind. He knew Kelly was controlling and just loved to tell her friends about every detail of her daily dramas. Was this what his son was afraid of? Did she inadvertently humiliate him? He was sure he wouldn’t have appreciated it himself at sixteen. One thing was certain and that was, this boy was intent on hiding or running away. What was it his son couldn’t face?

      ‘I want to go away, Dad. I want to be with you but not here. I want to go to England.’

      ‘I understand you’re struggling, Jack. We can talk about this. Give me five minutes and…’

      Both their heads turned as Kelly shouted from the back door. Cal glanced at his child.

      ‘Five minutes and I’ll be back. Trust me?’ Cal raised his hand for a high-five.

      Jack grimaced and raised a hand to his father. ‘Don’t bring her here, please.’

      ‘I promise.’ Cal scratched the back of his head. Torn between trying to keep his son calm and needing to let Kelly know her son was safe, Cal couldn’t make false promises.

      ‘Trust me. Five minutes.’

      He scrambled back down the steps and across the neat-lawned garden. For a house worth several million dollars, the garden was relatively small, only a hundred foot long by, Cal guessed, eighty foot wide. The summerhouse was at the end of it and away from the house. It made sense he would take refuge somewhere close. He wondered if Jack had been planning this for some time. It wasn’t the most obvious place to have a sleeping bag to hand. He was sure the space would have been checked the previous evening. He stepped into the back lobby.

      ‘Oh Cal, there you are. Still nothing to report but Lizzie rang you,’ Kelly said as Cal entered the kitchen lobby.

      He headed straight for the unit where his phone was charging in the kitchen and waited for Kelly to follow. At once, he saw Bob, Brett’s father leaning on the island and Harry raiding the fridge and Bea throwing her coat onto the back of a dining chair.

      Kelly then spun back grabbing her hair in frustration. ‘Nothing at the harbour. Bob, you should go home and get some sleep. Cal can…’

      Trying to maintain a calm mood, Cal interrupted softly. ‘Look, it’s OK. Well, the good news is that I’ve found Jack and physically, he’s fine but…’ He threw up a hand as Kelly’s eyes and mouth shot wide whilst her body almost bounced in the air ‘Yes, I know you’re all excited and everything, but he has asked for privacy. And I respect that. And, Kelly, I’m asking you do too. Give him a little time. He has asked to speak to me alone, and again, I respect his wishes and hope you will too. The important thing is he is safe. He was in the summerhouse loft. He hasn’t said where he was yet but…’

      ‘Aww I just want to see him and hug him,’ Kelly’s eyes pleaded, ‘to tell him how much I love him. That’s odd. We checked the summerhouse and the garage.’

      ‘He said he got there before light.’

      Bob and Kelly glanced at each other. Then Bob nodded with relief spread across his face. ‘Great news. Relieved for you all. I’ll go tell Maria and the guys.’ He wrapped his arms first around Kelly then Cal.

      ‘Bob, I can’t thank you enough,’ Cal told him as he picked up his phone. ‘So, Kelly, I’m going back to him now, so wait for my instruction please. Actually, I’ll take a couple of cans of drink and a few snacks if you have them. I don’t suppose he’s had anything to eat.’

      ‘Can’t he come in and talk?’ Kelly insisted, siding up to her son Harry and clutching the refrigerator door then browsing among food items. ‘You could both go to his room.’

      ‘If and when he’s ready.’

      ‘Can I go see him?’ Harry interrupted.

      ‘No, Harry. You’ll have to wait. Cal, has he said why he’s hiding out?’ Kelly said gathering an armful of drinks and packets.

      ‘Let’s take it a step at a time shall we? Keep Harry and Bea in here. Have you got a bag for those?’

      Kelly grouped the items together and then pulled out a plastic bag from a drawer handing it to Cal. She then scoured a further cupboard snatching huge bags of snacks.

      ‘Take these too. I really don’t know what he’s making such a fuss about. He’s bright, confident, has friends. What the hell is he worried about?’

      ‘I’m sure it’s just a phase. A teenage blip.’

      ‘Tell him, whatever it is, I’m here for him.’

      With a bulging bag of food and drinks in his hand, Cal returned to the garden and into the summerhouse and climbed back up the steps. He knew Kelly’s heart was in the right place, he just wasn’t sure if she, or he for that matter, could penetrate and unfurl Jack’s inner world. His naval training had prepared him for many situations, including dealing with younger officers’ emotions. This, however, was different. He was emotionally attached himself. It wasn’t easy witnessing your own child in a dark place.

      Crawling back into the loft space felt claustrophobic but he kept his head low and blew out a grateful sigh seeing Jack still wrapped in the sleeping bag.

      ‘Well, I may have taken a little longer but I’ve brought us some goodies. Here.’ He placed the bag down beside Jack and watched as his son’s hand scrambled inside it.

      ‘Cool, I’m starving.’ Jack’s voice croaked with a little more gusto as he opened a bag of crisps and scooped a handful into his mouth. He then took a can and pulled the ring.

      ‘Yes, your mom thought you might be. She was really worried. She cares a lot. She says she loves you and wants to hug you.’

      Jack shrugged his shoulders. ‘Huh, doesn’t sound like her.’

      Keeping a watchful eye on Jack, Cal took a can of cold Cola from the bag too. He pulled the ring and sipped quietly.

      ‘So, tell me why you don’t want to stay here.’

      Jack dropped an empty bag into his lap and pulled the ring on another can of Cola.

      ‘I just can’t. And don’t ask me why. I don’t want to talk about it.’

      ‘How can I help you if I don’t know what it is you need help with?’

      Finishing his second drink, Jack put down the can and gripped his hands together as he turned, slunk down and rested on both elbows.

      ‘You wouldn’t understand, Dad.’

      Feeling the urge to straighten his back, Cal remained still and silent, just biting at his lip as Jack’s thick-lashed eyes shifted from the can to his. He swallowed hard as his chest tightened. He couldn’t recall a time when Jack had been this quiet. Usually he was bursting with energy and news with so much to tell him. Just weeks ago at the New Year party, and his birthday the day after, Jack was eager to relay his progress at school, his plans with his friends to set up a band; to be lead guitar and write his own songs. Now he appeared drained, gaunt even. Jack had clearly lost his mojo, his lust for life. Cal’s heart wept before jarring. Finally he stretched out his legs and leant on his arm facing his son.

      ‘Jack, let me in, tell me how I can help?’

      Jack thought for a moment then raised his lashes. ‘Can I come back to England with you?’

      Cal tipped his head, confused. ‘I’m not living in England any more. I’m in the south of France.’

      ‘Oh.’