Echoes in the Woods by Georgina Scott (ebook reader web txt) 📕

waited for the laundry to finish and pegged it out. He took a shower and fell asleep on Matthews’ bed.

John woke around mid-day, washed and got dressed. He got out his mobile and looked up Alcoholics Anonymous and spoke to a woman called Laurie. There was a group session on that evening at 7 pm. John wrote down the address and placed it in his pocket.

Chapter 23

“Hi Mum, hi Dad,” Faith said, getting out of the car with Mitch and the boys.

“We weren’t expecting you till later on,” said Mary. Faith wrapped her arms around her parents and squeezed them tightly, “I have missed you both so much. Where’s my boy?”

“He is out with Ella and her parents for the day, learning to Ski. We haven’t told him, thought we would leave it as a surprise,” Mac said, walking over to the boys giving a group bear hug, and then shaking Mitch’s hand.

“Dad, you remember Mitch, don’t you?” Faith said.

“Yes, I remember. Let’s get in and have some refreshments and catch up.”

As they all entered the house, Mac and Mary looked at each other as they followed in behind everyone else. They sat around the dining room table and discussed the events over the last few months. “Mum, may I see Jake’s room please?”

“Course you can, it’s down the hall, last door on the left.”

Faith came to the last door with her hand on the doorknob, apprehensive to enter. She took a deep breath and opened the door. She saw a clean tidy room with pictures he had drawn on the walls; exceptionally talented, she thought to herself. She opened his wardrobe doors and looked at, and smelled his clothes.

Sitting down on the bed she had tears in her eyes; Mary entered the room and sat next to her putting her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Oh, I have missed him so much Mum,” placing her head onto her mum’s shoulder.

“He has grown so much, in many ways, we are so very proud of him.”

“I can’t wait to hold him.”

“How are things really, darling?”

“Oh Mum, everything is so messed up back home, with John drinking himself to death, Matthew almost becoming a father himself.”

“W… what did you say?”

“Matthew was almost a father, but the girl had a miscarriage. It’s a long story. I will tell you and Dad later when the boys are all in bed. Are you sure you can accommodate all of us?”

“Yes, of course, we will manage. It’s not often I get to see my girl,” Mary said, stroking Faith’s hair.

“Tell me, what is happening with Mitch. Are you two an item now?”

“No, we are going to stay friends. We do love each other deeply, and we have fun. We have talked so much over the last few weeks. Oh Mum, I am so in love with John, never been anyone for me, but him,” Mary held Faith more tightly, comforting, cradling her in her arms. “John is an ill man, Faith; hopefully he will find his way back to you.”

“I want Jake to come home, Mum.”

“That’s not a good idea sweetheart. Especially when you are thinking of going back to John; Jake has come a long way in a year.”

“But I miss him, Mum.”

“I’m sure you do darling, but he isn’t going back with you.”

Jake arrived home around 6 pm, “Mummy, Mummy,” and ran to her, wrapping their arms around each other. “Oh, my darling boy,” feeling his face, touching his hair and kissing him all over. “How I have missed you,” she said, hugging him tightly.

Matthew, Mark and Henry circled them both into a group hug. “Good to see ya, creep,” all three boys said, messing up his hair. Jake took a step back observing who else was in the room.

“Jake honey, you remember Mitch Moody, don’t you?” Jake nodded his head, and then said hello to Mitch apprehensively. “Nana, have we got time to play football before dinner?” said Jake. “Yes, I will call when dinner is done,” with that the four boys headed out into the garden with Faith watching them through the window.

“Oh, sit down Faith, for Christ’s sake,” Mary said.

“I just want to watch them, that’s all.”

“Why don’t you concentrate on those potatoes? They won’t peel themselves.”

“I can do that,” said Mitch.

“No, you’re on depodding the peas and Mac you’re on the carrots.”

They all sat round the kitchen table, where Faith told her parents the events that had happened over the last few weeks, now that the boys were playing outside. Mac and Mary shocked and stunned and Mitch and Faith were even more shocked over the children’s murders. “The point is everyone has known Brandon Radcliffe since he was born, and never would have thought he was capable of doing such a terrible thing. The community is still in shock and I don’t think it will recover. The family have now moved away. I am surprised you haven’t seen it on the news,” said Mac.

“Well, to be honest, we have been so consumed in our own affairs we have hardly had any time at all to see what else is going on in the country,” said Mitch.

“Which makes me even more convinced that Jake should come home now?” Both Mac and Mary exchanged looks. “I have already told you darling, no he isn’t.”

“Dad…”

“The answer is no, Faith.”

“But…”

“When did you become so selfish and self-absorbed?” said Mac.

“What?”

“You heard me. At what point in your brain are you going to think about Jake and put him first?”

“I just thought…”

“That’s right, you didn’t think; you never think. I blame me and your mother; being an only child, we spoilt you.”

“Oh, here we go.”

“Don’t you dare take that tone with me! Remember what we agreed, would you like me to repeat what we agreed?”

“Things have changed, Dad.”

“You will not uproot Jake again. He is settled, leave him be, if you want to do what is right by him, leave him where he is.”

“I’m still going to ask him. You can’t stop me from asking.