Chapter 16

JACK

I pace back and forth in the shared kitchen, wishing that I could be anywhere but here. Eddy sits in the corner making himself small and playing on his phone. I try my best to get a hold of the anger within me, knowing that feeling like this isn't going to do anything to stop Dad from being an idiot.

I just have to hope that involving our grandparents in the situation is actually going to work and won't end up backfiring on us. At the end of the day, Dad is still our guardian and they can't do anything about it.

The doorbell rings and I hurry to answer it, knowing that it's better if Rupert doesn't venture out of his room to do the honours. Not when it's my grandparents and it's something as important as this. I don't know exactly how the conversation is going to go, but I can't imagine they're going to be very pleased with my dad by the end of it.

"Jack," Grandma says as she enters the hall. "You're looking well." She pulls me into a tight hug.

Grandad does the same as he comes in.

"Do you want a drink?" I ask. "I don't have anything fancy, but I can boil the kettle."

"Oh, a cup of tea would be lovely, dear."

I nod and direct them into the kitchen, trying not to feel too self-conscious about the state it's in. Living with eight other teenagers doesn't exactly bode well for keeping a kitchen clean.

I go to make drinks while they say hello to Eddy, thankfully not jumping into any questions about what he's doing here or why I've asked them to come. We're lucky that they live close enough to make the trip on short notice. And even luckier that Eddy's school is just down the road so he could come here when Dad didn't pick him up.

A quick search through my cupboards reveals an unopened packet of digestive biscuits, which is better than serving tea without anything to go with it to my grandparents. I should have thought to pick up something better, but my head's been so full of what was going to happen when we had this conversation that I didn't think of that.

I set all the mugs down on the table, along with the biscuits and sit down next to Eddy.

"Is everything all right?" Grandma asks, her concern written all over her face. I suppose we don't need to actually say anything for her to know there's a problem. Just the fact we've asked them to come here on such short notice reveals that much.

My voice catches in my throat and I find myself wishing I had an older sibling who could do this for me. But right now, I have to be the older sibling. Eddy needs me and I owe it to him to do my best.

"We need to talk to you about Dad," I say.

"It's bad," Eddy blurts out.

A worried expression crosses Grandma's face. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine. It's just, he's been away this weekend with his girlfriend."

"His girlfriend?" Grandad's shock is visible on his face. "He never told us he was seeing anyone. Why wouldn't he tell us?"

Grandma puts her hand on his arm. "You know what he's like, he didn't tell us when he was first dating your mother either," she says to us. "Though this time perhaps he was right not to. It's not even been a year."

I nod.

"She's at the house all the time," Eddy says. "And she cooks me things she knows I won't eat."

Grandma purses her lips so hard that I think they're going to disappear completely. I knew she wouldn't be happy about this, but her expression is even worse than I feared it would be.

"We never talk about Mum," I add. "I don't feel like I can around him. But Eddy's dealing with the worst of it." Mostly because I get to be at Obscure Academy and don't have to worry about anything going on at home. Though I will in another month once term ends. I'm not looking forward to it, though at least it'll mean I get to spend more time with Eddy.

"I see," Grandad says.

"We don't really know what to do." I look down at my tea but don't drink any of it, I don't think the churning in my stomach could take it.

"Of course you don't, you're barely grown," Grandma says kindly, but I can hear the steel in her voice. "Leave it with me, dear, we'll have a talk with your father."

"You know, I could use help at the caravan in Wales over the summer," Grandad adds.

"I think that's an excellent idea," Grandma says. "If the two of you would like that?"

Eddy nods enthusiastically, and I just manage a weak smile. I guess I'm worried that this isn't going to do much to make things better. But only time will tell on that front. At least this conversation means I'm no longer the responsible adult when it comes to the situation as a whole.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"Of course, dear. We're here for whatever you need," Grandma assures me with a gentle pat on the arm. Despite her anger at Dad, she's making her love for us clear.

There's a part of me that wants to cry just from her reassurance, but I also want to hold it together.

"And if you ever want to talk about your mum, we're here," she says. "She may not have been our daughter, but we knew her for nearly thirty years, we've got our share of stories about her if you want to hear them."

"I do," Eddy says, scooting forward in his seat and completely abandoning his phone. He's been so starved of attention that the first hint of it has got him like this.

"Why don't we take you boys out for dinner tonight and we'll do just that," Grandad suggests. "Where's good around here?" he asks me.

"It depends what you want. There's an Italian just down the street," I respond.

"I want garlic bread," Eddy announces, already heading to the door with Grandad following behind.

I pick up the mugs, grateful to see that all of the ones except for mine are empty. At least everyone else is faring better.

"You did the right thing calling us," Grandma says.

I give her a weak smile. "I wish it felt like that. I feel like I'm betraying Dad."

"You're not. He's betraying himself and the love he shared with your mum by doing what he is." Her words are soft, but I can feel a hint of sadness behind them. Probably the realisation that her son is the one doing this. "I promise it'll all work out all right. You've got us in your corner now."

"Thanks, Grandma."

"Always." She reaches up and cups my cheek in her hand, her doting smile making me feel like a kid again.

Which is probably just what I needed after everything that's been going on. Even though nothing has changed yet, I can feel a weight lifting from me in knowing that everything is heading in the right direction.

I set the mugs down in the sink. If any of my flatmates complain about me not washing them yet, I'll point out that they're all terrible at it themselves.

"Come on," Eddy says, poking his head around the doorframe. "I want to tell you about Jack's girlfriend."

I groan.

Grandma raises an eyebrow. "A girlfriend?"

"I don't have a girlfriend. He means...it's complicated." But mostly because we didn't get to finish our conversation earlier and I really wish we had. Rhea had clearly wanted to talk about the possibility of something, and the moment the idea was on the table, I realised I want it.

But I have to deal with one thing at once.

"You can tell us all about her over dinner," Grandma says.

"She's a gorgon," Eddy says. "She's got snakes in her hair and they're really cool."

I laugh. "They are cool," I agree, realising that having Eddy around means that none of my secrets are going to stay that way. At least he seems more like his normal self. It's worth it to see the smile on his face.

Grandma pats me on the back and gives me a doting smile. "Dinner," she says firmly.

I nod and the four of us head out of the door, making me realise just how much I've missed family dinners since Mum died. At least that's something it seems like I'm going to get back now, even if Dad isn't the one giving them.