Page 12 of Pay It Forward
He heard her sigh again. “He’s not drinking so much, Bailey, and he’s good to Sarah and me. I know you and your dad don’t get along—I wish there was something I could do about that—but he’s not the man he was when you left. The first few years were tough but things have been different since he started the therapy. Grief does strange things to people, and it took some time for your father to get past what happened. Your father just couldn’t cope when we lost Stuart.” Her voice caught and Bailey wished he could reach through the phone and give her a huge hug to offer some comfort. His dad on the other hand?Fuck him!Bailey couldn’t muster any sympathy for the man who’d retreated into the bottle, behaved like an arsehole for years, and basically kicked him out of home the second he turned eighteen.
“Get out of here. I can’t bear the sight of you.”The words spat from his father’s mouth five years ago were as fresh as if they’d been spoken only yesterday.
“Bailey?”
He became aware of his mother on the end of the line and pulled himself back from the memories. “Sorry.”
“Honey, are you all right?”
He forced brightness into his voice. “I’m fine, Mum. Just feeling a little nostalgic.”
“I hope you’re remembering some of the good times.” There was a pause. “We did have some good times when you were growing up, Bailey.”
Tears prickled at the back of his eyes as he thought of his childhood growing up in Brisbane. He blinked furiously and cleared his throat. “Yeah, we did.”
“Are you still working with the kids?” The tension lessened when she changed the subject.
“Yeah.” He looked to the back of the van where the group had grown to six people perusing his book collection. Cassie was exclaiming over various novels, the joy clear in her broad smile. “You’d like some of the kids, Mum. They’re great. Some are shy and nervous, with good cause, and some are barely hanging on, but others just amaze me with their strength and positive attitude.”
“Just like you. So strong, Bailey. You’ve made a real life for yourself despite everything that happened. I wish things had been different.”
You and me both. Anyway, enough of the walk down memory lane.He shook his head.
“I’ve got to go, Mum. I’m with the kids now and I’ve got to get moving.”
“Be careful, honey. I know you love what you do and how important it is, but it’s dangerous out there.”
“If it’s dangerous for the couple of hours I’m here, then think how bad it is for the people who have no choice but to spend their life on the streets.”
“I understand, but it’s not going to stop me worrying about you. You’re still my little boy.”
“Say hi to Sarah for me.”
“I will. You’ll call again next week?”
“I’ll try. Love you, Mum.”
“Love you too, honey.”
He ended the call and pocketed his phone before plastering a smile on his face and heading over to make sure everyone had found something to read. Maybe he could even convince Emma to try something. He’d made that his new mission—a mission gave him something to focus on rather than his own depressing thoughts.
