Chapter 12: Tom

“Wow, it’s quiet. Where is everyone?”

“Hello yourself.” Megan turned around to return to the kitchen immediately, Tom kicking his shoes off before following her. “Liza’s at some revision thing. Mika’s in her room. Charley and Mars went out with some friends.”

“The two of them together? Makes a change. Any idea where they are?”

She shrugged. "Friend's house. Not a name I recognise - Bella, I think it was. Mars looked genuinely excited.”

“So long as it's not that wretched boyfriend.”

“By which you mean..?”

“I’ve been meaning to tell you, I gave Charley code words. If she calls either of us Papa or Mama we drop everything immediately and go get her.”

“What am I missing?”

“She’s probably fine. Probably just a grumpy teenager who’s been through a lot. It’s just… a precaution. Since she’s so independent, and I get the impression he's a fair bit older than her.”

“You picked up that vibe too? Sounds like a wise precaution.”

“Just seemed like... the only one I could suggest.” He stole the potato peeler. "She laughed at me, obviously."

“Of course she did. How was work?”

“Long. Diocesan procedure review after that poor woman over in York…”

“I think I saw that in the news?”

“Probably.” It had certainly tacked a long and pretty much pointless meeting onto his already too-long day. Clearly something had gone wrong, but with no details from York, how could they have any idea what? And Ruth… poor Ruth, this was probably the case she’d mentioned way back when he’d last met her, when he’d seen her tired sadness at what she’d had to do. It should have been followed up better, no doubt – how many follow-up meetings did he delay simply because he didn’t have time?

“Wakey wakey…”

He blinked. “Sorry. Thinking.”

“Leave the Church alone for a few hours and finish those potatoes? Or give them back.”

“Sorry.” He carried on peeling, fumbling chunks of potato into the pan. “Ruth suggested a wedding prep meeting in two weeks. Tuesday lunchtime. She’s passing nearby, and it’s a time I can actually do. Seeing people before and after but at home, so no travel to allow for.”

“Good a time as any, the kids’ll be at school.”

“Yeah, I figured that’d be the case. I’ll confirm then?”

“Sure.” She rested her chin on his shoulder. “We’re actually doing this.”

“Yes. Yes we are.” He turned his head to meet her kiss. “Less than five months. It’s going fast.”

“Not having doubts?”

“Not the first hint of one. It’s funny, I didn’t expect this, even when I met you in that camp and knew I liked you, but it’s like a dream. A crazy, happy dream.”

“Crazy it certainly is.” She stole the last couple of potatoes back. “Since you’re so easily distracted…”

It was a quiet meal, with Mars out as well as Charley. Charley’d learnt to call their bluff, which meant they now allowed far more than they really should; what else could they do? She'd walked out of school a few times, too, and again they were stuck for consequences.

“Stay downstairs a bit,” Tom told Liza, as she finished helping to dry up. “You’ve done enough for today.”

“There are just a couple more things… some pages from the maths…”

“Give your brain a break. Your life isn’t all about grades.”

“I know. It’s just… exams soon.”

“It’s only February, they’re not soon. And they’re only mocks, this year.”

“They’ll make my predicted grade, though.”

“They’re not for months. Now come on, come and help us with wedding plans?”

She smiled vaguely. “I suppose. For a bit.”

“Good.” He shepherded her through to the living room, opened his laptop and logged in. “So, we’re trying to get people we know to contribute as much as possible. Like people who are good at baking to make cakes, some friends of mine who are flower guild to do some arrangements, an organist friend to play, Megan’s found some great people to cater. We need some fun ideas for decorations, though, I thought you and the others might have some good ideas.”

“What do you want?”

“We both lack creativity.”

She stared into space. “Is there a colour?”

“Not yet, I suppose there should be. I think I’m going to wear a cassock, Megan’s going to get a dressy suit or something.”

“What, for the reception too?”

“I guess. Suit hire is expensive, cassocks are great.”

“You’re not at work. I mean, it’s your wedding, you can wear what you like, but don’t you want to do it, sort of… traditional? You usually like traditional.”

“It depends on context. Obviously, when it comes to me and Megan and our family, we do things in a distinctly non-traditional way.”

“Really? I mean…”

“Well.” He sighed. “Okay, we’re quite traditional. But anyway, wedding outfits are stupidly expensive. It’s an unnecessary mark-up.”

“It’s a wedding, though. Doesn’t Megan want the dress and everything?”

“We’re both very happy to do things our own way. And yes, we’re having to be very careful with money, I don’t need to hide that from you, but we’re both fine with that. There are lots of ways to make a special day without breaking the bank – I’ve been to a lot of weddings, I’ve seen all sorts.”

“I’ve been meaning to give it to you… I’ve got money. From work. I’ll give it to you. I kind of didn’t realise it was a problem, I was going to make it a wedding present or something.”

“Liza. You can’t do that. We can manage just fine, you keep saving – you’ll need it in a few years, when you want to move out.”

“But you let me live with you, buy all the food and everything. I owe you.”

“You owe us nothing. We give you all that we do because we care for you, we want to give you the chance in life that you deserve – we do for all of you.”

She shrugged sullenly, seemingly disappointed. “Then can I just give you something because I want to?”

“What we want is for you to put it in a savings account and put your hard work into helping you get set up in life later.”

She sighed. “I’m just tired of doing everything for my future.”

He smiled encouragingly. “I understand. How about we agree that if we need help, we’ll let you help? Just a little bit, most of your earnings I want to see going into a savings account ready for university – or first house, or suits for job interviews, or whatever. And if there’s anything you can get us for the wedding, like as a wedding gift, I’ll tell you what it is.”

“Okay.”

“You’re a generous soul. Now, you don’t like the cassock idea?”

“It’s your choice, I just think it’s strange, especially for the reception. You might want to do it normally. And what if it’s hot?”

“Very good point. So you think I should wear a suit?”

“It’s your wedding.”

“You’re the young person who’s supposed to be down with the times. Given Megan won’t wear a big dress…”

“Even if you could afford it?”

“I’ve asked enough, she’s very happy without so let’s just accept it.”

“Even if people made it, or gave it to her? Like, people from the camps, or something? I bet some of them know about dressmaking. And lots of them would donate.”

“There are many far more worthy causes than our wedding. It’s one day, we can make it special by doing it our way. We have a beautiful church, and it’ll be taken by a good friend of mine, there’s nobody I’d rather have to take my wedding, she also happens to be an Archbishop. We have flowers and music, a ceilidh booked for the evening, there will be delicious food shared amongst friends, and I’ll get to start the rest of my life with Megan. Don’t worry about whether we’ll be happy!

She sighed. “Okay. What decorations do you want? Table things? I bet there are ideas online, tea lights and tissue paper and ribbons and stuff.”

He grinned. “Now you’re talking.”

It wasn’t much longer before Megan joined them, to find them already engrossed in directions for how to turn glass jars into stained glass lanterns. And so a long but enjoyable evening, before Megan looked at her watch. “Not like Mars to miss curfew.”

Tom sighed. “I’ll call them. Sure they’re just having a good time.”

“Charley…” Liza cut herself off. “Nothing.”

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t be afraid to tell us if you’re worried or anything.”

She shrugged. “Ignore me.”

Tom raised his eyebrows quizzically but got nowhere, giving up and standing up. “I’ll give them a ring.”

Straight through to answerphone on Charley’s. “Hi Charley, this is Tom, call me back please. Home in the next fifteen minutes, tell me if you need a lift. See you shortly.”

He tried Mars’s too, thought that would go to voicemail too but it was picked up at the last minute. “Hello?”

“Hi Mars, it’s Tom. We're expecting you and Charley home, do you need a lift?”

“Um, probably? I’ll… wait…” indistinct voices in the background. “No, no we don’t. Charley says can we stay the night?” His voice was tired, slurred. It was well past ten, so no real surprise at that.

“Absolutely not.”

“Um, okay. We’ll… we’ll be back soon. Sorry.”

“Right. I can expect to see you both in the next fifteen minutes?”

“Um… um, yeah. I’ll be… we’ll… yeah. Sorry.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Um... yeah, of course.”

“Right. Get yourselves home. See you soon.”

Charley might have stayed out anyway, because she knew there was nothing Tom or Megan could really do, but Mars was that bit younger and fortunately hadn’t learnt to push the limits with them yet. It was still a good twenty minutes before they were home, by which point Tom was starting to look up missing persons helplines on his phone and preparing to go to the police. Just Charley, he’d have expected it, but with Mars too… it was probably fine, but Megan was worried too.

“Okay, Liza, thanks for all your help. We’ll get the stuff and have some craft sessions nearer the time, but for now you might want to retreat before they get back.”

He saw the hesitation, the shadow across her eyes.

“Go on,” Megan urged. “They’re not in that much trouble, really, but of course we’re worried and we need to be able to talk to them, it’ll probably be easier if you’re not here.”

“Um, okay.” Quick steps to the door, and then a pause. “You’re not really angry?”

“We’re never going to direct our anger at any of you. I promise.”

“I promise.” Tom added his voice to hers.

“I know. It’s just…”

“I know. It’s okay.”

“I’ve heard Charley… never mind.” Liza cut herself off. “Nothing.”

“Is there something we should know?”

“No.” She backed to the foot of the stairs. “Night. See you tomorrow.”

Tom sighed and watched her go. Poor girl. They’d found her helping to look after some of the younger children, and brought her in with them. Now the younger ones had gone to new families, and she was still here, slogging away at her school work, determined to make up for a year on the streets. They didn’t know much about her, only that she’d run away from home, or been driven out – “couldn’t stay there anymore,” was all she’d said. They'd let her move on.

And then the knock on the door, far too bold. Megan opened it, Tom by her shoulder.

“In.”

Mars, a step behind Charley, followed in her shadow. Tom let Megan lead the way, closing the door behind Mars and then bringing up the rear into the living room.

“How many times?” Megan glared down Charley. “How many times do I have to tell you? Even if you don’t care for yourself, what about Mars? You don’t care for him either? We give you rules to keep you safe. Now, would you care to tell me what you’ve been doing all this time?”

“Nothing.” Her voice was sulky, defensive. “Just hanging out with some... friends.”

“Mars?”

“Um… yeah… what Ch- what Charley said.”

Tom saw him sway as he spoke, and his suspicions combined into a conclusion. “Look at me, Mars.”

Mars hesitated then turned obediently. Tom crouched down to see his pupils, then smelt his breath. The sweet, cloying smell that clung to his clothes and hair. Lord, have mercy. “Charley, would you like to explain yourself?”

“What?”

“Do I have to make you walk in a straight line? March you down to the police station for a breathalyser test?”

“Why are you so weird?”

“Mars is twelve. Please tell me it was only alcohol?”

“Stop overreacting.”

Megan met his eyes across the room, before taking charge. “Give me your phone. Your new one, yes.” She waited as Charley switched it off and handed it over. “You can have it back when you go out in the morning. What have you had, are you safe?”

Charley glared at the floor. “Why do you have to overreact? It’s fine. Nothing unusual.”

“Oh, you do this regularly, do you?”

“So what if I do? I know more about life than any stupid adults.”

“No, Charley, no you do not. You have a strange, skewed picture of life. What has Mars had?”

“Nothing much, he’ll be fine. Can I go?”

“No, young lady. No you may not go. You may sit down.” She stood for a moment, looking almost lost, eyes flicking between both children. Charley, slouched on the sofa with arms folded, Mars with his back pressed against the wall.

Tom met her eyes, attempting to send a message of reassurance, at the same time desperately trying to work out what to do. Get Mars calm and in bed? Call the police? Drugs, children... who knew what had happened? How were they supposed to handle it?

Megan moved close enough to murmur in his ear. "Would hospital be overreacting?"

"Um... better safe than sorry, I guess?"

"Ask Liza to babysit. I can't take them on my own."

"Will do. Back in a minute." He looked down at Mars again, saw the rigid fear in his limbs, and then spoke more audibly. "Come on Mars. Sit on the stairs and wait for me.”

How often had Charley come home after a night like this, and they’d never realised? They’d just expected her to be wild, put it all down to a difficult childhood. Who gave drugs to children?

It was a short drive but felt long, Mars shivering in the passenger next to him while Megan and Charley sat in a tense silence in the back. Tom had grabbed a teddy from Mars' room on the way back from speaking to Liza, and Mars was holding it loosely on his lap, fingers picking at the fur.

“Tom?”

“Yes?”

“Feel funny.”

“I know you do. Don’t worry, you'll feel better soon. We're going to the hospital to make sure.” He glanced at Charley in the rear view mirror, saw her huddled to one side with head down. She hadn't tried to flee, which showed something was wrong.

“What happened?”

“Somebody’s given you things to drink that you shouldn’t have had. And maybe other stuff too, any smoke or powder or pills or anything?”

“Um, there was smoke. Lots of people smoke though, right?”

“People smoke different things. It’s all very bad for you, especially when you’re only a child, but I know it’s hard to say no when you’re so much younger and don’t know what’s going on. The police will want to talk to you, but that's not because you're in trouble. And I'll be with you to look after you as long as they let me, or Megan will.”

A long silence, as Mars stared ahead out of the windscreen and Tom focused on driving. Turning into the hospital car park, finding a parking space, helping Mars out and guiding him with a hand on his arm. Beside him, Megan was doing the same with Charley.

The long, long wait, as the effects of the alcohol and whatever else the children might have had began to fade. There were tests after tests, physical examinations and conversations with doctors, and a lot of waiting, Mars huddled in a hospital bed with his knees pulled up to his chest and the teddy clutched tight. The police had arrived, as had the children's social worker, and they were talking to Charley now. Megan had gone with them, and he was left with Mars.

“Tom?”

"Yeah?"

“Charley said… it’s a secret… I mustn’t…" He swallowed, pulling the blanket right up round his neck. "What if the police ask me to say things? I promised I wouldn't.”

Tom shook his head. “Charley isn’t always right. You can break your promise and tell the police what happened.”

"But isn't breaking promises bad?"

"Not when it helps us keep you and other people safe. It's okay to break your promise and tell the police and other grown-ups what happened."

“I don’t… understand.”

“I know. Just trust me and the doctors and the police.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“No. It’s not your fault, Mars. Nobody is going to be angry with you. We’ll help you, okay? And you know you can always tell us anything, Megan and I.”

“I'm tired…”

“I'll stay here if you want to sleep. We'll wake you up if we need to, until then you get as much rest as you can.”

"They wanted me to... do work for them. They said they'd pay me, like they pay Charley. We need more money."

"We have enough money, Mars. I have my job, and Megan gets money from the government to help look after you. In a couple of years you can get a paper round if you want, but no secret jobs."

"Should I tell the police about that?"

"Yes, you should, just like you told me. Now, you were going to go to sleep."

"I'm scared."

"I know. But I'm right here."

He tucked Mars in more tightly and then sat, watching those wide unsleeping eyes until at last they closed, and then he checked his phone for texts from Megan. Nothing, and he couldn't think of the words to write one of his own, so he put the phone away again and watched Mars twitch in his sleep, as his mind filled in the gaps in the story. Please, God, keep the nightmares away. They'd tried to keep the children safe, and they'd failed, though they should have seen the warning signs. Though they'd known full well there were people out there determined to prey on vulnerable children. Already his mind was starting to replay what might have happened, exploring every horrible possibility. It would almost be a relief in a few hours to know the truth.

© 2022 E.G. Ferguson