A Father's Pledge

by Eleanor Jones

  Wayne looked stunned. “For me? Really?”

  “Yes...really.” Mel smiled. “But before you thank me, you need to know that you have Luke to thank, too. I couldn’t have got it without his help. He came with me to see it and he even painted the name on it for me just the other night.”

  “I thought you were being a bit secretive lately.” Wayne laughed. “Thanks, Luke.”

  “And Mike,” Mel added. “He helped us get it down here while you were out earlier.”

  “Thanks to you all, then,” Wayne called, jumping onto the boat and almost losing his balance as it bobbed up and down on the waves. Everyone laughed when he had to grab the side.

  “You sure about this, Mel?” teased Mike. “Doesn’t look like he has any sea legs at all to me.”

  “Oh, he’ll learn,” Mel assured him.

  Kat couldn’t stop her mind from going out to the happy young couple who were possibly lost somewhere in the ocean. She hoped Gwen was right about them having been forced to go ashore somewhere else. It was too painful to think that a tragedy could have occurred right on their doorstep.

  Mel grabbed her husband’s arm and tried to yank him from the boat. “You can play with your new toy tomorrow. Now it’s party time!”

  When he pulled her to him and planted a kiss on her lips, everyone cheered. For a moment, Mel leaned against him, her eyes shining, and Kat felt a lurch of envy at their togetherness. Would she ever have that?

  “Right, kids,” cried Gwen. “You heard what Mel said. Who’s ready for a party?”

  They all rallied around her in excitement, but yet again, Ben held back.

  “Hey, Ben,” Kat murmured for his ears only. “Don’t you like parties?”

  He nodded. “Yes, but missing my granddad is making me sad.”

  Kat placed her hand on his shoulder, touched when he didn’t shrug it off. “So where is he, your granddad?”

  “He’s gone,” he said sadly. “To a funny place.”

  “And your grandma?” asked Kat.

  The little boy looked down at his feet and Kat thought he wasn’t going to answer. “Taking care of him,” he eventually said.

  Kat wanted to question him further but she sensed it would be too much. She had to go see Mollie Jackson, she decided, whether it was against the rules or not.

  When she noticed Luke approaching them, her heart sank. His timing was totally wrong.

  “Hey, buddy,” he said, offering Ben a forced, way-too-wide smile. “You coming in to the party?”

  Ben shrugged. “I might...” He looked up at Kat. “With her.”

  “We can go together,” suggested Luke, his bright smile fading just a little. Something pulled at Kat’s heartstrings.

  “All the children are going now,” she said. “I’m helping Gwen keep them under control. Why don’t we all head up together?”

  “Whatever,” said Ben with feigned indifference. Kat saw the defensiveness in his eyes. He ran off, squeezing himself into the center of a group of children who were all pushing to try to get back into the house.

  “He’ll come around,” Kat said, glancing up to see a set expression on Luke’s handsome face.

  He shrugged, pretending not to care—he and Ben were more similar than either of them seemed to realize. “He’s my son,” he said drily. “And I don’t need you to tell me that.”

  “Fair enough,” she responded, her cheeks burning. “But it might help if you changed your attitude and accepted some help.”

  “From you?”

  “Outsiders often see things from a different perspective.”

  “As you’ve already said, he’ll come around,” he remarked in a clipped tone.

  He held her gaze, and when she felt her heart quiver she hardened it instantly.

  “And it won’t be by trying to buy him with the promise of a bike,” he said, turning on his heel.

  When she spotted Ben watching them with a sullen expression on his face, Kat pulled at Luke’s sleeve. He turned reluctantly.

  “Look, I know what you mean, but going back on your promise will just make Ben more confused. He needs to be able to rely on you,” Kat said.

  “I don’t need you to make my decisions for me,” Luke snapped.

  “And sulking won’t help, either,” she murmured as she walked away.

  * * *

  KAT’S REMARK STUNG far deeper than Luke had expected. She was right about the way he was behaving, he knew that, and yet it only made him want to dig in his heels. What was wrong with him? he wondered. Why did she always seem to bring out his worst qualities? Was he jealous because Ben obviously preferred her company to his? The thought made him feel childish and shallow; perhaps he should go and apologize. She was so strong, and he couldn’t help but feel a grudging admiration for the way she was with Ben. She was so sure of herself, too, so sure of her methods and so comfortable in her own skin...

  Following on behind the excited throng of partygoers, Luke contemplated going home before anyone noticed. He knew what Kat would say, of course: only cowards run away, you need to stand your ground. Now, how did he know that, he wondered, stifling a smile.

  “Luke!” Mel called, pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned to her, noting her determined approach. What now? “Mike says you can sing and play guitar,” she said, catching up with him. Her cheeks were pink with exertion; she just wanted everything to go right for Wayne’s birthday, he could see that, and he admired her for it.

  “I haven’t performed for years,” he said doubtfully. “And I was never very good. I just strummed a bit, and sang country music and ballads—easy stuff.”

  “Wayne has a guitar,” she said, her eyes bright with excitement. “I bought it for him last year, but he’s never even tried to learn to play it. It’s a good one, I think—it just needs tuning. Please say you’ll do it.”

  Luke’s instincts told him to just say no and walk away but he felt himself faltering. “Well, I...” he began.

  “Please,” she begged, wringing her hands, and he couldn’t help but smile. “It’ll make the party,” she insisted, pulling him through the door.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  BACKGROUND MUSIC FLOATED out into the garden as Mel and Wayne’s guests made the most of the rather unusual catering arrangements organized by their two sons, Jack and Joseph, who had come home from their summer travels around Europe for their dad’s birthday, Gwen explained to Kat, and when they offered to be in charge of the food, Mel had reluctantly agreed. She’d planned a barbecue, so at first their new idea had met with her total disapproval, but as usual they’d worked their charm on her. She’d been forced to agree that Wayne did love fish and chips and the idea of a fish-and-chip van turning up was certainly novel. Her delight was evident when he spotted it in the driveway and grinned from ear to ear.

  Gwen and Kat organized the children into a haphazard line and they chattered excitedly as they queued up for their treat. “Now, who wants fish and who wants chicken, kids?” Gwen called.

  She was met by such a babble of voices that she ended up having to write down each child’s order. Ben was hanging back again, and as Kat headed toward him, he retreated to the rear of the crowd. She found him sitting on a low wall all by himself.

  “Not hungry, Ben?” she asked.

  To her surprise, he nodded. “What...you are hungry?”

  He nodded again. “Yes, but I don’t want to see him.”

  “Who? You mean Luke?” Kat didn’t quite understand. “Why? Where is he?”

  “In the van.”

  Unable to believe what she was hearing, Kat went over to the fish-and-chip van, and sure enough, there was Luke, helping out.

  She wriggled through the crowd of eager children to see him. “Ben said you were in there, but I thought he was imagin
ing it.” She laughed. “You look a bit hot, if you don’t mind me saying.”

  “I’m just filling in a gap,” he explained. “Someone’s coming to relieve me any minute...hopefully.”

  “Well, despite the risk of being reprimanded yet again,” she said, “I have an idea.”

  Five minutes later, Kat watched Luke leave the van carrying a newspaper-wrapped parcel. She slipped behind a sycamore tree, not wanting to interfere. Ben was still sitting on the wall looking less than happy, and when he saw his dad approach, he half rose, as if he intended to run off. Luke sat down beside him before he got the chance.

  “Hi,” he said. “I brought you fish and chips...or chicken, if you’d rather. I like both.”

  Ben ignored him and stood up, but Luke took hold of his sleeve. “Don’t go...please. You must be hungry and these are extra. They’ll go to waste if we don’t eat them.” When he opened the paper, releasing an appetizing aroma, Kat could swear she saw Ben’s nose twitch.

  “You might as well eat them,” suggested Luke. “I won’t hang around if you don’t want me to.”

  * * *

  THE LITTLE BOY shrugged and sat down. “Can I have chicken?”

  “That’s fine,” Luke said. “I love fish.”

  They ate in silence, a companionable silence, Luke hoped, glancing down at his perfect, pint-size replica. “Good, aren’t they?” he said.

  When Ben nodded, a warm glow ran through him. Any response was better than nothing.

  Eventually, Ben crumpled up his paper and glanced sideways at Luke. “Miss is over there,” he said. “I saw her just before. Has she had fish and chips?”

  “Well, I don’t really know, Ben,” Luke said, stamping out a prickle of annoyance. “Why don’t you ask her? Do you want me to give her a shout?”

  The little boy smiled up at him.

  “Yes, please.”

  Luke’s irritation evaporated as he took in his son’s smile—the first one he’d ever directed his way.

  “Kat!” Luke waved her over and she approached with a spring in her step.

  “Have you eaten?” he asked.

  She sat down beside them on the wall, shaking her head. “I’m going to get some in a minute when the line dies down.”

  “You are still coming with us to see the bike, aren’t you, Miss?” Ben asked.

  Kat shot a questioning glance at Luke, but he gave her nothing.

  “You must call me Kat, Ben,” she said, smiling. “We are friends, aren’t we?”

  “But you are coming?” His eyes were bright, expectant.

  She took a breath. “If Luke is still taking you, then of course I’ll come along.”

  “We’ll see,” Luke said. He still hadn’t decided, but now wasn’t the time to make promises to—or disappoint—Ben.

  “But when?” Ben asked, glaring at Luke and refusing to let it lie. “You did say...”

  “I know I did.” Luke hesitated. “But have you earned a bike?”

  “Well, I don’t have one.”

  “And do you think that’s a good enough reason?”

  Ben went quiet. Then he looked up at Luke with accusation in his eyes. “You promised,” he said quietly. “And that’s a good enough reason.”

  Luke was speechless. He had promised, and he’d been looking forward to it, but he’d imagined it would only be the two of them, an opportunity for a real bonding session.

  “I didn’t promise to take Miss,” he said.

  Ben glared at him, unfazed, and Luke saw himself in the boy’s eyes. “You really want her to come?”

  “I really want her to come.”

  Luke held his son’s gaze for a moment more before turning to Kat. “Well? You heard what he said. Are you up for it?”

  Kat hesitated, and Luke suddenly realized that he wanted her to say yes. What was going on here? Her eyes held his and he couldn’t look away. “Well?”

  She smiled then, a smile that lit up her whole face. “Yes,” she said determinedly. “I am.”

  Luke glanced at Ben, pleased to see his delight. “Okay, so when shall we go?”

  Before Kat could reply, Gwen appeared, striding purposefully toward them. “Oh, good,” she said, smiling at Luke and Kat. “He’s had his fish and chips. I wondered where he’d got to...”

  “He’s fine,” Luke was quick to insist. “We’ve been making plans...haven’t we, Ben?”

  Ben nodded eagerly, but obviously too flustered to listen, Gwen didn’t pick up on Luke’s comment. “We’re heading back to Flight now, Ben, and Hilda’s going to look after you and see you off to bed. I’ll be taking you home, but then I’m coming straight back here.”

  “It’s not my home,” Ben said, scowling.

  Luke caught Gwen’s eye and saw the concern that darkened her pleasant features. “It’s home for now, though, Ben,” he said brightly. “Come on—don’t give poor Gwen a hard time. We’ll sort out our visit to the bike shop tomorrow.”

  Gwen took hold of Ben’s arm and tried to lead him off. “Did you enjoy your fish and chips?” she asked.

  “I had chicken,” Ben told her, resisting her attempt to try to draw him away.

  “And was it nice?”

  “Kind of.”

  “You need to do as you’re told...” Luke began, but she raised her hand to stop him.

  “Tell you what,” she said. “Before we go home, we’ll all go into the house and sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Wayne. Who knows—you might even get a piece of birthday cake.”

  Luke thought Ben was going to flatly refuse, but it seemed that the birthday cake had too much pull. “Okay,” he said gruffly. “If I have to.”

  * * *

  AS BEN DISAPPEARED into the house with the other children, Kat couldn’t help feeling a bit hurt that he hadn’t even said goodbye. “Ben has a lot more going on in his head than he lets on, you know,” she said with a sigh.

  Luke frowned. “Whatever is ‘going on in his head,’ it doesn’t hurt to be courteous. That’s what he’s never been taught—basic manners, like simply saying goodbye and thanks. Maybe I should put the bike on hold. Let him earn it by his behavior.”

  “No,” Kat responded automatically, letting out what was in her heart. “Can’t you see that he’s lonely, lost and hurting? Getting him a bike might make him feel cared about, at least. Especially since you promised it. How can he ever trust you if you break your promises?”

  “He’s been cared about all his life,” insisted Luke. “Too much, I think. That’s the problem.”

  “No one can be cared about too much,” Kat said quietly. Luke’s approach to Ben worried her; he seemed to have no understanding of what the boy needed.

  “You don’t know his grandparents.”

  “I know that something to do with his granddad has really upset him.”

  Kat turned to Luke, searching his face for a clue. But his expression was blank, almost angry.

  “Jim had some health issues—he needed a lot of care, according to Mollie. In spending all her time with him, she’s neglected Ben. So no big mystery, after all... It’s as simple as that.”

  That didn’t satisfy Kat. “I want to go and see Mollie,” she insisted. “To talk to her.”

  “If anyone is going to talk to Mollie about Ben, it will be me,” Luke responded, his tone firm.

  Kat just shrugged and walked away. What was it with Luke Travis? One minute she sensed a kind of loneliness in him, a vulnerability that warmed her toward him, but in an instant he could be harsh and unfeeling. It seemed as if he wasn’t sure how to act with his son, as if he didn’t know how to love him and he was stumbling his way through the whole relationship thing.

  Maybe his own life hadn’t been easy. He’d already mentioned that his mother had died young and h
is father was strict, but Kat hadn’t had an easy time, either, and she at least understood something of what Ben was going through in his new life. Luke wasn’t a trained child therapist, though, so she supposed she should give him a break. He was just a manager at Flight who was struggling to cope with the son he’d never met—and who didn’t want anything to do with him. Regardless, it was clear to Kat that Luke was floundering. But she had enough to do trying to help troubled children without having to deal with mixed-up adults. Oh, how she wished she’d never agreed to go with him and Ben to choose a bike; the best thing she could do was keep well away from Luke Travis.

  Imagining Ben’s face if she let him down, she knew she couldn’t back out. Too many people had let him down already; that was the root of his problems. The boy was hurt, bitter, insecure and something else—something she was sure had to do with his granddad—and she intended to find out what that was, no matter how much it upset Luke...or Mike, for that matter. For Kat, the children came first.

  * * *

  LUKE WATCHED KAT return to the house, frustrated with how their conversation had gone. Ben was his son; surely that stood for something. The boy was a bit mixed up, but he just needed to learn some boundaries. Kat didn’t know the Jacksons and she didn’t realize just how much they would have spoiled their grandson. After the tragedy of Carly’s death, followed by the failure of the business and having to spend all her time caring for Jim, Mollie had allowed Ben to run so wild that she’d been unable to manage him.

  When he was growing up, with his dad in control of his behavior, there had been no gray areas. You were polite and respectful and you did as you were told...or else. That discipline had worked okay for Luke. But then again, he remembered with a lurch of regret, there had been no hugs or spontaneous kisses in his childhood, and definitely no declarations of love. Even when he met and married Carly, swept away by the fire and passion of the young, she’d ended up accusing him of being cold and distant. In fact, during their final fight, when they’d broken up, she’d told him he was incapable of showing love and affection. Perhaps that was true. Perhaps that was why their marriage had been so short-lived; he’d never thought of it like that before.