Second Time Around

by Colette Caddle

  She looked at him, scared, and nodded slowly. ‘Yes.’ Now that Keith was ready to listen she wasn’t sure that she could talk. Vocalising the situation would make it real and they would not only have to face it, but do something about it, too.

  ‘Tell me. Please?’

  She looked down at her hands in his, resting on her bump. ‘When I told his teacher my concerns, she mentioned autism. I went through the roof, but she assured me that, if she was right, he was very low on the spectrum and they could help him.’

  Keith wiped his face on his sleeve and took a deep breath. ‘So what happens next?’

  ‘I think we can organise an assessment through the school. Lana, his teacher, is lovely and very good with Bobby. She’ll tell us what we need to do.’

  Keith squeezed her hand. ‘Then I’ll call and see if we can set up an appointment for tomorrow.’

  ‘Have you any other questions?’ The principal, Mr Quinn, looked from one to the other.

  Sharon shook her head, overwhelmed. ‘I don’t think so. There’s just so much to take in.’

  Bobby’s teacher gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘Don’t worry. You can call any time, Sharon, and I’ll do my best to answer your questions.’

  ‘How long will all this take?’ Keith asked, running an agitated hand through his hair.

  ‘A few months, perhaps more, I’m afraid,’ she replied. ‘I know it’s frustrating but it involves two departments and sometimes it’s hard to get them all on board at the same time.’

  ‘Are we talking bureaucracy and red tape?’ Keith’s lip curled in disgust.

  ‘The departments are under resourced and short-staffed and, as ASD isn’t a life-threatening illness, it’s not at the top of their list of priorities,’ the principal explained. ‘I know it’s frustrating, but please be assured that, pending a diagnosis, we will do our best for Bobby and, where and when possible, he will have access to our SEN and SNA teams.’

  ‘All these acronyms make my head spin,’ Sharon said with a nervous laugh.

  He smiled. ‘Sorry, the school lingo is full of them.’ He rummaged in his drawer and produced some booklets. ‘These will help. That’s the school’s special-needs policy, and this is the department’s booklet, and there’s a leaflet on how you can help Bobby at home. You should have a chat with your GP and there are some good, local support groups in the area.’

  ‘There are a lot of things that Bobby can get involved in that will help,’ the teacher added. ‘Art and music are great ways of calming ASD kids, and helping them to concentrate. There is lots of help out there for him and for you. Don’t be afraid to ask.’

  Sharon followed Keith outside, surprised she was able to walk given how shaky her legs were.

  He pulled her tight to his side and she burst into tears. He wrapped his arms round her and held her as she cried, kissing the top of her head. ‘It will all be fine, sweetheart, I promise.’

  ‘It’s a relief in a way,’ she said, balling the tissues in her hands as they drove home and trying to look on the bright side. ‘Bobby’s not badly behaved at all. He’s not responsible for his behaviour, and now we’ve set the wheels in motion to help him.’

  Keith patted her knee. ‘We have.’

  ‘We need to find out what triggers the tantrums or at least learn to spot the signs when he’s about to throw one so that we can head him off at the pass,’ she continued.

  ‘It would be great if we could,’ he agreed. ‘I had no idea that intolerance to noise and lights were symptoms of autism. So much makes sense now.’

  Sharon nodded. ‘I always thought it odd when he didn’t laugh at jokes. I thought he had no sense of humour. Now I realise that he just didn’t get the joke. Lord only knows what he makes of all the slagging in my family. No wonder he’s wary of my mother. One of her favourite sayings when she’s cross is “I’ll murder you!” ’

  Keith groaned. ‘And he’d think that she meant it. We’re not the only ones who need to be educated.’

  ‘I know.’ Sharon had been worrying about how they were going to ensure that her mother didn’t set Bobby off. ‘Hopefully, knowing that Bobby can’t help being the way he is will make Mum more understanding.’

  ‘Do you want to go straight there and break the news?’ Keith asked as they sat at the traffic lights.

  ‘I suppose so,’ Sharon said, reluctantly. The lights changed and Keith turned right towards Suzie’s house. ‘I hate the thought of him being labelled, Keith.’

  He nodded. ‘I know, but he’ll be able to cope with life better once he gets the help he needs. And so what if he’s not going to be a college professor?’

  ‘I’m much more concerned about his social skills,’ Sharon said. ‘I don’t want him to be Billy No Mates.’

  ‘But he’s content in his own company. There’s nothing wrong with that. You know, some of the world’s most successful people are just like him.’

  Sharon knew that Keith was trying to cheer her up, but she couldn’t help but catapult them fifteen, twenty, thirty years from now. Would Bobby be independent or still reliant on them and, if the latter, what would happen to him when they died? Shivering, Sharon dismissed the ridiculous thought. She had enough things to deal with now without worrying about the future. ‘Should we tell people?’

  He scowled. ‘Other than the family, I don’t see why. It’s nobody’s business.’

  ‘Then people will still think that he’s just badly behaved and disobedient,’ Sharon said, wondering if the reality was that Keith was still ashamed of his son.

  ‘Who cares what strangers think? We know the truth and hopefully, as we get to understand ASD better, we’ll be able to help Bobby to control his behaviour.’ He sighed. ‘I can see us going to an awful lot of meetings and classes. Still, at least we can sort it out before Baby comes along.’

  ‘Are you kidding?’ Sharon stared at him. Had he not heard a word that the teachers had said? There was no easy or speedy solution to Bobby’s problems. ‘You do know there’s no cure for ASD, don’t you?’

  ‘Of course I do,’ he snapped. ‘But he can change and learn to live a normal life within his own limitations. Whatever schools or doctors say or do, we’ll be his main teachers, Shaz. We’re the ones who’ll make or break him.’

  That was a scary thought but he was right. Sharon prayed that she was carrying a daughter. If she had another son she knew that they would always be comparing the two. She slipped her hand over Keith’s on the wheel. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Me too.’ He shot her a guilty smile. ‘We’re both upset. It’s a lot to take on board.’

  ‘We’ll do whatever it takes to help him and give him a good quality of life, right?’

  ‘We will.’ Keith drew up outside Suzie’s house. ‘Ready?’

  Sharon shook her head, suddenly nervous. ‘Maybe we should wait.’

  He looked at her. ‘Why?’

  ‘I don’t know but—’

  ‘Cooee! What are you two doing here?’

  Sharon turned her head to see her mother on the doorstep, hands on her hips.

  Keith shrugged. ‘That settles that, then. Come on.’

  ‘Hi, Mum.’ Sharon hugged her mother.

  ‘You look better, love, but what are you both doing here at this hour?’ Suzie frowned at Keith. ‘Is there something wrong? Is it Baby?’

  ‘Baby is fine, and so is Sharon. ‘Is Noel in?’

  ‘He’s in the kitchen, why?’

  Sharon glanced at Keith and then back at her mum.

  ‘We just wanted a word with you both.’

  ‘Autism.’ Sharon’s voice was barely a croak. Tears threatened but she swallowed them back. ‘It’s not Bobby’s fault that he’s disruptive and disobedient, Mum.’

  ‘Are you saying the boy is simple?’ Suzie asked.

  Sharon cringed and Noel glared at his mother.

  Suzie glared back. ‘What? All I’m saying is, that’s shite. I don’t believe it for a minute. He may be odd and bloody hard work
but that child is clever.’

  Laughing and crying, Sharon embraced her. ‘Oh, Mum, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said about him.’

  ‘Well, I mean it. That’s why I get so angry with the boy. I know he isn’t stupid and he should know better.’

  ‘It’s not really about his intelligence,’ she said. Tired, Sharon settled back and looked to her husband to explain.

  ‘There’s a whole spectrum of autistic behaviour from very mild to severe,’ Keith explained. ‘As I said, there’s no diagnosis yet but Bobby ticks most of the boxes. For example the way he wants to take the exact same route to school every day. How he rarely looks at you when he’s talking to you. How little he talks, for that matter. How he wants to wear the same pyjamas every night and prefers to draw pictures using just one colour.’

  ‘But he’s so clever,’ Suzie insisted.

  ‘No doubt about that,’ Noel agreed. ‘You wouldn’t believe how quickly he picks things up on the Xbox.’

  ‘He remembers everything too,’ Sharon said, beginning to feel more hopeful. ‘It’s like he absorbs anything he reads or watches on TV and, once it’s in his head, it stays there.’

  ‘Like the name of every bloody train on Thomas the effin’ Tank Engine.’ Suzie rolled her eyes.

  ‘He’ll sail through exams,’ Noel said, sounding almost envious.

  Sharon had to laugh. She was feeling better now that everything was out in the open. Between his family and school, Bobby would get the support that he needed. She knew that there were schools specifically for children with special needs and she intended to find out more about them, but she liked the idea of Bobby growing up with ‘normal’ kids. One day he’d have to take his place in the world, and the sooner he adapted to it the better. She was terrified for him and what lay ahead but that wasn’t going to help her, the new baby or Bobby. She needed to rest as much as possible so that she had the time and energy to cope with all of this, and, with that in mind, she looked over at her husband, eyebrows raised, and he immediately nodded.

  ‘We should go, Shaz. You look done in.’

  ‘You do, love. Go home,’ Suzie said. ‘And don’t worry, we’ll look after Bobby.’

  Sharon sighed as Keith drove her home. Her back was aching and she felt exhausted and sad and relieved.

  Keith shot her a worried look. ‘There’s a long road ahead, love. It’s not going to be easy.’

  ‘I know,’ she assured him. ‘At least we’re not alone. The school and my family are behind us and, yes, I know my mother will still lose her temper and say things she shouldn’t but, at least when she calms down, she’ll realise what she’s done and maybe give Bobby a cuddle. That’s progress.’

  He patted her hand and smiled. ‘Yes, sweetheart. That’s progress.’

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  ‘You won’t believe what just happened,’ Noel said dramatically when Jess walked in. She dropped her backpack. ‘Benedict Cumberbatch dropped by?’

  ‘Not that exciting,’ Suzie chuckled. ‘Keith and Sharon were here.’

  ‘After Keith left you yesterday, he went straight home to talk to Sharon,’ Noel told her. ‘And they met with Bobby’s school this morning.’

  Jess sank down into a chair. ‘And what happened?’

  ‘It seems Sharon had talked to the teacher who agrees with Cal but Shaz couldn’t deal with it and was afraid to tell Keith.’

  ‘I knew it.’ Jess sighed. ‘It’s no wonder that she fainted. She must have been a nervous wreck, bottling all that up.’

  Suzie looked grim as she made the third pot of tea that morning. ‘I hadn’t thought of that. We really are going to have to keep a close eye on her.’

  ‘She’ll be much better now, Mum,’ Noel said. ‘You could see how relieved she was that it was all out in the open.’

  ‘So, what now?’ Jess asked.

  ‘What happens is, we have to be patient with Bobby.’ Suzie set a mug in front of her daughter.

  ‘Don’t worry, Mum,’ Jess said, looking at her mother’s worried expression. ‘No one expects you to turn into a saint overnight. When he’s here he’ll still annoy you as much as he did yesterday, so don’t put yourself under too much pressure.’

  ‘Deep breaths.’ Noel grinned. ‘Isn’t that how your meditation guru says you keep calm?’

  Suzie cuffed him across the head but she was smiling. ‘If I managed to keep my cool raising you lot, I can manage little Bobby, smartarse. I’d better get my act together: he’ll be out in twenty minutes.’

  ‘I’ll collect him and take him to the playground,’ Noel offered. ‘He can terrorise the other kids and come home exhausted.’

  Suzie laughed. ‘I won’t say no. Thanks, love.’

  ‘I’d better get going too,’ Jess said.

  Suzie frowned. ‘But you just got here.’

  ‘Only to cadge a cuppa. I’ve a meeting in half an hour with Amelia. She wants me to do a piece on Irish female entrepreneurs.’ Jess hugged her. ‘Why don’t you catch forty winks before Bobby gets here? You’ll be able to control your temper better if you’re rested.’

  Suzie nodded and stroked Jess’s hair. ‘Good idea, I’ll do that.’

  ‘I’ll walk out with you, Jess,’ Noel said. ‘See ya later, Mum.’

  ‘Is it my imagination or has Mum softened a little?’ Jess murmured once they were outside.

  ‘I think it’s the shock.’ Noel chuckled. ‘Thanks for talking to Keith, Jess. I knew he’d listen to you.’

  ‘I didn’t think he would act on what I said, at least not this quickly. He seemed so negative.’

  ‘Timing,’ Noel told her. ‘The teacher had said something to him when he dropped off Bobby, so he was already reeling before you opened your mouth.’

  ‘Poor guy.’ Jess sighed. ‘I wonder why Sharon didn’t tell him.’

  ‘Who knows? But I’m glad you did, sis, good on ya.’

  ‘It’s Cal we have to thank. He armed me with the information that persuaded Keith to take action.’

  Noel grinned, his eyes mischievous. ‘Call and tell him, he’ll be delighted. You know he fancies you.’

  ‘He does not,’ Jess retorted, but blushed.

  ‘He does, trust me – although he’s probably not your type. After all, he is single.’

  ‘You are so funny.’ She glared at him.

  ‘Call him,’ Noel repeated, backing away, grinning. ‘I bet he asks you out.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ Jess slid into the driver’s seat and let her hair fall over her face to hide her grin. This was ridiculous. She was acting like a damn teenager again.

  ‘We’ll see,’ her little brother called over his shoulder as he sauntered off with a wave.

  She drove off, her mind on Cal. She knew that, if she made that call, Noel would be proven right, but Jess wasn’t sure she could face him. She couldn’t believe that she had told him about Louis attacking her. He’d been completely cool and calm – presumably, that was down to his profession. But she had seen the anger in his expression and she knew that if he came face to face with Louis, there was a good chance he’d punch the man. She smiled at the thought. It was nice to think of a man defending her honour. It was especially nice that it was Cal. But had he been angry at Louis for hurting his best friend’s sister, or because he cared about her?

  Jess liked to think it was the latter, but she was afraid that confiding in him had changed the dynamic of their relationship. Was she now a victim, deserving of his sympathy, someone who had to unburden, accept and heal? The very idea made Jess shudder. She refused to allow Louis to reduce her to the status of victim but, then, why didn’t she stand up to him? Threaten him with disclosure to his family and employer or simply give him a knee in the balls, as Katie would undoubtedly do? That wasn’t her way, though. Jess sighed. She just wanted him to leave her alone.

  She glanced at her phone on the passenger seat and frowned as she realised Louis had made no contact since driving off the other night. Was he backi
ng off or simply biding his time? She hoped he wouldn’t turn up on the doorstep again. Surely he wouldn’t be that brazen – although, the way he’d behaved lately, Jess wouldn’t put anything past him. Maybe she should ask Katie to stay with her tonight. Louis wouldn’t dare to pester her if her friend was present. Maybe he would finally get the message that she wanted nothing to do with a married man. Any lingering attraction she’d felt to Louis died that awful night in her apartment.

  Jess parked her car and, glancing at her watch, saw that she had ten minutes to spare before her meeting. on impulse, she called Cal before she lost her nerve.

  ‘Hello? Jess?’

  ‘Hi, Cal.’

  ‘How are things?’

  She heard the concern in his voice and sighed. ‘Fine. More than fine, thanks to you. I talked to Keith and, not only did he listen, he and Sharon went straight down to see Bobby’s teacher this morning. They’ve requested that he be assessed.’

  ‘That’s fantastic news, well done.’

  ‘I just wanted to thank you. It wouldn’t have gone so well if you hadn’t advised me.’

  ‘You can thank me in person if you like.’

  She could hear a smile in his voice and imagined a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and she felt a warm, fuzzy feeling, glad she hadn’t imagined this thing between them. ‘What did you have in mind?’ she asked casually.

  ‘A drink tonight, in O’Neill’s?’

  Her heart sank. That was where Louis and the gang went after work and the last place that she wanted to go, but she didn’t want to tell Cal that. She was determined not to mention the man again.

  ‘Sounds good to me,’ she told Cal.

  ‘Great. See you there at six?’

  ‘I’ll be there.’

  Jess stepped into the shower feeling pleased with herself. Fired up from her meeting with Amelia, she had set up a few interviews with three prominent businesswomen and then written the introduction to the piece and now she had an evening with Cal to look forward to. How chuffed her mother would be if she knew that they were going on a date. What should she wear? Something casual that didn’t look as if she’d made too much of an effort. It was only a drink in a pub and there was always the possibility that this wasn’t a real date. She was still dithering when the phone rang and Katie’s name flashed up.