Page 11 of The Quarterlands (Dark Water #4)

“To the seaside for the day. I thought you’d both enjoy it,” Josiah replied, smiling at him. Alex’s arm was on the mend and he was doing a little better.

“Thank you for inviting me along to join you,” Noah said a little stiffly.

“I can’t drive myself anymore, so I’m reliant on Charles.

But he often has speaking engagements and sponsorship events, so I’m on my own at The Orchard most of the time.

” There was no self-pity there, he was just giving an accurate account of his existence.

“A day out is a rare treat. I do appreciate it, Mr Raine.”

“Please, call me Joe, and you’re welcome. Alex has been cooped up a lot too, and I thought a day out would be good for everyone. I was down this way a couple of weeks ago for work and thought how pretty it is.”

Alex and his father were slowly rebuilding their relationship.

There had been holochats, and Charles occasionally brought Noah to visit, but Josiah felt they needed some time together without Charles.

Their conversations were often stilted, both of them aware of how fragile their bond was, and how easily it might be broken again.

It was as if their relationship was a delicate vase that they passed gingerly back and forth between them, and it frustrated Josiah.

Sometimes, he wanted to yell at them, bash their heads together and force the pace of their reconciliation, but he tried to remain patient.

This was a complicated relationship, with eggshells everywhere.

No wonder they were tiptoeing around each other.

He hoped that today’s excursion would help, but he knew he was taking a risk given what he had planned.

They spent a pleasant few hours by the sea.

It was a sunny day, although there was a cold wind.

Neither Noah nor Alex seemed to mind that – both were wrapped up warmly.

Josiah could tell how much they appreciated getting away from their normal lives and doing something together.

Such simple pleasures – a drive out to the coast and a short walk along the promenade, which was all Noah could manage – and yet, it was something that had been utterly impossible for them for so many years.

“I thought we’d stop at this café I know on the way home,” Josiah said nonchalantly, glancing at his watch as they piled back into his duck. “Break up the journey.”

An hour later, he pulled into a nondescript service station a little off the beaten track. It was more of a truck stop, as evidenced by the huge rigs on the forecourt.

Alex glanced around. “I’m sure I know this place,” he said slowly.

“You do. You’ve been here before. ”

Alex turned to him, his eyes wide. “Why are we here?”

“We’re meeting someone I believe you wanted to see?” Josiah smiled at him gently.

“Shit… he’s here?” Alex covered his mouth with his hand.

“Yes. I interviewed him here a couple of weeks ago. I needed to take a statement from him, but he was too busy to come to Inquisitus, so I met him here. I asked if he’d agree to see you.

I didn’t tell you because he said he couldn’t get here until five, and I wanted you to relax and enjoy the day without fretting. ”

“What’s going on?” Noah asked. “Who are you meeting? Shall I stay in the duck?”

“No.” Josiah turned in his seat to look at him. “This is someone you’ll want to meet.”

They climbed out of the duck, and Josiah took Noah’s arm and helped him walk to the café. Alex went ahead, looking around eagerly as he entered, searching…

Josiah stopped just inside the door.

“Let’s give them a moment,” he murmured to Noah, and they watched as Alex let out a cry and then ran towards a man in his fifties.

He was ordinary-looking, with short grey hair, balding on top, wearing a black-and-white lumberjack shirt that was stretched tightly over his bulging belly.

He stood up as Alex approached and held his arms open.

Alex didn’t even hesitate – he went straight in for a long, heartfelt hug.

Josiah felt a lump rise in the back of his throat.

“Who is that?” Noah asked, peering across the room.

“His name is Barney Bates,” Josiah replied. “He’s a long-distance lorry driver. He stopped and bought Alex food and gave him clothes, money, and a safe place to sleep when he escaped from Tyler.”

“Then you’re right. I do want to meet the man who helped my son when he needed it most,” Noah exclaimed.

They crossed the café, and Josiah introduced Noah to Barney.

“I’m Alex’s father,” Noah said, sounding a little choked. They shook hands. “Thank you,” Noah told him, still shaking vigorously. “Thank you for taking care of my son.”

“That’s okay, mate.” Barney beamed at him. “I reckon he needed a dad that day and, well, to be honest, I needed a son, too, so it suited us both.”

“How is your son?” Alex asked as they all sat down.

Barney’s face fell. “He’s still with that bastard houder up north.”

“I thought he was only serving a five-year sentence?”

“Yeah, he was, but they say he’s been difficult, caused them problems, and his sentence’s been increased a couple of times now without a trial or nothing.

Judge just rubber-stamped it. I don’t think his houder ever intends to let him go.

Every time his contract comes up, he makes up some shit about Robbie’s behaviour and they stick more years on his contract.

I think if I had the money to bribe his houder I could get him out, but I don’t, although I work all the hours God sends.

” Barney took a gulp of his Coke. “Fuckers. Fucking IS system. Fucking hate this country. Good to see you again, Johnny… Though that’s not your name, is it, lad?

” He smiled at Alex. “Joe here told me who you really are.”

“Yes, sorry. I couldn’t risk telling you the truth. I can’t tell you how much I wanted to see you again, Barney. It’s been worrying me for so long. I wanted to explain… Did Joe tell you why I didn’t get on that boat?”

“Nah. He said it wasn’t his story to tell, but if I agreed to meet with you, he was sure you’d wanna spill. Listen, Alex, you’ve got nothing to explain to me. I’m sure you had your reasons.”

Alex reached across the table and took Noah’s hand in his.

“Sorry, Dad, I haven’t told you this. After I escaped from Tyler, I tried to get to the coast. I walked for days with no money and no food.

Barney saw me and scooped me up. He fed me, and then he took me to the coast and arranged for a friend of his to take me to France.

He gave me some cash to pay for the trip, but I never got on the boat. ”

“Why not?” Noah frowned.

“Because that was the day you had your first stroke,” Alex said gently. “I heard about it on the radio, and I couldn’t bear to leave in case you died and I never had a chance to say goodbye. So, I used the money to get to the hospital and see you.”

Noah looked shaken. “I thought I heard your voice, but Charles told me I’d imagined it. I was so sure I heard you, saw you… that you’d he ld my hand and spoken to me. I tried to reply, but I couldn’t make the words make sense.”

“I thought you saw me. I knew you were trying to say something.”

“You gave up your chance to escape because of me?” Noah looked profoundly moved by this revelation.

“We’d had so many cross words and I regretted them all,” Alex said softly. “I’m so sorry, Dad.”

“As am I. I was hurt, but I should never have disowned you. You’re my son and I never stopped loving you,” Noah said firmly.

“There, see, I told him so,” Barney cut in. “I said his dad would never have stopped loving him. Dads don’t, do we?” He beamed at Noah, who smiled back.

Josiah sat back in his chair, watching as some very old, very deep wounds started slowly healing. So often, he’d been left in despair by Alex’s story, but this was one of those occasions when the best of human nature had come to the fore for a change.

They stayed to eat because Alex said this place served the best fish and chips in the country.

Josiah had to concede that it was, indeed, very good, and his full belly agreed.

They parted with hugs all round, nyms exchanged, and a great sense of happiness.

Alex’s future might still be uncertain, but one small moment in his past had been revisited and rectified.

Clearly exhausted by the long day out, Noah fell asleep in the duck on the way back. Alex rested his head on Josiah’s shoulder as he drove.

“Thank you for today, Joe,” he said softly. “You’re a good man.”

“We exist. Barney Bates is, too, as is that man asleep in the back.” Josiah glanced in the mirror, smiling.

“I’m sorry you’ve met so many shitty ones along the way, Alex, but it’s my firm belief that there are more like Barney Bates in this world than George Tyler. I hope you can believe that one day.”

Alex smiled, and soon he, like his father, was fast asleep. Josiah felt a great sense of peace wash over him. There had been so many sad days for Alex, but this, at least, wasn’t one of them.