The Cove by Malcolm Richards

Author:Malcolm Richards [Richards, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Storm House
Published: 2017-11-14T00:00:00+00:00

23

The rest of the day had been strained. When Dylan returned home with Melissa, Cal retreated to his room and refused to come out.

Carrie tried repeatedly to persuade him to come downstairs for dinner. Giving up, she took a plate of food up to his room, where she found him lying on his stomach beneath the bed and poring over his old comics that she’d held onto.

Conversation with Dylan was stilted. They avoided the subject of Cal’s behaviour until they’d said goodnight to both children. In the living room, the discussion quickly turned into an argument, punctuated by hushed, angry voices.

“We just don’t know what we’re dealing with,” Dylan said, pouring whiskey into a tumbler. “What if he hurts Melissa again? What if we’re not there to protect her?”

“Protect her? You’re talking about my son as if he’s some sort of monster,” Carrie snapped. “I would never put our daughter in a position where she could get hurt. Today was unfortunate. But I talked to Cal. He knows what he did was wrong.”

“How do you know that? How can you be so sure?”

“Because he’s my son.”

Dylan was quiet, staring into the amber liquid in his glass. “Perhaps I shouldn’t go tomorrow.”

Pouring herself a glass of red wine, Carrie shook her head. “He’s not a dangerous animal, Dylan. He’s not going to kill us in our sleep. He’s a sixteen-year-old boy who’s been through hell. He needs time to adjust, just like the doctors said. We all do.”

“And in the meantime? How do we make sure Melissa doesn’t get hurt again?”

“We keep a close eye. We get them involved in play together. We make sure Melissa doesn’t take any more of his things.”

“You’re saying today was her fault?” Dylan swigged his whiskey and winced at the burn.

Carrie clenched her jaw. Sometimes Dylan was impossible. And so was she. She let out a frustrated breath and gulped her wine.

“What I’m saying is sometimes siblings fight. One minute they’re best friends, the next mortal enemies. And around it goes. They’re going to fall out. That’s what kids do.” She wasn’t sure she was helping to ease Dylan’s mind. “He’s not going to hurt her. We’ll be fine for a few days. Then you’ll be back. Next week, Cal starts his therapy sessions. In a month’s time, we’ll all be one big happy family.”

“What about the police? They’re going to want answers soon enough. Tess, too.”

“And so do I,” Carrie said. “But if we push Cal now, he may never talk again. I won’t let that happen. It’s difficult, but we need to wait until he’s ready.”

They were quiet for a minute, the ticking of the wall clock the only sound.

Dylan drained his glass. He stood. “I think Melissa should go back to school tomorrow. She’s had enough time off.”

“Fine.”

He hovered, the anger in his eyes fading, until all that was left was sadness. “I want everyone to be safe, Carrie, that’s all. I want everyone to be happy. Cal, too.”

“I know.” Carrie avoided his gaze.

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