You're Family Now by Jack Stainton

Author:Jack Stainton [Stainton, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Windmill Streams Publishers
Published: 2021-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

Part III

23

What have I done? And what do I do?

For the rest of the Christmas break, I tried to immerse myself in my work. But my enthusiasm for that was waning too. This time, it wasn’t the usual three or so months into a new job that caused my passion to decrease, but the worry and apprehension that I’d never get away from the Reid household. Two more months could quickly extend to another two, then another…

At least my work, or pretending to, kept me away from the rest of the family. Although the office was closed over the holiday season, I spent hour after hour in the bedroom alone. One day, I ventured out to the library in town. Graham and Melissa hadn’t been keen on that idea when I announced it over breakfast.

“Why can’t you work here, Matt? It’s just as quiet in your room.”

“It’s a change of scenery, Graham, and allows my brain to function.” My reply had intended to sound sarcastic, but Graham had read my mind and just grinned at me. His attitude immediately put me ill at ease. It surprised me when Tracy spoke up; by then, I’d realised just how quiet Tracy could be around the house.

“Matt can do the same work upstairs that he can in the library, Graham.” Her words seemed more of a way to placate him rather than any form of explanation.

My productivity was no more inspired in the library than it had been at home; in fact, the holiday period turned out to be one of the longest weeks of my life. By the time the year ended, I was staying in bed longer and longer, rather than claiming to be doing any work. Sleeping – and therefore hiding – felt like the best course of action.

It wasn’t until New Year’s Day that Amelia and I sat down to talk. It had taken all week for me to be civil towards her, and I sat and reluctantly listened as she explained that we would have enough money by the end of March for the house. I’ve no idea how she’d persuaded all parties to hang on for two more months, but she assured me that everything was in hand. I’d even lost the will to check with the agent she’d been telling me the truth.

Amelia still couldn’t understand why I’d reacted so negatively about the Christmas presents. So, she prompted me to get dressed and suggested we had a ride out to see the new house. She said it might cheer me up. I tried to argue my point of view again, but it fell on deaf ears. Amelia said that family would always come first, and I knew that when I’d agreed to marry her.

As we drove out to the countryside, I changed tack and asked Amelia about her father.

“Didn’t you say he left home when you were four years old?”

She momentarily hesitated, my question catching her off guard. She bought herself some time by looking out of the passenger window.

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