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Back Our Fathers
Chapters (36)
  1. ALSO BYREBECCA WAIT
  2. OUR FATHERS
  3. PART 1
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. PART 2
  23. 1
  24. 2
  25. 3
  26. 4
  27. PART 3
  28. 1
  29. 2
  30. 3
  31. 4
  32. 5
  33. 6
  34. 7
  35. 8
  36. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“No need,” Tom said, stepping back, out of reach.

He looked at Malcolm, and heavy in the air between them was what Tom thought but did not say: What am I to you anyway?

He turned from Malcolm and went up the stairs.

3

Returning from Robert’s farm at six to find Tommy absent had not concerned Malcolm at first. It was almost dark outside, but Tommy knew the island well, and in any case it was easy enough to navigate the road in the darkness. Malcolm made himself a cup of tea and settled down to wait.

But by the time it had got to seven thirty, he was uneasy. Tommy had never stayed out beyond dusk before, and if he’d known he’d be gone, why hadn’t he left a note? He might have his phone with him, Malcolm supposed, but it didn’t seem likely Tommy would call; Malcolm was quite sure Tommy didn’t have his number, just as Malcolm didn’t have Tommy’s. He made another cup of tea and tried to read the paper.

Eventually it occurred to him that it was a ferry day; Tommy might have gone for good. Perhaps it was always going to be this way, that Tommy would disappear as suddenly as he’d arrived, without even saying goodbye. Malcolm experienced the sense of relief he might have anticipated at this realization, but it was faint. Overlaying it, and far stronger, was his dismay. He was surprised, in fact, at how hurt he felt. And it was too soon for Tommy to have left. Malcolm was afraid. He knew too little about Tommy to be confident he would be O.K., and now Tommy was gone, Malcolm had no way of contacting him. He cursed himself for not having asked for a phone number or an address while he had the chance, for letting Tommy slip through his fingers again. What would Heather have said?

The house felt very empty to him this evening, even though he’d lived alone in it for nearly six years now. He felt he couldn’t bear to go upstairs and check Tommy’s room, but he made himself do it in the end. And there, to his surprise, he found Tommy’s rucksack, as well as his canvas trainers, placed neatly at the end of the bed. Tommy’s phone was on the bedside table.