‘I can’t believe his dad’s done this to him,’ my father says. ‘I just hope he’s not drinking and driving again, that he’s okay. To lose one parent is one thing, but two of them …’ He wipes down all the surfaces until they’re shining, then lugs the rubbish bags to the front door. He obviously didn’t think of me when he said that—he abandoned us and then I lost Mum. But it’s different to Jaxon; I have Paula and Dave, of course. And now, my father too.

Jaxon returns with a canvas bag slung over his shoulder.

‘That’s it?’ my father asks.

‘My guitar’s in your trunk, so … yeah.’

‘Okay. And don’t worry, we’ll all hang out together until your dad’s back. It’ll be fun,’ my father says as Jaxon closes the front door behind us. Adam fills another bag with the mess by the rocking chair and the rubbish strewn in the snow, restores the garbage bins to an upright position, closing the lids firmly, then loads Jaxon’s bag into the boot.

‘Thanks, Adam, for everything.’ Jaxon bites his lip. ‘You’re the best.’

My father gives him one of those guy hugs, with one arm and a slap on the back. ‘It’ll be okay, bud, I promise.’

I want to hug him too, poor guy. I know what it feels like to freak out over a parent. But that might be awkward, so I get into the passenger seat instead. Jaxon probably doesn’t want me to see him now anyway, eyes stained red.

My teeth chatter. It’s weird. Jaxon’s dad is the ‘loser’ that my mum always accused my father of being. But really, Jaxon probably wishes my father was his. And my father likely feels the same about Jaxon. Meanwhile, I’m in the cold, figuratively and literally.

I take off my gloves and blow into my hands as my father starts the engine. ‘Where to now?’ I ask. ‘Donuts?’

‘You got it,’ he says, pressing play on his Mozart CD.

I put my hands to the hot-air vent as clarinets play, feeling sad for Jaxon but happy to be here, included in their world, and having the chance for my father– daughter dream to come true.

It’s my birthday tomorrow. We’re going out and, finally, we’ll have time to talk. Really talk. It’s only the beginning, but I hope soon I can agree with Jaxon that my father’s the best.

A whole evening, just me and my father. This is what I’ve been waiting for.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7