BooksBarbecue
Back The Secrets He Kept
Chapters (59)
  1. Cover
  2. Prologue
  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Chapter Three
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Chapter Eleven
  14. Chapter Twelve
  15. Chapter Thirteen
  16. Chapter Fourteen
  17. Chapter Fifteen
  18. Chapter Sixteen
  19. Chapter Seventeen
  20. Chapter Eighteen
  21. Chapter Nineteen
  22. Chapter Twenty
  23. Chapter Twenty-One
  24. Chapter Twenty-Two
  25. Chapter Twenty-Three
  26. Chapter Twenty-Four
  27. Chapter Twenty-Five
  28. Chapter Twenty-Six
  29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  30. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  31. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  32. Chapter Thirty
  33. Chapter Thirty-One
  34. Chapter Thirty-Two
  35. Chapter Thirty-Three
  36. Chapter Thirty-Four
  37. Chapter Thirty-Five
  38. Chapter Thirty-Six
  39. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  40. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  41. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  42. Chapter Forty
  43. Chapter Forty-One
  44. Chapter Forty-Two
  45. Chapter Forty-Three
  46. Chapter Forty-Four
  47. Chapter Forty-Five
  48. Chapter Forty-Six
  49. Chapter Forty-Seven
  50. Chapter Forty-Eight
  51. Chapter Forty-Nine
  52. Chapter Fifty
  53. Chapter Fifty-One
  54. Chapter Fifty-Two
  55. Two Weeks Earlier
  56. A Letter From Jackie
  57. Acknowledgements
  58. About the Author
  59. Also by Jackie Walsh

I look around and see Tom lifting the tray from the counter. Thank Christ. Talking to this kid is like trying to draw blood from a stone. Kenny’s face relaxes when he notices Tom on his way back to the table and I realize he probably feels a hell of a lot more uncomfortable than I do. Putting my arm out, I place my hand on top of his trembling fingers.

‘Kenny, it’s going to get better.’ He looks at me and nods and that’s when I notice the tears in his eyes.

Tom arrives and plonks the tray on the table, handing Kenny his food and drink before I get mine. It’s pretty clear Kenny is Tom’s priority. The young boy’s mother was violently murdered only a week ago, but I can’t forgive Tom that easily. He lied and deceived me. That has consequences.

Suddenly I feel the weight of someone else’s actions landing on my shoulders. Pushing me down, holding me hostage until I realize that this boy needs my help. How can I say no. What if it was Amber? Wouldn’t I want someone to help her? Taking the lid off the coffee I add some milk and stir it. Tom bites into his burger and Kenny lifts a chip from the bag on the table. The tension has us all performing like robots.

‘Is the burger nice?’ I say to Tom hoping to melt the edgy atmosphere. He nods his head because his mouth is full. Across the table Kenny is playing with his food, pushing the chips into his mouth taking little bites like he’s wondering if they’re poisonous. Is his new mammy trying to poison him?

I’m beginning to question the sense of this meeting. What was the social worker thinking getting us to meet like this? Surely there must be a better way. I won’t be having any of this tension when Amber is dragged into the fold. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll mention Amber. Tell him about his wonderful half-sister, that should move the situation on a bit.

‘Did Tom tell you about Amber, Kenny?’

Kenny lifts his head to look at me and nods, he’s still looking at me when I say, ‘I guess you’ll have to meet her someday.’

‘I’ve already met her,’ Kenny says.

Immediately, I sense the ground shifting. Tom stops chewing and drops his hands, holding the dregs of the burger over the table.