Chapter 2 #2
Robyn mulled this over for several minutes as Mason concentrated on pulling on to the motorway. Eventually, once they were in the fast lane, Robyn said, ‘So, “moving on”, Mason? What’s all that about?’
Mason frowned. ‘Forget it. I should never have said anything. I do sometimes forget that I’m your boss and that you’re a member of my staff rather than my ex-lover and my mate.’
Reminded of her two months’ affair with this charismatic headteacher when she’d returned to her hometown and, very unwillingly, taken the teaching post at St Mede’s back in September, Robyn found herself embarrassed, refusing to look across at Mason.
‘So, your mum still seeing Kamran Sattar?’
‘Seeing him?’ Robyn laughed at that. ‘They can’t keep their hands off each other. It’s so lovely. I’m really pleased for her.’
‘Even though she’s sleeping with the enemy?’
‘Isn’t that a film with Julia Roberts?’
‘And your dad, Jayden, is now out of the picture then? I was hoping he might come and present prizes at speech day.’
‘St Mede’s has a speech day?’ Robyn stared.
‘Well, if Jayden Allen is prepared to come along, I’ll make sure we have one.’
Robyn wasn’t sure if Mason was joking but, glancing across at him, he appeared deadly serious. ‘I’ll have words,’ she promised, laughing at the very idea of her dad, with his almost neurotic phobia of educational establishments, coming into St Mede’s to hand out prizes.
‘Do, do. Please, do it.’ Mason paused. ‘And how does he feel about your mum – his wife – being with someone else?’
‘Jayden never married Mum, even though, as you know, she always called herself Lisa Allen. I’m afraid my dad has absolutely no right to be dog in the manger now Mum’s finally moved on with someone else.’
‘But does Jayden actually know?’
‘I’ve no idea. Not seen him for a couple of months. He does keep in touch – he sent Jess a cheque for her recent birthday – but he’s in the middle of a big tour of the Caribbean at the moment. They love him over there.’
‘Well, he is one of their own; boy done good and all that. Right, this is it.’ Mason pulled into the NCP car park. ‘Let’s show Joel we’re here to support him.’
* * *
‘So, what happens now?’ Joel, together with his aunt, a plethora of support workers, youth justice service workers and Fabian were gathered on the concourse of the courthouse as Mason and Robyn joined the group once the sixteen-year-old’s case was concluded. ‘I’m a bit confused,’ Joel went on.
‘As I hoped, Joel,’ Fabian was saying, ‘the CPS had to concede you’d been a victim of modern criminal exploitation. I was able to defend you with clear evidence that you had been subject to coercion on a very large scale.’
‘Yes,’ Joel replied, ‘I know all that, Mr Carrington, but what happens this minute? Do I have to go back to Castleford with my Aunty Judith?’
Overhearing this conversation, Robyn made her way over to Fabian, loving this man of hers who was so good at his job. Who’d managed to extricate a young kid from a potential prison sentence.
‘Thank you, Fabian.’ She reached over, briefly moving a hand to his arm, knowing he was still in professional mode and that manhandling him up against the wall of the concourse, where other law professionals were in conversation with clients, was not the most sensible way forward.
Joel shook Mason’s hand, thanking him for his support before walking over to Robyn and shyly kissing her cheek. ‘Thanks, Miss.’
‘Are you able to come back to live with your mum, Joel? Back to St Mede’s for the few weeks you’ve left before Year 11 finish at Easter for exam leave?’
Joel glanced across at Fabian for reassurance that this might be a possibility, but one of the Youth Service Support team was immediately at his side.
‘Joel, we have to give you continued support. You’re still on an order from your previous offending, so you still have to work with us, keep appointments, not changing address without our permission. ’
‘But I’m no longer on local authority bail? I’m not on a tagged curfew? I can go back to Beddingfield?’
‘Not for the moment, Joel,’ the support worker soothed.
‘I know you want to get home to your family, want to get back to school rather than the home tutoring you’ve had for the past few months, but just leave it with us until we agree the best way forward for you.
It’s for your own good. You’ve been involved with some very unpleasant – dangerous – individuals.
They’ll be absolutely delighted that the case against you has been dropped, and there’s a big possibility they’ll be watching, determined to draw you in again. ’
‘Oh, Joel.’ Robyn frowned. ‘Be careful. Listen, Sorrel and I can drive over and pick you up and bring you over to us for the day. Or something?’ She glanced across at the support worker, who didn’t appear overly accommodating.
‘Joel’s safety, his family’s safety and the importance of his not slipping back into old habits have to be our major concern at the moment,’ she parroted firmly. ‘Just leave it all with us and then we’ll see.’
‘Thank you.’ Mason Donoghue had walked over to Fabian, shaking his hand.
‘Not sure the outcome for Joel would have been so good without your input.’ Mason paused and Robyn wasn’t sure whether to laugh or be embarrassed as he said, ‘Now, Mr Carrington, as a successful – and famous – barrister, any chance of you coming into school to give the older kids a career talk on jobs in your profession? You know, how to become a lawyer? A solicitor?’ He paused again as Fabian and he eyed each other up, both conceding, Robyn could see, they were rivals for her affections.
‘I think most of St Mede’s kids are on the other side of the law, Mr Donoghue,’ Robyn tittered nervously. She wasn’t sure she liked having these two men in such close proximity, circling each other warily like a pair of bantam cockerels.
‘Well, that’s a very kind offer, Mr… er… Donoghue, is it?’
You know perfectly well what he’s called, Fabian, Robyn inwardly tutted.
‘But, as from today, I not only want to spend my time with this glorious woman here’ – he leaned in Robyn’s direction proprietorially – ‘but am hanging up my wig and gown for ever.’ Fabian looked at his watch.
‘School will be over now, I guess? Robyn, if you give me half an hour, I’ll drive you back home. Save Mr… er… Mr…’
‘Donoghue,’ Mason replied pleasantly, obviously realising Fabian was trying to get one over on him, but refusing to play along with the game.
‘We can pick your car up from school tomorrow, darling.’ (Had Fabian ever called her darling before?) ‘Maybe go out somewhere to celebrate? Or a cosy night in front of the fire with a good bottle of wine?’
* * *
‘Was that really necessary?’ Robyn objected as, a good hour later, they walked towards Fabian’s Porsche parked in the nearby car park.
‘Probably not.’ Fabian grinned and then started laughing. ‘All right, sorry, that was a bit over the top, but I’m not having the man thinking he’s in with a chance with you again.’
‘Little-boy mentality.’ Robyn tutted. ‘Honestly, Fabian, he’ll think you’re some sort of controlling…’ She broke off, stopping as the nearside tinted window of the black BMW parked next to Fabian’s car slowly descended.
‘Goodnight, Fabian.’ The man in the offside front seat leaned across the driver, his face in shadow. ‘Do have a safe journey home, and a good weekend.’