Chapter 34
It was Sunday, the day of the family meal at Jack’s parents’ house.
He still didn’t know how to feel about it.
Once his mother had eventually finished her visit, very little time was left for what he and Tara had had planned, more’s the pity.
It did give him chance though to speak to her about the dinner though.
‘You really don’t have to come, that is, if you don’t want to.
’ Then realising how that might sound, quickly added, ‘What I mean is, don’t feel pressured into it.
’ He’d given a cheerful smile, to show no offence would be taken if she declined the invite.
But to his surprise, Tara had merely shrugged.
‘I’m fine about it, as long as you are?’ She’d eyed him closely, gauging his reaction.
Was she challenging him? They looked each other in the eye. Jack blinked first.
‘Of course I am,’ he replied. And he was. More than anything, Jack was keen to see how Tara and his dad responded to each other.
One thing for sure, the day promised to be an interesting one, reflected Jack as he headed out of his house to pick Tara up.
Tara had dropped Calum off at his friend’s for the day and was due to collect him early evening.
She was glad, as it gave her an excuse to leave Jack’s parents’ should she need one.
Whilst not anticipating confrontation of any kind, a part of her was naturally apprehensive.
And with good reason. But she could feel herself growing extremely close to Jack now and knew it was inevitable she’d be expected to face his father at some point.
A family meal was probably going to be the best scenario, when everyone, including his wife, was there.
Austin Knowles definitely wouldn’t want to cause a scene, it was in his interest not to, not hers.
Above all, Tara felt vindicated in her actions.
She was not the villain, far from it. She’d simply acted with the best intention.
Tara chose to wear smart but casual clothes.
Conscious of not wanting to look like she’d overly made an effort, giving the occasion too much gravitas, she’d plumped for khaki trousers and a cream T-shirt.
When Jack arrived, she was glad to see him in just jeans and a T-shirt too.
Obviously it wasn’t going to be a formal affair.
They drove in a companiable silence, each deep in their thoughts. As expected, Jack’s mum gave them a big welcome.
‘Lovely to see you again!’ she cried, kissing their cheeks. ‘We’re in the garden. Come and join us.’
Jack and Tara followed her down the hall and through the lounge patio doors.
‘Everyone, meet Tara!’ she announced with gusto.
Natalie was first up off her deckchair. ‘Hi, Tara, I’m Jack’s sister, Natalie,’ she said, holding her hand out.
‘Pleased to meet you, Natalie, and congratulations,’ smiled Tara.
‘Oh, thanks. Another to add to the brood,’ she joked, nodding towards her two boys, who were busy kicking a football with her husband. He waved up at them and shouted over.
‘Hi, Tara, I’m Steve!’
‘Hi!’ called back Tara.
‘Where’s Dad?’ asked Jack, surprised not to see him.
‘He’s had to pop out,’ said his mum, rolling her eyes. ‘Something urgent came up at the office.’
Jack frowned. What could be so ‘urgent’ on a Sunday at the office? His suspicions rose.
‘Uncle Jack, come and play!’ shouted his nephews.
‘Yeah, give me a break,’ said Steve, laughing as he came to join them.
Jack smiled at Tara. ‘Fancy a kick-about?’
Tara shook her head. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘Of course she doesn’t,’ scolded his mum, then turned to Tara. ‘Go and sit down. I’ll get the drinks. Prosecco OK?’
‘Oh, lovely, thanks,’ replied Tara, feeling the need for alcohol. Soon she was sat next to Natalie sipping a very welcome glass of fizz.
‘Jack’s told me all about your amazing delivery of Robin’s twins,’ gushed Natalie.
‘I didn’t deliver them, thank goodness, just rang the air ambulance,’ said Tara.
‘Just? You saved the day,’ replied Natalie incredulously. Then she turned at seeing her dad walk through the patio doors into the garden. Tara quickly turned too. Suddenly Jack was next to her.
‘Dad, meet Tara,’ he said, scrupulously looking for his response. Then his eyes darted towards Tara for hers.
‘Pleased to meet you, Tara,’ said Austin and nodded his head. He didn’t offer her a hand.
‘And you,’ replied Tara with a tight smile.
Jack’s gaze swept back on his dad, and there it was, that tell-tale sign, the nervous tick below his eye.
In fact, his dad had broken out in a sweat and appeared to have difficulty breathing.
His forehead was covered in perspiration.
Slightly alarmed, Jack looked to Tara, who by her expression had noticed.
His dad appeared more than uncomfortable – he looked positively ill.
Jack’s mum was just returning from the kitchen.
‘Ah, there you are, Austin. Have you been introduced to Tara?’
There was a slight awkward pause before he answered, ‘Yes. We’ve met.’ Then they were interrupted by the boys playing football.
‘Granddad, come and play!’
Jack, eager for his dad to sit down, intervened. ‘Let Granddad have a rest. He’ll play after,’ he told them, then directed him towards the deckchairs. ‘Sit down, Dad.’
All the time Tara was assessing the situation.
She too had clocked Austin’s behaviour. He was clearly distressed, judging by the way his face twitched and the droplets of sweat which were pouring from it.
His breathing was becoming more laboured too.
She instinctively looked towards his left arm. To her horror, she saw him grip it.
‘Dad? Are you all right?’ asked Natalie in concern.
‘I… I…’ Austin held his arm and doubled over in pain, then slumped onto the floor. His body lay there, lifeless.
‘Austin!’ shrieked Jack’s mum.
Jack frantically turned to Tara, who instantly bolted to Austin.
Within seconds she was knelt at his side, checking for a pulse.
She put the heel of her hands in the middle of his chest, interlocking her fingers, making sure they didn’t touch his ribs.
Keeping her arms straight, she began to press down hard, then allowed the chest to come back up.
She kept on pushing, then gave him two rescue breaths by pinching his nose and blowing directly into his mouth.
‘Call an ambulance!’ yelled Natalie, while Tara valiantly continued with resuscitation.
By the time the ambulance came, Austin was stable and breathing.
All thanks to Tara, who once again liaised with the emergency team as they stretchered him into the ambulance and off to hospital.
Jack’s mum had jumped in the back with him, leaving Jack and Natalie traumatised.
Steve was inside with the boys, who had been ushered away out of the commotion. Natalie, in tears, went to join them.
Tara faced Jack, pale and distraught. She went to hug him, but he pushed her away. Expecting it was shock that had made him reject her, she was staggered at his next words.
‘Tara, why exactly did you ring my dad?’
She stood, staring at him as the words sunk in. How did he know about her ringing Austin? Surely his dad hadn’t told him. They were interrupted by Steve, who’d just come through the patio doors.
‘I’m taking Natalie and the boys home,’ he said gravely.
Jack turned to him. ‘Of course. I’ll come and see you off.’
Tara was left alone for a few minutes, giving her time to collect herself. When Jack returned, he faced her again, obviously still waiting for an answer.
‘Sit down,’ she instructed and walked towards the deckchairs.
Once sat opposite him, she took a deep breath and began.
‘A close friend of mine came to me for help. She was in a real state, anxious and… frightened at what she’d done.
Basically, she’d been seeing someone behind her husband’s back and wanted it to stop.
She was petrified her husband was going to find out.
When she tried to end the affair, he wouldn’t accept it was over.
He continued to contact her, on the brink of pestering, until she was a nervous wreck.
I advised a prescription of mild tranquilisers to calm her down and offered to speak to the man, explain how he was stressing my friend out and that it was over. ’ There was a deadly pause.
‘And that man was my dad,’ stated Jack bleakly.
‘Yes, it was,’ confirmed Tara in a quiet voice.
So, it was finally out. Could have been worse, reflected Jack. Tara could have been the woman his dad had been seeing. Then another thought struck him. ‘Your friend, is she called Sarah?’ he asked in a flat voice.
Tara blinked. ‘Yes, she is,’ came her surprised reply. ‘How do you know her name?’
Jack gave a long sigh. ‘We knew about the affair. He actually came clean to my mum. It very nearly ruined their marriage, but fortunately they got through it.’ He looked up with tears in his eyes. ‘But it left an impression on me and Natalie. I’ve never really forgiven him.’
‘I’m sorry, Jack. If it’s any consolation your dad was civil on the phone. I think my contacting him as Sarah’s friend made him realise how stupid they’d both acted, putting their marriages at risk.’
‘Mum and Dad do seem to be much happier now,’ conceded Jack, nodding.
Fundamentally, Tara hadn’t told him anything he didn’t already know, except of course her involvement in all of it.
‘How did my dad know it was you? I mean, he hadn’t seen you, had he? And yet as soon as I mentioned your name, it clearly resonated with him.’
‘I introduced myself as Tara, Sarah’s friend. I assume Sarah must have mentioned me, and that I was a doctor.’
It suddenly dawned on Jack, remembering the conversation he’d had with his dad.
‘Yes, only when I gave your full name, Doctor Tara O’Hara, did he flinch.’
‘Well, there you are then,’ replied Tara sitting back. She observed Jack’s ashen face and wanted to reach out and comfort him, but would he want that now? Their eyes met. ‘Does this change things between us, Jack?’ she asked evenly.
‘No. To be honest, with the scenarios running through my mind, the truth’s a blessing.’
Tara frowned.
‘I found your number on my dad’s phone and, well…’
‘Oh, Jack,’ replied Tara, realising what he must have thought. ‘Why didn’t you just ask me?’ she said incredulously.
‘I wanted to, I really did, but it never seemed the right moment. What with all you’re going through with Richard, it just… I don’t know. It didn’t feel appropriate to put you on the spot.’
‘I’m only sorry the truth’s come out under such circumstances,’ Tara replied sadly.
‘You saved my dad’s life. I can’t thank you enough,’ gulped Jack.
‘The ambulance should have arrived now. I’ll ring the hospital and get an update.’
She pulled out her mobile from her pocket and made the call, speaking calmly and efficiently. Jack took it all in, her quiet, measured manner, totally in control. Yet again she’d saved the day. He was completely in awe of her.
Moments later Tara gave the encouraging news that his dad was still stable and that his mum was to spend the night in hospital with him. Jack heaved a huge sigh of relief and text Natalie with the information. There was nothing they could do now, apart from visit them tomorrow.