Chapter 39
The next few days left Jack unsettled. Seeing Tara so upset was eating him up inside.
The most frustrating thing was the feeling of utter helplessness, not being able to do anything about the situation she was in.
Yes, he could offer words of kindness and support, but the real problem, Richard, he couldn’t approach.
He accepted it would only make matters worse.
Jack respected Tara’s opinion, and he agreed that speaking to her ex-husband would only antagonise him further.
So, here he was, hammering nails with force in an attempt to vent all his anger. He and Robin had almost completed the reconfiguration of the first apartment. Once all the dividing walls were up, they intended to use it as a template for the remaining five apartments.
Robin looked at his friend’s expression, a furrowed brow and clenched jaw.
‘Everything all right, mate?’ he asked with concern.
Jack stopped what he was doing and put his hammer down. Staring Robin in the face, he gave a tired sigh.
‘Not really, no.’
‘Come on, time for a brew,’ replied Robin reaching for his flask. He knew his friend was desperate to offload something. They propped up on a nearby windowsill and Robin poured them both a coffee. ‘Right, out with it,’ he said passing a cup.
‘It’s that prick Richard,’ answered Jack witheringly.
‘Tara’s ex?’
‘Yeah, Tara’s ex,’ came the flat reply.
‘What’s happened?’ asked Robin, blowing on his coffee.
Jack shook his head, then went on to outline Richard’s letter and his intention of applying for full custody of Calum. Robin sat in silence listening to his friend’s dilemma.
‘Poor Tara. She doesn’t deserve any of this,’ he said quietly when Jack had finished.
‘Too right. And what really pisses me off is the way he’s using Calum as some kind of pawn,’ said Jack in disgust.
‘Well, yeah, didn’t he let Calum down the day of Felix’s launch party?’ asked Robin, remembering how Calum had arrived with Jack and Tara unexpectedly.
‘Exactly. When it suits. He won’t really want Calum full time. It’s just a way to get at Tara.’
Robin nodded his head sadly in agreement. ‘So, where does all this lead to?’ he asked.
‘Court, again,’ said Jack in defeat. Just when he thought life had come good with Tara, they were now expecting another court hearing to loom over them.
Then, a sinister threat struck him like a thunderbolt.
What if Richard won? What if Calum was taken from Tara?
It didn’t bear thinking about. Surely, any judge in their right mind would see through Richard?
Wouldn’t they? A chill ran down his spine. My God, what must Tara be feeling?
‘Listen, mate, it probably won’t even happen. I can’t see Richard being awarded full custody. I mean… why would he? It’s not as if Calum’s in any danger living with Tara, is it?’ said Robin incredulously.
‘Of course not, but it’s still stressful being put through the court proceedings, having to prove yourself as a parent,’ replied Jack taking a sip of his drink.
He continued with narrow eyes, ‘If anything, it’s Richard who’s the unfit parent, the way he just abandoned them and left Tara with hardly any money to live off.
That woman’s the one who kept it all together.
Tara deserves a medal for what she’s had to endure,’ he finished with a raised voice.
‘I know, I know,’ appeased Robin, trying to calm him. In an attempt to help, he suggested having the couple over for dinner.
‘Thanks, mate, but our hearts wouldn’t really be in it. I don’t think we’d be good company at the moment,’ said Jack apologetically.
Robin nodded, understanding. He only hoped things would get sorted before the wedding and christening.
The last thing they needed was a gloomy best man or down-hearted Godparents.
Robin wanted the occasion to be a celebration for all, everyone enjoying themselves. As if sensing this, Jack shook himself.
‘Anyway, sorry to have dumped all this on you,’ he smiled weakly.
‘Hey, that’s what friends are for. Remember when you gave good advice to me?’
He was of course referring to the time when he’d first met and fallen for Jasmine.
Robin had been wary of letting her know his true feelings, especially as she’d only just become a widow.
It was Jack who had given wise counsel, telling him to lay his cards on the table and that he’d know when the time was right to do so.
And he’d been absolutely right. Robin had done exactly as his best friend had directed, and it had been the best course of action he’d ever taken in his life. Look where it had led him.
Wanting to inject a degree of optimism into Jack, he nudged him. ‘Don’t worry, mate, it’ll all come good, you’ll see.’ He looked searchingly into his face.
‘Hope so, Rob. I hope so,’ replied Jack.
Meanwhile, Tara’s friend, Claire, was also endeavouring to install confidence.
‘Have you received anything from Richard’s so-called solicitor?
’ Claire asked over the phone. She used the words ‘so-called’ as she was still unconvinced Richard had actually appointed one, especially ‘one of the best’ as he put it.
To Claire, that meant real money, and if there was one thing she knew about Richard, it was his reluctance to part with it.
No, he was merely trying to frighten and upset Tara, and, judging from the way her friend was reacting, it was working.
‘No, not yet,’ replied Tara. ‘But that doesn’t mean a letter won’t arrive imminently,’ she added in a fretful tone.
‘Well, let’s face that if and when it does,’ countered Claire. ‘I honestly think he’s just trying his best to scare you, Tara. There’s not a hope in hell he’d ever get full custody of Calum.’ She spoke in a firm, assertive voice, adding conviction to her reply.
‘But, what if—?’
‘Don’t start the “what if” game, please, Tara. That’s exactly what he wants, to mess with your head.’
Tara closed her eyes, wishing the whole thing would just vanish from her plagued mind.
Claire was right; Richard wanted her to be forever tormented instead of living a happy life without him.
Or, more to the point, with someone else.
And if that someone else was younger, handsome and fun around his ex-wife and son, well then he’d really up the ante – and he really had.
Since receiving Richard’s letter, Tara had felt sick to the stomach.
A constant anxiety spilled over her, quashing any hope of happiness.
She’d cry into her pillow at night, hoping Calum couldn’t hear her in the bedroom next door.
Half of her expected Jack to end their relationship – and she wouldn’t blame him if he did, what with all the baggage she had.
Not Calum, obviously, but certainly a vengeful, spiteful ex-husband who was determined to ruin her relationship. Who would want that?
Tara now started to envisage living the life of a divorcee for ever, always waiting for Richard to come and destroy any second chances she may have.
She imagined a deserted existence, alone and without Calum.
At this point she started to hyperventilate.
It had been a long time since that had happened.
Her final exams and the day Richard admitted his affair had been the last time her body had reacted so violently.
Tara’s eyes frantically searched for a paper bag to help regulate her breathing.
Speaking to Claire was increasingly stressful, and her chest was starting to tighten.
‘Tara, are you still there?’ asked Claire a little sharply.
‘Yes… Look, I’ve got to go. We’ll speak later,’ wheezed Tara.
‘Tara? Are you OK? Please, don’t worry—’
Tara put the phone down, rushed to the kitchen drawer and pulled out a paper bag.
Delving her head into it, she took great gulps of air.
Watching the bag expand and deflate was therapeutic and soon her thumping heart subsided.
Her body was regulating back to a calmer state. Would she ever truly be at peace?