Chapter 44
Claire stared dumbfounded at the document before her.
So, he really did mean business. Richard, true to his word, had actually filed an application for full care and control of Calum.
Now it was her job to instruct her client, Tara.
Or, in other words, tell her friend the news she’d been dreading to hear.
Not wanting to do this over the phone, she texted Tara to ask if she was free that evening.
She was. Claire hadn’t enquired if Calum would be there, eager not to raise any apprehension.
If he was there, he’d no doubt be in his bedroom playing music anyway, so she’d still be able to talk to Tara in private.
Although, as things had now progressed to this stage, Calum would need to know of the proceedings in any event.
What a bloody mess. And an unnecessary one.
Did Richard honestly believe he would win?
How could he? Either way, she’d make damn well sure he’d be the one footing the costs of all this nonsense.
Tara knew why Claire was calling and had been mentally preparing herself.
Luckily, she’d been preoccupied for most of the day at work on the ward.
A calmness filled her; she felt ready and determined to take on the world.
When things hit rock bottom, the only way was up.
But she hadn’t hit rock bottom, a voice inside told her, and she was going to fight Richard and win.
Not for the first time, she wondered how it had got to this.
Richard trying to take their son from her.
The same inner voice gave her an answer.
It had got to this stage because Tara, for the first time ever, had challenged him.
She had fought for the financial settlement she’d deserved, and not only that, had gained a younger, handsome boyfriend in the process.
Richard didn’t like losing. He certainly didn’t like the idea of Tara being comfortably well-off, or happy.
And for the first time in a long time, Tara had been happy.
Was it all about to come crashing down? Would Calum be wrenched away from her?
Would Jack want to hang around with all this upheaval in her life?
Tears filled Tara’s eyes as she drove home from the hospital. Pulling into the Augusta House car park, she composed herself before entering the apartment to face Calum.
‘Hi, love,’ she said with a forced smile, trying to act normal.
‘Hi, Mum. I’m starving. What’s for tea?’
Eating was the last thing on her mind.
‘Do you want to order yourself a pizza?’
Calum’s face lit up. ‘Yeah, great.’
An hour later, Tara poured herself a large glass of wine and watched Calum wolf down his takeaway. All the time she was waiting for Claire to arrive. When Calum had finished, he went straight to his bedroom to watch TV.
Tara heard the buzzer and let Claire into the car park. She soon arrived at the door.
‘Hi, come in, Claire.’ Tara couldn’t help but notice how serious she looked. ‘Calum’s just in his bedroom.’
‘OK, I’ll start then,’ said Claire, pulling out a set of papers from her briefcase.
‘That’s the application then?’ asked Tara.
‘Yes. I’ll let you read it first, then we’ll go through it together.’
Tara’s eyes darted over the papers. It read exactly as she’d suspected, all clear, concise and complete bullshit. It was an insult that she’d even have to defend herself to it all. Claire looked on fully appreciating her sentiment.
‘So, let me just get this clear,’ said Tara sitting forward. ‘Richard is accusing me of being an unfit mother. He’s claiming Calum would be better off living full time with him and Melissa, and Calum may be dragged into the proceeding and be interviewed?’
‘Yes, basically,’ replied Claire.
‘Oh, my God.’ Tara closed her eyes.
‘But, Tara, we’ll fight him all the way.
I’ve responded to the application opposing the allegations made and will deliver a strong defence in court.
Just because Richard’s issued an application for full care and control of Calum, doesn’t mean he’ll get it.
I’ll also be calling Melissa. I think it would be interesting to hear what she has to say about all this. ’
‘Yeah.’ Tara gave a harsh laugh. ‘I’m pretty sure this wasn’t part of her plan.’
‘Exactly,’ replied Claire forcefully, then quickly turned her head at seeing Calum enter the room. ‘Oh, hi, Calum.’ She gave a bright smile.
‘Hi, Claire.’ His eyes darted between her and his mum.
Tara swallowed nervously. Had he heard them talking?
‘Everything all right, love?’ she asked.
‘Yeah,’ he replied, walking straight to the fridge to pour himself a coke. ‘What’s that?’ He pointed to the paper in Tara’s hands.
‘Oh, just some conveyance work that Claire’s been doing for me, to do with buying the apartment,’ lied Tara.
Calum looked unconvinced.
‘Right, I’ll leave you to it. See ya, Claire,’ he called over his shoulder and went back into his room.
Tara and Claire exchanged a look.
‘You’re going to have to tell him, Tara,’ hissed Claire in a low voice.
‘I know. I will.’
But there was no need. Calum had heard every single word, and what’s more, he was about to take matters into his own hands. He was fed up with being treated like a kid. He was fifteen in a few months. It was about time he made the decisions.
The next morning Tara woke with a heavy heart. All the emotional trauma was building momentum. It didn’t help knowing she’d have to tell Calum everything either. Upon seeing his pale face, she wasn’t surprised to hear he was feeling unwell.
‘I feel sick,’ he complained, then returned back to bed.
Tara wasn’t working that day, so was happy for him to miss school.
‘I’ll bring you some breakfast,’ she called.
‘Not hungry.’
Tara paused. Any suspicion she’d had of him hearing her and Claire last night started to rise. She decided to let him sleep, hoping he would feel better in a few hours. Luckily, Calum did seem better when he woke later.
‘Fancy something to eat now?’ asked Tara. ‘Something nice and light?’
‘Yes, please. Can I have egg on toast?’
‘Sure, coming up.’
They ate together with the radio on in the background.
‘You’re not going anywhere today, are you, Mum?’ asked Calum.
‘No. Why?’
Then there was a knock at the door. Tara frowned and went to open it. There stood Richard.
‘Richard? What are you doing here?’
‘I was summoned,’ he replied.
‘What?’
‘By Calum.’
‘But…’ Tara turned to look at Calum who was watching her.
‘Let him in, Mum.’
She blinked and stood aside.
Richard and Tara looked at each other, wondering what exactly was going on. Calum stood up from the breakfast bar.
‘I want you both to sit down and listen to me.’
As if in role reversal, Tara and Richard sat down silently side by side and stared up at Calum, waiting for him to speak.
‘I’m not stupid and I’m not a kid. Dad, I know you’re trying to get me to live with you.’
‘Well… now listen, Calum,’ started Richard.
‘No, you listen, Dad,’ cut in Calum, ‘I’m not living with you and Melissa. I’m staying here, with Mum. The arrangements are staying the same. I’m happy with them. And you can’t tell me what to do, or how I feel. I’m not “little Cal” any more,’ he finished with a hard glare.
Richard shifted uncomfortably. Tara resisted the urge to punch the air. She turned to face her ex-husband, waiting for his reaction, preparing for the onslaught. To her amazement, she saw a teardrop run down his cheek, then another and another, until he crumpled into uncontrollable tears.
‘Richard,’ said Tara softly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
‘S… sorry. I’m so… sorry,’ he choked.
Calum looked on, seemingly unmoved by his father’s reaction.
‘Who to? Me or Mum?’
‘To both of you,’ he replied in a strangled voice, wiping his eyes, shoulders shuddering.
And there it was. The apology. Finally. Tara was speechless.
‘I want you to stop, Dad. Stop hurting Mum.’
A charged silence hung in the air.
‘Yes, I hear you, Calum,’ nodded Richard and stood in defeat to leave. He turned before opening the door. ‘I’ll withdraw the application,’ he said, then quietly left.
Tara opened her arms and Calum rushed into them. Holding him tightly, she’d never felt so proud of her boy, who’d suddenly become more a man in both his parents’ eyes.