11. Saved by Colin Plan B
11
SAVED BY COLIN PLAN B
Netta’s expression must have given her away, because her friends at the foodbank were eyeing her as if she’d just received the most terrible news. ‘It’s Will,’ she began, still holding the phone against her ear despite Frank having cut the call some moments earlier. ‘He’s come home early,’ she added after registering the alarm on their faces.
Her audience ran through a range of visible emotions and finally settled on bewildered. Only Neil understood the implications. ‘What about Colin?’
‘He’s at Dad’s allotment. I need to go.’
Neil walked out with her. ‘If Colin needs somewhere to stay, he can come to ours. Things will work out, don’t worry.’
She nodded, wishing she had his optimism. ‘Thank you. I might need to hold you to that. Mum and Dad have offered, but he won’t want to go there. I thought we’d have more time to work it all out.’
The drive home was spent composing her speech. In her head, she tried this way and that to explain to Will why she’d taken his father in. None of them seemed good enough to make up for her son’s sacrifice. He’d walked away from Colin because of her, or more precisely because of what Colin had done to her. When Will found out that he was bleeding her dry while earning plenty of money with his paintings, he chose a side and moved in with Netta. That was his sacrifice. Although in truth, he didn’t behave as if it was one. He seemed happy not seeing Colin. She suspected that was because he was afraid that he’d inherited some of Colin’s traits. As far as she could see, he hadn’t, but try telling him that.
Her hand shook as she unlocked the front door. She should have been braver and warned him while he was still in York instead of putting it off. But it was too late now. He was home and she was going to have to deal with the consequences of her inaction. Was it only a week ago she was telling herself that bad ideas and bad consequences so often went hand in hand? If this wasn’t the proof she needed, she didn’t know what was.
Will was in the lounge, petting the dogs. The look he gave her said it all. He’d been betrayed. Guilt’s bullet shot straight through her heart. Liza came in from the kitchen and Netta realised that no matter which path she’d taken, guilt would have got her one way or the other. She too had chosen a side, and it hadn’t been Will’s.
‘I thought you were staying another week.’ Shit. What a stupid thing to say. It had definitely not been in any of the speeches she’d rehearsed.
‘I got a lift from one of my housemates. I didn’t have that much to bring back.’ He looked down at his feet and she was suddenly reminded there was that one trait Will and Colin had in common. But only that one. Biologically speaking, Will was Colin’s son but that was as far as it went. He was her son, her dear sweet boy, and he was hurting.
She threw her arms around him. ‘I’m sorry, darling. I’m so sorry.’
He squeezed her tight. ‘It’s okay, Mum. Liza and Nan explained. We’ve got a plan.’
Her eyes shot to Liza. ‘We have?’
Liza nodded. ‘Yep. Plan B.’
‘Plan B?’
Before Liza could answer, Netta’s mum appeared in the doorway. ‘Colin’s moving in with Frank. He’ll be close enough for us to help him but he won’t be staying here. Not ideal from Will’s perspective but he’s agreed to try and make it work.’
Netta turned to Will. ‘Are you sure? Even if he stayed at Frank’s and didn’t eat with us, you might bump into him outside.’
‘I’ll try to make sure that doesn’t happen. It won’t be for long anyway. Me and Belle are going away with her family in a few weeks. I’m gonna stay at hers tonight.’
‘Good idea, love. That’ll give us a chance to get Colin moved over and lay down a few ground rules,’ said her mum.
‘I’ll drop you over there,’ said Netta.
Will gave her a weak smile. ‘You don’t have to.’
‘I know. I want to.’
‘I understand why you said he could stay. It was Liza, wasn’t it? You didn’t want to let her down,’ said Will, as they drove away.
‘Yes. But in doing so, I’ve let you down.’
‘No you haven’t. Don’t feel bad. It’ll work out.’
That was the second time she’d been told that today. Netta hoped it was true. ‘Are things okay with you and Belle now?’
He smiled properly for the first time. ‘Yeah, we’re good. We’re going to try to get jobs in the same town. We want to get our own place.’
‘Oh Will, that’s wonderful news. I’m so happy for you.’ She genuinely was. For a while last year, it looked like he’d made a silly mistake that had all but finished their relationship, but they’d agreed to give it another try.
‘Do you think Frank will be all right having him there?’ said Will.
God, yes, Frank. She hadn’t thought about him in all of this. She wondered whatever happened to Plan A. Perhaps her dad had put his foot down about having Colin in his house as well as on his allotment. If so, who had come up with Plan B? Probably not Frank. Come to think of it, there’d been no sign of Frank when she got home. So where was he?