William's Love - 13. Chapter 13

Dinner with the Devil

As I reach the bedroom, Liam has his back to me and he turns around to face me while he is doing up his watch. He’s standing there with his mouth hanging open and staring at me. I have a towel wrapped around me as I have only just gotten out of the shower. He seems to regain his composure.

“Fuck Babe, how am I supposed to concentrate tonight when I know you look like that underneath your suit.” He says.

I step toward him with a smile on my face.

“No, no,” Liam puts his hands up in defence, “don’t you dare come over near me because I’m already dressed and we’re going to be late. I won’t be responsible if you do, I’m two seconds from throwing you on that bed.” I take another step toward him and he takes a wide birth grabbing his wallet and phone and says as he’s walking out the door, “I’m going to get the keys off of your Dad, I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

I hear him say to himself once he’s out the door, “Sexy as fuck.”

I look at myself in the mirror, nod my head and think to myself ‘Yes I am one sexy motherfucker!’. Not too conceited right, I’ve been working hard exercising I deserve to look like this. Liam has my suit hanging and ready for me to put on. He even has my shirt, tie and socks on the bed. He’s so awesome.

I quickly get dressed, Liam is standing, waiting for me, Dad, Bill and Kitt are sitting at the table chatting. They all look at me as I walk in, Bill gasps and I see my Dad’s hand reach out and rest on his forearm.

Kitt says as she stands and walks over and fixes our suits, “Wow, you boys look so handsome. I think if you keep working out though Will, we may have to get you a new suit.”

“He still looks too hot in it,” I hear Liam mumble under his breath.

“I can get changed if you want Liam it doesn’t bother me.” I say to him with a smirk on his face.

“Over my dead body, now let’s go. We’re gonna be late, I don’t want to upset the devil, his bride or their evil spawn.” He grabs my hand and we head for the door.

“Goodnight everyone, don’t wait up. But if we aren’t here in the morning contact the devil and offer a trade.” I call out. I hear Mom tsk and Dad chuck out a laugh.

We pull into the restaurant and Liam valets Dad’s SUV. Liam takes my hand and we head to the empty host stand. While we’e waiting, Liam leans into me and gives me a quick kiss and fixes my tie.

“Thank you Baby,” I squeeze his hand.

“Are you nervous Babe?”

“Yes, I just know they are going to be difficult.” I say as I look around at the restaurant décor. It’s seems the type of place you would bring a client. It’s décor is cold and sterile, but the lighting is dim with a higher glow over the tables. Weird ambience or feel to the entire place. Typical my Mother would pick this place. I turn into him and he lets go of my hand and puts his arm around my waist then kisses the top of my head as the host comes to the stand with his face pinched. With his black tight curly hair he looks like a poodle. He doesn’t greet us formerly he moves to his stand and lifts his chin at us waiting for us to talk.

“We are here to meet the Edgall party.” I say to the pinched face poodle.

“Hmpf, this way,” He turned away from us, we stay behind him with Liam in the lead and he quickly walks toward the back of the dining room to a table where the entire faction from hell is seated. As we approach the table my Grandfather stands and thanks the Poodle and sat back down without acknowledging us. I notice the table only has four settings.

I did a quick hello to my Mother, then offered a hello to my Grandparents. Once that is done I introduce Liam.

“Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother,” I acknowledge each one individually “You all remember Liam,” I move half a step back and put my hand on the small of his back so he could step across me to acknowledge them. He steps forward and went to… do… I don’t know what but regardless the response he receives is less than stellar.

My Mother looks up to him, screws up her face looking him up and down then says, “Hmm… Yes kind of, I didn’t realise you were bringing anyone with you. It would have been nice if your father had told me.” I know that Dad told her Liam was coming with me, she did this on purpose to make sure I know that she isn’t happy that I did. And like she wouldn’t remember him, she used to be the greatest of friends with Kit, his Mom.

My Grandfather crosses his arms and mumbles, “Well at least you both dressed appropriately for the occasion even if you couldn’t get here on time.” Nice. We weren’t even late, they happen to arrive before us, which then made us late in his eyes. God forbid they waited in the bar until we arrived.

My Grandmother gave somewhere between a smile and a sneer while she fiddled with the napkin across her lap.

Well ain’t this dinner going to be fun. I go to step forward to say something and Liam grabs my arm and stops me. He then turns and indicates to someone with his hand and a server appeared from thin air.

“Can I help you sir,” he says gently with a smile.

“Yes, there seems to have been a misunderstanding with our reservation for this evening somewhere along the line, could we please trouble you for another setting for the table.” Liam asks politely, quietly and slides the man ten dollars.

“Absolutely sir, let me see if we have a larger table to accommodate,” Still smiling.

“Oh… no that won’t be necessary, I’m sure we can all fit around this one. I wouldn’t want you to go to any trouble, I’m sure the misunderstanding wasn’t the restaurants fault.” Liam says quietly with a smirk on his face so the devil faction couldn’t see or hear. My head is about to explode, I know this is all done on purpose.

“Absolutely sir, I’ll be right back.” The server moves away from the table rather swiftly. None of my family have moved or even said another single word while we are standing there. Liam leans into me and whispers “remember Babe – character” winks at me smiling and put his hand on the small of my back to calm me down. He’s right, we will get through this with dignity and good character. We don’t have to play their game, we’ll be ourselves and come through.

The nice server returns with two more in tow, one with another place setting and the other with a chair. The original watches over them and as soon as they leave he straightens our settings, puts down another menu and leaves without a fuss. Liam acknowledges the gentleman and seats me before he sits.

“It’s nice to see you again Mother,” I say to her politely.

“Yes, of course. Mitchell sends his apologies; he is in Paris at the moment for business.” She replies without looking at me. Oh! Yes I’m sure he is, the man has never met me. I wasn’t even invited to your wedding, why would he ever regret not being at this dinner. He probably doesn’t even know I exist I’m sure.

Our server appears again and takes the drink orders, the ‘Adults’ order either scotch or wine. Liam orders sweet tea and I order a water.

“Ahem…So Will, are you still doing your metal work?” My Grandfather asks in a condescending tone.

“Wood, it’s woodwork, not at school anymore but I go to the Mens Shed on Saturday mornings. I learn more from them than I did at school. It’s actually why we were running a bit late, time got away from me and I was helping one of the men, he is making custom doors for his kitchen.” I inform him smiling.

“So you still consider it a respectable career path.” He is stating rather than asking as he leans forward and leans on the table boring his glare toward me. I feel Liam move slightly closer to me and he put his arm around the back of my chair as if to protect me from him. I saw my Grandfather flinch and sit back in his chair.

“Even though I do consider it respectable, when I wasn’t able to take woodwork I switched to a sign language and speech therapy class. With which I can actually use in the long run as credits toward a degree in speech therapy or social studies if I wish.” I’m so trying to keep my cool. They are such snobs.

The server brought our drinks to the table, and took the dinner orders. Liam ordered a pasta dish and I ordered their one and only salad main. When the server left my Grandfather continued his interrogation.

“Hmm… Speech therapy is better a more respectable profession. I don’t mind contributing to your education if that’s what you do, but I can’t in good conscience throw money down the drain if you were set to be just a labourer.”

Liam grabs my hand under the table and squeezes my hand. I didn’t know what to say to that, I sat there and let Liam’s hand soothe my nerves.

“We work Grandfather, we should have enough for college or if I choose to do an apprenticeship enough to compensate the wages for a while. Plus that’s what college or apprenticeship years are for, to struggle and learn how to live within your means. I’m told they are the hardest but come with some of the fondest memories as you get older.” I say resigned to the fact he will never be happy no matter what I do.

“What’s we, you keep saying we?” He says through gritted teeth.

“Liam and I, we have plans for a lot of scenario’s for our future.” I shoot back at him.

“What the hell does he have to do with YOUR future.” My Grandfather raises his voice.

“Everything.” One word that is all I needed to say. Liam squeezes my hand and rubs my circles with his thumb trying to sooth me.

“What does that mean?” I look around the restaurant as his volume is now at an unacceptable level for any dining establishment, including McDonalds.

“Well, Liam wants to play baseball professionally and he’s actually good enough so it will depend on where he gets a scholarship to college. We will go together, our life is together with each other.” I respond. I am not going to say that we’re gay when he should already know that we are. I know Dad told my Mother, which I’m now guessing she ignored. “Liam doesn’t want to go through the farm leagues to get there he wants an education to have a career when baseball ends. Whether that’s after College or twenty years from now, but whatever is decided Liam and I will decide it together. We are a good couple and we don’t hold each other back. We support the other and want to help to achieve our goals. We’ll figure it out, what is best for us when the time comes.”

I look over to my Mother, she is sitting there tight lipped like we don’t exist and my Grandmother is fussing with imaginary crumbs on the table. I can’t believe this, I thought it would be awkward but this is just insane. I can see my Grandfather getting more and more irate at this news.

My Grandfather sneered over at us, “You’re QUEERS, well that explains the salad. You’ll never see a penny from us if that’s how you choose to live.” He says with venom in his voice.

Liam shot up out of his seat standing and pulling me up from mine. He looks up at the ceiling and says “Sorry Dad.” He then turns to my Grandfather as he takes my hand in his and kisses the back of it and looks me in the eye and says “Sorry.”

He then turns to my Grandfather, “Firstly; Will never has asked or expected a thing from you and he never will. For your information, he has a trust that will pay for his education right through to a doctorate if he so chooses he won’t be asking for a penny from you nor will he be accepting anything. Secondly; the reason for the Salad is because he is in training and is a talented boxer, he watches his diet. Thirdly, yes we are gay, together and will be planning our life together. And last but not least, now listen carefully because this is the big one; you will all be given one more chance after this evening to see Will again and if you can’t prove that you can treat him as he should be treated, like your Son and your Grandson. I’ll make damn sure it will be the last time you see or talk to him or you're in his lives at all.” He turn to me took my hand and kiss the back of it and he basically drag me out of the restaurant. I could hear the rantings of my family as we left. The look on their faces through Liam’s speech was priceless. I still feel like someone shit in my cornflakes.

Liam stands me against the SUV when the valet return it to us, so I can catch my breath and calm down. He holds one hand against my cheek and leans in for a light chaste kiss. Then with the same hand he runs it through my hair and repeats this motion three or four times.

“I love you Babe, don’t listen to that man. He’s a miserable prick and thinks he has a right to control you. He doesn’t, your Dad and my Mom are the only two people on this planet who get to have an opinion on how we live our lives. Those people in there gave up that right to have an opinion the moment they thought you weren’t important enough to keep in constant contact.” Liam says while holding my face to look him in the eye. I nod my head as I look toward our server running toward us with a bag calling out to us.

“Sir, sir… You didn’t take your meals with you.” He states handing Liam the bag.

“No please take it back, did they send it out?” I ask.

“Umm… Not exactly… Sorry I overheard your speech,” he looks at Liam “then I saw you leave, they asked for the meals to be cancelled. I wrapped them up, added a tiramisu for each of you and brought it out to you. The manager said he’ll take care of it for me,” He says mischievously “By the way there is a gay club down town called “Slinger” they are having an under 21’s tonight until midnight. Hopefully I’ll see you guys there after I finish work.” He winks at us and runs back into the restaurant, leaving us with the bag of food.

“Did that just happen,” Liam says looking at me chuckling.

“I think it did, you still have the bag so I guess it was real.”

“Let’s go home, get changed and pickup our friends, you know the people that actually like us. And go and get jiggy with it.”

I groan, “Did you really just say THAT!”

He nods and wiggles his hips against mine, then grabs my face and lands a nice hot kiss right on my lips.

“Mmm… Thank you, I love you so, so much.” I whisper and dig my face into his neck.

He kisses the top of my head, “I know how you feel Babe, I can’t imagine a life without you.” And he squeezes me to him. We stay like that for a few minutes, then Liam pulls back to look at me and says, “Fuck this, let’s go have some fun and pretend the beginning of the night didn’t happen.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I give him the biggest smile I can manage. Liam opens the door for me and puts me in the passenger side and quickly kisses me before shutting my door. Normally I would be pissed about him doing something like that, I’m not a girl and don’t want to be treated like one. But I know he is just trying to lighten the mood and keep me out of a funk and get ready to have some fun.

On the way home, Liam turns the radio on and takes my hand. A good song come blaring from the speakers, I look over to him and he smiles and then sings at the top of his lungs trying to dance while driving. I can’t help but laugh, he can be such a dork sometimes just to make me laugh.

Through a laugh I say to him as I shake my head, “Dude, you are such a dork sometimes.”

“Ha, ha, I know. But I’m your dork, Dude, and you’re stuck with me.” He sings at me.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I squeeze his hand. “Thank you for setting my Grandfather straight even if it wasn’t all true.”

He looks over at me sheepishly, “Actually, it was all true.”

“I don’t have a trust fund for school.”

“Umm… See that’s the thing you kind of do.” He pulls into our drive and turns off the car. Taking his seatbelt off he turns his body to me, “You’re Dad spoke with me this morning, the insurance from Dad’s accident came through. He asked me how I wanted it split. I have a trust fund for you and for me for our education that no one can touch. If you decide to do a carpentry apprenticeship instead of college, you will get a small allowance until you are on full wages and then the rest will be available to you when you’re twenty five. The rest of the insurance will go into a trust until I’m twenty five. There will also be money from the law suit, which your Dad tells me will be even more substantial. He is going to put that money to work so you and I can be comfortable and not have to ever struggle.”

I go to object and he put one hand up to stop me and the other pulls my hand over his heart and continues, “Just listen Babe okay, I didn’t want any of the money at first but he gave me a letter from Dad, God knows when he wrote it. In it he expresses how he wants me to use the money, the first thing he asks if there is enough to make sure you and I have money set aside for our education. So that is the first thing I told you’re Dad, the second thing he asks is, if we are together to make sure we use the money to have a good life. To me that means we live a normal life, with our goals we want to achieve but thankfully we won’t be struggling financially if we don’t have to.

“Saying that however, I still think we need to earn the things we want. We will get an allowance from the money while we are at school or whatever, but I think once we start our careers we will live within our pay checks like the rest of the world. We can figure out later what to do with the money, but I want a normal life with you. Are you okay with this?”

I don’t know what to say, I look at my feet and then out the window trying to gather my thoughts. “Liam, you didn’t need to do that. I work, granted a little less than I used to but I’m sure I’d be fine.”

“Oh, that’s the other thing. You and I will also be getting an allowance starting next week. I want us to throw the jobs in and let someone who needs it have, like young Patrick. I think Oliver wants a job these days. Look Babe this is the start of our life together, please find a way to deal with it. Dad didn’t want us to struggle and we should be happy to honor his wishes.” Liam says smiling.

“That’s emotional blackmail you know.”

“Yes, yes it is. And you’re going to let me get away with it because you love me and you loved Dad as much as I did.” He says lovingly and leans over the console, kisses me and pulls me into a hug. “I also had your Dad put a bit away so when we’re ready we can get married.” He whispers in my ear and kisses my neck.

I pull back, “We’re getting married now?” I say in shock, my heart is beating so fast I’m not sure if it’s panic or excitement at the thought of it.

“Well not yet obviously, but when the day comes whenever we are both ready it will be there waiting for us.” He chuckles, “You’re Dad had a slight stroke when I mentioned it but then I explained this was for the distant future and we know we are too young now he calmed down.” Oh thank god I was having a slight stroke too.

“I wish I could have seen his face,” I say laughing, “although that would be the ultimate practical joke on the old fella.” Still laughing.

“Oooh! Yeah, but we’ll wait a bit. Save it for when he gets us a good one.” Liam laughs with me.

I pick up the bag of food from the restaurant and exit Dad’s truck, going straight to the kitchen to eat before we change and go out. While we are sitting eating Bill come in and sat with us.

“Hey boys, I’m guessing it didn’t go well since you’re eating your meal here.” He says compassionately.

“Huh! That’s an understatement, they are the most self-centred assholes I’ve ever come across. I could barely keep my cool but Liam kept me centred. Which is hilarious because Liam is the one who lost his cool in the end.” I sigh

“Nobody gets to treat you like that and I wasn’t about to just sit there and let them.” Liam says as he kisses my temple and goes back to eating his dinner. Dad then enters the kitchen in his night gown over his PJ’s.

“Oh! Um… you’re back. I thought you were going straight out.” Dad says looking at his apparel and looking a little embarrassed.

“Well we were but, it didn’t last long enough for our meal to even get to us.” I say watching the body language between Dad and Bill. “Come on Dude, we better make tracks and leave these old fellas to their debauchery.” I pull at Liam’s arm, he looks between Dad and Bill then chuckles.

“Yeah I guess we better,” he says really seriously. “By the way in case you need supplies, they’re in my top draw. But if you really want to have fun, the pink fluffy handcuffs and a matching cock ring are in the box at the bottom of my cupboard.”

Dad arches his eyebrow at Liam, “Don’t worry their unused!” Liam cackles and races up to the bedroom. After we’re dressed we go back to the kitchen to say goodbye.

“Where are you boys off to?” Dad asks drinking his coffee.

“We’re picking up, Ollie, Katherine, Patrick and Sasha and going to that gay club downtown called ‘Slinger’ they’re having an under 21’s night until midnight. The server at the restaurant told us about it.”

“Okay, make sure your home by one please. Tomorrow we’ll talk about dinner, I’ve already had your mother on the phone.” Dad says with a chuckle.

“I’m sorry Dad, Grandfather kept crapping on about school and how carpentry isn’t a good enough career path and that I shouldn’t be with Liam. And if I stayed with Liam I would never see a penny from him. Mother just sat there and let him go on and on. He also yelled at us in the restaurant, it was embarrassing. I was never disrespectful or raised my voice and neither did Liam. I won’t apologise for any of it.” I’m starting to get pissed.

Dad chuckled, “Don’t get your panties in a twist, I knew it would be something like that. All I want to know is exactly what happened so when that women starts in, I will know how to handle her.”

I blew out a breath, “Sorry Dad, they were horrible to Liam. When we arrived, they were already there and they’d had the table changed and set for four people. Mother quite rudely said she was surprised that you or I hadn’t told her Liam was coming. She also pretended to barely remember Liam. I know you told her about our relationship, she didn’t pass this on to her parents so when Grandfather worked it out he yelled out to the entire room “You're Queers”. That’s just the stuff I can remember. We politely sat through that without losing our cool.”

Liam chortled, “Will sat through that politely, I might have lost my cool in the end. You might as well know that I threatened them.”

“Hmpf! How?” Dad asks looking at Liam.

“Sorry, but I couldn’t take anymore of them putting Will down and judging him. I told them they’d be given one more chance after tonight to prove they could treat Will like a son and a grandson or I’d make sure they would never be in his life. That was the end of my speech anyway there was quite a lot before that.” Liam finishes shrugging his shoulder.

Dad kind of laugh-chuckled, “God I love you boy. Thank you because I’ll be re-enforcing it at the end of my conversation.” Liam nods his head once for emphasis, then Dad turns to me and continues seriously, “Will, I should never have made you go. Please accept my apology, I am so very sorry. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world, you know that right?” His eyes a bit watery.

I walk over and hug Dad where he’s sitting, “I know Dad, it’s not your fault. They aren’t nice people and just please don’t make me see them again.” I whisper in his ear.

“I won’t my love, don’t worry about that. I’ll handle them. I really am sorry.” He chokes out, Dad kisses me and says, “I love you son.”

“Love you to Dad.” I squeeze him before I let him go.

“We better leave you guys to your night of fun and we’re going to try and turn ours around.” Liam says pulling me to him for a cuddle and kisses my temple.

“Don’t forget your jackets boys. Have a goodnight.” Dad says and Bill smiles as we go.

As we reach the front door Dad calls out laughing, “Hey Liam, do the handcuffs have the keys.”

“Umm… they should but Will might have hidden them since I handcuffed him to the steering wheel outside Subway.” Liam calls back laughing.

“You what?” Dad yells.

“Goodnight!” Liam yells back and pushes me out the door laughing hysterically.

<>-<>-<>

Liam pulls up to Patrick’s house, and he immediately starts to text Oliver. Patrick is standing on the veranda and a heavily obese woman in her forties is standing there in a wife beater and a pair of men’s tidy whities, holding a baby with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and her hair messily in curlers verbally abusing him. I saw her lift her hand and slap him so hard with the back of her hand across the poor kid’s face he flew down off of the veranda.

“What the fuck, Liam quick help me get Patrick.” I open the door, and Liam looks to see what is happening I hear him cuss under his breath as he opens his door. We rush over to him and Liam picks him up and looks him over.

“What do you think you’re doing he’s just a kid?” I demand aggressively.

“Useless piece of shit, thinks just because it’s his birthday he don’t have to babysit. I have plans tonight, he ain’t going nowhere.” She spits at me.

“Get in the car Patrick!” I exclaim.

“No, he’s going inside and watchin’ these kids so I can go out. Get inside now you little fucker.” She moves toward him, so I block her from getting to him.

“Liam get him in the car,” I say through gritted teeth, “he isn’t staying here with you.” I look toward the beast of a woman.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? I get paid to have that kid here, he’s to do what I say. Now get inside.” She moved toward him again and Liam almost picks Patrick up to get him in the car. Patrick is frozen in fear, you could tell he didn’t know what to do.

“You get paid to look after him and make sure he’s safe from what I’ve just witnessed you’re a criminal and we’re going to the cops.” I say as I turn my back and walk toward the SUV. I feel something hit me in the back of the head. I look on the ground and the beast threw a lighter at me. I pick it up and put it in my pocket. I could feel my entire body shaking in rage.

“Yeah well tell him he’s not comin’ back here and I’m keeping his stuff. Now he’s homeless see if he likes that. Useless piece of shit.” She yells the latter at him even though he’s in the car. Fuck! Now I’ve gotten him kicked out of his foster home. This night keeps getting better and better.

I get into the SUV, Liam hits the remote lock as the woman comes at the SUV like a wild animal. I look out the window at the crazy beast screaming obscenities and she starts kicking and banging on the windows.

“Just go Baby, let’s get the others.” I turn around and Patrick is crying.

“We have to make a stop first.” Liam says.

“Pat I’m so sorry, I’ll get this fixed I promise. She can’t treat you like that it’s against the law.” I say to him. He looks at me with tears running silently from his eyes and nods his head. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! How the fuck am I going to fix this, I shouldn’t have messed with his life. At the same time, it’s not safe for him to be in that house. “You are going to stay with us until we figure it out, and I’ll get your stuff back even if I have to storm the place myself. We just need a tranquiliser gun to take out the beast and we’re home free.” Patrick chuckles a little but stays silent.

Liam pulls into the local outlet mall.

“Patrick, can you come with me for a sec I just need a quick hand. Will you can start making the calls and let the others know we’re running late.” Liam shuts the door and Patrick hops out and walks off with Liam’s arm around his shoulder. God I love that guy, he isn’t even angry with me for making a bad situation worse.

I call Dad first but he didn’t answer so I leave a message to call me urgently. Then I ring Mr Wright and ask him to meet us the club and see if he can get hold of Dad and Bill and have them meet us there also. My next call was to Ollie and I inform him of what is going on, but ask them not to make a big deal about it. But definitely make a big deal about his birthday, the kid has probably never had a proper one. I feel like I’m going to throw up.

About twenty minutes later, the boys come back to the car and Patrick is wearing a whole new outfit and Liam has some bags in his other hand which he puts in the back of the SUV. When Patrick gets into the back he says a sheepish “Thank you Will,”. I look at Liam and he indicates the clothes.

“Oh! Uh… You’re welcome Pat. Happy Birthday Buddy!!!!” I say as I turn and smile at him in the back. Liam had dressed him so he didn’t look so small, well I mean skinny. He had on a pair of 501’s, a cream coloured Henley and a leather jacket with a pair of boots. He looks like someone loves him now.

I still feel wretched. “I swear I’m going to fix everything for you Patrick, but you won’t be going back to that house ever. I will make sure we get your things though okay.”

In a soft kind voice, “It’s okay Will, it would have happened eventually. No one’s ever cared enough to help me before so thank you to you and Liam. I’ve never had new clothes before either it doesn’t feel real.” He looks over himself and I see a little smile on the corners of his mouth.

“I have our Dad, his boyfriend Bill and Mr Wright meeting us at the club if you still want to go. I thought we could tell them what’s going on then we can all still go into the club and have fun and celebrate since it’s your birthday and let them sort everything out. But if you want we can just go home and all watch movies, while the old farts figure out what to do.”

“I… I don’t have any money Will. I can’t take anything else from you guys you’ve already spent too much money.” He says embarrassed.

“I know you don’t like it, but I’m paying it’s your birthday and you should be spoilt. I promise entry fee and a couple of drinks and nothing more from me.” I say chuckling.

He narrows his stare at me and then nods his head, “Okay, thank you,” he says quietly and looks at his hands. By this time we arrive to pick up the others. Ollie opens the car and gets in the back row and pulls Katherine with him and Sasha sits with Patrick.”

“Oooh… La… La… Looking good back there.” I sing song to the new comers.

“Thank you,” came from the girls in unison.

I turn around and look at them, “Oh sorry, I was talking to Ollie,” the boys all laugh and girls groan.

“Thanks bro, save me a dance, maybe a slow one,” Ollie says and winks at me.

“How do you feel about threesomes?” Liam calls back to him.

“Hmm… favourable… if it’s with two girls.” Ollie and Liam laugh, the younger two look embarrassed and Katherine and I punch our loved ones in the arm at the same time. The atmosphere has become a bit lighter now and everyone has a smile on their face which is nice. I hope everything works out with Patrick I can’t believe I got him kicked out. I have to make sure he’s goes to a safe place this time. Over my dead body will he be setting foot in that place again. I could feel my eyes tearing up thinking about what he has had to endure before and there wasn’t a soul to care what happens to him. Liam squeezes my leg, I look over to him and he mouths “I love you.” I tilt my head and smile at him and a tear falls from eye, he reaches up and dries my cheek.

When we get to the club, there is a line already and we wait in the back. We all chat about this and that and keep the topics to school and sport. No one mentions anything about Patricks situation. Liam’s phone “Choo Choo’d”, I so have to change that damn thing next time he’s asleep.

“Dad and Mr Wright are up at the door, we’ll be right back guys don’t lose our spot.”

Liam and I walk to where they are talking to the bouncer. Dad turns to me, “Why didn’t you guys call us straight away?”

“We had to get out of there that lady was going crazy screaming and trying to kick and punch your truck.” Liam says emphatically.

“Okay fair enough, but you should have come home with Patrick.” The adults are all looking at us.

“Well, we found out that it’s today is Patrick’s birthday, we wanted him to have some fun. I’ve said that he could stay with us tonight and we’ll figure everything else out tomorrow. Dad I got him kicked out of his foster home, I don’t want him going back there either. He’ll have a nice bruise coming up on his face where she hit him tonight and I saw her do it. She hit him so hard he flew off of the veranda and onto the grass. He can’t go back there.”

“Okay, we’ll work something out. Can you call Patrick down here please.” Mr Wright asks. Liam walks off to get Patrick.

“I didn’t mean to ruin everyone’s night, I feel so horrible Dad what if they send him back there.”

“You haven’t ruined anyone’s night, but we need to make sure we do this right. For him okay?” Dad says putting his hand on my shoulder. I nod and lean into his hand.

Patrick walks up to us with Liam, “Hi…Hello Mr um… Blundell. I’m sorry for all the trouble.” He looks down at his feet.

“Patrick, you’re not any trouble I assure you. The boys have told me what has happened and you’ll be staying with us until we can get this figured out. Who is your case worker?” Dad asks him gently.

“Edward Schwartz, I’ve told him before what it’s like but he’s says it’s that or a group home. He doesn’t really care as long as he can tick me off of his list.”

“Hmm…okay we might see what we can do about that. Now do you want to stay here with the boys or did you want to come home. I’m sure the others will be happy to watch movies or something.”

“I’d like to stay here if I could, with Sasha,” Patrick looks embarrassed as if he didn’t mean to say as much as he did. Dad looks down the line to where Katherine and Sasha are standing with Ollie and he smiles.

“I don’t blame you one bit for that son, she’s beautiful,” Dad says smiling, “You all stay together and be home by one. And Patrick…Happy Birthday Son! You better get back to her before someone else tries to take her from you.”

“Thank you sir.” Patrick says smiling and almost runs back to her.

“Ahem! I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but… well… I could hear your conversation,” The bouncer hands Dad a card. “Please call me at ten in the morning tomorrow. Edward Schwartz is a schmuck, I can help with that problem. My partner is a Senior Case Worker, he seems like a nice kid and we can help.” He says flicking his chin toward Patrick.

Dad shakes his hand, “That would be great, thank you, here is our address it might be better if you come by at about eleven so we can all talk over breakfast.” In which Dad hands him a card with our address written on the back.

“Consider it done, I’ll keep an eye on your flock tonight and we’ll see you in the morning. Boys call your friends up here and you can go in now.” The bouncer says to Dad and the latter to us.

“We going to go, we’ll see you in the morning and I’ll make up the bunk for Patrick.” Dad leans over and hugs Liam and I, then we do the same with Bill and Mr Wright.

Liam puts his arm around my waist and the bouncer smiles and lets us all through into the club and we thank him. Now for the fun, we can deal with the rest tomorrow. I tilt my head up and kiss Liam on the lips as we walk into the club. Thank god I have this man to lean on when my head gets too much.