Collecting Scars (12 page)

Next, he took her out the back door.

“Don't you two go too far, your mother is about to serve up the meal,” Mr Arnold called out. “And stay away from my shed.”

“Yeah I know Dad,” Xavier sighed. “He's precious about his damn shed,” he explained to her.

The back yard was pretty, a small enclosed area, sectioned off by a white-picket-fence which enclosed a cottage style garden and clothesline. Beyond the fence, Asha could see the shed that Mr Arnold had referred to. There was a crooked brick-paved pathway that led to a small gate at the back of the yard which was access to the shed, or sheds as far Asha could see.

It was cold and nearing dark now. Xavier pulled her into his arms and hugged her back to his front, keeping them both warm as they stood on the back deck and Xavier pointed out a few select landmarks. The nearest neighbours were five-hundred metres to the left he explained. The neighbours to the right were a little further again. The back of the property backed onto state forest.

“Why is your dad so precious about his sheds?” Asha enquired. Maybe it was a dad thing, she did not remember her dad having a shed, but some of her memories of him were hazy.

“He keeps Maddie's car in there. Everything of Maddie's is 'off limits' if you hadn't already worked that out?” he rolled his eyes.

“He's kept her car all this time?”

“Yeah, it's a sweet little mustang, I'll show you one day, when grumps isn't around,” he shook his head, looking towards the house. “It's a funny story. My grandma died, dads mum. Then a few years later ol' grandpa found out he was dying, I can't remember what from now. Anyway,” he huffed out a laugh “he sold his house and bought my sister the little mustang that’s out there, and bought me my bike.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Mum nearly had kittens. I was only twenty-one, Madds' must have been eighteen. Then he took the old girl from next door on a round the world cruise. Spent every last cent he had. When he died, he had left explicit instructions with the funeral director, everything was paid for, including the wake.”

Asha had some experience with people's dying wishes, sometimes they were about taking care of their families, others were a little like Xavier's granddad. She always liked the stories where people chose to do something that was deemed out of the ordinary.

“That’s pretty cool,” she smiled.

“He told my dad, that he was spending all the money they had left so dad wouldn't be able to gamble it all away”

Asha could feel Xavier's chest moving at her back as he chuckled, “Why is that even funny?”

“Far as I know, dad never placed a bet in his whole life.”

That was funny, they both laughed at that.

“Sounds like your grandpa was a real character.”

“He sure was.”

“Enough of that,” came a grumpy voice, as the back door swung open. “It's time to come wash up for dinner.”

Inside the kitchen, stood a beautiful old range. Asha thought she would definitely learn to cook if she owned one of those. In the middle of the room was a huge old oak dinner table, with heavy oak chairs all around it. Made for a large family. How sad she thought to herself that it may never be surrounded by a room full of grandchildren. Even if Xavier were to have kids, Annie Arnold would not live long enough to meet them. Such a shame, she would make an amazing grandma.

Following an incredible meal of roast beef with all the trimmings, they bid the Arnolds farewell and headed back into the city. Asha had work in the morning, so Xavier dropped her off at home. As they shared a long kiss goodnight at the front door, it was hard to tear herself away, she wished he was staying with her. As always he insisted on waiting for her to go into the house before he left. She could hear his bike tearing off down the street when she closed the door behind her. Patrick was passed out on the couch, she stood watching him sleep for a while, then planted a kiss on this head, before heading off down the hall for her bed.

Life was truly wonderful.

Chapter 16

“SO TRICK,” ASHA SAID PRODDING her brother in the ribs. “Why are you really here?”

“To see you, big sis,” he said with a mischievous grin.

“Yeah, but what about Heather? Last time I saw you, you were in love”

Patrick rolled his eyes, “Hannah, her name was Hannah.”

“Oh well same thing, what’s the story?”

“It's over, I came home and found her in bed with Jerry Winters,” he winced.

“Jerry? You can't be serious? As is in biggest nerd in the world with coke bottle rimmed glasses 'pull my finger' jokes Jerry?” she laughed.

“The one and only.”

“Oh Trick,” she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Obviously, the girl has no taste, sounds like you dodged a bullet to me Trick.”

His shoulders shook and she knew he was crying. She hated to see her brother hurting.

“I’m sorry bub, that really sucks,” she soothed, rubbing her hand up and down his back.

Patrick cried for a bit, Asha offered him some tissues and fetched him a glass of water, giving him time to compose himself. When he was back to his usually smiley self, she probed a little further.

“So how long are you planning on staying here?”

“What trying to get rid of me already huh?”

“Me?...Never,” Asha put a hand to her chest, feigning offence.

“I dunno, probably kick around for a bit. See if I can get a job. I got nowhere else to be.”

“We don't have a spare room Trick, you're always welcome here, but I’m sure you'll get sick of this dodgy old couch pretty quickly,” she laughed patting the old brown couch that they had acquired from Joanie's parents when they had upgraded.

“Well, its either here or back with Mum.”

Asha sneered, she could not think of anything worse than having to live back with her mum, she would rather live on the street.

“Oh she's not that bad Asha, in fact, you should really get in touch with her. She misses you, you know.”

“Ahh...I think, no,” Asha stated. End of story. She was not prepared to discuss it any longer. Deciding they needed a change of subject she went on. “So I guess we better get to finding you a job hey?”

“Yeah I spoke to one of my mates the other day, who tells me there might be a gig coming up at his work soon. Other than that, I'm not sure, will keep an eye on the papers and such.”

“Something will come along, Trick,” Asha sighed. “You got much money to keep you going? Not that I mind feeding you, but I'm not made of money.”

“Yeah I should be okay for a little while. I had some savings and got paid out my holidays when I left my job back home.”

“Why didn't you stay there Trick?”

He rolled his eyes, “Ash...”

“I don't mean with her...” she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I mean why did you decide to come here to me?”

“I just had to get away,” he looked down to his lap, sadness swamping his features. “I couldn't stay there, everyone knew about Hannah and what she had done to me. I couldn't stand their looks of pity as I walked down the street.”

Asha nodded, she understood that feeling. Poor Patrick. “Well, you stay here with me as long as you need too okay? We'll sort something out. Maybe Xavier might be able to give you a job?”

“No Asha, I don't want you calling in favours on my behalf. I'll get something okay? Don't stress. Thank you.”

“It's going to be fun having you around here for a bit anyway. I've missed you.”

“Aw how cute,” Patrick laughed, poking his fingers into her ribs. “Getting all soppy on me now.”

Asha squealed and hit out at Patrick trying to push him away, but he was stronger than her.

“Stop it,” she laughed out. “I got to go get ready for work.”

It was just like old times, playing and joking around with her baby brother made her happy and sad at the same time. Happy to have him back in her life and sad that she had gone without having him in her life all that time.

***

“Oh my goodness Asha, where have you been hiding him?” Gemma begged in the morning when Patrick dropped her off at work.

“Who?” Asha asked confused.

“Who? Are you kidding me? The spunk that just dropped you at work in that, um --whatever you call that thing.”

Asha laughed, Patrick had turned up in a beat up old car with different coloured panels.

“That’s my baby brother Patrick.”

“Can you introduce me?” Gemma wiggled her eyebrows.

“Really Gem?”

“Really Ash.”

“Okay, I'll see what I can do,” Asha laughed. Of course, she loved her brother, but she had never thought of him as a 'spunk'. She guessed that was a bit the way with siblings, though.

“We need you on the floor today Asha,” came Maria's voice from behind her. “We are two nurses down, do you think that will be okay? I'll have Gemma reschedule your appointments.”

Asha looked to Gemma, who had her hand over her lips. She knew she was trying not to laugh, while Asha loved working clinical shifts, she hated few things more than cancelling appointments and Gemma knew full well what she was thinking.

Rather than say what she really wanted to say to Maria, she nodded her head and went to her office to see if she had a spare pair of scrubs to get changed into.

***

The best part about having Patrick stay was his cooking skills. Asha had no idea how he was so good and she was so bad, but she was enjoying having him cook for her. Every night, she would get home to a table filled with a delicious meal. Even Xavier managed to get an evening off to come for dinner one night.

Patrick seemed to be settling in, sleeping on the couch every night. Every time Asha tried to bring up him getting a job and finding his own place, he would change the subject. She did not want to push too much, knowing he was upset over what had happened with Hannah. Joanie didn’t seem to mind having him around either and she wasn't chasing after him. That she was grateful for, as she did not think she could cope with having Patrick following Joanie around like a lost puppy. Joanie did not do relationships. Patrick as far as Asha knew, did not do one-nighters.

He was such a beautiful soul, deep thinking. On the surface he was a lovable larrikin, always laughing and joking. But under his hardened exterior, Asha knew he was a scarred little boy. Just as scarred as her, maybe worse.

Asha carried a lot of guilt about leaving Patrick alone with their mother. He had been the same age when she moved to the city as she had been when they lost their dad. They had been close, he was her little Tricky.

They had stayed in touch over the years, not as much as Patrick would have liked and Asha knew she could have made more of an effort. Life just gets busy. Plus going back home to see Patrick, would also mean having to face her mother. She shuddered at the thought. The less she had to do with that woman the better.

“So Friday night Trick?”

“Friday night Ash?”

“We, as in me and the girls, are going to Xavier's club, they have a band playing, are you in?”

“Ahh, well...” he mused rubbing his chin. “I’d have to check my schedule.”

Asha laughed, “Yes baby brother because you have so many cool things to do right?”

“Well, I might,” Patrick grinned. “What’s in it for me?”

“Aw, just the company of your favourite sister, her amazing friends, and her sexy boyfriend.”

“Not sure if Xavier does it for me, sis,” he chided.

“Good,” Asha laughed. “I’m glad about that.”

“I'm glad you finally found someone Ash,” he said eyeing her seriously.

“Why cause you were worried you old sister would end up a spinster? Left on the shelf?”

“Yep, pretty much,” he huffed out a laugh.

“You're a shit head Trick,” she laughed wrapping her arms around his neck. “Lucky I love you.”

“Well I am pretty lovable, I don't know how you have managed all these years without me being around.”

That was her Patrick, Asha thought. A lovable cheeky shit head.

Chapter 17

PATRICK ORDERED ANOTHER ROUND OF drinks and brought them to the table, spilling them as he attempted to put them down. Joanie jumped to her feet and took what she could from his hands to save any more spillage.

“Go home glasses, you're drunk,” Patrick laughed.

“Oh Tricky, I think you're the one who's drunk,” Asha laughed, reaching across the table to secure her drink.

“So Ashy-girl,” Patrick was starting to slur just a little. “I was thinking, maybe you and I should go pay mum a visit this weekend.”

“Nope, not happening,” Asha shook her head, eyes down, suddenly finding the table very interesting, not wanting to make eye contact with Patrick. Maybe if she ignored him, he would let it go.

The table lurched forward and the liquid from the latest round of drinks threatened to spill across its surface as Patrick slammed his open hand down. Asha jerked her head up in surprise. She found Patrick's eyes across the table and glared at him.

“I'm not getting into this with you here right now Trick. We'll talk about it later okay?”

“No, I want to talk about it right now,” he roared and all within ear-shot quieted as they turned to see what the chaos was all about.

Joanie reached out and put her hand on Patrick's forearm in an attempt to soothe him, but it was too late for that. He harshly brushed Joanie's hand away, leaving her with a shocked expression.

“We are out Patrick, having drinks with friends,” Asha gestured around the table, as the crowd returned to their conversations and drinks. Excitement for them apparently over. “What about we talk about it tomorrow yeah?” she pleaded.

“I just want to know what makes you think you're so fuckin' great that you don't have to go home and see your own mother?” his eyes almost a mirror of her own bore into hers.

She stood and walked around to his side of the table, taking his hand, in hers, she coaxed him from his chair.

“You want to have this out now? Well not here, not in front of everyone. Let's go outside. Come on.”