Instant Family (25 page)

1-you're not family."

"The boys didn't worry about that."

"No. I'm sorry they bothered you. They shouldn't have." Why
hadn't they called home? Why call Alex of all people? Especially
after he'd failed Seb.

" `Bothered' me? It was no bother."

"They should have called me," she said, but it was a feeble defense
against his overwhelming aura of righteousness. The words wouldn't
come to explain something so instinctive, something deep down she
knew was right.

"Seb explained why. And we did call Simone. She couldn't help
from Bateman's Bay, but she agreed with the boys." He was patronizing in his patience now. "You were teaching, and they didn't want
to upset you before your concert. How did it go, by the way?"

"Well," she said dismissively. "And you thought that was enough
of a reason not to tell me? What if Seb had been really badly hurt?"

"I'm sorry." He relaxed his stance. The arms dropped to his sides,
rose, spread, lowered, matching his confusion and guilt. "I wanted to
call you, but they were insistent. Both of them. The priority seemed
to me to get him to a doctor. Of course I would have called you if
there was anything serious. They wouldn't have treated him for a major problem without your permission. As it was, they X-rayed him
and bandaged him up, and he'll be fine"

"I should have been there."

Alex ran one hand through his hair, released a sigh of exasperation,
then let his hand fall to his side. "Chloe, you can't always be there.
You have a life too. Seb and Julian understand that-that's why they
called me. You're the one who can't see it. You're the one who can't
let go. You can't have it both ways. You either let someone else help
share the responsibility, or you don't have a life at all."

He had no idea! Absolutely no idea, and he was treating her like
some clinging, overprotective imbecile! White-hot rage roared up
through her body to erupt in a searing tirade. "What do you mean `let
go'? They're children. They don't know anything! They can't look after themselves. You don't know anything about bringing up children.
You don't know how to deal with your own daughter. You've made
quite an art of avoiding that responsibility."

"That's completely unfair," he hissed through tight lips. "I'll admit
I'm not the best at understanding little girls, but I know what boys
need. I was one." He leaned in closer, looming over her in his anger.
His voice rose. "And what they don't need is to be smothered."

"Caring for them isn't `smothering' them!" Chloe stood her
ground, matching his volume. She was in the right, and he knew it;
that's why he was attempting to use his height and physical bulk to
intimidate her.

"I agree, but there comes a time when they need some slack."

"'Slack'? Look what happened to Seb! You of all people can see the results of his being given some slack-us being at the police station in the middle of the night!"

"Daddy? Why are you and Chloe shouting?"

Two pajama-clad girls appeared in the kitchen doorway, clutching
hands. Katy's face looked shocked, close to tears, Stephanie's
frightened with a trembling lower lip.

Chloe gritted her teeth, her lips clamped tight and hard. Her lungs
dragged in ragged gulps of air. Alex would never, ever understand. "I
need to be in there with Seb. I'm his guardian," she said eventually, her
voice tight and low. "Katy, we're going home."

"Let her stay, Chloe." Alex had moderated his voice now, making
her seem the unreasonable, screaming one.

She shook her head. "No. It's not late. She can come home."

"I'll get my clothes," whispered Katy, and fled. Stephanie scampered to Alex's side. He bent to embrace her, and she buried her face
in his neck as he straightened, holding her close.

Chloe shut her eyes briefly, then sucked in a deep breath. Please
don't let them have heard too much. Katy wasn't used to adults arguing. Violence of any sort frightened her. She'd be upset as it
was with Seb sitting there looking as though he'd insulted Mike
Tyson.

"I'm sorry, Stephanie," she said. "It's nothing to do with you. I'd
just like Katy to come home."

Alex carried his daughter from the room without a word.

Chloe stood immobile. For a moment her brain ceased to function. Too much information all at once. Shell-shocked. How had
this unholy situation developed? Ten minutes earlier she'd been so
happy.

Seb. She still didn't know what had happened beyond the fact that
he'd been beaten to a pulp on the way home from school. Chloe slid
the bifold door open.

Seb and Julian looked up with identical expressions when she
reappeared-a mixture of apprehension and defiance. Had they heard
the fight too? Must have. Two rooms away, but that door was only
plywood. The policewoman smiled. Far too calmly, given the situation.

"We're finished," she said.

Finished? Surely that wasn't appropriate without Chloe in attendance. "I don't even know who did this or what happened!" cried
Chloe. "None of you seem to be taking this seriously."

"Believe me, the police will be taking this very seriously." Constable Black closed her folder and stood up.

"It was Alan Simic and his mates," said Julian. "Zak Simic's
brother."

Understanding dawned. Finally some sense to be found in the
mess. "Revenge for Zak."

And she'd chuckled privately to herself about Seb's request for
police protection. Melodramatic, she'd thought, stupidly.

"Yeah. I told you I didn't want to tell who did the vandalism. I
knew this would happen."

So now it was her fault again. Maybe in some way it was. But how
could she protect him from thugs like those boys, short of driving
him to and from school and never allowing him out without adult supervision? Ridiculous. What would Mr. Know-It-All Alex's solution
to that little dilemma be? He'd say she was being overprotective and
smothering, but when Seb went out alone, or even with Julian, he
got beaten up.

"I'm sorry, Seb."

"The boys said there were independent witnesses. Other students
from the school."

"They saw but didn't help you?"

The eloquent moment of silence during which the twins glanced
at each other told her what a stupid question that was. Julian said,
"They were year seven girls."

Constable Black said, "Thank you both. I'm sorry it came to this,
but I'll do my very best to see that those thugs get what they deserve"

"Thank you," the boys chorused.

"I'll see myself out. Good night." She strode to the door.

"Thank you. Good night," said Chloe. She turned to the twins.
"Come on, we're going home. Julian, see if Katy's ready."

"She's in bed."

"No, she's not. She's getting her things."

"Why can't she stay?" asked Seb. Julian pulled a face but didn't
argue. He helped Seb to his feet and left the room.

"No need," replied Chloe curtly.

"What's up with you?" So the bashing hadn't harmed Seb's
tongue at all. He winced suddenly, filling her with remorse. It wasn't
his fault. This time he was the victim, punished for bravely doing
the right thing. What would he make of that lesson?

"Nothing. I got a shock seeing you, that's all." Tears unexpectedly
filled her eyes. She hadn't been there. Again. That other time she
hadn't been there. But if she had been with Mum and Terry and Bevan, she'd have been a victim too. She blinked rapidly. Sniffed.

"Chloe?" Uncertainty in his voice. The little boy looking to her for
help. She had to look after them better. She had to be much better at
it. "Seb." She touched his cheek gently. "Your poor nose. Are you
sure nothing's broken? It looks terrible."

"It hurts, and I can't breathe properly."

"You need to go to bed."

"I won't be able to sleep."

"I bet you will. You look exhausted. Your body needs rest"

She held out her hand, and he accepted her support as they moved
to the front door.

"How was your concert?" he asked.

"Went well. Thanks, Seb." They paused in the foyer. Why was
Julian taking so long? She wanted to go home fast before Alex reappeared, so she wouldn't have to face his disapproval and her own bitter,
hurt disappointment. "I would've come to get you. My students didn't
matter."

"I know. That's why we called Alex. We didn't want you to"

How could he say that? Couldn't he see how hurtful that was? Cutting her out. Keeping her at a distance while including Alex, a comparative stranger? The boys idolized him. She thought she might have
loved him. Yet none of them really knew him.

Katy appeared with Julian, carrying a plastic shopping bag and
wearing a miserable expression. She looked at Chloe with alarmed
eyes. Chloe smiled, and the apprehension left the girl's pale face.
Chloe held out her hand, and Katy clung on. Julian moved beside Seb.

Alex and Stephanie stood silently, watching from the hallway.

"Thank you," Chloe said stiffly to Alex's closed, blank face. The
pain she glimpsed in his eyes she preferred to ignore.

"Chloe," he murmured, but she cut him off. "Good night,
Stephanie."

"Good night, Chloe." Never had she heard such a subdued response from the child.

"Thanks for helping, Alex," said Seb. He added, "Sorry."

"No worries. See you, mate. Bye, Julian, Katy."

No one spoke during the short ride home. Plenty was thought,
though, especially in the backseat, where the twins sat in absorbed
silence, emanating waves of disapproval. Katy was first into the house.
She took herself straight to bed without a word. Julian helped Seb
out of the car while Chloe collected her music stand and guitar from
the boot.

The roller door rumbled shut. Chloe followed the boys into the
house, but they headed directly for Seb's room. She dumped her gear
in the music room. If that's how they wanted to be, let them. One day
they might understand. When they grew up.

Alex called the house midafternoon the next day. Dialing the number was as nerve-racking as calling his first girl for a date at the age
of thirteen. Ridiculous how this woman did that to him. A couple of
months ago he would have laughed anyone into the ground who'd
suggest he could be so totally in thrall to any female ever again.

But more was at stake here. He had to maintain contact somehow,
couldn't let her cut herself off. Cut him off from the boys and Katy.
They'd trusted him. If Chloe answered the phone, he was prepared
either for a hang-up or a torrent of abuse. Luckily, he got sweet little
Katy.

"Hello," she whispered in a secretive voice when he identified
himself.

"How's Seb?"

"His eye is a funny color. Lots of colors actually, and it's swollen
shut."

"Why are you whispering?"

"Chloe might hear."

His heart plummeted. Some small, forlorn shred of hope had lingered that she might have had a total rethink. "Is she still angry with
me?"

"Yes."

"Oh, dear."

Chloe's voice in the background said, "Who's on the phone?"

The receiver scraped and went muffled as if Katy put her hand
over it. He could just hear her say, "It's for me." A moment later she
was with him again.

"She's angry with all of us. She was crying last night. I heard her."

His heart ached for her all alone with her hurt and anger. Totally
unnecessarily. If only he could make her see how loving each other
could conquer all those problems she struggled with. That ultimately
they all wanted the same thing. "What should I do, Katy?"

"You could try flowers," she suggested.

"Think they'd work?"

"They might." Now she sounded doubtful. "Do you want to talk
to Seb?"

"Yes, please, but I don't want to upset Chloe."

Her voice returned to normal. "It's all right, she's swimming now.
Here's Seb."

"Hi, Alex."

"G'day mate. How are the battle scars?"

"I'm pretty stiff today, and my eye's really sore. Plus I can't
breathe very well."

"Did you get any sleep?"

"Yeah. Kept waking up, though."

"Take it easy, then."

"Yeah. Chloe's really mad at us. I've never seen her like this."

"I should have told her straightaway."

"It's my fault. I wouldn't let you. We keep telling her that, but she
won't believe us."

"She's right. I should have told her. I'm the adult. I'm the one who's
supposed to do the right thing."

"You shouldn't take all the blame, though."

"Is that what she's doing? Blaming me?"

"It's like she wants to have an excuse for not seeing you or something. Or letting us see you. It's weird."

"She's confused. And very upset. You've given her a rough time
lately, mate." So had he.

"Can you do something?"

"Like what?"

"I dunno. Talk to her?"

"Katy thinks I should send her flowers"

"Can't hurt."

"I reckon it'll take a bit more than that. I'll give it some thought,
but I think we should leave it for a few days. Let her calm down.
Also, I don't want to go behind her back. If she doesn't want you
coming over, you'd better not. All right?"

"S'pose so. Send her some flowers, though. No one ever sends
her flowers. Women are supposed to like that sort of stuff."

"All right. Look, Seb. You can call me anytime, you know?"

"Yeah, thanks. See ya."

"Bye"

Steffie, sprawled on the floor with an array of pencils, looked up
from her coloring book. "Is Seb better?"

"He's sore and stiff, but he'll be fine." Alex sat on the rug beside
her. He leaned his back on the couch and draped his hands over his
drawn up knees. What a mess. If only he'd followed his gut instinct
and called Chloe straightaway. But he hadn't. He could see the twins'
point. Sometimes Chloe had to be protected from herself. And why
didn't she trust him to take good care of Seb? What more could she
have done that he hadn't?

"Chloe frightened me. Katy was scared too."