Part 34 (1/2)
”I won't be able to sleep. I'm too hot.”
”Just try. Give me a kiss goodnight.”
Their voices dropped into m.u.f.fled sounds now. As he toweled his face he heard Val call, ”John, Elizabeth's ready for her goodnight kiss”
He walked into the bedroom. ”Ugh, I have to kiss this monster?”
”Dad!” She giggled.
”Now, John, don't be getting Elizabeth giddy. I've had to scold her for being so untidy.”
”Then I'll bite the monster's head off.” He bent down as she lay in bed and pretended to gnaw at her neck. She squirmed, giggling louder.
”Dad! I'm red hot as it isa Mum, he's making me hotter!”
”John.” Val suppressed a smile. ”Leave her to cool down.”
”Aye, aye, skipper.”
Then he kissed his daughter. ”Love you, Lizzie.”
”Love you, Dad. Don't forget the swimming pool.”
”I won't. I'll start digging this very minute.”
”Isn't he an idiot, Mum?”
”He's a world cla.s.s idiot, but we love him to bits, don't we?”
”Another hug.” Elizabeth held out her arms. He leaned over the bed again as she gave his neck a firm squeeze.
”Sleep well,” he said.
”I will.”
”Don't let the bed bugs bite.”
”I won't.”
”Have sweet dreams.”
”I will.”
”OK you two,” Val intervened. ”Don't take all night about it.”
A moment later, the lights were out and he followed Val down to the lounge. There, the millrace sighed beneath the gla.s.s. Outside bats darted by the windows where insects were lured by the light.
”Peace at last,” Val whispered.
”It'd be all happy families if it wasn't for Paul.” He flicked a switch on the wall. Instantly light filled the observation chamber. Below the gla.s.s, water foamed a dazzling white. ”I wish I knew what was eating him up. If there's some trouble at school we should-”
”John. I know what it is.”
John blinked, surprised. ”You do?”
”Yes.”
”Since when?”
”He told me about an hour ago.”
He shook his head, puzzled. ”Why didn't he tell me?”
”You know what teenagers are like.”
”But I'm easy-going. I always figured I was the kind of guy people could confide in when-”
”John-”
”Especially my son.” He felt irked. No two ways about it. He'd been kept in the dark.
”Well, it was one of those personal matters, John. He wanted to keep it private.”
”He's not got the clap, has he?” The words raced ahead of common sense. From the stung look on his wife's face he wished he could reel them back in again. Too late.
”No, he has not got the clap. What the h.e.l.l made you say a thing like that?”
”I don't knowa well, yes I do. He was acting so bizarre I thought it had to be something out of the ordinary.”
”It is out of the ordinary.” Val folded her arms. ”And keep your voice down. I'm not supposed to be telling you.”
”But I'm his-”
”John-”
”After all, I-”
”John. Shh!” She glared at him. ”It's all about a girla Paul's girlfriend.”
Again John felt a p.r.i.c.kle of surprise. ”I didn't even know he was seeing someone.”
”He's not a little boy, John. It's only natural, you know?”
”I knowa buta” He shrugged. ”This thing with your kids growing up just sort of creeps up on you.” In a calmer voice he said, ”So what happened? She dumped him?”
”Don't ever become an amba.s.sador, John. You don't score well in areas of tact or diplomacy.”