Second Base (4 page)

‘Is he?’

‘Of course he is.’

‘And is he just good to you or does that extend to Suzanne? And Lola? And Catherine? And Lucy?’

With each name Charlaine shrank further and further into herself until she appeared low and broken in her chair. ‘He’s not seeing them any more.’

‘So there’s someone new?’

Charlaine stared into her shot glass.

‘Mama?’

‘It’s just me.
Only
me and he cares for me now. I need that.’

‘You survived without him for years.’

‘I had you.’

A twinge of sadness plucked Karen’s heart and brought a bitter taste to her mouth. ‘You still do. You’ll always have me.’

A tear gathered in Charlaine’s eye and rolled down her cheek. She didn’t bother to wipe it away. ‘I won’t.’

‘Mama?’

‘You’ve got this man now. Daniel. You’ve moved and you’ll forget about me. There’ll be nobody left to look after me when I can’t manage any more.’

‘What are you talking about?’

She looked up from the shot glass. The whites of her eyes were red, her cheeks puffy. ‘I’m sick, sweetie. Cancer. It’s terminal.’

‘Hello?’ Dan tapped his knuckles on the bathroom door.

A loud cough answered, followed by retching and the wet slap of something heavy hitting standing water. He rolled his eyes. ‘Clean up when you’re done, please.’

The door popped open. Cindy slid through. ‘Have you got any mint tea or fennel?’

He cocked an eyebrow. ‘Seriously?’

‘Yeah. I don’t drink that shit but Sam swears it will settle her stomach.’

‘Now?’

She arched an eyebrow. ‘Unless you want your bathroom to smell like puke and cookies for the rest of the night.’ With that, Cindy darted back into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Dan rubbed his face with his hands.

Fuck me . . .

On his return to the kitchen, he paused to peer into the living room. The music wasn’t any he recognised; a slow, Bob Marley sort of style. In the middle of the room, dancing with his mother, a tall, wrestler-wide black man in a pale grey suit, sang along at the top of his lungs.

Dan watched his mother sway to the music. He opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

What the actual fuck
?
Who’s that?

The stranger pawed Maxine like a horny teenager, his thick, broad hands dwarfing her tiny waist. The hem of her floral dress slipped over her boney knees and climbed her thighs.

Dan reeled, like he’d spent too long on a roller-coaster. ‘Mum?’

She turned. A sunny, half-crazed smile stretched her lips. ‘Daniel, darling! What a wonderful party. I’m having a marvellous time. Have you met my new friend? This is—darn and blast it, I’ve forgotten your name.’

The man swept off his hat. A thick mane of dreadlocks tumbled out and kissed the small of his back. ‘I’m Robert Owusu, my snow-queen.’

Dan’s knees weakened. A stream of nausea rushed up from his belly, threatening to choke him. He gripped the door frame. ‘Owusu?’

‘That’s right.’ Robert turned. He loomed, like a cold, dark mountain. ‘And
you’re
Daniel. The one seeing mi little girl.’

Little girl?

‘I’m Karen’s boyfriend if that’s what you mean.’

‘You seem a little old for her, Silver Fox.’

Dan touched the streaks of grey in his hair. ‘That’s none of your business.’

‘Daniel! So rude.’ Maxine wobbled over, grabbed his hand and gave his wrist a firm slap. ‘I taught you better than that.’

He jerked away and focused on Robert. ‘You’re Karen’s dad?’

‘Yes.’

‘Her actual, blood father?’

Robert exhaled sharply. He seemed to grow taller still and spoke with all the menace of a grizzly bear. ‘What are you saying, Silver Fox? You weren’t expecting mi?’

Fuck, no.

He licked his lips. ‘Where’s Karen?’

Maxine shoved her way forward. ‘No idea, Darling, but when you find her, tell her to bring out more of those wonderful chocolate chip cookies.’

‘Please say you’re joking.’

‘I don’t know why you hid them—naughty boy!—but I made sure everybody sampled them. I simply must have the recipe.’

Robert grinned, showing off a mouthful of gold teeth. They gleamed to match the sovereigns dangling from a thick chain around his neck. Another flashed on his left middle finger. ‘Mi can help you with that my Ice Queen. Mi think maybe them cookies are a
special
kind. That right, Silver Fox?’ Amusement seemed to strengthen his accent, broad Caribbean with a hint of something else.

Dan didn’t answer. Couldn’t. He backed off. ‘I’ll talk to you in a minute, Mum. Don’t eat any more cookies.’

She waved her hand, an absent dismissal as she returned to dancing. As she swayed to the sensual music, Robert curled his arms around her waist to grind up close. Maxine giggled—actually giggled—and slipped her arms around his neck.

Dan choked on a surge of horror.
I can’t watch this.

He fled, stumbling into the kitchen and slamming the door behind him. His escape dulled the music to a low roar, but the pounding in his head continued.

Karen sat at the table, clutching her mother’s hands. Tears streamed down her face.

‘Your dad is outside.’ The words didn’t sound like his. Heat rose in his neck and jaw. He forced it down. ‘Karen?’

She looked at him. Her eyes sparkled with tears. ‘Dan . . .’

‘Your
dad
, Kaz. Really? What the hell?’

‘This isn’t the time—’

He pounded his fist on the sideboard. Plates rattled on the draining rack. A tumbler fell into the sink. He didn’t care. Two steps took him closer to the table. ‘You told me your dad was dead.’

Charlaine winced. ‘Sweetie, how could you?’

Karen leapt up, flinging her mother’s hands away. She paced the room. ‘He
is
dead to me. As far as I’m concerned that man died years ago. He shouldn’t be here.’

‘But he
is
here,’ Dan snarled. ‘In our living room. Mauling my stoned mother.’

‘What?’

‘Pete bought space-cakes—idiot!—and they’re doing the rounds. I don’t know how many she ate, but she’s not herself.’

Karen gave her mother a pointed look then wiped her nose on the back of her wrist. ‘Please, Dan, I know you’re pissed off, but we’ll talk about it later. Something bigger is going on.’

‘Bigger than your dad coming back from the dead?’

‘Mama has cancer,’ Karen roared. Her hands shook. ‘I’d say that’s bigger than some womanising arsehole crashing our party.’

His ears rang; shrill, clanging bells that filled his head and blocked all other sound. The world pitched and dipped before him, shimmering as through scalding heat. He tried to speak, but his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. Only when Charlaine patted his hand, did he realise he had sat down.

‘Cancer?’ He barely recognised his voice. ‘Wow.’ He turned, seeking Karen. She stood nearby, arms folded tight, chin ducked down. When he reached for her, she leapt away.

‘Don’t.’

‘Kaz, please.’

‘Don’t.’ Louder this time, forced through tears. ‘I need you to—I don’t know what I need.’

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘I don’t need your sorries; I need Mama not to have cancer.’

He gasped, hunching over the table. Words fought for freedom on the tip of his tongue, but none felt right. What was he supposed to say?

‘Sweetie, it’s okay. I’ve made peace with it.’ Charlaine whispered, gaze pinned to the table top. ‘I’m fine.’

‘You’re dying, Mama.’

‘We all have to die.’

‘But you can’t. I need you.’

Dan felt sick. Helplessness washed over him until he could barely breathe.

Charlaine smiled. ‘You’ve got Dan now. He’ll look after you.’

A lump formed in Dan’s throat. He swallowed but it stuck there, choking his words.

‘Won’t you?’ Charlaine gazed at him, calm and steady.

In that moment Dan knew exactly what Karen would look like in twenty years. Both women shared quiet, constant intensity, flawless skin and fine beauty.

He clutched the edge of the table. Cleared his throat. ‘Of course I will.’

With a choking sob, Karen flung herself at him. He braced for the impact in time to stop the chair toppling and he held her while she wept. Tears moistened his shoulder. Her laboured, erratic breaths filled his ear. All the while, she clung to him, body trembling. He stroked her hair and said nothing.

Charlaine gave a small nod. A warm rush of gratitude flooded his body.

I’ll look after her. I’ll give her anything she needs.

‘I’m sorry to tell you like this, sweetie. But I couldn’t get here by myself. Trains are too much for me now, but Robert said he’d bring me. He wanted to see you.’

Karen stiffened.

‘Charlaine, your
husband
is in the living room. He’s asking for Karen but I don’t think she’s ready to see him yet.’

The older woman nodded. ‘You’re probably right. Maybe I can keep him out of trouble.’ She plodded from the room, tugging on the door behind her. It swung back, slightly ajar, letting a trickle of noise through.

Karen moaned against the damp patches on his shirt. ‘Dan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he was coming. I would have said something sooner but Mama was so upset. Then we got talking and she told me. Oh God, cancer. Cancer! She’s going to die.’

He chose not to speak, simply guiding Karen to the floor where he could hold them both without falling. She curled into his lap, tucking her knees to her chest and resting her head against his shoulder. One hand toyed with the curls of hair hanging over the back of his collar.

‘I’m sorry, Kaz.’ So inadequate.

‘I know. Me too.’

‘You’ve got nothing to be sorry about.’

‘I should have told you about Robert. I hate that you had to meet him like that.’

He bit his lip. ‘It was . . . unsettling.’

‘Did he hurt you?’

‘What? No.’ The dry, rasping sensation returned to his mouth. ‘Is he violent?’

‘No, he doesn’t like other men around his women.’

‘You’re his daughter.’

‘That still counts.’

‘He called me ‘Silver Fox’.’

A bubble of laughter slid from Karen’s mouth. ‘Seriously? Hypocrite.’

‘I saw his hair. I’m greyer than he is.’

‘The locs?’ she snorted. ‘He’s been dying those things since he was my age. He’s greyer than a skunk’s arse.’

Dan smiled. ‘Shall I send everyone home?’

A split-second hesitation. ‘No. That’s not how I want to deal with this. Besides, people are having fun.’

‘I don’t care about everyone else. I love
you
.’ The words slid off his tongue as though greased. So different to a few months ago when he could barely think them.

‘I know, but they should stay. Let’s build happy memories here.’

‘We’ll have plenty of happy things to remember. No rush.’

‘But what if there is?’ She lowered her knees and swivelled to face him. ‘Mama was always so healthy. She’s a yoga instructor for Christ’s sake. If
she
has cancer any one of us could drop dead any moment.’

He cupped her face. ‘How is that any different from an hour ago?’

Karen frowned.

‘Kaz, nothing can prepare you for news like this, but you can’t let it scare you out of living. We’re all going to kick it at some point, just like Charlaine said. But we get to choose how we spend the time we have.’

Tears sparkled on her cheeks. He wiped them away with the pad of his thumb.

‘I love you so much, Dan.’

‘I know.’ He kissed her nose. ‘And I’ll always be here, no matter what happens. Just tell me what you want me to do.’

A steady stare. ‘Really?’

‘Tell me what you need.’

‘Kiss me.’

He grinned. ‘I can do that.’

‘Make me forget.’

Dan felt a flutter of panic. Forget the horrific news of mere minutes ago? How? What could possibly do that?

Gaze hot on his, Karen bit her lip. Her eyebrows twitched and she pressed her head against his chest again. Each hot breath billowed through his shirt and stroked his nipples.

‘Please, Dan.’ The begging note intensified. ‘I’m so scared. I want to feel safe again, just for a little while.’ Her lips quivered against his. More damp patches blossomed on his shirt.

‘Please!’ She pressed her lips to his, quick, desperate kisses as she tangled her hands in his hair.

I know this . . .

Karen gave a tiny whimper as she pulled back, her eyes bright with tears.

He growled, low in his throat. Understanding dawned, flashing in his mind like a stun grenade. ‘Open your legs,’ he murmured.

She stared at him. Smiled. Though she never spoke, her eyes screamed ‘thank you’. She lowered herself on to his lap, hips pressed to his stomach, legs on either side of his thighs.

He ran his hands up and down her jeans. She twitched beneath his touch. ‘You’ve got too many clothes on. We’ll make do. Take your top off.’

Instant obedience. Never once breaking eye contact, she yanked the garment free and tossed it behind her. Again her breathing became unsteady, this time a product of arousal.

Dan held the moment, not touching, not moving, just looking.

She’s so beautiful . . .

The smallest of groans rumbled at the back of her throat.

He traced a finger across the top of each breast, following the lines of her bra. When she sucked in a sharp breath, he pinched her nipples through the lacy cups, harder and harder until she cried out.

‘Quiet. We have guests.’

She bit her lip.

‘I want you to open the fridge and bring me the thinnest carrot you can find from the chill drawer.’