Absolution(24)

“A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave.”

- Mahatma Gandhi




Maggie drove home, snatching the keys off Callum and giving him a filthy look that quickly silenced him when he tried to protest.

Ally stared out the window, ignoring Callum’s numerous attempts at an apology. What was the point of apologising now? It was too late for that. The two goals she had for today were to say goodbye to Tom and make it through the funeral without losing her shit in front of Jack – neither of which she accomplished. She felt sick. It didn’t help that the air was so thick with tension, she could barely breathe.

Jack looked so different. His hair was shorter and his eyes held a haunted look that scared her. It wasn’t just grief – there was something else, she was sure of it – and whatever it was, it went right to his soul. What had happened to him?

He looked surprised to see her standing. Didn’t he know? Why didn’t Tom tell him? If he had known, would he have come home sooner? Her head ached as she turned the questions around and around in her head, only coming up with more questions.

By the time they pulled into her driveway, she was near breaking point. She just wanted to get inside and lock the door before she lost it completely. As soon as the car came to a stop, she threw open her door and leaned her crutches against it, lifting her legs out.

“Ally – come on, just wait a minute, please?”

She ignored Callum, pulling herself up using the back of the seat and the door, throwing her hips forward as she heard her braces lock. Reaching down to check them, she grabbed her crutches and slid her arms into them, taking a couple of shaky steps before pushing the door shut behind her.

“Do you want me to stay for a while?” Maggie called after her.

“No thanks. I just need some time to myself,” she called back over her shoulder, not bothering to turn around.

“I’m sorry, okay?” Callum called. “Oh come on! You saw him, the smug bastard! He just expected an apology would be enough, after everything he did?”

“You promised,” she said tightly, making her way up the front path towards her house. She could feel his gaze burning into her back as the conversation continued behind her.

“Go talk to her,” Maggie ordered.

“I’ve tried – you heard me! She won’t –”

“You made a promise and you broke it, what the hell did you expect?”

“That is such bullshit, don’t pretend he didn’t deserve it!”

“Of course he deserved it! For what it’s worth, I don’t blame you, but that’s not the damn point is it? The point is she asked you not to do this today and you promised, then went ahead and did it anyway!”

“I only promised not to –“

“Just stop making excuses and go talk to her!” Jane hissed.

“Fine!”

Ally heard him starting up the path behind her and she gritted her teeth, wishing she could walk faster. He caught up with her as she climbed the front steps. She tried to ignore him, placing her crutches on the step above, pulling her body upwards and watching as her feet swung onto the step.

“Please, will you just listen?”

He wasn’t going to let this lie. Drawing in a ragged breath, she stopped.

“I really mean it, I am sorry, and you have every right to be pissed off at me. If he’d just stayed away from us, I could have handled it, but that bullshit apology of his? He should’ve backed off. I gave him enough chances.”

The sincerity in his voice wasn’t enough to diffuse her temper.

“So, screw the fact that you made me a promise – it’s all his fault?” she demanded, trying her best to glare at him over her shoulder without losing her balance.

“No! Well, yeah, but – “

“Save it, this is getting us nowhere.”

She resumed her climb up the steps, but he marched up and stood in front of her, blocking her path.

“Just tell me what it is I did that was so wrong!” he demanded. “I never promised this wouldn’t happen – he deserved it!”

“That’s not the point!” she blurted out, angry tears barely held in check. “And what if he goes to the cops and you get landed with an assault charge? Will it be worth it then?”

“He’s not gonna go to the cops!”

“How the hell do you know that?”