Page 76 of Perfect

His comment about Ella automatically switched the atmosphere.

Considering the pub was full, an odd silence fell around the table. Nathan looked down into his beer with a sullen expression, Ryan forcefully zipped up his jacket and Tom pulled out his iPhone and thumbed through it.

I drew the fresh drink toward me, my mouth suddenly felt quite dry.

Lowering his head, Ryan said in a stern voice.

“Don’t be driving the car, Nate. As I said, we’ll talk tomorrow.”

Nathan’s gaze remained on the pale liquid in his glass.

“Whatever Dad,” he said in a quiet, small voice, his words slightly slurred.

Ryan was still, a serious expression on his face.

“I mean it, Nathan. Get a cab or walk and give yourself time to sober up before Sally sees you.”

Who on earth was Sally? I batted off the thought.

Nathan nodded his head in agreement. “Yeah, I’ll probably walk. Laters.”

I eyed Ryan’s leather jacket encased back as he walked away, wondering what the hell that was about. Tom’s comment drew my concentration back to the table.

“I’m on coke Nate, I have to go past yours on the way to Harlow’s anyway.”

I glanced at the fizzy liquid in his hand. I hadn’t realised Tom hadn’t been drinking either.

It all felt like too much of an effort after Ryan left and neither Tom nor Nate said much really. We finished our last drinks and prepared ourselves to leave. I was so ready for home at that point.

I was still worried about Connor and started to feel the tell-tale signs of a headache.

I checked the time on my phone, noticing two texts from my mum.

We left the pub with a ‘well on the way’ Nathan, whom we dropped off at the driveway to his huge house as promised.

As Tom pulled the car away, I suggested that he also drop me off at the bottom of the driveway, as it was late. Neither of us said anything about the weird tension between Ryan and Nate.

“Here we go. Are you sure you don’t want me to drop you at the house, it’s quite a walk from here?”

“No, it’s fine.”

I remained where I was, not ready to leave the car just yet.

Tom spoke into the silence. “Are you OK? You’re very quiet.”

I sighed, deciding to share my thoughts.

“I was just wondering if Connor’s still up and whether to ask him about his dad now. I’m still trying to get my head around it all.”

Tom released the wheel and pulled the hand-break on, the weathered gates into the farm rattled slightly with the wind. He also switched the engine off.

“It may be a bit late to talk tonight. Why don’t you sleep on it? As you say, it’s a lot to take in. But you need to make sure you approach him in the right way. When he’s in the right mood. You know how unhinged he can be.”

I nodded in understanding. “I’m just wondering when he last saw his dad.”

Tom thought for a moment, rubbing his jaw.

“I think he saw him a few years ago, before they bought this place. Ella said Connor and Rachel used to live in sheltered housing. They were in one of those places which is purposefully off the grid, like a halfway house and Carter found them. That’s Connor’s dad’s name, Carter.”

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