Page 149 of Night Call

Tracey sighed, shaking her head. “The world is not a kind place for people like us. You shouldn’t be on your own, you should be with me or with a mate. It’s what I’ve always said.”

“Youpushedme to find a mate, so when it all went wrong I’d come crawling back. So I’d beg you to let me home.”

His mum snarled and rose to her feet. “You ungrateful fucking shit. You don’t deserve a mate, you don’t deserve?—”

Something clicked in Pember’s brain, a long-buried truth that was finally breaking through to the surface. “You never wanted to find a mate forme,did you? You want someone who’ll protectyou.”

His eyes flicked down as his phone buzzed in his hand, it was a message from Blake. ‘I’m outside.’

Pember frowned, but didn’t have time to question it as his mum stepped towards him. Her arms were raised like she was about to grab him, so, stepping backwards into the living room, he said, “Do you love me, Mum?”

Tracey’s jaw tensed, and she blinked as though trying to summon tears. When none came she covered her mouth. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Do you love me?”

She cried out, acting stricken, but the emptiness behind her eyes gave her expression a hollow quality. “How can you?—”

Pember shook his head and looked at the carpet. “You can’t say it, can you? Maybe you thought you did, once. When I was little. But now… now you just want control, to make up for the control you lost in your own life.”

“Pember…” she said again, eyes going wide, and for the first time since stepping into the house, she actually looked afraid. “How can you say that? I’m yourmother.”

Letting out a breath, Pember tried to turn and leave, but his legs felt like iron rods, meaning he was probably about to have a migraine.

Keeping one eye on his mum, he sent a reply to Blake.

‘I’m not feeling good. Can you come and get me?’

When he looked up again, his mother was retreating into the kitchen, her hand curling around the cutlery drawer and yanking it open.

“If that’s truly what you think,” she said, face twisting into a grimace. “Then I may as well follow your fucking sister.”

Pulling her hand back, she drew a carving knife from the drawer and held it to her chest. Pember’s fight or flight kicked in, and he threw himself forward. But he was too late. Someone was moving around him, someone tall. A hand slapped the knife out of her grasp. It was Blake. Followed by Oliver.

“What thehell?” she snarled, eyes snapping to Oliver, then back to Pember. “Get out of?—”

“Tracey, Tracey, Tracey,” Oliver said, boxing her in against the fridge. Blake kicked the knife away with a clatter and moved to Pember’s side.

“Are you alright?” he said, pressing his lips to Pember’s forehead

“Y-yes,” he said, blinking rapidly. “How did you get?—”

“Val rang the station,” he replied. “When she saw a taxi pull up outside your house she called me. Told me what happened with the ashes and said you were going to do something stupid.”

“Get your hands off me!” his mum cried, but from where Pember was standing he couldn’t see a single hand on her.

“Tracey,” Oliver said again, a wide grin splitting his face. “I’m issuing you with a?—”

Blake clapped a hand across his shoulder, pulling him back. “Ollie,” he growled, pulling Oliver round and placing him in front of Pember.

Oliver flushed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry,” he said. “I got carried away. Here.” He held out a piece of paper, letting Pember read the first few words. “It’s yours if you want it.”

Harassment Prevention Order. If the subject of this order breaches the conditions laid out in section 2, they shall be liable to prosecution. Subject: Tracey Anne McArthur. Complainant: Pember William McArthur.

Pember’s eyes went wide. “I don’t… I don’t understand. I didn’t ask for this?”

Oliver gave him a soft smile. “I know. But things have gone too far now, don’t you think?”

Blake rubbed his back, leaning down to press his mouth to the shell of his ear. The closeness was not lost on his mum, who straightened and smoothed over her blouse.

---