Page 2 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

A thud overhead caught his attention and he stashed his phone in his pocket, wondering which one of his parents was upstairs and why they hadn’t heard him shout.

When he reached their bedroom, he discovered that the reason they hadn’t responded to his calls was because his dad was sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, staring absently at the wall and rocking back and forth, being comforted by his mum who had tears streaming down her face.

What’s wrong? How long has he been like this? and Why didn’t youtell me?were the first questions Cal asked his mother after he’dhelped her persuade Dad to get into bed and swallow a tablet out of ablister packet whose box had a long name written on it.

She was sitting at the dining table, shoulders hunched, cradling an untouched mug of tea. ‘The doctor says your dad has had a breakdown.’

‘When did it happen?’

She dashed the back of her hand against her pale cheek. ‘I should have seen it coming. He hasn’t been right for weeks. Thatbloodyjob of his. He never should have gone for that promotion. It was too much for him. I should have tried to talk him out of it.Oh God!’ She burst into tears again, and Cal scooted his chair closer and put an arm around her.

‘How long has he been like this?’ he persisted.

‘Three weeks, give or take. He woke up one morning and refused to go to work. He wouldn’t tell me why. He just sat on the edge of the bed in his pyjamas and wouldn’t move. I couldn’t get any sense out of him for ages. He won’t speak to me for hours on end, and he won’t eat. Keeps saying he doesn’t want to be here.’

Cal struggled to hold back tears. ‘Why haven’t they admitted him?’

His mother bit her lip and blinked furiously. ‘Youknowwhy.’

‘Granny Fraser?’ he guessed and she nodded. ‘It’s not like that these days,’ he assured her. ‘I don’t think they do electric shock treatment anymore.’

‘Your dad isn’t taking the chance.’

‘What did the doctor say?’

She pulled a face. ‘Not a lot. Gave him a prescription for antidepressants and sent him away.’ She banged a fist down on the table. ‘Your father wouldn’t let me go in with him – he saw the doctor alone. God knows what he said to him, but I bet it wasn’t the truth about how he’s feeling. Your dad was never one to discuss his feelings.’

‘He needs help, Mum.’

‘Don’t you think I’m aware of that!’ she yelled. ‘But if anyone sees him like this he’ll be sectioned.’

‘He won’t, Mum.’

‘Do you know that for a fact?’ she demanded.

He didn’t. He knew absolutely nothing about mental health provision. ‘What’s he told them at work?’

‘He hasn’t spoken to them.Ihad to. The doctor signed him off with exhaustion, would you believe, so that’s what I told them he’s suffering from. Your father is terrified they’ll find out. He doesn’t want anyone to know.’

‘They’ll find out eventually.’

‘Not if we don’t tell anyone.’

‘Mum, you can’t hide it forever,’ Cal insisted.

‘I can and I will. He doesn’t want anyone to know. He doesn’t need to be in hospital. What he needs is peace and quiet, and his family around him. We can make him better ourselves.’

‘Does Fliss know?’

‘No! And you can’t tell her.’

‘She’ll want to know. I would, if I was her.’

‘If you say anything to your sister she’ll be home like a shot. Felicity has worked hard to get where she is, and I don’t want her to jeopardise that.’

Fliss lived in Manchester and worked in television – behind the screen, not in front of it – something to do with the production side of things but he wasn’t sure what.

‘I’ll make you a deal,’ he said. ‘I’ll not say anything to anyone for now, but if he gets worse…’

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