Page 39 of Versions Of Us

“I tried calling but it went to voicemail.” I don’t even bother mentioning that the same thing happened when I tried to call Katie. I can’t blame them for wanting to avoid me.

“She’ll come around.” There’s only the slightest hint of optimism in his voice, which tells me that he has little faith in his own words.

“I doubt it,” I mutter. I dump a large box on the ground, coughing as dust particles release from its surface.

My parents married young, and since their separation, my mum has spent most of her time travelling to various exotic locations as though she’s trying to make up for her lost youth. I honestly don’t even know which time zone she’s in at the present moment.

“You know there’s always a spare bed at my place if you need it,” he offers.

“I know. Thanks, Dad.”

I’m grateful for his hospitality, but there’s a reason why I moved out of home the first chance I got. My father and I have never seen eye to eye, although things have been much better between us since my parents’ divorce. Less tension and all that. Ironically, it was my mother that began to keep her distance from me. Though after everything that’s happened, I can’t say I blame her now.

I know I could just as easily take up residence at my dad’s house, but there’s another reason I choose to be here at the tavern. Turning my back on everything and everyone meant turning my back on Steve and Maggie too.

I realise how big of a chance Steve is taking, hiring me after I left him in the lurch all those months ago. I hate myself for disappointing him. The least I can do is stay close by and keep an eye on it until they’re back in town.

Steve’s Tavern has always been like a second home to me and now it literally is my home. Temporarily anyway. It might seem like a weird thing to say about a pub, but it has always beenourplace.

A place for us to gather knowing that no matter what was going on in our lives, we could leave it happier than when we entered.

When my dad called Steve to explain where I’d been for the last six months, I should have known he’d be gracious. It’s in his nature to give people more than they deserve.

“I’ll bring your bed by in the truck this afternoon,” Dad offers. “Should only take a couple of loads to cart over what you need.”

Dad has all my belongings in his spare room. I’ll be forever grateful to him for rescuing all my stuff from the house I was evicted from.

“It’s fine, Dad. I can manage. I’ll come get it.”

I pick the broom up from the floor and begin sweeping more dust into the corner. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer. It’s the opposite. I’ve put him through enough and I’m sick to death of being a burden to him.

“It’s really no problem. I’ll just put it in….”

“I said it’s fine!” Something takes over me and I snap, my father recoiling as though I’ve just slapped him. I’m revolted by my reaction, yet it doesn’t stop me throwing the broom across the room and kicking one of the boxes, leaving a shoe sized hole in it. I crouch down to the floor and blow out a long breath into my hands. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, son.” My dad crosses the room, his hand coming to gently rest on my shoulder.

“It’s not. Everything is such a mess right now.” My eyes burn with the threat of tears, but I force them back down.

“I know,” he sighs. “But none of this is your fault. You know that right? Sometimes shit happens.”

“So eloquently put,” I sigh.

“You know what I mean,” he says.

I do know what he means, but he’s wrong.

“It’s all my fault. None of this would have happened if I didn’t do what I did.”

“That’s true,” he admits. “But there’s a lot of good that never would have happened either.”

He might be right, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.

Chapter 16

KRISTEN

“Em? Em? Are you there?”

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