“It’s good to have you back safe and sound.”
“Thanks, Joan.”
“What did you do there?”
“Where?”
“On your trip away.”
“Oh, just logistics stuff.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“Just… training. And stuff.”
“Did you like it?”
“They have a jury?”
“No, Joan. No jury. It’s an expression.”
“I’m sure you were magnificent.” She kissed him on the top of the head. “Get some sleep. Oh, and make sure you spend some time with Ellis tomorrow.”
“Okay. Why?”
“Because he’s your father.”
“No, why tomorrow? He said he was hanging around.”
“Well, it’s Ellis. Keeping him in one place is like trying to pin down a jellyfish. Besides, he’s getting on your Mum’s nerves, so you know how that will go.”
“He’s not going to last too long,” Ben said.
“Shake?”
“He didn’t call you Benny the whole time, did he?”
“Yeah, he did. Sometimes Benny boy.”
Joan tutted. “Mother, Shake, Amber. They’re an odd bunch, Ben. Oh, it’s lovely to have you back. This place isn’t the same without you.” She wandered to the door. “Light off?”
“Not just yet, thanks.”
“It’s very late.”
“I know. Thanks, Joan.”
She gave him a big smile and left. Ben pulled out his phone. Joan had managed to locate it after a prolonged search. She kept repeating she had put it somewhere safe, which was the problem evidently. Ben opened the image of himself and Nicole, sitting on her bed with their heads together. Looking happy. She was so pretty. The photo that he had managed to send himself from the burner phone. Would they check? Mother or Shake? Too bad if they did.
Ben might give it a few days.
To be continued…
Amber, Ben and the gang will return in Storm Damage October 2021.