Part 20 (1/2)

Ash knocked on Tiana's door, still surprised that she'd visited him in hospital, and even more at the invitation to come see Angelo. He didn't know what to make of that, because she usually tried her best to keep him away from their son.

He knocked again, hoping she hadn't changed her mind-like all the other times, leaving him banging on the door like an idiot while she was someplace else. Christ! Please, someone-anyone, answer the f.u.c.king door. He started pounding it harder, ignoring Juliet as she told him to be patient. He'd been far too patient already, not something he was willing to do anymore. He exhaled when he heard approaching footsteps. The lock sc.r.a.ped open, then the door flung inwards to reveal Angelo.

Smiling wide, Ash bobbed down and held open his arms. ”Kia Ora, Son,” he said, using the Mori greeting for h.e.l.lo.

”Dad!” Angelo bowled into him, almost knocking him into Juliet.

Ash righted himself then picked up Angelo, giving him a little shake he was so happy. His gaze moved down the pa.s.sage as Tiana appeared. She leaned against the wall, watching them, her expression unreadable. Feeling self-conscious, Ash put Angelo down. It felt almost like she was waiting for him to make a mistake, so she could have an excuse for him not to see Angelo again. Maybe that was why she'd invited him. No, he needed to stop being paranoid and enjoy the visit. He was here to play with Angelo, not to lose his cool over Tiana.

Angelo grabbed his hand. ”Come see my room, Dad.”

Ash nodded a h.e.l.lo at Tiana as he was tugged into Angelo's bedroom. Like SpongeBob, the walls were yellow with posters of the characters from the program along with a few pictures of teenage girls tacked up on the wall.

Ash pointed at the pictures. ”Last time I saw you, you hated girls.”

”He loves Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato,” Tiana said.

Ash stared at her blankly, because he had no idea who they were.

”They're actresses as well as singers,” she added.

”I love Selena the best,” Angelo said, grinning wide, and reminding Ash of how Dante used to look at the same age, his brother's interest in girls also starting early. G.o.d, his li'l boy was growing up far too fast. Although Angelo's room was a picture of innocence now, Ash knew within a few years it would look a lot different. And that scared him. He wished he could freeze this moment in time before everything changed, and before he lost his sweet little boy completely.

Angelo picked up a rugby ball and threw it at Ash, cutting off his line of thought.

”No throwing b.a.l.l.s in the house, Angelo,” Tiana said.

Ash indicated with his head for Angelo to follow him. He took off past Tiana and Juliet, heading through the house with Angelo racing after him. Ash cut through the sunroom, jumped down the back stairs and ran across the backyard, yelling at Angelo to catch him. He dodged his son easily, laughing as Angelo stopped and stomped his foot on the ground. Ash held the ball out, then whipped it back when Angelo went to take it. Grinning, he held it out again, this time letting Angelo have it before his son threw a major tantrum. Angelo ran off with the ball, heading for the long clothesline.

”You're too fast for me, son,” Ash said, pretending he couldn't catch him.

”Slow coach, slow coach-” Angelo squealed as Ash ran at him again. ”No!”

Ash grabbed him and lifted him over his shoulder, spinning him in a circle. Angelo squealed louder, the ball flying out of his hands. Ash put him down, watching as Angelo picked up the ball and flung himself under the clothesline, like he was making a try.

Tiana called out, asking if he wanted a drink. Ash turned and shaded his eyes with a hand, the sunlight coming over the rooftop too bright. ”Coffee. Make sure it's-”

”Black, I know. You two play a bit longer, then come inside for food.”

Transfixed by the moment, Ash watched her disappear inside the house. Her standing there like that, calling out to him while he played with their son ... it hurt. He missed this, wanted to do it every day, but he never got what he wanted, just had to live. Christ, when did he give up?

Angelo ran at him, ploughing into his knees. Taken by surprise, Ash fell down with Angelo landing on top of him. Before Angelo could scamper away, he grabbed his son and gave him a hug. Angelo wiggled about, shouting at him to let go; probably thinking it was all part of the game. Ash released him and sat up, watching as his son ran off with the ball again, happy that the boy was so carefree, the opposite of what he'd been like at nine. He'd had to contend with his father's violent temper, something that had eventually ruined his parents' marriage.

Tiana called out for them to come inside. Ash got to his feet and wiped the gra.s.s off his jeans, then followed Angelo into the house. They entered the lounge, where Juliet and Tiana were sitting with biscuits and hot drinks in hand. Angelo grabbed a handful of biscuits off the coffee table then turned on the TV, getting a scolding from Tiana. He ignored her and sat down, flicking through the channels until he found a cartoon he liked.

Tiana shook her head, then focused on Ash. ”Juliet told me 'bout that creature escaping.”

Ash picked up his coffee, wis.h.i.+ng she didn't have to bring his stepfather up.

”Juliet also tells me you're goin' back home. That's not a good idea, that's the second place he'd go to.” She left the first place unsaid, Ash's childhood home having been sold a long time ago.

”I'll be fine,” Ash said.

”No, it's not safe. Please be sensible.”

”Like Beth said, I'm not a kid anymore; and I can take Chaz on-that's if he shows. And anyway, the cops said they would be patrolling my street.” Which was unfortunate since it was going to make business d.a.m.n hard. He just hoped they weren't there all of the time.

Tiana's face darkened. ”You should report Beth for hitting you.”

”Eh?” He wondered how she knew about that, because he'd only told... He glanced at Juliet, who looked down, her expression guilty, which meant that Tiana probably also knew about Dante and Beth. b.l.o.o.d.y great!

He put his mug on the table and grabbed a biscuit. ”It wuz only one slap,” he mumbled, before stuffing it into his mouth.

”You still can't let her get away with it. That's domestic violence.”

”Talk about an overreaction.” He went silent, clicking onto why she'd gotten upset. Her mother used to slap her, which had stopped Tiana from even smacking Angelo's hand. ”She didn't hit me that hard,” he finally added, hoping it would satisfy her.

”You're too forgiving,” Tiana said.

He snorted. ”Me forgiving? You must be thinking of your other ex.”

Tiana's face darkened. ”You d.a.m.n well know I've only been with you.”

”How would I know, people tell me s.h.i.+...” He glanced over at Angelo, ”stuff all the time that isn't true.”

”I don't lie.”

Oh, yes, you do, like all the times you said I could visit Angelo, then reneged. ”Look, I didn't come here to argue. And how would I know what you do now? It's not like I'm part of your life anymore, I'm barely part of Angelo's, which you need to fix, cos I'm not putting up with it anymore.”

”I'm letting you see him now.”

”Letting me?” Ash shook his head, thinking it was b.l.o.o.d.y rich of her. ”Well, I guess I should thank you for letting me see my own son.”

Juliet stood up. ”Angelo, you wanna play with me outside?”

”Nah, Ben 10's on.”

”I'll give you five bucks if you can catch me.” Juliet took off through the kitchen.

Angelo jumped up and ran after her, shouting for her to slow down.

Ash watched them as they left, too angry to look at Tiana.

”I'm sorry, Ash,” she said. ”Everything's coming out wrong. You just wind me up.”

”Me?” He turned back to her. ”What did I do?”