Ash went home by a different route that afternoon. She went home by the longer route, keeping to open streets and more populated areas. A few people saw her and gawped at the injuries. She knew she’d be the topic of conversation in homes, shops and the pubs for a while to come.
The next day, Justin beckoned her over as she was doing the cleaning up. She looked up at him and wondered what he wanted.
The rumours that he was ‘into little boys’ was never far from her mind and she didn’t want to place herself in a situation where she may become victim to groping hands. Not least because she knew if he thought she was a girl, she’d no longer have a job.
“’Sup?” she asked, lifting her chin in response to his beckoning.
“I want to ask you something.”
“So ask,” she said.
“Ash, you’ve changed. In the last couple of days, you’ve become morose and distant. I don’t like it, I’m worried about you, about your state of mind.”
“What do you mean?” her voice softened at his show of concern and she stepped closer to his chair.
“Look, we’re friends. There’s nothing you can tell me that would change that,” he said. “Nothing, do you get me?”
Ash had reverted to her previous ‘trust no one and you’ll not get hurt’ state of being and Justin had noticed.
Ash rubbed the back of her neck, her hair felt longer than it had when she started working for Justin and she was very aware that if it got too long, she’d start to actually look like a girl.
“Yeah, I’ve got you. I understand and I’m sorry,” she said in a quiet voice.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. I suppose you’re off school for this week because of your… bruises?”
“No, I’m off school for the week because I look like I’ve taken a beating and my mum doesn’t want anyone to think it was her or dad that gave it to me.”
“There’s the little smart-mouth I’ve come to know!” Justin said and laughed.
Ash couldn’t help smiling but she winced as pain shot through her jaw. The bruising hadn’t yet fully come out and until it did, it would be sore and tender. Once all the bruise had emerged, her body could start the healing process proper.
After she’d finished cleaning the kitchen, she brought Justin a cup of tea and she sat with him, watching daytime TV.
“So what do you need?” Justin asked.
Ash looked at him and he was startled at her cold, detached stare.
“What do you mean, what do I need?” she asked.
“Whatever it is, money, information, anything. If you want something and I can possibly help, it’s yours.”
“I can’t involve you.”
“I won’t ask any questions. Just tell me what you need and I’ll do whatever I can to get it for you or to you.”
“You used to be someone, didn’t you, Justin?”
All humour gone, he matched her cold, detached stare. “Yeah, kid, I used to be someone and I still have a few favours I can call in,” he said. “So, last chance to accept my offer. I won’t make it again, you’ll have to ask for any help and then that will be you asking a favour from me. And favours have to be repaid, you know that kid?”
“I know it.”
“This way, I offered and you accept, which means you don’t owe me a thing.”
Ash studied Justin and thought about what he’d said. She nodded once. “OK. If I think you can help, I’ll let you know.”
“Not quite. Even if you don’t think I can help, you need to tell me.”
Ash’s face tensed as she thought. Her lips pressed hard against each other and Justin thought she looked like a little mouse.
“OK. When I have an idea of what I’m going to do, I’ll tell you.”
“Everything?”
“I just said so, didn’t I?” she said and stood up, took his cup from him even though he’d not finished. “God, you’re so demanding!”
“Don’t call me ‘God’,” Justin said.
“I won’t, don’t worry, old man.”
“Cheeky little bleeder!” he shouted as she disappeared into the kitchen but he smiled as he heard her giggle. That laugh had been a long-time gone and it looked like it was back.
The door unlocked and Robin came in. He put his keys in his pocket and said, “Hi,” to Ash.
“Tea?” Ash said back and he said, “No, I’ve got a can.”
“Where’s Justin?” Robin said after taking a look in the living room.
“Where do you think he is?”
“I’d have thought he’d be in there, as usual, but he’s not.”
Ash followed Robin into the living room and they looked around. Robin went around the back of the chair.
“What are you doing?” Justin said from the doorway to the front room.
“Looking for you,” Robin said. “Where have you been?”
“Where have I been? I’ll tell you where I haven’t been, you dozy bleeder. I haven’t been on the park, playing football.” Justin held out his arm in a request for Robin to help him to his chair.
In one hand he had a bulky envelope.
Justin sat for a few moments, trying to regain his breath. The exertion had exhausted him.
“I could have fetched that for you, you only had to wait for me to get here,” Robin said.
Justin shook his head. “You didn’t know where it was and I’m not quite ready to tell you where it was, either.”
Ash watched the two quarrelling and smiled as much as she could without causing herself pain.
“When did you two get married?” she asked.
Justin and Robin looked at her and they laughed.
“Yeah, we do argue like an old married couple sometimes,” Justin said.
“Sometimes?” Ash asked.
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