Barefoot (23 page)

They both turned to her in shock.

‘Just stop it.’ She began to sob. ‘Cal didn’t stay over, OK? Whatever you want to believe.  But now I wish he had done. Because at least he actually cares about me. Which neither of you seem to anymore.’

She fled from the kitchen, upstairs to her room and locked the door, shaking. The idea she wouldn’t be allowed to see Cal again terrified her. She needed to talk to him at once and tell him what had happened. He was the only person in her life who really understood.

Toni reached for her phone, then realised with horror it was still in her schoolbag in the kitchen. She unlocked the door and opened it a crack to listen, trying to work out if she could still hear the murmur of voices downstairs.

Silence.

Maybe her father had left. She crept down the stairs slowly and quietly, listening all the time. She simply had to get her phone to contact Cal and warn him her parents knew. She stepped into a deserted kitchen and, with a sigh of relief, she saw her bag open on the kitchen table
.

Did I leave it there?

She couldn’t remember in all the drama. No, she was certain she hadn’t.

‘Are you looking for this?’

Toni spun round and Arabella was standing there with Toni’s phone in her hand.

‘You went in my bag. Behind my back.’

‘That’s rich coming from you.’ Arabella slipped the phone into her pocket. ‘We don’t want you warning your boyfriend, do we?’

‘Where’s Dad?’ Toni looked round helplessly.

‘He’s crawled away again, so don’t expect any help from him.’ She turned and headed for the door. ‘Get in the car right now.’

It dawned on Toni what was happening and she shook her head. ‘No! We’re not going over to Poplar Farm.’

‘Get in that car now or you’ll regret it.’ The anger and venom in her mother’s voice terrified Toni. She edged past her to the door, doing as she was told.

Toni sat in the four by four with her mind racing, imagining the humiliation. As they got nearer to the farm, she began to sweat and her heart pounded with anxiety.

It was nearly six when they arrived. The café and shop were closed, the gravel car park empty. Toni saw Cal at once, speeding away over the field on a quad bike towards some cattle.

Debs was bent over with a dustpan and brush in the doorway to the café and looked up as Arabella jumped down from the 4 x 4.   ‘I’m sorry. We’re closed now.’

‘That’s fine. I have no intention of buying anything.’ Arabella slammed the door.

Debs stood up, puzzled, then she recognised Toni. ‘I don’t think it’s such a good idea you being here. Cal’s busy right now.’

‘This isn’t a social call,’ Arabella snapped. ‘Is your husband around?’

Debs put the dustpan and brush down and looked from Toni to her mother, clearly worried. ‘He’s pretty busy right now. Is there something I can help with?’

Arabella wanted her showdown. ‘I need you both to hear what I have to say.’

Debs gave in.  ‘Well, in that case you may have to wait for a few minutes while I find him,’ she said politely, then disappeared round the side of the café.

All Toni’s attention was on the quad bike now. It had stopped while Cal was opening a five-bar gate.

Don’t come back. Don’t!

Arabella stood looking around the farmyard with contempt.

Cal was back on the quad bike.

Now it was turning.

Now it was heading back in their direction.

Toni felt sick.

Debs reappeared with Matt and he went in for the attack immediately. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’

His wife put a hand on his arm. ‘Take it easy, Matt. Let’s hear what she has to say.’

He folded his arms. ‘You’ve got five minutes. I’m a busy man.’

The quad bike was nearing the gate now. Toni could see Cal’s alarmed face.

Arabella had to speak up to be heard over the engine.

‘Where exactly was your son last night?’

Matt looked impatient. ‘How do I know? He’s nineteen, for God’s sake.’

‘And Antonia is fifteen. Too young, I’m sure you’ll agree, for them to be spending the night together.’

Debs was horrified.

‘He did
not
spend the night!’ Toni protested. At that moment the quad bike engine had died, and her words rang out.

Cal hopped off the bike and looked from Arabella to his father. ‘What’s going on?’

Matt didn’t even turn to look at him. ‘Where were you last night?’

‘Out. I got home around ten-thirty.’

Arabella snorted. ‘Oh, please. Do you really expect us to believe that?’

Debs spoke up. ‘Actually he did. I was here when he got in.’

‘If that was true, perhaps Cal would like to explain why he was still there at seven this morning?’

Cal fixed her with a steady gaze. Unapologetic. ‘I went over to offer Toni a lift to school.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

Matt suddenly took offence. ‘My son isn’t a liar. And if my wife says he came home, he came home.’

‘I told you,’ Toni said, bitterly.

Her mother wasn’t about to be intimidated. ‘Let me say this once more. And for the last time. Your son is not welcome at my yard. He is not to see my daughter again.’

‘I’ve had enough of this,’ Matt exploded. ‘Who do you think you are? Your daughter has been nothing but trouble since she first set foot here.’

Cal stepped forward. ‘Leave it, Dad.’

‘No, I won’t leave it. This is still my farm and what I say goes.’

‘
Your
farm.
Your
farm
!’
Cal exploded and Toni took a step backwards in shock. ‘It’s the
family
farm when you need my help, isn’t it? But
your
farm when you want to order people around.

Toni and Arabella had ceased to exist.

‘Hey, you guys, cool it.’ Debs turned to plead with Toni. ‘I do really think it would be better if you both went now.’

But Arabella sat down at one of the picnic tables instead, clearly enjoying watching the family drama unfold.

Matt began to stride away. ‘I’ve got work to do. I’m not listening to this.’

‘No, you never do.’ Cal grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let him go. ‘It’s alright for Sam. He’s allowed to go to college.’

‘Sam’s different.’ Matt turned to face his son again. ‘He’s got brains. He shouldn’t waste them.’

‘And I haven’t. Is that what you’re saying? So it’s OK for me to stay here on the farm and work for you.’

‘Why not? It’s good enough for me.’

‘And what if I want something different?’

‘Messing around with horses you mean?’ He spat in contempt.

‘I love horses. Can’t you understand?’ The longing in Cal’s voice was tangible.

‘And you reckon that’s going to earn you a living, do you?’

‘At least give me a chance to find out.’

‘Enough!’ Debs separated her husband and son, glaring first at one, then at the other.

‘He never listens…’ Cal began to protest ‘… never… ’

‘I said, enough!’

There was a silence.

‘Uncle Joe’s asked me to go to Canada.’  Cal’s words came tumbling out and Toni’s heart froze.

For the first time he looked directly at her, instead of his father.

‘No,’ Toni whispered.

‘I’m sorry.’ He moved towards her, but she backed away. ‘That’s what I wanted to talk about this morning. I didn’t want you to find out like this.’

Toni couldn’t take it in.

Debs obviously couldn’t either. ‘Canada.

No
, you’re not serious. Matt, tell him he can’t!’

Matt shook his head. ‘You heard your mother. You’re not going.’

‘And how exactly are you going to stop me?’

Matt looked as if he might hit his son. ‘Well, you’re not going to be able to afford a ticket, for one thing.’

‘Uncle Joe says he’ll pay for me. It’s just for three months. I can pay him back out of what I earn when I get there.’

Three months. Three whole months. Twelve weeks.

Toni couldn’t bear it.

Arabella stood up. ‘Evidently he doesn’t care that much.’

Cal looked at Toni as if the others weren’t there. ‘Don’t listen to her, Toni. Just let me explain.’

She shook her head.

You’re leaving. What is there to explain?

Debs begged him now. ‘Please Cal. Your father needs you here. We both need you. Just till the farm gets back on track.’

Cal dragged his eyes away from Toni. She could see him having an internal battle with himself.  ‘And how long is that going to take, Mum?’

She shook her head miserably. ‘I don’t know. Matt, please, tell him.’

Matt refused to give an inch. ‘He doesn’t want to be here. He’s made that clear.’

‘You do have two sons,’ Cal pointed out. ‘Golden boy could always come home from college to help out.’

‘Sam’s only got one more year of college to go.’ His mother was angry now. ‘I’m not having him leave.’

Matt looked defeated. ‘We’ll go under then. It’s going to happen anyway. It’ll just happen sooner, that’s all.’

‘I wish it could be different, I really do Mum.’ Cal obviously wanted her to understand. ‘But I can’t work with Dad. He’s never going to let me do my own thing, is he?’

‘Things can change.’

‘But they won’t, will they?’ Cal replied.

Debs turned to Toni, gathering the remnants of her pride. ‘I think it’s time you both left, don’t you?’

Cal reached across and tried to take Toni’s hand. She shrugged off his touch and followed her mother to the car.

‘There. Now you see what sort of people they are,’ Arabella said, with great satisfaction as they drove off. ‘You’ll thank me one day.’

They drove the rest of the way home in silence. When they reached the yard Arabella felt in her pocket and pulled out Toni’s mobile. ‘I suppose there’s no reason you can’t have this now.’

Toni took the phone, feeling numb. There were two texts from Cal already.

‘Just let me explain.’

‘Please.’

She deleted them both.

She’d given him a second chance because she cared about him and she thought he cared about her, too.

But he couldn’t care. Not really.