What Goes Around...

Part Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Freya was aware of his eyes watching her from his place, sitting at the table as she made a pot of tea. Her initial surprise at finding a teapot in the first place dissipated once she realised her brother was living there, he and her parents were tea addicts. Pouring him a mug, she slid it across the table, then lowered herself opposite him. All the while silence almost echoed around the room.  

Mitchell Cooper took it and drank for a moment, grimacing at the heat, she imagined he'd burned his tongue and any other time she'd have laughed.

                "So you think I should go visit the old bastard?"

Freya had to ponder that for a moment, her fingers toying with her own mug, "I have no idea what has led to you not seeing him for three years, that's not my business. But if you want my opinion, you'll never have the chance to either work it out, or say your bit. Do you want that? To have your say."

He shrugged, "I've put him out of my mind for so long."

                "But if he does die, you will still grieve. He's the only father you'll ever have...and you may regret something that you are unable to change again."

He hung his head as he nodded, "I know."

Coop had no idea how to deal with this, he knew that she was right, he had one chance left. If his father died he'd not have the chance to have his say, to tell him how much he hurt him by snubbing him at his most difficult time. But to discuss that, he had to reopen all his old wounds. But what was the alternative? Ignoring it, leaving it all buried? Superficially that seemed so easy, to carry on, but he also knew that tonight had changed things. Milo, Michelle...they were both back in his consciousness, and he wasn't sure he could dispel them again.

His head hurt, and when he looked up, Freya was watching him.

                "Can I help?"

He shrugged, filled with despair.

                "Why don't you head to your parents? If you get there and aren't up to it, can't face seeing them, then  you can come home. At least you're there if you need to be."

Coop pondered that for a moment as he watched her, "I haven't been there for three years..."

She reached out and laid a hand over his, "it's okay to be scared. We all are at some point."

He tried to laugh at that, to brush away his fear, but she was right, he WAS scared. Not of his Dad, he'd dealt with his anger and his disappointment for years, but of how confronting him would make him feel. Then there was the thought of losing his father, whilst they hadn't spoken for so long, he still KNEW where he was, if he wanted to speak to him he could. If he died, Freya was right, he'd never have another chance.

                "Where do you parents live?"

When he looked up again he saw that she had her phone opened in front of her ready to search for a flight. "St John's, in Newfoundland. The hardest place to get to at short notice."

She rolled her eyes sliding her finger over the screen. It was a few moments before she gave an "ahhh" of agreement. "You're right. But we can get a flight to Toronto in just over an hour.... then with a connection we'll get there by midday."

                "We?" His head shot up at that.

She nodded, "you're hardly in a state to go alone, I'll come, hold your hand if you need it."