Second to Cry Page 6

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Why don’t you come with me and Meegan to the game tomorrow? You know how much she loves them.’

  ‘The thought of her growing up wanting to be a footballer scares me,’ Isla admitted.

  ‘She can still do beauty pageants to keep you happy,’ Aiden teased. ‘And pageants are big business here. Think how much fun you’ll have when you can put Meegan in for those!’

  Isla managed a smile at this.

  ‘So will you come to the game?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Earlier you were moaning that I don’t take you out enough.’

  ‘A high school football game wasn’t what I had in mind!’ Isla objected but her voice was warm.

  ‘It’s better than nothing,’ Aiden laughed.

  ‘I suppose.’

  ‘And I will order you Vogue,’ Aiden told her as she nestled into the nook between his arm and chest. ‘I’d hate to deprive you of all the many fascinating things occurring in the world of fashion.’

  ‘Don’t tease,’ Isla told him. ‘One day you’ll have two women in this house demanding the finest couture.’

  ‘I didn’t know they made designer football helmets,’ Aiden teased.

  *

  Avalon was always at its most lively whenever there was a local high school football game. It didn’t matter how significant the game was, everyone would always turn up, wearing the team colours to show their support.

  As Aiden parked up near the football field, the revelry was already in full swing as people all around were singing merrily. The air was electric with excitement and it was easy to see the appeal of attending the games.

  ‘Football! Football!’ Meegan chanted from her car seat, sensing where they were.

  ‘Yes, sweetheart, we are at the football game.’ Isla turned around and smiled her. ‘I swear she gets more and more excited each time we come here.’

  ‘Finger!’ Meegan’s chant quickly changed when she spotted someone with a foam finger walk by the car.

  ‘Finger!’ she demanded again.

  ‘What do you say?’ Aiden turned to address his daughter.

  ‘Finger!’

  ‘No.’

  Meegan scrunched her little face up in frustration as she tried to remember what she was supposed to say.

  ‘What’s the magic word?’ Aiden prompted again.

  ‘Please!’ Meegan exclaimed gleefully, proud that she had remembered.

  ‘Okay, good girl, we’ll go get you a foam finger.’

  Aiden carried Meegan into the stadium as Isla went to purchase yet another foam finger. They had tried making Meegan take one of her existing foam fingers, but it seemed that part of the draw of them was the fact that they were newly purchased at the game. It seemed that each finger represented a different game and that was what Meegan liked.

  It was already busy in the bleachers and Aiden had to sit quite far up to secure a seat. He spotted a few familiar faces around which he found comforting. Not so long ago everyone in Avalon had been a stranger and, whilst he was far from popular, he no longer felt quite so alienated.

  A hand waved in his direction from close to the field and Aiden looked down to see Edmond and his brood settling down to watch the game, each of them dressed up and already well equipped with snacks.

  Aiden waved back, as did Meegan.

  Isla soon joined them with the foam finger and some popcorn, leaving Meegan unsure which she wanted first. She looked at her mother with frightened confusion when she offered her both the finger and the popcorn at once.

  ‘Too much choice?’ Isla laughed. ‘Why don’t you eat your popcorn first and then you can play with the finger?’

  ‘Finger!’ Meegan decided.

  ‘Fine,’ Isla handed it over. ‘She can be a stubborn little madam,’ she leant over and whispered to Aiden.

  ‘I wonder where she gets that from?’ he smiled.

  The cheerleaders came out and commenced their routine, which meant that the game would soon start.

  ‘Meegan, what do you think of the cheerleaders?’ Isla asked her daughter. ‘Don’t they look pretty in their outfits? Isn’t their dancing fancy?’

  Meegan was uninterested in the cheerleaders, preferring to focus on consuming as much of the popcorn as she could before the start of the game.

  ‘Nice try,’ Aiden joked. ‘I know you’d rather she wanted to be a cheerleader than a football player.’

  ‘Wouldn’t you?’

  ‘No,’ Aiden replied immediately. ‘I know what guys do to cheerleaders. At least as a football player she’d be safe from all that!’

  ‘You’re a creep, you know that?’ Isla told him but she was smiling as she said it.

  The announcer told the excited crowd that the game would begin imminently and a Mexican wave began to move back and forth amongst the stands.

  Meegan waved her foam finger proudly, knocking what remained of the popcorn on to the floor.

  ‘Be careful!’ Isla cried.

  ‘She’s just having fun.’ Aiden wanted Isla to relax, to enter in to the spirit of the game as he and Meegan did.

  The game started and though not particularly dramatic, it was still enjoyable to watch. Isla, however, was far less enthused than her husband and daughter. Each time a player was knocked down or tackled harshly she would flinch. For her, the cheerleading routine was always the best part of the game.

  Half time came around and without the game to distract her, Meegan suddenly realized she had no popcorn left.

  ‘Corn!’ she pleaded but Isla shook her head firmly.

  ‘No more, you should have been more careful with the popcorn I got you.’ This stern approach made Meegan begin wailing uncontrollably.

  ‘Come on, Meegs, the players don’t want to look up and see you crying, they want to see you supporting them,’ Aiden tried to console her but it did no good. Her cries intensified and she’d only stop to briefly snivel, ‘Corn.’

  ‘I’m not getting her any more,’ Isla said flatly, folding her arms across her chest.

  ‘I don’t think she will shut up if we don’t,’ Aiden had to shout to be heard over his daughter’s tantrum.

  ‘You spoil her, you know that?’

  ‘I just want a quiet life.’ Aiden sighed.

  ‘Fine! Let’s go get her some damn popcorn!’

  The family climbed down from their seat and headed towards the snack area. The air smelt of hot dogs and candy floss. It reminded Aiden of being at the fair.

  ‘Corn!’ Meegan choked out the word, her voice now hoarse from all the crying.

  ‘Only if you start being a good girl,’ Aiden told her sternly. Close enough to smell the popcorn, Meegan promptly stopped crying and did her best to be well behaved for fear of losing out on her beloved treat.

  ‘She’s going to be so fat when she’s older,’ Isla moaned.

  ‘Not if she’s playing football,’ Aiden laughed. ‘In fact, she’d need to carb-load then.’

  ‘You’re not funny.’

  It was pretty crowded down by the snack vendors as most people had left their seats to replenish their food stores during half time. As Aiden balanced Meegan on his hip, he accidently knocked into someone behind him. He turned to apologize and was surprised to see Deena Fern.

  She looked equally surprised to see him. Or did she seem more horrified? Aiden couldn’t tell.

  ‘Mrs Fern!’ Aiden greeted her, trying to sound friendly and casual. ‘Sorry if I knocked into you.’

  Deena smiled thinly at him. She was wearing skin-tight jeans and a red cashmere sweater which was set off by her red lipstick. Her blonde hair was held up in a tight bun, showing off her high, defined cheekbones.

  Jude and Davis were each holding one of her hands and wearing the football team’s jersey. Meegan looked down at them and saw the jerseys and her eyes widened covetously.

  ‘It’s just very busy here,’ Aiden explained, feeling unnerved by Deena’s steely silence.

  ‘Do
n’t worry about it,’ she said, her tone abrupt. Aiden was about to make his excuses and back away when Isla joined him with a fresh batch of popcorn and immediately shot Deena a quizzical glance.

  ‘Honey, this is Deena Fern.’ Aiden knew it was best to make introductions else face an interrogation from his wife when they returned to their seats.

  ‘Deena, this is my wife, Isla.’

  ‘Nice to meet you,’ Isla said politely. Deena gave a thin, unconvincing smile in response.

  ‘Popcorn!’ Davis cried out suddenly when he noticed Meegan delving into her new pot. She briefly paused to glance down at him and stick her tongue out. He returned the gesture.

  ‘Yes, we’ll get your popcorn now,’ Deena told her son.

  ‘Mom, can I get a hotdog?’ Jude asked, glancing warily at Aiden.

  ‘Yes, we’ll get them now.’ Grasping her sons’ hands, she began to pull them towards the hot dog stand and away from Aiden. Though she turned briefly, as though forgetting something.

  ‘Enjoy your evening, Mr Connelly,’ she told Aiden, her harsh exterior remaining, her voice cold as though she’d only said it to be polite.

  ‘Yes, you too, Mrs Fern.’

  The glamorous figure of Deena Fern was absorbed by the crowd and quickly gone from sight.

  Isla waited until they were seated once more to ask her barrage of questions.

  ‘Who was that?’ she asked before she’d barely been seated for a second.

  ‘Deena Fern.’

  ‘And she is?’

  ‘A wife of a client.’ Aiden explained.

  ‘Oh,’ Isla nodded. Then, after a moment, ‘Oh, the paternity case?’ Aiden nodded, not wanting to discuss the case in such a crowded area where anyone could be listening in.

  ‘Keep your voice down,’ he warned his wife.

  ‘She’s very glamorous.’ Isla noted.

  ‘I guess.’ Aiden answered casually.

  ‘She’s very beautiful. Do you think she’s beautiful?’

  ‘I think she looks too artificial,’ Aiden told her honestly.

  ‘She’s definitely had a lot of work done,’ Isla agreed. ‘I thought she was pretty rude to you.’

  ‘Wouldn’t you be, given the circumstances?’

  ‘I suppose so.’

  The announcer told the fans that the game was about to resume and Meegan, unable to control her excitement, stood up on her father’s lap and accidently scattered her new batch of popcorn on to the floor.

  She stared down at the now lost kernels with a look of heart-breaking disappointment. Aiden braced himself for another tantrum but, luckily, the players came running on to the field which distracted her.

  ‘Football!’ she cooed excitedly.

  ‘I really need to take her to a ballet class,’ Isla sighed.

  The game concluded with a win for the home team and the fans dispersed, returning to their homes to continue with their celebrations.

  Win or lose, Meegan always left the game exhausted. She was fast asleep on Aiden’s shoulder as they walked out to the car.

  ‘If only they had games every day, she’d sleep like a rock each night,’ Isla commented, linking arms with Aiden.

  As he settled a sleeping Meegan into her car seat, Aiden spotted an impressive black SUV close by and saw the familiar figure of Deena Fern loading her sons into the car. Jude obediently got in but Davis, now tired, resisted. He kicked and screamed at his mother, ignoring her demands for him to stop.

  Isla also looked over, the fracas catching her attention.

  Deena Fern maintained her dignity and, after trying to reason with Davis, simply picked him up and placed him in his car seat. He fought against her the whole time, lashing out with his little arms, even biting her at one point.

  Even when the car door was slammed shut, you could still hear Davis’ high-pitched screams of rage. It was a painful scene to watch unfold.

  ‘Poor woman,’ Isla said as Aiden climbed into the driver’s seat beside her. ‘I can’t imagine how tough it would be to be a single mother, especially to two young ones.’

  Aiden had to admit that he also pitied Deena Fern. Whilst she had wealth and beauty, it was sad to see her so alone. Yet she’d risk the outbursts and the struggles with her sons rather than deny them the opportunity to see the game.

  It didn’t seem fair that Samuel Fern had turned on her quite as maliciously as he had, especially when he had nothing to go on other than the fact that his two sons didn’t look similar.

  ‘I’m grateful I have you,’ Isla yawned.

  ‘You are?’

  ‘Course I am!’

  ‘Well you don’t seem it sometimes. When you’re moaning about what a hell-hole this place is,’ Aiden said as he drove out of the parking lot. ‘Is it really that bad?’ he asked her. ‘Have we not just had an amazing night out together as a family?’

  ‘Okay, okay,’ Isla raised her hands in defeat. ‘Tonight has been nice. Avalon can be, at times, not all the time, but sometimes, okay.’

  ‘Okay?’

  ‘Yes, it can be okay. That’s all I can stretch to right now.’

  ‘Can I have that in writing? Isla Connelly thinks Avalon is okay. Then the next time you have a fashion-related breakdown I can show it to you!’ Aiden joked.

  ‘Do you ever stop thinking like a lawyer?’ Isla said, playfully punching him in the arm. ‘Thank you for convincing me to come tonight,’ she told her husband sincerely.

  ‘I’m glad you had fun,’ Aiden smiled.

  *

  ‘Good game last night, wasn’t it?’ Edmond asked from across the room at his desk.

  ‘Yeah, it was a decent win,’ Aiden agreed.

  Edmond approved of his young colleague’s developing enthusiasm for the local team and did his best to nurture his interest.

  ‘They’ve had a good season so far.’

  ‘Yeah, definitely.’ Aiden nodded.

  ‘I’ve always enjoyed high school football,’ Edmond continued. ‘Not that I’ve ever played myself.’ He chuckled to himself at this.

  ‘Sometimes being a spectator is just as much fun.’

  ‘Yes, yes.’

  ‘Although my wife is worried that our daughter is getting a little bit too much into football. I think she fears that she is going to grow up wanting to play on the field rather than cheer at the side of it.’ Aiden admitted to Edmond.

  ‘It’s not ladylike to play ball,’ the older man told him gravely. ‘Just keep her enjoyment of the sport on the side lines.’

  Aiden was a bit bemused by Edmond’s response. But then it was very forward thinking to let women play football and Avalon wasn’t exactly modern in its mind set. A horrible thought suddenly occurred to Aiden which pinched at his brain like a mean-spirited bug – what if Avalon would actually stifle Meegan rather than enhance her life as he’d hoped? What if she grew up with dreams of playing football but due to social pressures only ever cheered the team on when really she dreamt of joining them? Had he set his daughter up for a lifetime of disappointment?

  He told himself he was being overly dramatic. Meegan was still very young, there was no telling what she wanted to do with her life and by the time she did know, Avalon may well have caught up with the modern world or they may not even be in Avalon. Life, Aiden knew too well, was anything but predictable.

  ‘It’s good that she enjoys the game though,’ Edmond added, worried by Aiden’s prolonged silence. ‘A bit of team spirit never hurt anyone.’

  ‘Exactly.’ Aiden smiled, though he was still lost in his own concerns.

  ‘What are your plans for today?’ Edmond asked, deciding it best to change the subject of their conversation.

  ‘Today? I’m catching up on some paperwork so will just be in the office.’

  ‘Good, good.’ Edmond nodded. ‘Paperwork is a pain but important. Glad you’re staying on top of it all.’

  ‘What about you?’

  ‘I’m due in court this afternoon,’ Edmond sighed. ‘Another DUI for on
e of the Lambeth boys.’

  ‘You don’t think it will go well for him?’

  ‘Not this time, no.’ Edmond shook his head sadly. ‘He was extremely careless after a night out and his passenger broke both hips. They will make an example of him, I reckon. I just won’t savour being there when his family self-implodes, as they always do.’

  ‘Sounds like a tough afternoon,’ Aiden sympathized.

  ‘But on the bright side, tomorrow is Friday,’ Edmond grinned. ‘And after Friday comes the weekend and I severely need to work on my handicap.’

  Aiden almost missed the golf reference, but caught it just as he was about to question what Edmond meant.

  ‘You should really think about joining me,’ Edmond added. He was always trying to get Aiden to join him on the golf course.

  ‘I’m not much of a golfer.’

  ‘But it’s a great networking opportunity.’

  ‘I will come at some point,’ Aiden conceded and, satisfied with his answer, Edmond checked his watch and began to gather together his belongings.

  ‘I’d best be off,’ he told his colleague. ‘Whilst the Lambeths don’t adhere to driving laws, they are sticklers for timekeeping!’

  ‘Good luck.’

  ‘I’ll need it!’ Edmond waved as he hurried out the door.

  Alone in the office, Aiden endeavoured to plough through his mounting pile of paperwork. With Edmond gone, he should be able to power through it relatively quickly.

  Barely a half hour had passed when Betty’s voice came crackling into the office through the intercom.

  ‘Mr Connelly?’

  Aiden groaned to himself. He didn’t need a coffee; he just needed some peace to get his work done. Betty was always well intentioned though, so he tried to quell his annoyance at being disturbed.

  ‘Yes, Betty?’

  ‘I’m sorry to disturb you, but there is a lady here to see you.’

  A lady? Aiden assumed it was Isla, but wouldn’t Betty just say it was his wife? Betty could be odd at the best of times.

  ‘Send her in.’

  Moments later and the door to the office opened. Aiden looked up, expecting to see his wife either dropping something off or wanting some money, and was shocked to see the statuesque figure of Deena Fern standing in the doorway.