“Yes, you’re right,” I say getting up, “you stay here with Stacey, Emily, okay?”
“Yes, okay Dad.”
“Come on Josh, you can show me where the food is,” I tell him as I go back around the table to where he is still standing, giving Catherine’s arm a squeeze when I pass her.
Josh and I make our way over to the food, I know full well where it is, but I need to speak to him without Emily around.
“What about you; have you had any contact with your unit?” I ask him, anxious about his reply.
“No, nothing, I was surprised when they dropped me and Alice here with everyone else, I thought we would be back on duty by now.”
“Yes, I thought about that when I was gone and was half expecting it. I was relieved to see you when I got back. I think the best thing to do is say nothing, let them come to you,” I tell him, but have a feeling deep down that it won’t be that simple.
“Dad, I stayed with Emily while you were gone but I’m going to find out what is going on now and report in. I’ve got to get back to my unit or wherever I’m needed.” He tells me with conviction and I’m proud of him for it, especially after his ordeal in the Tower of London.
After thinking for a moment, I give him a proposal. “I hear what you are saying, Josh, and I’m proud that you want to do your duty and get back into the fight. I would’ve been exactly the same at your age, but will you hold off until I’ve seen the Colonel again and we know what exactly he wants, what we are dealing with?”
“Okay, I’ll agree to that for now, Dad, but I am going back to my unit, sooner or later,” he says after a short deliberation.
“I know you are, Champ.”
“Stop calling me that, Dad,” he tells me, looking around to see if anyone heard it, slightly embarrassed.
“Sorry son, I don’t do it on purpose,” I say grinning. “Have you spoken to your Mum? we spoke, and I told her I’d get you to call her?” I ask as we start walking again towards the queue for the food.
“Yes, about twenty minutes ago, she was very upset,” Josh tells me.
“I expect she is; she will be feeling pretty helpless stranded over there, with what’s happened.”
“Well she shouldn’t even be there; she should be with her daughter,” Josh says sternly.
“You’re right of course, but she couldn’t have known this was going to happen.” I try to defend her for some reason.
“Let’s not talk about it, Dad,” Josh says, probably for the best.
Josh has not forgiven Jessica for leaving and only talks to her through gritted teeth. We have talked about it in the past; on the odd occasion, we have both had a few drinks together when Emily has spent the night with a school friend, or something. One Saturday, not so long ago, Emily had gone to a friend’s birthday pyjama party and was having a sleepover, and Josh was home, so we took the chance to go and watch the football at the pub. The game went into extra time and by the end, we were both more than a bit tipsy but we still thought it was a good idea to have a few more ‘celebratory’ drinks after. By the time we walked home we had both had too much to drink, and on the walk home, Josh got quite emotional, as you do—and his feelings about his Mum came to the surface. He was angry at his Mum, not for leaving me, as he could understand that as I was away a lot on duty; these things happen. And it wasn’t because she had moved away from him either, it was because of what she had done to Emily. He couldn’t understand how his mother could leave her daughter, especially as Emily was so young. He saw first-hand the effect it had—and still does have—on her and he was finding it hard to forgive her for that, and who could blame him?
The queue for the food isn’t too bad and we are soon walking back to our table, me with a plate piled high with bacon, sausage, toast and all the trimmings in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Josh didn’t come away empty-handed either and is eating a bacon sandwich as we walk.
When we get back to the table, I eat my breakfast, which goes down a treat. I debate with myself, going over different possibilities and I listen to the others talking; all the chat revolves around what is going to happen next. Lindsay talks about getting to Oxford again and it sounds like Stan has decided to try and get to some family he has in Bristol.
Stacey is very quiet, and I wonder what I should do with her. Should I get her to her grandparents or keep her with us? I suppose the decision is hers really; she is old enough to decide, but I don’t even know what is in store for us?
Dan sounds like he has decided to stay and help out any way he can. He hasn’t any family to speak of and knowing him, he would have decided that anyway, family or not.
Catherine hasn’t said anything about what she might do; she could go to her mother’s; she might be waiting to see what happens with the Colonel before she decides.
As for me, I’m going to do whatever is best for Emily, no matter what the Colonel says and what pressure he applies, I’ve just got to try and decide what that is.
Are we safest here behind the firepower and defences at Heathrow, or do I get Emily out of London and as far away as possible? If this virus spreads out of the city, will any of the
