FIFTY-SIX
Penn tried to keep his foot from pushing down on the accelerator pedal. The last thing he wanted was a speeding ticket and the delay of being pulled over.
The text had said that Jasper had burned himself on the oven. He’d tried to call but had eventually gone through to voicemail. He’d sent a short message saying he was on his way.
He tried to fight down the guilt. Had he caused this? Had he somehow willed this to happen to ensure Jasper’s continued dependency on him? The feelings running through him were old friends: fear for his brother’s safety and well-being, the state of alertness to be ready and available for anything Jasper needed. Except he hadn’t felt this way in quite a while. He’d enjoyed the respite, the peace from the constant fight-or-flight state of being. He’d taken it for granted, he’d got used to it, he had relaxed, and now the old feelings were back. His stomach was in knots, his mind was racing with thoughts of something bad happening to his brother. He hadn’t taken the time to enjoy the freedom of Jasper’s increased independence and now he was right back in it.
They were not feelings he’d missed, he thought as he dumped the car in front of the house.
He rushed in and headed straight through to the kitchen.
He stopped dead.
Lynne was sitting at the kitchen table beside his brother, who had a bandaged hand.
Just for one second, his brother’s injury was forgotten as his lungs forgot to breathe. He hadn’t seen her for over two months and his heart suddenly felt every one of those moments.
He pulled himself together. His brother was injured.
‘Lynne, what are you doing here?’ he asked, moving towards Jasper, who was smiling apologetically.
‘Second contact,’ Jasper said.
Penn had forgotten. It was his own instruction that if he hurt himself in any way, he was to try next door or call Lynne, who he had known for years.
Penn nodded towards the wall that separated them from the neighbours.
‘Bingo night,’ Jasper said.
‘I don’t mind,’ Lynne said. ‘It’s not like I was doing anything.’
Penn so wanted to read something into that, but their last meeting hadn’t ended well when Stacey had turned up and disturbed their first real date.
‘Does he need the hospital?’ Penn asked.
Lynne stood. ‘No, I don’t think it’s a hospital visit this time.’
Penn wanted her to sit back down. He wasn’t ready for her to leave.
‘Take a look while I put the kettle on.’
Ah, she was staying at least long enough to have a cuppa. He relaxed.
‘Okay, buddy.’
He took Jasper’s hand and began to gently unwrap the bandage.
‘Where’s it hurt, bud?’ he asked.
Jasper pointed to the skin on Penn’s hand that stretched between the thumb and the forefinger.
Lynne turned and leaned against the cooker with her arms folded.
Penn continued to unwrap the bandage until he reached the dressing that had been expertly applied.
‘I’m gonna just take a quick look,’ he said, touching around the area. ‘I’ll be as gentle as I can be.’
Jasper looked unconcerned.