Chapter 15
Andy didn’t say anything.
“He’s right,for once.You have to let him know you’re interested.”Paddy held up a hand.“Don’t bother denying it.I can see how much the bloke means to you.”
Tom went to sit next to Andy on the sofa.“You need to make the effort.If you don’t,you’ll never know if there’s a chance between you and him.”Climbing into Andy’s lap,the little guy got right into Andy’s face.“Do it!Otherwise,you’ll always regret it.”
Andy opened his mouth,but Tom put a finger over his lips.
“Like us,Luke doesn’t care about what’s on the surface.”He kissed Andy’s scarred cheek.“Let him see what the real Andy is like.”
Andy got a lump in his throat.“Thanks,you two,”was all he could say.Fortunately they didn’t press him to say more.
****
Andy continued to stare at the piece of paper.Before he could chicken out,he picked up the phone and punched in Luke’s number.
It rang six,seven,eight times.Andy was about to hang up when,“Uh,hullo?”Luke’s voice sounded strained,weak.Andy immediately went on alert,his mouth also went dry.“Who’s there?”
“Um,Luke,it’s me.Andy.”
“Oh,uh,hi.I—”
Now he’d got his first words out,Andy found he couldn’t stop talking.“I hadn’t heard fromyou,and I got worried and Tom and Paddy told me that I ought to let you see what I was really like instead of being all quiet and—”
Luke laughed,but it sounded odd somehow.“It’s good to hear from you.Sorry,I didn’t call,but,uh—”
“What’s wrong?You don’t sound right.”
“I’m all right.”
Andy’s resolve was crumbling.Maybe he shouldn’t have called after all.Perhaps Luke was tired after working and—”You don’t sound all right.”
“Well,I…just that something happened the other night.I was coming out of a gay pub in Earl’s Court and—”
Andy found himself getting to his feet.“What happened?”
“Well,the doctors say I’ll mend.”
Oh,Christ!Andy closed his eyes.“What happened?”he asked again.
Luke let out a breath.“I was attacked.By a gang of yobs.They were probably about my age.But there were four of them and only one of me.”
“Oh,God!”
“I was too far from the pub to get to safety;they punched me,tackled me to the floor,kicked me,called me names.”
Andy was gripping the phone so tightly he thought it might break.
“They broke my arm and—”
Andy was sure Luke had started to cry.He felt helpless,angry,upset.He paced the floor,or atleast as much of it as the telephone cord would allow.
Luke sniffed.“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologise,”Andy said,trying to tamp down on his anger.If he got hold ofthe bastards he’d…
“They didn’t like it that I was wearing your jacket.I think they were soldiers,or ex-soldiers or something.They must have seen the insignias or whatever they’re called,and they didn’t like that a poofter was wearing part of a uniform.”
“Christ.”
“I’m sorry.I tried to stop them from taking it,but—”
“What?”Then Andy realised what Luke was saying.“For fuck’s sake,I’ll give you another sodding jacket.It’s you I’m bothered about.”Realising he was coming dangerously close to saying something embarrassing,but half-wanting to anyway,Andy changed the subject.“Uh,your friends.Sam and…”
“Donnie.”
“Yeah,Donnie.I take it they’re with you,I—”
“No,they’re away on a cruise.”
“What?”Andy tried to calm himself and think more rationally.“When did all this happen?”
“Friday night.”
“What?Fucking hell,Luke,that was—”Andy counted.“Four days ago.Why the hell didn’t you call me?”
“I didn’t want to bother you.”
He felt hurt,rejected.Maybe this was Luke’s way of saying that Andy wasn’t as important to him as he was to Andy.
“You still there?”Luke asked.
Andy swallowed.“Yeah.”
“I wanted to call,but…”Luke ground to a halt.
“Is there anyone with you?”Andy thought of Roger,but wished he hadn’t.
“No.The few people I called weren’t that interested.I don’t have many friends and—”
“Oh,God,Luke.You should have called me.”
“I’m sorry.”Luke sniffed.
“Look,what’s your address?I’m coming down there.”
“But,it’s more than two hundred miles.”
“I don’t give a fuck about that.”Andy flipped the piece of paper over,snatched up a pen andasked again for the address.
Luke gave it.
“Okay,if the traffic and road works aren’t too bad I should be with you in about,uh,five or six hours.”
“But Andy.”
“Don’t fucking‘but Andy’me.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry.”Andy forced himself to calm down.“You just sit tight and I’ll be with you as soon as I can make arrangements here and—”
“But your pigs.”
“Never mind about the bloody pigs.Tom and Paddy can look after them.They’ve done it before.And anyway,you’re more important.”It was only then that Andy realised what he’d said and began to get embarrassed.“Look,uh,I best start getting ready.You’ll be all right till I get there?”
“You’re so kind.”
“Crap.Look,I’d better go.You just sit tight.”
“Thanks,Andy.”
“Okay,bye.”Andy put the phone down and started swearing.At what,he wasn’t sure.Luke’s attackers,Luke for not letting him know,but mainly at himself.He knew the phones went both ways.He could have,should have,called Luke days ago.
****
Andy stopped off at Tom and Paddy’s to tell them of his trip to London as well as to ask if theycould see to his pigs.Tom advised him to take a change of clothes,pointing out that Andy wouldn’t be able to drive both ways in one day.In his haste to leave,Andy hadn’t considered that.So he went home again and packed an overnight bag,as well as food for Lassie,who had made it plain she was going with him.
On a whim,he reached into the back of his wardrobe and brought out his spare camouflage jacket.It was a bit small for him,but he thought it would probably fit Luke better.
After getting back into the van,Andy set out again.The satellite navigator gadget that Paddy had insisted Andy take began talking to him as he drove.
He’d told Paddy that he had no idea how such things worked.
“You don’t need to.Here,give us Luke’s address and we’ll programme it in for you.Then all you have to do is drive where the woman tells you to.”
The woman,Andy thought,sounded rather bossy,but he knew he’d be grateful for her guidance once he got closer to London.
****
Needing a pee,Andy stopped at the motorway services just past Northampton.Exiting the M1 upset the electronic Mrs Bossyknickers,a fact which pleased Andy no end.
He spent a few minutes walking Lassie.Her bladder wasn’t as strong as it used to be.
As Lassie did her thing,Andy’s mind wandered.He hated the thought of Luke being alone,helpless,his arm in a cast.
“You finished?”he asked the dog,who wagged her tail in answer.“Good girl.”
He never needed to put Lassie on a lead,she always stayed close.So he was able to just walk across the car park,Lassie following dutifully beside him.