Chapter 35
“Yeah.”Luke opened his eyes again.“You know how you imagine what your ideal man is like?”
“Uh huh.”At least Craig didn’t say Luke was his idea of an ideal man.
“Well,it took me a long time and lots of failed relationships to realise what my ideal man is like.He’s big,strong,and protective and—”
“And not an annoying bratty teenager.”Craig sounded so sad.
“Oh,Craig.You’re not annoying”.To himself Luke added,Well,not all the time.
He pulled the teenager in for a hug.Craig put his arms around Luke and sniffled.
“I feel awful.It’s like I want to steal you away from Uncle Andy.I don’t,honest.You two are great together.He’s really happy since you showed up.I know you’ll be good for him;you’ll not hurt him or anything.”
“No,I won’t.I’ve told him that I love him,and he’s said the same to me.”Luke wasn’t sure why he decided to share that piece of information.“You’ll find someone.A great bloke like you won’t be alone forever.Maybe it won’t be Dennis,but your guy is out there somewhere,it just takes time to find him.”
Luke and Andy had been very careful not to forbid Craig from seeing Dennis.They realised they couldn’t enforce it anyway,as the two went to the same school.Luke had warned Andy that telling Craig he couldn’t do something would only make him more determined to do it.
Quiet fell between the two of them.Luke ached for Craig;he knew exactly how the teenager was feeling.
“When I see you and Uncle Andy together,”Craig said,breaking the silence,“I say to myself,‘I want some of that.’”
“Things between you and Dennis aren’t going too well,then?”
Craig shook his head.“He’s…he’s not interested in a relationship.I mean he’s fun to be around and everything,but—”
“But he’s not boyfriend material?”
Craig shook his head again.Luke refrained from asking who wasgood boyfriend material.He feared the answer might be him.
“It’s not fair,”Craig eventually said.
“Life isn’t.And though you probably don’t want to hear it,you’re still really young.You’ve got years to find your special man.”
“Suppose.Look how long it took for Uncle Andy to find you.”
Luke smiled.“Thanks.”
The pair fell silent again.Luke wanted to tell Craig to ditch Dennis and find someone worthy of his love,but didn’t feel it would do any good.Craig would have to decide for himself who he should give his affections to.
Craig said,“You really are special.Uncle Andy is so lucky to—”
The doorbell rang.Saved by the bell,Luke thought.“That’ll be your Uncle.”He got up and opened the door.
“Those prices.”Andy came through the door,a shopping bag in one hand,a stick of French bread in the other.“Daylight robbery.”He stopped in the middle of the living room,obviously sensing something.“You both okay?”
“We’re fine.”Luke didn’t want to lie to Andy,so opted to tell him most of the truth.“Craig and me have been having a bit of a heart to heart.We both agree you should be made a saint.”
“Piss off.”
Luke kissed Andy,he so knew his man would say that.
“What did you get?I’m starving.”Craig reached into the shopping bag.
“Get out of there.”Andy hit his nephew with the French stick.“We’ll be eating at Luke’s friends’place soon.”
“But I’m hungry.”
Luke was glad to see Craig was bouncing back.“It’s all right;I’ll make you a sandwich or something.”
“Thanks,Luke,you’re the greatest.”
Luke took the bag from Andy and went into the kitchen.He hoped there wouldn’t be any more embarrassing incidents with Craig.He was a nice kid,but that’s what he was,a kid.As he cut into the bread and spread the butter Andy had also bought,Luke remembered his own teenage years.No way would he want to relive those times.
“You and Craig really all right?”Andy asked,coming into the kitchen.
“Yeah,fine.”
“You’d tell me if there was something?”
Luke bit his lip.“Yes,of course.”
“What was in that letter?”Andy stole a piece of the French bread and began to chew it.
“Shit,I forgot all about it.”
“Here,let me finish this,you go and read it.”
Luke headed into the living room and picked up the envelope.It did indeed look official.The embossed crest was that of the firm of estate agents who acted for his landlord.As he tore openthe envelope he got a sinking feeling.
Skimming through the contents,he read,
…Instructed to inform you that due to the breach of the terms of your agreement,(Section 3,subsection F)our client has decided not to offer a renewal of your lease that is due to end on 30 June.
Consequently we would request that you vacate the property no later than…
“Bastards!”
“Luke?”Andy appeared at his side.
“Here.”Luke handed over the letter.
Andy read it.“Can the landlord do that?”
“Yeah,I think so.”
“What’s all this section 3 subsection whatever,business?”
“I gave Roger the rent money,only he spent it on other things,drugs probably.Even though I paid the arrears as soon as I found out,explaining to them what had happened,they’re still kicking me out.”Luke felt hollow,cold.He needed to sit down.
Andy folded the letter and put it back in the envelope.“Look,I know it’s probably not the best time to bring this up,but,uh,I sort of thought…hoped you’d be moving in with me at some point.I mean,that photo,it was to show your fans that you had retired to the country and—”
Andy had never asked Luke to move in.Though Luke knew that he’d not asked if he could move in,either.It was another example of them failing to communicate.He’d lived in London for years,ever since he left the valleys.His work,his friends were here.But then he remembered he didn’t have a job,and how many friends,save for Sam and Donnie,did he really have?
“I…”Luke didn’t know what to say.He reached out for the sofa and sat down heavily.
“If you don’t want to move in with me,could your friends put you up if you don’t find anywhere else before the end of June?”
Despite his own turmoil,Luke could tell Andy was struggling not to show his disappointment.Helooked up at Andy—his Andy—who was staring back at him with something in his eyes that,at first,Luke couldn’t fathom.Then it hit him.Vulnerability.
Luke made a snap decision.“You sure it’d be all right?Me moving in permanently?”
“Yes of course,”Andy said in an I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t mean it tone.
A sense of—Luke wasn’t sure—relief?Washed over him.Andy had come through for him again.Feeling euphoric,he asked,“Would you help me pack?I might as well leave while we’re down here.”
“Yahoo!”Craig shouted and ran toward Luke to jump on him.
Old Mr Jenkins banged on the ceiling.
“My ribs,”Luke said just before Craig crashed on top of him.“Besides,this place,”he stood and gently accepted a hug from first Craig,then a longer one from Andy,“has too many bad memories.”
“We’ll make some new ones,good ones,up in Yorkshire,”Andy said into his hair.
Craig made throwing up type noises,before grinning widely.
****
“No,honestly,I couldn’t eat another thing.”Andy rubbed at his belly.“But it was delicious,all of it.”
“What about you,Craig?”Sam’s serving spoon hovered over the large bowl of trifle.
“Um,just a bit more then;it’s brilliant.”
Craig had a line of cream around his mouth;Luke got a fit of the giggles looking at him.
“What?”Craig said.
Luke told him and Craig wiped his face.
“Haven’t you had enough?”Andy asked,pushing away from the table.Turning to Sam,he said,“You must think we never feed him.”
“You don’t,”Craig mumbled through his food.
“And you also must think his mother didn’t bring him up with any table manners.”Andy gave Craig a glare.