Chapter 58: Linda Booth

Bradlow: Sunday, October 12th

‘A flesh wound. Messy but not as bad as I thought it was at first. Think it’s mostly shock you’re in.’

‘Still bloody painful, though.’ William screwed his face up as he sat back against a leg of the table.

‘I’m sure.’ Linda sat back on her haunches. ‘It’s stopped bleeding, but it looks as if you’ve lost a fair amount. Keep that dressing on. You really should go to the hospital and get checked out though. It looks like you need a couple of stitches.’

‘No,’ William said, ‘I’ll be okay.’

‘I am sorry, mate,’ Jack sat at the table, head in his hands.

‘It wasn’t your fault,’ William said.

‘Well, it wasn’t mine.’ Charlie cast a nervous glance at William and then glared at Jack. ‘If that stupid bugger hadn’t pushed me…’

Jack moaned.

‘If you hadn’t had a knife in the first place…’ Linda stood up, her hands on her hips. ‘Anything to do with me, I’d call the police.’

‘No police.’ William shook his head. Looking up at her he said, ‘Help me onto the chair, Lin, and if you could just ask Susan for a clean shirt. She’s upstairs with Tim. I don’t want him seeing me like this.’

‘Because you care so much for my son,’ Charlie sneered. ‘My son.’

‘Well, one of us has to, because you don’t.’ William ground his teeth together as he hoisted himself up, with Linda’s arms around him. He waited until she left to go upstairs before saying, ‘I won’t report this if you just sod off now and don’t come back. You heard Susan earlier, she’ll tell you when and how you can see Tim. Owt to do with me and you’d be out of his life for good. You’re just a nasty bugger with a bad temper. And I’ll tell you this just once; come anywhere near Susan when I’m not around and you’ll be out of the Army quicker than you can spit. Get it?’

Charlie shrugged. ‘Hey, soft arse,’ he gave Jack a nudge with his boot, ‘we should be getting off before we’re reported AWOL.’

‘We can’t just leave.’ Jack let his hands drop from holding his head. ‘Will’s my cousin—’

‘Shame you didn’t think that years ago.’ Despite the hot pain that was making William’s head spin he felt a vague pity for Jack; he must be terrified I’ll get him kicked out of the Army as well, he thought. He wouldn’t know what else to do with his life. And, to be honest his mother had enough to put up with living with Patrick. And for some incredible reason she adored Jack, a son who was foisted on her, if family folklore was anything to go by. ‘Just go, Jack, I’ll say nothing.’

Jack came over to him. He held out his hand. ‘I’m sorry, Will, I really am.’ He faltered. ‘Thanks, mate.’

William took hold of the proffered hand with his own left one. He gave Jack a crooked grin. ‘Go on, you heard Lin, it’s not as bad as it looks. Just be careful over there. From what it says on the news you’ll have a rough time of it in Belfast as it is. Just keep in touch with your mother. Okay?’

‘Okay.’ Jack nodded. He picked up his backpack and gave William a last uplift with his chin. ‘See you.’

‘See you.’

Charlie waited until Jack had gone before slinging his backpack onto his back. He looked at William for a long time. William returned the stare. Neither spoke. Then Susan’s husband walked through the door, slamming it behind him.