Learning To Trust Again

Rebecca still hadn’t decided what to do when Jake sighed and his voice quiet, his eyes guarded, he asked ‘can I come in for a minute. I need to talk to you.’

Rebecca looked at him in silence for a moment longer before stepping back and allowing him to enter.

Keeping his eyes on her as he passed Jake walked into the living room.

Closing the door with a soft click, Rebecca followed him.

 Jake turned around as he reached the middle of the room and facing her, he dove straight in. ‘Okay Rebecca, firstly I apologise for not telling you this yesterday, but I had my reasons.’ He paused but when Rebecca didn’t speak he continued ‘when I went outside for some air last night I found Todd lying in the lane way down the road, he’d been beaten.’

Shocked, her hand moved to cover her mouth, as she listened to Jake. She had not expected this. She thought he was going to say Todd had been objectionable or rude or both and that he didn’t want to tell her because he knew she’d be upset. But this was worse. ‘Who did it?’ she asked when he didn’t continue.

‘No idea. Todd wouldn’t say, but I get the feeling he knows. It didn’t seem like a random event. But all he was interested in was getting back to the party without your parents finding out.’

‘Why?’ she asked, confused as to why he’d want to keep it from his family.

 Jake shrugged ‘he said he didn’t want to worry them. He told me he’d explain today, which was one of the reasons I agreed to keep quiet about it. He also asked me not to tell you.’ Pausing for a minute he added ‘I’m sorry, Rebecca I shouldn’t have agreed to it.’

‘No you shouldn’t’ Rebecca said, her tone a harsh indictment.

‘I thought I was doing the right thing’ Jake said.

Rebecca was silent. She didn’t know what to say. Even though she thought she was prepared for it, hearing him admit he’d lied, no matter what the circumstances, hurt more than she had expected. It felt like she’d been punched in the stomach and it took everything in her to stay standing. Putting a hand out, she steadied herself against the wall.  

But before she could pull herself together enough to say any more, Jake continued. Pushing his hands into his pockets he said ‘I helped him get cleaned up, told him not to drink anymore and made sure he knew I was expecting a call this morning.’

Moving her mind away from their relationship, and focusing on her brother, because that was easier to deal with, Rebecca stepped over to the couch and sat down. She asked ‘he didn’t ring?’ but she already knew the answer.

‘No’ Jake said in a harsh tone, his irritation obvious, ‘and he isn’t answering his phone. I’m concerned he started drinking again.’

Understanding his anger at Todd for not sticking to his part of the agreement, Rebecca however was not all that surprised. Todd could be unreliable at the best of times after a night out when he’d been drinking, but after his own birthday party forget it. She knew he wouldn’t have even surfaced yet and if past experience was anything to go by, he may not open his eyes until tomorrow. Without looking at him she said ‘I’m sure he’ll turn up eventually and when he does I’ll make sure he contacts you. I’m sorry he didn’t keep his word…..’

But shaking his head Jake interrupted ‘Rebecca you don’t understand, he had a head injury.’