Evening all, here at last is another chapter for your reading pleasure of my current "Jobby" story. I've no idea of anyone is still following this, but if you are, I want to say thank you and I hope you enjoy.
"Disclaimer" this chapter of course mentions real people, but the story is fiction. I make assumptions about anyone and write simply for my pleasure. I respect the people in this story and their privacy. If you're not comfortable with the content may I respectfully request you quietly unfollow me rather than complain.
Thanks again to the beautiful @johndeaconstoothgap for her help and guidance, and for keeping me sane :D
“...You’re selling the house? Are you fucking serious?!”
“Language!”
“For fucks sake Dad!
“What did I just say?”
“Urgh, you can't do this! Dad come on, this is madness! You promised us all you would never sell this place, never. Never in a million years you said, what a load of bollocks that was. This is home, our home. It's not just bricks and mortar, it's special. Think of all the work you've put into it, the studio, the garden, the pool, you've spent millions on it, it's all gonna go to waste!”
John closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He’d hardly expected his youngest son to be ecstatic over the house sale, but at the same time didn't think he'd react this strongly.
“Cam, mate…”
“This is why you want all my stuff gone!” Cameron gasped and pointed a finger accusingly at his father, “I knew it! I knew you were up to something. How could you keep this from me?!”
“This isn't something I've just decided overnight” John replied as calmly as he could considering the red mist that was starting to descend, “This has been on the cards for months and I've thought long and hard before making this decision”
“Didn't think about me though did you?”
For Christ's sake…
“Of course I did, this place holds a lot of memories for you, for everyone, I get that. But it's time to move on. Besides, you've said plenty of times that you don't really enjoy staying over here so…”
“Who told you that?!” Cameron exclaimed with raised eyebrows.
“Look, my mind is made up, the decision is made and the house is going to be sold. I'm sorry I've waited until now to tell you but I wanted to wait for the right moment, and to be sure it was definitely going ahead to avoid stressing everyone out”
“You've only come clean now Dad because you've been found out, admit it”
“No, I…”
“It's true! If we hadn't worked out your sick little plan then you'd never have told us at all” Cameron wailed, his voice growing higher in pitch with every word, “You'd have sold the house from under our noses and fucked off to god knows where without a word to anyone. I bet Libby put you up to this. She did, didn't she and I thought she was on my side?”
“That's enough!”
Cameron was shocked into silence by John’s angry outburst. It was unlike him to raise his voice in anger, he usually chose to clam up instead and give those around him the silent treatment. On this occasion however, his youngest hadn’t just crossed a line, he'd jumped right over it.
“Dad, I…”
“I think it's time you went home” John declared quietly. “I'll have your things boxed up and shipped over to you in a few days. We’ll talk again about this when you’re calmer and in a better frame of mind”
For once in his life Cameron chose not to argue, instead he threw his hands in the air and let out an almighty huff before storming from the house, slamming the front door behind him. The words don’t bother hung in the air like a bad smell.
Once he was sure that the coast was clear, and Cam wasn’t about to come back in ranting and raving, John pulled up a chair at the kitchen table and slowly lowered himself into it. He slumped forward and rested his weary head against his folded forearms. The contrast in reactions between his eldest and youngest children had been staggering, not to mention confusing. Those that John assumed would take the news fairly well had pitched a fit, whilst the rest instead of hitting out in anger had enthusiastically asked how they could help.
John was perplexed
How could he have gotten this all so wrong?
John assumed he’d gotten to know and understand his grown up children very well, but now he was starting to question his relationships with them. Or lack of.
He clearly had a lot of work to do.
“Now there’s someone who looks like they need a cup of tea”
“Bit late for that” John mumbled in response.
“A cup of tea can solve anything”
“Hmmm, if you say so. You'd better add some whiskey to it on this occasion”
“It went that well then?”
John sat up and took in the sympathetic wince on Libby's face. The way he was feeling, he couldn't resist responding with sarcasm whilst withholding the fact that his youngest seemed to hate her for some reason “What, you didn't hear the screams of joy from upstairs?”
“He'll get over it. Libby replied simply whilst busying herself with making a round of teas.
“This is my fault” John sighed
“What is?”
“Cam. I've spoiled him. His whole life he's been given anything and everything he wants. I just can't say no. Even now he turns on the charm or the waterworks and I cave. I've created a monster…”
Libby frowned and considered her response. She was well aware of the complicated relationship between John and his youngest son due to the latters varying health issues and the problems they had created over the years.
“I think it's fair to say that you both have, you and Veronica I mean”
“Libby, please don't…”
“I know you want me to disagree with you, and say oh no sweetheart, it's not your fault at all, you've done nothing wrong etc…but that's not helpful to anyone. You're wallowing, and nothing good ever happens when you wallow”
It was pretty clear that John wasn't about to receive the sympathy he was after, instead he was being served a generous dollop of tough love.
“Look, I’m not judging” Libby continued when John simply stared at her, “...but…”
“...You’re going to anyway” John grumbled
Libby rolled her eyes and then proceeded to dish out her own unique brand of advice to John’s consternation.
“It’s not too late to fix things. I’ve told you before what I think, and yes I know I will never be a replacement Mum to Cam and I never want to be, or to anyone else for that matter but, in my opinion that guy needs a firm hand now more than ever. He’s 29 years old for Christ's sake John. He’s not a child anymore and yet you keep treating him like one, so is it any wonder that he acts up and throws tantrums to get what he wants? He does it because he knows it will work. Every single time. You let this carry on, what will happen 20 years from now? You may not be around or in a position to bail him out anymore, and what then? He’ll be stuffed. Is that really what you want?”
“Have you quite finished?”
“Don’t get mad at me” Libby hit back, “You’ve just said that Cam is spoiled and you’re certainly not wrong. I’ve held my tongue so far because it hasn’t seemed right to interfere, but the second his behaviour starts to affect me too I’ll be having words with him”
“If anyone’s going to have words with him it’ll be me” John replied irritably with a frown.
“It’s about time you actually did” Libby countered.
“What was that?!”
“You heard. Look, I’m sorry but this is a problem of your own making and you’re the only one who can sort it. Actually, no. You and Veronica. She's complicit in this too and you know it. I've nothing against the woman but…”
“Will you please stop, just…stop” John angrily stood and shoved his chair roughly back against the table.
“The truth hurts doesn't it?” Libby made a show of clattering about finishing off two mugs of tea and then thrust one of them into John's hand, only just avoiding spilling the hot liquid across the floor. Not that she cared.
“You'd better drink up love, you've got 29 years of babying to undo. Good luck”
……………
Veronica sipped slowly at her tea whilst regarding her ex-husband with thinly veiled irritation. It was taking all her energy to resist starting an argument with him.
Or to wring his neck.
“So…let me get this straight. You’ve finally realised, after all these years, that giving Cameron whatever he wants, whenever he wants it isn't a good idea?”
John bit his lip as he considered his response. He didn't have the energy to fight it out.
“What's happened?” Veronica sighed with an air of resignation, as if she really needed to ask.
“We had a conversation yesterday, which…didn't go well”
“About you selling the house I presume?”
John blinked in surprise. Had he suddenly walked onto the set of Groundhog Day?
“...What? How did you…?
“Cameron. He dropped by yesterday in a right old state” Veronica gave John a pointed look, “You can’t be surprised at that surely? That he came to see me? He tells me everything, you know that”
“I was going to tell you…”
“Oh I don’t care about the house John” Veronica waved a hand in the air dismissively, “I had a feeling you would sell it at some point. I’m not bothered about that at all No, what I am concerned about is how you told the boys, it just seems…well a bit sneaky”
John sighed and ran a hand through what was left of his thinning hair. Veronica wasn’t wrong, he couldn’t deny it and no amount of arguing the toss would change it either. He hadn’t gone about all this in the right way at all, and the fallout was proving to be somewhat painful.
“The last thing I wanted was to upset anyone” John began, “I just thought that, well if I took things slowly, and took my time it would be better, you know, better than just blurting it out suddenly at dinner one night or something and ruining everyones evening. Got that one wrong, good and proper didn’t I?”
“Yeah…it might have been a better idea to break the news to them all before threatening to throw out their belongings. God, it’s no wonder you confused them and got their backs up, and poor Libby being dragged into this too...” Veronica shook her head with a wry smile. “Do you know our children, at all?”
John glared at his ex for a moment before returning his attention to his empty mug. He wasn’t normally the sort to admit defeat and ask for help, but on this occasion he saw no other option.
“I erm, didn’t just come here today to tell you about the house, although I am glad that’s out in the open. You're really ok with it?”
“Why wouldn't I be?” Veronica frowned, “You paid for the house with your own hard earned cash, it's yours to do with as you please now we're no longer married. We agreed that as part of the divorce, remember?”
“Well I just thought it was only fair to let you know, out of courtesy” John replied quietly.
Veronica smiled warmly with a hint of sadness in her eyes. “I do appreciate that of course. It seems that all this may have done us a favour, don't you think?”
“Sorry?”
“About our beloved youngest son?”
“Right…”
“Libby is absolutely right. We have to put a stop to Camerons tantrums or, well…”
“It's not like we haven't tried, is it?” John interrupted, “...and we both know he's not well enough to manage without our help”
“Now that's not true” Veronica countered, “He lives alone and independently, he's been to college and managed just fine”
“He didn't finish the course though did he, any of them” John pointed out, “He's always found an excuse to drop out, there's too many distractions”
“We need to make sure he has no distractions then”
“In what way?”
“Well, his latest scheme is to get into fitness, and to be a personal trainer…”
“So I heard. What about it?”
“He seems serious about it this time, really serious” Veronica nodded, “He's looking after himself, he’s eating better and putting the hours in to get his qualifications. He really could make a career out of it…
“I sense a but coming”
“If you keep paying for everything then where’s the long term incentive to make a real go of it, on his own? We both know the main reason he’s not stuck with anything longer than a few months or even weeks in the past has been the fact he’s always had the bank of Dad to rely on”
“What are you saying? That I should cut him off? Financially? Just like that?” John frowned.
“Not completely no, I’m not that cruel, but isn’t it kinder in the long term to gradually push him towards fending for himself? Like any other grown adult?”
“He’s not like any other grown adult” John all but growled.
Veronica was unmoved. “He has diabetes and autism John, not a terminal illness. Look, if he can live by himself then he can financially support himself. If he wasn’t capable of that do you really think I’d have let him move out?
“...Well, no but…”
“Look, we’re both guilty of babying Cameron, neither of us can deny that. I’m totally with you there, I’m not disagreeing at all” Veronica sighed a little sadly, “Now we need to wipe the slate clean and agree on where to go from here, and despite the divorce we need to back each other up. Yes?”
John nodded tightly. Wasn’t like he really had a choice.
The little sod hasn’t made it easy for us at times” Veronica continued with a fond roll of her eyes, “Milking his conditions and playing us against each other. He’s not stupid, far from it, he gets that from you. He knows what he’s doing and it’s about time we put a stop to it before it’s too late”
“You have a plan in mind already don’t you?” John asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.
“Course I do” Veronica nodded firmly, “But first, I think it’s time for another cuppa”
………………………………………
John was nervous.
He’d pissed off his youngest son once already in the past few days and was about to again, no thanks to Veronica.
No, that wasn’t fair. His ex was right. It didn’t matter how he looked at it, her plan to push their youngest son towards financial independence was a sound one, and something that should have been done many years ago.
So why hadn’t they? Their other five children had all successfully flown the nest and set up on their own with admittedly varying degrees of success, but ultimately were financially independent and very rarely needed handouts from their parents.
What was different about Cameron? It was simple. Not only was he the youngest child, he had potentially life limiting health conditions which according to medical professionals at the time he was born was due to him having “mature parents”. Veronica and John had both been overwhelmed with guilt, blaming themselves for their son’s predicament and quite often taking it out on each other.
Veronica had been so desperate for another daughter that just weeks after the birth of Luke, she had convinced a tired and weary John to “have one more go” The man himself still grieving the loss of one of his closest friends and bandmates didn't have the energy to resist. He gave in despite his reservations and 9 months later their family was finally complete.
It came with a cost though, and not just to his wallet.
The youngest of the Deacon siblings grew up to be spoiled and wholly dependent on his parents for everything. Reversing that was going to be a mammoth and complex task as his parents were about to find out.
“You want me to start paying rent?” Cameron scrunched his face up in confusion, “What for? I thought the house was all paid for? You don’t have a mortgage?”
Veronica took a calming breath and sipped her tea before responding.
“Yes. I would like you to start paying towards the upkeep of the house that I bought for you. I don’t have a mortgage that is true, but there is maintenance to consider and any money I take from you will go towards keeping it safe and habitable”
“But…how will I afford it?”
“You can start paying once you’re earning enough cash from your PT job. I’m not going to demand the going rate for a house that size, don’t worry. But I will ask for a reasonable amount each month to put towards its upkeep. I think that’s fair, don’t you?”
“But…”
“Look. If you didn’t have the support of your Father and me you’d be paying a hell of a lot more than what I’m proposing, so I think you’re getting a very good deal. You’ve done brilliantly the last two years, and you’ve proved you’re more than capable of managing by yourself but now, you really do need to start paying your own way in life”
“God you make me sound like a spoiled brat” Cameron grumbled under his breath. “Dad put you up to this didn’t he? He’s already had a go at me once this week, and now’s he got you on my case”
“Your Father and I have had a discussion about this, yes, but he only wants the best for you. Which is why, he’s willing to carry on paying your utility bills until you’re fully qualified and working full time”
“Wow, that’s big of him”
“Excuse me?”
“Well! Come on Mum, don’t you see what’s happening here? He wants to cut me off, and he’s coerced you into doing his dirty work for him, Where is he anyway?”
Veronica was no longer married to John but she respected him enough to stand up for him when he wasn’t around to defend himself.
“Hey, that’s enough. This is not about cutting you off, if it was don’t you think that would have happened long before now? No, this is about setting you up for the future and to ensure you’re able to look after yourself in years to come. Don’t you think being financially independent is a wonderful thing? The joy of knowing you’ve earned your own money and you can do what you like with it?”
“What, like you?”
The sarcasm positively dripped from Camerons tongue which shocked Veronica into silence.
“Well it’s true isn’t it? When was the last time you went out to work? You spend Dads money every day of the week. Even the house I live in was bought using his cash, you told me so yourself. So don’t preach to me about being self dependent and all that shit, when you’ve never been so yourself”
Veronica was seething. She’d given up a promising teaching career in her early 20’s to marry, settle down and raise her family and now it was being thrown back in her face by the one person she’d thought she was closest to.
Mistakes had been made along the way, huge life changing mistakes that had ultimately led to her current predicament. The urge to say fuck it and completely cut off her ungrateful youngest son was close to overwhelming but she knew deep down that would only cause more heartache and chaos.
Veronica had made her ex-husband promise to work with her to fix things with Cameron, and she knew she had to keep her side of the bargain. Her current situation was her stupid tax for years of lenient parenting and now the bill needed to be paid.
What a bill it was.
This was going to be one hell of an uphill struggle.
So, I've finally got into my writing again after a break from it where I pondered whether to give it up completely, but I've been drawn back after being hit by the bug and some inspiration to get creative again.
Here is the next chapter in my current "Jobby" story. To those still following, thank you and I hope you enjoy :D
Finally, a huge shout out to the luscious @johndeaconstoothgap for help and guidance
This is going to take longer than I thought, a lot longer. I should have done this years ago…
John pursed his lips as he surveyed a mountain of…well, stuff.
Seeing as he and Libby would be moving out at some point and downsizing, John realised to his annoyance that he’d have to make a start on going through their possessions and getting rid of what they didn’t need.
Trouble was, over 40 years and 6 children, plus 4 grandkids later, the amount of gear that had built up was quite frankly staggering. It served John right really for not taking up Libby’s offer the previous year of getting the professionals in to go through it all.
The offer still stood, Libby made that crystal clear, and she was ready to make the necessary calls but John decided it was high time he got off his backside and did something about it himself. Wasn't like he didn't have the time for it.
Libby had been sensible and left John to get on with it. The job of digging through box after box in the spare bedrooms, attic and the garage was going to be stressful, and no doubt a little emotional for him. It was best to give the man space to process and work through those emotions without her hovering or checking in every five minutes. If there was one thing John hated, it was being mollycoddled.
Over the years as his children all grew up and eventually moved out, to university and then their own homes, it was inevitable that a fair bit of their possessions would be left behind. Some had been passed down from child to child but there’s only so many hand me downs that younger siblings will accept. John had lost count of the number of times he’d heard “I’m not having that, it’s old and it smells!”
The joys of having a large family.
With a large mug of tea to hand and the radio quietly keeping him company, John got to work. At first he didn’t know where to start, such a momentous task was close to being overwhelming. It would have been easy to put it off for just one more day, excuses were more than easy to find. But, with Libby’s gentle words of support ringing in his ears, John let out a heavy sigh and dragged the first box towards him.
The plan on paper was a simple one. Anything that didn’t have any practical or sentimental value was to be binned, no ifs or buts. John was going to be ruthless and make sure the skip Libby had hired would be filled several times over.
Things never were that simple though in the Deacon household.
Libby had quietly done her bit in advance, not that she had much to dispose of in the first place. She had never been a fan of clutter, and keeping things for the sake of it. John had laughed like a drain when told the story of when Libby had bought her first flat, and been so militant in keeping the place tidy that she ended up with literally nothing to look at or read, not even a bus time table.
Still, at least it had kept the housework to a minimum.
Going through his own stuff wasn’t too much of an ordeal for John, emotionally at least. The man wasn’t the sentimental sort and had no problems with getting rid of what he didn’t need, once he got going of course. He’d just been a bit…well, lazy over the years, and allowed a fair amount to accumulate. Out of sight, out of mind.
Several hours later….
“Sweetheart, I’ve just put the kettle on, do you fancy another brew?….Christ!”
John looked up suddenly at the sound of Libby’s surprised voice. He’d been so engrossed in what he was doing he hadn’t heard her footsteps approaching.
“...Yeah, I’d love a cuppa thanks…”
John trailed off with an embarrassed bite of his lip, and followed Libby’s disbelieving gaze to the several piles of clothes, books, and goodness knows what else he was sitting in the middle of. At this rate he might be done by Christmas.
2025.
“It’s going well then I see?” Libby raised an eyebrow, “How many boxes have you got through?“
“This is the first one” John admitted quietly, “...but, I have sorted all this into piles, that lot over there is going”
Libby nodded slowly with a smirk and turned to leave, but stopped suddenly when something caught her eye.
He’s not getting rid of that surely?
Libby carefully picked up said item and turned it over slowly in her hands. She noticed John glance at her briefly but the man said nothing.
“This is your keep pile?” Libby asked casually, knowing full well it wasn’t.
“What makes you say that?” John asked without looking up, “No, that lot is only fit for the bin. I haven’t touched it in years. I don’t need or want any of it.”
“Fair enough, as long as you’re sure…”
It seemed such a shame though to throw out something that she’d have thought would have some amount of sentimental value, however small. Clearly she was wrong. Still, waste not want not. John might not want it, but she wasn’t about to let it go.
When she was sure John wasn’t looking, Libby discreetly slipped the item inside her hoodie and casually turned to leave the room.
“I’m not blind, or stupid” John said quietly, “I put that in the gone pile for a reason. Please, put it back”
Libby froze with a frustrated frown. “...Well, I just thought that…”
“I don’t want it, and that means I don’t want it in the house anymore. Please respect that and put it down. I won’t ask again”
Libby narrowed her eyes, “Why don’t you want it?”
John looked up sharply but still somehow managed to avoid meeting Libby’s curious gaze. Curious tinged with a hint of annoyance. The man was being evasive and she wanted to know why.
“...I just don’t. What’s with the 3rd degree? Am I meant to run it by you every time I decide to bin something? Do you want a list of every single thing I own so you can decide if I’m allowed to keep it or not? I’m not a child”
“Well, don’t act like one then” Libby let out a long sigh of frustration, took a seat on the floor across from John and looked at him pointedly whilst running a hand through her hair. “Shit. I’m sorry, that was uncalled for, and I’m sorry I tried to smuggle this out of the room, that was…childish of me”
John smiled weakly and reached out to stroke the back of Libby’s hand. “It’s ok, and I’m sorry too for snapping. I’m serious though, you do have to let me get on and trust my judgement with this. I haven’t even clapped eyes on most of this for years and I haven’t missed any of it, so I think I can live without it, and so can you”
“But…are you really sure you want to just get rid?” Libby picked up the item that had caused all the commotion. “This might be worth something?”
“It’s not like I need the cash is it?”
Libby had to give him that.
“No, true. Well, how about donating it to a museum then?”
“What on earth would a museum want with it?”
John sure could be stubborn when he wanted to be.
Libby gazed longingly at the item and imagined how good it might look cleaned up and framed. It would make the perfect addition to any self-respecting rock music fans collection, but that was sadly not to be. It was destined for the skip.
Unless…
“There's a charity auction coming up soon, at Freddie’s annual birthday event in Montreux. Do you know the one I mean?”
John raised an eyebrow, “I do. What about it?”
“You could donate this, and any other…stuff you don't want anymore”
Libby carefully watched John and the expression on his face. His eyes narrowed and shifted rapidly from side to side as he mulled over her suggestion. She could almost hear the cogs working overtime in his brain.
“I..erm, it's a bit late to get involved now isn't it?”
“No, I don't think so. I can contact the organisers to check. All you need to do is let me have the items you want to donate, oh and add your signature too”
John still looked sceptical, bless him.
“It's all for a good cause” Libby added, “You get to offload some gear you don't want, the charity's make a few quid out of it, and some lucky fans get a piece of rock history they can treasure. It's a winner all round”
“Yeah. Yeah alright” John finally relented though he still didn't seem overly enthused about it. I don't want to be involved though, you can handle it”
“Of course! That's my job. Leave it with me”
“That's what I'm afraid of…” John muttered under his breath.
“I heard that!” Libby exclaimed as she got to her feet and dusted herself down. “Do you want some help?” She then asked softly.
“No” John sighed and looked up at Libby with a smile. “I’ll be fine thanks, just…keep the tea coming would you?”
Libby leaned over to press a kiss to the top of John's head and squeezed his shoulders. “I’ll bring the biscuits too”
………………………..
“Wow I'd forgotten about all of these, I'm surprised you still have them to be honest”
John watched with interest as his middle son Joshua ran his eyes over several boxes of video games, which had been gathering dust for years, shoved out of sight and out of mind.
“Yeah, well” John scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “You know how it is, I just never got round to sorting through them until now. Do you want any of it then or can I get rid?”
“Erm, I might be able to do something with them, can you hang on a week or so? I might be able to sell them on”
“Who’d want to buy this old junk?”
Joshua was scandalised, “It's not junk Dad! This is vintage, thank you”
John rolled his eyes, “Vintage indeed, so anything over 20 years old now is vintage is it? Load of rubbish!”
“It's true! Look, give us a few days. I've got a friend who runs an online business specialising in this stuff. He’ll happily take it off your hands”
“Yeah, alright” John nodded, “Just…don’t leave it too long ok?”
Joshua observed his Father with a bemused frown, “Not moving are you? No, of course you’re not, what am I saying, you’ll never leave this place!”
Joshua laughed and thankfully missed the brief look of panic on John's face.
“Just, erm…let me know when you’ve spoken to that friend of yours” John replied weakly then made an attempt at a joke himself, “If you do make a few quid out of it, you can buy me a pint, about time you did…”
John breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Joshua off with a wave, and kicked himself, quite literally, for almost giving the game away. It was pathetic really, to be scared of what his children’s reactions may be to having their childhood home put up for sale. Laura knew of course, and was completely unbothered by the prospect, John's sons on the other hand…
Libby had attempted to reassure him in her own unique way. Yes there would be disappointment, anger, maybe even some tears she'd said, but they’d get over it in time. Wasn't like they didn't all have their own places to call home after all, thanks to John’s generosity.
I’ll tell them when the time is right. John told himself, which was his way of putting off the inevitable. What John hadn’t banked on however was that people talk, his children included. One by one he contacted his Sons to ask if they wanted any of their childhood possessions, and one by one they started to connect the dots.
Awkward.
The first sign of discontent amongst the ranks appeared a mere half an hour after one particularly strained conversation.
“I just don’t get it”
“Get what?”
“Why Dad has to be so annoying!”
Luke rolled his eyes at his younger brother's whining, and regretted answering his call. “Isn’t he always? You said the exact same thing last week. What’s he done now? No no, don’t tell me…he’s finally seen sense and stopped Mum from cleaning your house because you’re old enough and ugly enough to do it yourself?”
“What? No, he called just now and said he’s having a big clear out and found loads of my school stuff. He asked if I wanted any of it”
“...Right, and?”
“Well he got all defensive and said if I don’t want it he’s gonna throw the whole lot out, just like that!”
“Did he now?” Luke sighed and rubbed his temple. His younger brother was prone to exaggeration when faced with a situation he wasn’t comfortable with.
Cameron nodded vigorously then remembered his older brother couldn’t physically see his displeasure. “Yeah, I said I wasn’t sure and I’d have to come over and check out what was there but I can’t for a few days, I mean how am I supposed to know if I want any of it without seeing it first? Dad then said it’s not like I don’t have the time to just drop by and pick it all up so he insisted I go round there tomorrow or it’s all being binned! I mean what’s all that about? He knows how busy I am right now, I’ve got a lot on. He’s being such a prick”
Luke resisted the urge to make a cutting remark about his brother's somewhat relaxed lifestyle and the way it was funded, choosing instead to keep to the matter at hand. “Funny you should say that…” Luke began slowly, “Only this morning the two of us had a very similar conversation”
“What? You and Dad?”
“Yeah…he told me the same thing or thereabouts, that he’d been having a sort out, had found a few bits of mine from back in the day and did I want them. What’s he up to?”
Cameron completely missed the suspicious tone of Luke’s rhetorical question. “He’s being a pain in the arse, is what. I can’t just drop everything and go over there tomorrow, I have plans, he knows that”
Ok, those plans simply involved trying out a new online recipe by the culinary flavour of the month and paying a visit to the local park, but still. Something was definitely afoot as far as Luke was concerned.
“You at home today?”
“Yeah, you know I am” Cameron replied, “I’m scheduled to stream tonight and I need to get set up, why?”
Course you are...
“Nothing. Look, don’t do anything just yet…”
“I wasn't going to” Cameron declared, “Like I said, I have plans. Besides, there's no way Dad will throw out my stuff, he wouldn't dare. He's bluffing!”
Luke made a non-committal sound, I wouldn't be so sure of that…
……………
Later that day, completely oblivious to what was being said about him behind closed doors, John had his usual Sunday evening call with Robert. Regular as clockwork they were, and had been since the day the eldest Deacon child had left his parents home to set up by himself a good 30 years prior.
Things had been strained between father and son for a while following certain events, but with a bit of work, some very honest conversations and a lot of soul searching they’d managed to get back on track.
Just how far they’d come was about to become very apparent.
“So…what's all this I hear about a big clear out then?”
John opened and closed his mouth like a fish. He struggled to find his words for a moment, wondering how to answer the question which had been asked completely innocently. Should he come clean or make up some cock and bull story to put Robert off the scent?
No. They were both adults, mature grown adults and his Son for all his faults deserved an honest answer.
“Yeah, you heard right” John replied softly, “The time has finally come to clear the decks. It’s amazing really some of the stuff I’ve come across. I haven’t seen much of it in years, decades even. It’s bought back some good memories”
“I’ll bet” Robert chuckled, “A lot of embarrassing stuff too no doubt. What's brought this on? Are you converting all the spare rooms into one big walk-in-closet for Libby's stuffed penguins?!”
John smiled widely at the thought.
“Don't give her any ideas. No, I…well, the truth is I need to clear everything out that we don't want or need because, because…I've decided to sell up”
Robert was silent for a moment which made John wonder if he’d done the right thing in speaking up.
“...Sell? What do you…”
“The house Rob” John interrupted. He’d done it. The cat was out of the bag. There was no going back now.
“You're selling the house?”
John cringed a little at the hint of sadness in Robert’s voice. “Yes. I've…well, I’ve been thinking about it for a few months and now I feel the time is right. I don't need all this space, now it's just me and Libby. We're rattling around in here by ourselves, plus…I’ve had enough of London to be honest”
“Wow…” Robert was now the one lost for words.
John sighed internally and settled back in his chair for the long haul. It was a good job Libby was out for the night.
“Look, I know this is difficult to hear and I don’t expect you to understand or to even be happy about it, but my mind is made up. All I do ask is that you support my decision and don't try to interfere. Things are hard enough at the moment”
“...Do you need any help?”
“Sorry?” John asked in slight shock, wondering if he was hearing things
“Do you need a hearing aid as well as glasses?!” Robert teased gently, “What can we do to help?”
“Honestly? Just…let me get on with things, in my own time. We have it all figured out. Libby is handling the admin and paperwork”
“Of course” Robert replied quietly, “Wouldn't have expected anything less. Have you told the others yet?”
“No. Well, Laura knows, but not your brothers and I'd rather it stayed that way for a little longer. I’m not quite ready to tell them yet. Your mother too”
“No offence Dad, but it's nothing to do with Mum is it? It's not her house”
“No, but she did live here the best part of 50 years. It was a major part of her life so I think it's only fair that she knows, at some point. I have to say you’re taking this very well Rob, better than I expected”
“I think back to last year Dad, on your birthday” Robert confessed, “...and how I reacted when we all learned about you and Libby. I was an arsehole and I treated you terribly. If our positions had been reversed I know for certain you’d never have acted the same way. It’s not been easy for me as you well know, but I’ve come to accept that this is how it is, you’re moving on and taking Libby with you. We all have to move on too whether we like it or not. So I can’t and I won’t stand in your way”
John attempted to swallow down the sudden lump in his throat, and blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.
“I appreciate that, I really do” John replied quietly with a sniff, “All I ask is that you keep this to yourself a little longer whilst I work through a few things. If you get any shit from the boys then…just tell them to call me”
“Sure. Least I can do. Not gonna lie though Dad, it’s gonna be strange to not have the house in the family anymore”
“I know. But, it’ll be a while until anything happens. I have to find a buyer first. That could take months, maybe even longer”
“Can I suggest something?”
“What’s that?”
“That you tell the others sooner rather than later…”
“...Rob…”
“Look, Dad I know it’s not a pleasant prospect, but you have to tell them before they start asking questions. Questions that you might not like. They’re already suspicious, and now I know why”
John was confused for a moment then pinched the bridge of his nose as the penny quickly dropped. He'd asked them all to collect their childhood belongings that were still at the house, as quickly as possible, and without much of an explanation.
He really should have thought that one through.
“Not my best idea” John admitted, “They told you then?”
“They called me over the weekend, yeah. I didn't think much of it to be fair, especially with Cam, you know what he's like…I just assumed you wanted the space back for some project or whatever. I just said they're old enough to look after their own belongings and shouldn't be relying on you to keep them safe, which went down as well as you'd probably expect…”
John had to laugh at that.
“Jesus…I really haven't made things easy for myself” John scrubbed a hand across his face, “The sooner this is all over the better”
“I meant what I said Dad, we’re here to help. Anything you need. Me, Anna, the kids. We can all pitch in. You and Libby don’t have to do this alone”
“I know, and thanks, for the offer and being so good about this. I just hope your brothers can follow your example”
It wouldn’t be long for John to get the answer to that question.
Dunno if tags still work but here goes, for those who may be interested - @john-deacon-fucks @johndeaconstoothgap @exhibition-of-vanishing-time @deakys-chesthair @warriorteam1924 @painandpleasure86 @bluewillowmom @beydeaks @eileen-crys @bettametra @keepsdrawings @jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels
I’m so glad this is back! I’m intrigued as to what the object is that will be donated?? Such great character development too-love seeing John doing what he wants. 🥰🥰
dailybridgerton
jbbartram-illu
tangentwithtanner
titsay
dededos
ellievsbear
romaincrisis
