The Dad Next Door

“Help yourself to seconds,” she told the children, getting up. “I have to make a phone call. But let Raymond pour. It’s hot.”

She sent up a silent prayer that Pastor Ledbetter would be in and available, not counseling parishioners or doing any of the thousand and one things that filled his days. Recollecting his kindly face, his graying hair and nice blue-gray eyes, Kate felt her tension easing.

“Congregational Church. How can I help you?” She silently thanked God that the pastor had answered the phone himself. The church secretary must have stepped out for a minute. Words tumbled from Kate as she poured out her story and resumed the talk that had started when Raymond had first realized he was being targeted.

Kate heard Ian’s car come into the driveway next door just minutes before the dinner hour, and she forced herself not to look out the window.

“He’s coming!” Tommy shouted. “Finally! I’m starving!”

“All right, Tommy. He’s a little late,” Kate admonished. “Don’t make a big thing of it. Where are you going, Raymond?” But Raymond had retreated down the hall toward the bedroom the two boys shared. Kate went after him and Raymond turned.

“You talk to him first, okay? Kind of break it to him that I’m not exactly Mike Tyson in a fight. Then I’ll come in later. When he’s ready to take it.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Kate agreed. The moment she did, Raymond ducked into the bedroom and shut the door. “Call me when it’s time,” he said through the crack.

Joy had opened the front door at Ian’s ring. Both of her children adored Ian, and Kate felt a little breathless herself every time she saw him—tall, a bit over six feet, well-built, with the unusual combination of blond hair and hazel eyes. Kate had met his former wife, who was jaw-droppingly gorgeous. What a stunning couple they must have been.

“Hi, kids. Boy, am I glad to be back.” He glanced around. “Where’s Ray?”

Before Kate could answer, Joy said, “He’s hiding, because he—”

Tommy clasped his hand over her mouth just in time and pulled her over to the big chair by the fireplace and pushed her into it.

Ian glanced a question at Kate.

“Actually, I guess he is, in a way,” Kate said. “I need to speak to you about something, Ian. Raymond had some trouble at school.”

“What kind of trouble?” Ian’s voice was guarded.

“There was a fight at school,” she admitted weakly, feeling guilty.

“Three bigger boys jumped him,” Tommy interjected, unable to resist.

“He’ll be all right,” Kate said quickly. “He’s—”

But Ian was heading for the boy’s room, and she followed helplessly, with the children close behind her. Ian opened the door and went in. When he saw Raymond lying on the bed he froze. Raymond cast Kate a look of dismay.

“It’s okay, Dad. It’s no big deal.”

Kate went sick at the shock on Ian’s face as he sank to his knees beside the bed and reached out to his son.

“Oh…no,” he whispered, his hands hovering over the boy, as if he were afraid to touch him.

“Look, it’s okay, Dad.” Raymond struggled to a sitting position. “I’ll heal up…” But as he said it, his voice broke and tears started from his swollen eyes. He went into his father’s arms, muttering, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Kate pushed her kids out the door. “Come on, kids,” she said softly, shutting the door behind them.

“What about dinner?” Tommy wailed. “I’m starving.”

“We’ll wait a while,” Kate said firmly.

But they didn’t need to wait long. It was only a matter of minutes before Ian and Raymond came into the living room. Raymond threw himself into his favorite chair.

“What happened, Kate? All he’ll say is that he got into a fight.” Ian’s voice betrayed a forced calmness. He wanted to explode at what had been done to his son. His eyes showed it.

Kate glanced at Raymond. “You should have told him,” she said. “Well, Ian, I may as well give it to you straight.”

“I’d like that,” Ian said with faint sarcasm, going over to the fireplace.

“There seems to be some gang activity over at the middle school.”

“You must be kidding.” He turned to look at her.

“I only wish I were. As I get the story, three of the boys—bullies, really—were in some form of initiation. They had to ‘beat up’ someone to prove themselves. They chose Raymond. There were three of them, all bigger boys than he is.” In spite of her effort at control, her voice rose in anger.

“That’s sick,” Ian said shortly. He was filled with seething rage. Kate could feel it.

“I know how you feel,” she said.

Tommy interrupted. “He didn’t have a chance, Ian. He was outnumbered. He was ambushed.”

“I’ll go over to that school tomorrow,” Ian began grimly. “I’ll—”

“No!” Raymond sprang out of his chair, wincing as he did so.

Kate despaired. She was handling this badly. Later she would think of dozens of things she should have said. She often had long imaginary conversations in her head with Ian, in which she was clever, witty, intelligent and very composed. And he was always so appreciative and admiring. Now she moved forward and caught Raymond by the arm.

“Listen to your father,” she said, pushing back his fair hair. Raymond calmed down and looked sullenly at Ian.

Ian retreated. “Okay,” he said gently. “What do you want me to do?”

“Well, first, just let it alone,” Raymond muttered.

Joy piped up, climbing back into the big chair by the fireplace and smoothing her skirt down primly. “Raymond is never going to school again. He’s through.”

“Through with school?” Ian asked.

“That’s what he said,” Joy answered.

Kate interposed. “He doesn’t really have to, you know.” She swallowed hard and braced herself.

“Okay, I’m listening. Why doesn’t my twelve-year-old son need to go to school anymore?” Ian asked quietly.

Her mouth was suddenly dry. “I was talking with Pastor Ledbetter earlier. This has been coming on for a while. We were talking about homeschooling and—”

Ian didn’t let her finish. “Maybe we’d better have dinner first. It might calm us down. This looks like a long discussion coming up. And I think I heard Tommy say he was starving.”

“I am,” Tommy said promptly, and both boys headed for the dining room, followed by Joy.