After the Scrum (14 page)

I wonder what Caddock's doing now?

Francis dropped his head to the table, cushioned by the stacks of carpet, paint and wallpaper. "Hopeless, love-struck fool."

Love?

The thought had him on his feet so suddenly the chair crashed to the floor. Sherlock instantly shot up out of his bed, barking madly while searching for the intruder. He sneezed abruptly then sidled over to his owner looking decidedly confused.

"Sorry, Sherlock." Francis knelt down to give his dog a good scratch, deftly evading the wide tongue that tried to bathe his face. "How about a walk?"

Deciding they both needed some fresh air, Francis gathered up his work to leave it in some semblance of organization. He hated leaving his small workspace in a mess. It ensured he'd spend the rest of the day twitching with the urge to return to clean it.

He had to laugh at himself, remembering the time he'd gotten up at three in the morning to return to the office. It had been during one of his busiest weeks. But sleep wouldn't come until the space had been straightened up, so better to deal with it now than later.

With Sherlock on his heels, Francis headed outside and up the street. They meandered their way through tight streets on the way to one of their favourite parks near the outskirts of town. The longer walk would rid the sheltie of some of his exuberance and leave him ready for a nap upon returning for work.

Hopping over the stile with the dog close behind, Francis started for a nearby bench, content to let Sherlock run off his excess energy from being cooped up all morning. Instead of his usual manic circuits around the enclosed space looking for creatures to chase, he made a beeline towards a row of hedges along the east side.

Curiosity got the better of Francis when the dog stubbornly sat by the spot, unmoving and trying to get his attention with quiet barks. With an exhausted groan, he pushed himself off the bench. He began moving faster when Sherlock stopped barking and began to whine, something very out of character.

What had he found?

His heart stuttered briefly when blue eyes peered out at him through the thick hedge.
Saints above.
Francis would know those eyes anywhere. Thank God he'd decided to take a walk.

"Devlin, love, I'm going to help you out from there, all right?" Francis crouched in the grass, ignoring the thorns scratching his hands and arms. He made a space large enough for the four-year-old to safely crawl out without hurting himself. He fell on his back a moment later when the boy rocketed into his arms. "It's all right, love, don't cry. Sherlock's here. We'll keep you safe. He might even share a peanut butter biscuit with you. Can you tell me how you got here?"

"Fwannie." Devlin wrapped his short arms tightly around his neck while he sobbed against Francis's shoulder. "I don't wanna go to Gwandad's. I want my Uncle Boo. Can I go home now? Pwease?"

Francis couldn't help the tears in his own eyes at the boy's obvious torment. He held him close, letting Sherlock squash up close to sniff and lick at Devlin. They needed to contact someone. Distraught as the lad was, it probably paled in comparison to Caddock's panic if he knew his nephew had run away.

Shifting the boy in his arms, Francis retrieved his mobile from his pocket. He tried Caddock four times—receiving voicemail each time. Neither Rupert nor Graham answered their phones either.

What now?

They couldn't stay at the park indefinitely—not with the darkening skies warning of an impending storm. It was time to make their way home. He could drive over to Caddock's cottage to see if he was there.

And once Devlin had been settled safely, Francis would drive his gran over to pay a visit to Caddock's father. If anyone could strike fear into the heart of the man, it would be her. She terrified even the hardest sailors around Looe.

"Fwannie? Am I in twouble?" Devlin's fingers gripped his cardigan while he rested his head on Francis's shoulder. He sniffled every so often while they walked. "Is Uncle Boo gonna be mad?"

Francis stopped as they reached where he'd left Watson parked earlier. "Your uncle loves you, Devlin. He'll be so happy to see you that I doubt he'll even remember you were a little naughty."

"Pwomise?"

"Without a doubt."

"What's a doubt?"

Oh.

Deciding not to spend an hour explaining a word, Francis took the distraction Ruth offered when she rushed out with a paper bag of biscuits for dog and boy. She fussed over Devlin when his flushed, tear-stained cheeks came into view. She promised to let anyone who asked know the boy had been found safe if Francis didn't catch up to Caddock first.

Poor lad.
 

Chapter Twenty-Two

Caddock

Some moments in life stuck with a person—no matter what followed. Caddock had no doubts this would be one of those times. He clutched his phone, listening to his mother desperately sobbing on the other end.

He hadn't heard her sound like this since his brother had died. His composed, stoic mother never sobbed. For her to lose her composure, something truly awful had to have happened.

"Mother?
Mum.
I can't understand a word you're saying." Caddock pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road. He'd been on his way to visit Rupert when the call had come in. It wouldn't be wise to risk an accident. "What's happened? Where's Dad? Can he tell me?"

"Run… away." She managed to choke out two words.

He sat up sharply, suddenly every nerve in his body on edge. "Is it Devlin? Where is he? Is he hurt? I need you to talk to me."

After excruciatingly long minutes, his mother managed to compose herself. Caddock finally had his answers. She'd been with Devlin driving to Looe when his father had called. Not expecting anything bad, she had put him on speakerphone.

Not a wise decision in the end. His father had gone on and on about the custody fight. He'd had a few choice words to say about his son. It had all been too much for Devlin.

The boy had been inconsolable. He hadn't believed his grandmother when she promised to take him to his beloved Uncle Boo. When the vehicle had stopped at an intersection, the Devil had gotten himself out of his booster seat and been gone before she could catch him.

Gone.

His little Devil.

Right.

First, Caddock would find the lad, who was likely terrified and distraught. And then, he'd spoil him rotten, poor boy. He'd follow this up by pummelling his father into the ground when they next met.

Rallying the troops hadn't taken all that much. Rupert and Graham had immediately hopped in a vehicle to head over to help. Joanne had stayed behind to get on the phone with local authorities to put together a search.

A little lad could easily get lost in the nearby farms. Caddock's greatest fear was Devlin's curiosity leading him too close to the sea. He could swim, but no four-year-old would be much of a match for some of the currents in the water.

The skies had been darkening for the last hour. Devlin didn't care for thunder much. He tended to climb into bed with his uncle if a storm happened at night. He must be terrified outside in this.

Caddock would
never
forgive his father for doing this to his own grandson. They'd all been happy, everything had been set. Why did he have to rock the boat now? Over what? His son's personal relationship preferences?

They needed to sit down and have a long talk. Caddock had let this go on for far too long. He was no longer the only person suffering for his father's ignorance.

He'd put up with it for his mother. But Devlin had been hurt as a result. No more. His father would either change his ways or risk being alienated by both his son and grandson.

His mother would likely have a few words for her husband as well. She tended to avoid arguments, believing them to be uncivilized. She'd hated his rugby for the same reason.

But her grandson? She loved Devlin with a fierceness not to be ignored. Caddock scoffed at the idea of an intervention. But maybe it would be the push to force his father to change.

It took several deep breaths before Caddock had a grasp on his anger. The thought of his beloved little Devil outside in the now pouring rain had his blood boiling. He hated it.

"What is he doing here?" Caddock snapped angrily at his father, who stood beside his mother when he pulled up beside them. She'd stayed in the spot where she'd last seen Devlin. "Why is he here?"

"Devlin is my grandson."

"Now you notice?" Caddock all but roared at him.

His father reared back then pinched the bridge of his nose, looking exhausted. "I love my grandson."

"And what the bloody hell have you done lately, but hurt him?" Caddock started towards his father, but his mother wisely caught him by the arm. He gently lifted her hand away though she firmly kept herself between them. She scolded her husband sternly when he opened his mouth to argue. "It doesn't matter. Devlin is the only damn one who matters right now. I'll deal with your shortcomings later."

"Why couldn't you simply be normal?" His father sounded more exhausted and bewildered than outraged. "Why weren't you like Hadrian?"

"And why couldn't you, as my father, accept me for who I am? Aren't parents supposed to love their children unconditionally?" Caddock spat at him, unable to curb the urge to strike out at the person who had hurt his nephew. "I couldn't give a rip if my choices disgust you. But you had no right to drag little Devlin into this. Haddy would be utterly ashamed of you. He wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire for what you've done to his son."

"
Caddock.
"

He refused to let his mother's horrified whisper sway him from his righteous anger. He met his father's pain-filled eyes without flinching. The man deserved so much more than simply harsh words for the last few days. "One day, Devlin will be old enough to understand all of this. He's going to have many questions for his grandfather. I hope you have answers for him. And maybe, just maybe, he'll be more forgiving than I am."

They searched the immediate area for over an hour without success. Caddock's phone had run out of battery in the middle of this. He decided to head to the cottage to grab his charger and was surprised to find Watson parked outside of it.

Ignoring his parents, who had followed, Caddock walked up to the gate, only to freeze in place when he spotted a welcome sight seated on the steps in front of the cottage. He fumbled desperately with the latch, finally leaping over the gate when it wouldn't cooperate with him. He had one thing—one person—on his mind.

"Uncle Boo." Devlin shot out of Francis's arms. He raced down the path and threw himself at his uncle. "Uncle Boo.
Uncle Boo!
Fwannie and Lock founded me. I got lost. I miss you. Don't go away. Pwease don't go away 'gain."

Caddock held the boy, who almost immediately dissolved into broken sobs. Devlin went on and on about never leaving him "like Daddy did." The horrified gasp behind him let him know his parents had heard. It gave him a mildly vindictive thrill.

"Devlin." His grandfather's voice caused the lad to shrink in Caddock's arms. He hid his face against his shirt when they turned around. "Devlin? Lad?"

"Go 'way." Devlin stuck his thumb in his mouth, something Caddock hadn't seen him do in several months as he'd begun to heal from the loss of his beloved father. This turmoil had clearly set him back in the grieving process. "I wanna stay with Uncle Boo."

"I see." His father stepped closer, flinching and paling when Devlin pulled away from the hand that reached out towards him. "I won't take you away from your Uncle Boo."

"You pwomise?" Devlin spoke around his thumb. His eyes were filled with tears still. He sounded so
small
, Caddock wanted to hide him away from the world. "You pwomise, Gwandad?"

He rested a hand gently on the lad's back. "I promise you I won't do it again. And I'm dreadfully sorry for having hurt either of you. I care about you both dearly."

"'Kay." His nephew, who normally showed his emotions overtly and enthusiastically, simply nodded. "Tired."

His parents left after kissing their grandson, deciding the lad needed some alone time with his uncle. He promised to call later. He and his father needed to have a long overdue chat.

Gathering Devlin up closer, Caddock ushered him and Francis into the house. His nephew was understandably clingy, but seemed happy to have Francis and his dog with them. They settled in the living room with mugs of hot chocolate and biscuits.

It was only then Caddock noticed the scratches on Francis's hands. His slender fingers had splotches of dried blood. He immediately retrieved a warm wet cloth and first-aid kit from the bathroom.

Caddock tended first to the scratches on Devlin and then the ones on Francis. He had them tell him all about their adventurous day. He made sure his nephew understood how dangerous running away had been.

A physically and emotionally exhausted Devlin fell into a deep sleep rather quickly after that. Caddock tucked him into his bed then returned to the living room where Francis seemed lost in thought. He took a seat on the couch before dragging Francis into his lap, arms wrapped tightly around him.

"Thank you. I can't thank you enough for bringing him back to me." Caddock buried his nose into Francis's wild brown hair. He chuckled before pulling out a twig. "You're going to need a long bath after this."

"Want to help me wash again?" Francis blushed at his own cheekiness. He shifted around, getting more comfortable in his embrace. "The poor lad was so upset when I found him. Will your father leave it alone after this?"

Caddock let his head fall back against the cushion with a groan. He honestly had no idea if this had knocked sense into his stubborn father. He could only hope Devlin's tear-stained face had some sort of impact. "Maybe. I won't let him go over to their house again unless this is resolved. I won't risk his emotional state for all this adult shit."