Owning Jacob - SA by Simon Beckett

smiled, saccharin again.
    'He's such a treasure. But it isn't always convenient, and I expect you'l want to sort out something more … wel , more permanent, won't you?' His relief was fol owed by irritation. Here it comes, he thought. First the favour, then the bil . "Yes, I wil .' He knew he wouldn't ask her to col ect Jacob again, no matter how difficult it became.
    'I don't want you to think there's any hurry as far as I'm concerned,' she went on, back-pedal ing now she had made the point. 'I know it's not easy for you, though, and I just wondered if you'd had chance to think about any other options.'

    "What sort of options?' He could guess.
    "Wel , I don't know, real y. Perhaps some sort of…' She
    glanced at her two sons, who were no longer paying the slightest bit of attention, and lowered her voice conspiratorial y. '... of residential school. Of" course, it's only a thought. I don't know what you've got in mind, but with Jacob being a … a special little boy, and you being busy and al , wel …' Her smile was failing against his silence. "You don't mind my mentioning it, I hope?'
    "Why should I? I~Ie stood up. 'Excuse me.' He left the table, knowing it was rude of him, but also knowing it was less rude than what he might have said if he'd stayed. The bathroom was at the top of the stairs. Ben locked himself in. He hadn't particularly wanted to urinate but now he was there he did anyway. It gave him something to do to take his mind off his anger.
    When he had finished he put down the pink marble-efFeot seat and pressed down the gold-plated flush handle. The wasnt>asin taps were even more ornate, a pair of stylised and vaguely Japanese-style dolphins. As he dried his hands on one of the soft pink towels he remembered what Colin's room had been like when they had been students.
    The decor hadn't run beyond posters and empty bottles of Newcastle Brown. It didn't take much guessing whose hand had been behind decorating the house.
    He went back downstairs, cooler-headed than when he went up. It wasn't worth fal ing out with Maggie, if only for Colin's sake. And, after helping out with Jacob for the past three weeks, he supposed she had a right to ask what his plans were.
    It wasn't her fault that he didn't have any.
    The thick oriental carpet silenced his footsteps as he returned to the dining room. He heard voices from it before he reached the doorway.
    '... wel , he is,' Scott was saying. 'I don't see why he's got to come here!'
    'I don't care, I've told you not to cal him that!' Maggie snapped, trying to whisper.

    "Why not? He can't understand.'
    'That's not the point! It isn't a nice thing to say.'
    'So what? He is a mong. And you don't want him here either. I've heard you tel ing Dad.'
    "You shouldn't have been listening! I won't tel you again-' She broke off as Ben came in. 'Oh.' She hastily tried to assemble a smile. "We, er … we were just-' Tes, I heard.' He went over to Jacob. The boy sat with his chin tucked on his chest, eyes downcast. Ben's jaw muscles hurt to think of him sitting there as they talked about him. 'Come on, Jacob, time to go home,' he said, taking his hand. He shot a glare at Scott, who was sul enly staring at the table. 'Thanks for dinner, Maggie. Tel Colin I'l talk to him later.'
    'Ben, there's no need to … I mean, I don't want you to think-'
    'Don't bother to get up.' She stil fol owed them into the hal way, smiling anxiously.
    'Are you sure you won't stay for dessert?'
    'I don't think so, Maggie.' He opened the door and went out before she could say anything else. His Golf was parked further up the street. He hoisted Jacob up and carried him, even though it wasn't far.
    He felt he wanted to cry. He thought about Maggie again and let himself feel angry instead.
    He set Jacob down when he reached the car. As he unlocked it there was a shout He turned to see Colin hurrying from his BMW. There was no sign of Maggie.
    "Where're you going?' Colin asked, breathlessly.
    'Jacob's tired, so