Coming Home Pt. 02

"Hi Bel, come on in. I've already opened the wine." She chuckled.

Shepherding her friend inside Mackenzie poured her a glass, topping up her own, and then sat back in her chair.

"So, tell all." Belinda asked again, "How did it go?"

Deciding to leave out any mention of her interaction with the slimy Charles Marwell she gave her friend a summary of her first day.

"It was ok. Busy, but I have an assistant, Amanda. So that helped a lot. I've just got to get used to delegating stuff to her."

"Sounds positive."

Mackenzie took a mouthful of her drink before continuing, "Yeah it was, it was just when I went to collect Tabs that the evening went to shit."

"Oh, what happened?"

"After I left the office I went straight to the coffee shop to collect Tabitha and found mum talking to some bloody soldier."

"Really?" Suddenly Belinda was even more curious, "What did he want? I thought all the stuff with your brother was over and done with."

"I never gave him the chance to say." Mackenzie smiled as she remembered sending Sean off with a flea in his ear, "I let him know he wasn't wanted and pretty much threw him out of the café."

"Didn't your mum say anything about why he was there?"

"Apparently he told her that he had been with Liam when he was killed and that he had promised him that he'd come and see her." She continued her voice shaking with emotion, "But like I said to mum if he'd made a vow to do that he would have come to the funeral.

"So, I told him straight he wasn't wanted and maybe he should find out what it's like to lose someone you loved before you start to lie to those who have."

"Well, I suppose he could have come. Although he might not have got leave for it."

"I'm pretty sure if he was telling the truth he would have got there somehow unless he was dying or something." She snorted derisively, taking another swallow of her wine.

Belinda gave her a puzzled look, "He didn't happen to say what his name was did he?"

"Err.... mum said it was Sam or something. I don't really recall." She lied without knowing why, "I was too bloody angry at him for being there to pay a lot of attention."

"It wasn't Sean was it. Sean Parkes?"

"Err.... yes, that's it. How do you know?" Mackenzie looked at her friend with surprise.

"He's one of my husband's best friends. They served together before Denny got out."

"Sorry but that doesn't mean he..."

"He was in command of the patrol when Liam was killed." Belinda interrupted her, "According to what Denny heard he held your brother in his arms as he died."

Mackenzie's face drained of its colour and she sat and stared at her friend open-mouthed.

"So, he... he was telling the truth."

"Yeah, he was." Belinda nodded, "I've known Sean for almost as long as I've known Denny and, for the record, he's a really decent bloke. He was the best man at our wedding."

"But then why wasn't he at the funeral?"

"He was pretty cut up over Liam apparently but he was badly wounded in the attack. Denny told me he was in hospital for nearly three months. Almost died so he heard."

"Shit!" Mackenzie swore, "I... I didn't realise... I said some really horrible things to him."

"My husband said he was awarded a medal for saving the lives of three Afghan policemen and the rest of his patrol."

"Oh God... I didn't know..."

"And you're comment about losing someone you care about." Belinda took a deep breath, "You couldn't be more wrong."

"Oh no, he... he didn't...."

"He and Denny lost a few friends over there, including Liam. Every one of them was a Marine and like a brother."

Completely mortified by her earlier behaviour and the things she had said Mackenzie sat back, feeling sick, her eyes filling with tears.

"Don't worry about it Kenz. Sean's a good bloke, he'll understand."

Shaking her head, she stared back at her friend as she began to cry, "No, he won't I... I said some things and...."

'If it was him all those years ago he certainly wouldn't want her now.'

She couldn't tell Belinda about that, she hadn't told anyone, not even her mother.

"Look I have to get back to Denny but I'll ask him to apologise for you if or when he sees Sean." Belinda drank the remains of her wine and stood up.

"Thanks, that makes me feel a bit better." She sniffed and wiped her eyes as she showed her friend out.

"Don't worry about it hon."

Despite her friend's reassurance Mackenzie struggled to focus on anything for the rest of the evening, unable to get Sean Parkes out of her mind. She had been angry when she had found him in the coffee shop, but she knew it wasn't that that bothered her so much.

'He was telling the truth about being with Liam.'

'The things she had said to him.'

Sitting with tears streaming down her cheeks she tried to put all her thoughts about the Marine aside but she couldn't. The hateful things she had said to him kept coming back to haunt her. But there was something else, something about him that had got under her skin.

'Could it be him?'

'Surely not, not after eight years.'

If it was him she knew there was no way he would want anything to do with her now, not after all the vile accusations she had thrown at him and the way she had kicked him out of the café.

Eventually she gave up trying to work and headed up to bed knowing sleep would be hard to come by.

Laying under her duvet she stared up at the ceiling turning things over in her head, slowly convincing herself of something she already knew in her heart.

Chapter 05 - SEAN

Walking out of the coffee shop Sean continued on down the street, trying to forget the things Mackenzie Frane had said to him. She was the girl from the hotel all those years ago, he was certain of that, he could never forget those eyes. But clearly she hated everything to do with the Marines, him included, and was obviously with someone now, judging by the fact she had a daughter.

Eventually he was able to hail a passing cab and dumping his kitbags in the back he sat down, giving the driver the address. Finally, he started to reflect on the haranguing he had just been given by an incredibly pretty but very angry young woman.

The fact she had been upset by his presence and wasn't over her brother's death was understandable. He was well aware that he wasn't either. However, there had been something, something she aroused in him that he hadn't ever expected to feel again.

Not that it mattered. She was married now and he had to try to forget about her.

'After 8 years, he still felt the same way about her.'

That one simple thought made him smile to himself.

Sitting in the back of the cab he was still trying to come to terms with the feelings she had provoked in him, feelings he had experienced once before with her on the night they had met. The fact she was now unobtainable and out of reach made the realisation that she was the girl he had dreamt about even more painful.

He was lost in his reflections when the cabbie's voice jerked him out of his musing.

"We're ere mate." It was just a simple statement from the driver telling him they had arrived but to him it meant a whole lot more.

"Oh right... thanks... how much is it?"

"Call it a tenner."

Hauling his bags out of the cab he paid the fare including a tip.

"Thanks pal. Enjoy yer leave. Don't do nuffin I wouldn't." The taxi driver winked, his cheerful friendly grin making Sean smile and forget for a moment where he was.

Watching the black cab drive away he took a deep breath and turned his attention to the house directly across the road.

Built in the thirties the semi-detached property looked much like it had when he had left eight years earlier. There were a few changes; new double glazing had been installed, the car in the drive was different and he could see some new tiles on the roof. However, most of it was just as he remembered even down to the small, neat garden, his mother's pride and joy.

Standing there staring at his boyhood home he couldn't help but think that perhaps he should have made an attempt to contact his family or even to come back sooner.

However, after that evening when he had walked out, the anger had remained for a very long time. He had been nearly 19 then and wanted to live his life, not the one his father wanted him to, and the only way he could do that was to leave.

'Would his father still be angry?

'He had told him never to come back.'

'Would any of them want to see him after all this time?'

'Would Briony forgive him for staying away so long?'

Indecision gripped him again and he could feel his stomach tying itself in knots.

Every time he had reconciled himself to coming home, the same thoughts had crept back into his mind. They had followed him for the whole of his journey from Plymouth back to now, and standing here on the pavement looking across at the house, he couldn't help but wonder if he should turn around and walk away.

He shook his head, pushing the unwanted negative images aside, at least for the moment, and picking up his bags he crossed the street before pausing momentarily at the front gate.

'What if no one was home?'

Quickly dismissing the notion, remembering that the car was in the drive, he took a deep breath and steeling himself for whatever might happen he walked slowly up the path and knocked at the front door.

"Coming."

Sean held his breath when he heard his mother's voice from inside, his heart starting to thump against his ribs with anticipation.

"What can I....."

Maureen Parkes stopped mid-sentence and stared open-mouthed for several long seconds at the uniformed figure of her son standing in front of her.

"S... Sean... is.... is it really.... you?" Her eyes filled with tears and her voice was little more than a whisper when she finally spoke.

"Hello mum. How are you?"

"Oh Sean... oh sweetheart." She cried out and flung her arms about him, sobbing uncontrollably as she clung on to her only son as if he were about to disappear in front of her eyes.

Swallowing back his own emotions he held her, feeling her trembling when he put his arms around her. Tears soaking into his uniform for the second time that day.

"You're here... oh Sean.... I can't believe it. You're actually here." Finally lifting her face away from her son's chest, she smiled at him, tears still flowing freely down her face.

"Who is it Maureen?"

Their emotional reunion was interrupted by Frank Parkes stepping into the hallway to see who was at the door.

"Hello dad." Sean kept his arm about his mother but he held out his other hand in a gesture of reconciliation, "How are you?"

"Sean!" His father looked at him in complete disbelief, "What the fuck...."

Time seemed to stand still as the two men looked at each other. Each waiting for the other to say something. That was when Maureen finally broke the silence that had descended on them.

"That's it. I've had enough of this silly argument. My son's home and you can either accept it or not Frank Parkes."

Staring at his son the older man paused, considering what his wife had just said.

"I mean it Frank. As God is my judge I mean it."

Frank nodded.

"Your mother's right. It's been too long." Sean's father stepped forwards and begrudgingly took hold of his outstretched hand, "How have you been son?"

"Pretty good thanks dad, how about you?"

"Sean! What are you wearing?"

Before Frank could respond Maureen Parkes broke in to their conversation her eyes widening as she suddenly realised her son was in uniform.

Sean stepped back so they could both see him properly, unable to do anything but grin at their expressions on their faces as they stared at him.

"I joined the Royal Marines. Been in eight years now."

"The Marines? Why? We thought you had gone off to university or whatever." His father said more than a little surprised at his son's announcement.

"Well, whatever you did, you're home now." His mother hugged him again, not giving him a chance to answer as she shepherded him in through the front door, "Now come on inside. I'll make you a cup of tea and then I'll call your sister. Then you can tell us what you've been up to."

He hadn't even finished his tea when, barely twenty minutes later, the front door burst open and Sean found his younger sister, Briony, standing in front of him.

"Sean!"

Uttering just the one word she burst into tears and flew across the room to fling herself into his arms.

"Hello Bri."

"Oh God... I missed you so much." Sobbing uncontrollably, she clung to her older brother just as their mother had done.

"I missed you to."

Finally stepping back away from him she wiped her eyes and punched his arm, "Why didn't you write or something? I got your first letter then nothing."

"I was kind of busy and I thought everyone hated me." As he answered her his eyes took in the man standing quietly by the door, holding a baby in his arms and he froze, his face turning pale.

Noticing the direction in which he was staring Briony grinned, "Sean, meet Danny, my husband, and that little bundle he's holding is Angie, your niece."

"Sean? What's up?" Maureen Parkes immediately noticed his reaction.

"Niece?" He managed to mumble.

"Mmhhmm... that's right." His sister giggled, "I've grown up while you were away."

"Things really have changed while I was gone, haven't they." Composing himself he finally held out his hand and stepped forwards, "Pleased to meet you Danny."

"Nice to meet you too Sean." Somewhat awkwardly the pair shook hands as he stared at the baby.

"So, what have you been doing?" Briony interrupted them, "It had better have been important to stop you writing to me."

"I was..... overseas." He said quietly, "Amongst other things."

"Nowhere dangerous I hope." Maureen interjected, a nervous expression on her face,

"Iraq and Afghan mostly."

"Oh God." The room went silent and his mother put her hand to her mouth, "But... but you're... you're ok aren't you?"

"I was wounded on my last tour. I've only recently come out of hospital."

"Hospital!" His mother went pale.

"You're Denny Foulkes mate aren't you?"

Briony's husband who had been standing to the side quietly listening to the conversation finally spoke.

"Yeah. That's me." Sean confirmed hesitantly, "Do you know Denny?"

"Yeah his wife Belinda is how I met Briony." Danny told him before turning to his wife, "You know your brother's a hero don't you Bri. Denny told me he's been awarded some medal for bravery. Apparently he was almost killed saving his patrol."

"Almost.... killed." His mother gasped, the colour draining from her face even more, "How badly... I mean you were in hospital....?"

"I was just wounded." Sean corrected him, "It was a few months back, when my patrol was ambushed and I was hit a couple of times."

Quietly, and without adding any unnecessary drama he told them about the attack, playing down how badly he had been injured, and his subsequent hospitalisation, both in Camp Bastion and at Portsmouth.

"But you're alright now?" Maureen Parkes had remained a deathly pale colour as her son told the story.

"Yes mum, I'm fine now." Sean smiled reassuringly, "I've just got to do all the exercises that my physio has given me."

"Sean." Frank Parkes came across to his son and embraced him, "I'm so sorry. We should have been there for you."

It was a major step in thawing the dark and depressing atmosphere that had hung over the family and Sean's relationship with his father for the past eight years.

Over the rest of the evening the mood improved and Sean got to know his family again as he told them about his time as a Marine and some of the places he had been. Although he made sure he left out some of the more gruesome moments.

"So, what brings you home now?" His sister asked at a break in the conversation, "Not that we aren't pleased you're here."

"Ah well that's another story."

"We aren't going anywhere honey." Maureen Parkes chipped in, also wanting to hear his answer to the question.

"When I was wounded a.... a young Marine was killed." He told them quietly, "I held him in my arms as he died."

"Oh God Sean." His sister gasped, "That... that must have been awful."

He nodded, "It was. He was just eighteen. It was then that I realised I had had enough. I've decided I'm not going back."

"Thank goodness for that." His mother said with relief before turning her attention to more mundane matters, "Now what would everyone like to eat?"

It was getting late and after a brief discussion it was agreed that they would all have fish and chips which, of course, Frank insisted on paying for.

After the delayed supper Briony and her husband said a temporary goodbye to Sean before heading home with their baby, leaving him to spend another hour or two with his parents before retiring to his childhood bedroom.

Laying in his old room he stared up at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to come, and reflected on his day. It had been the roller coaster of emotions he had anticipated although not necessarily with the people he had expected. He certainly hadn't thought that his sister would be married and he felt a twinge of regret at the things he had missed in her life.

He had definitely predicted that his father would be more recalcitrant about welcoming him home but after relating the sad tale of his last tour there had been a complete change in his demeanour.

What really perplexed him however, was Mackenzie Frane's reaction to him. The woman clearly disliked him intensely.

'Had she recognised him?'

'If she had could that be the reason for disliking him?'

That didn't seem likely though.

Although she had been angry he was sure he would have noticed if she had realised who he was.

'Or was it that she just hated the military?'

Perhaps it was that.

The more he thought about it the more he felt fairly certain that it was just the sight of his uniform that was the problem. That and the fact she wasn't properly over her brother's death.

He had known who she was though, the moment he looked into her blue eyes he had recognised her. That was when he had felt emotions inside him that he thought he had suppressed along with memories of her, eight years ago, rise to the surface.

Immediately he put all of those thoughts out of his mind. She was obviously married or with someone, she had a daughter after all. With everything he had gone through with Robyn only recently he certainly wasn't looking to break up someone's marriage.

Rolling over he focused on his parents and his sister. In many ways his return home had gone better than he expected, that was for sure, but there had been other unsettling moments and he hoped the rest of the week would be a little calmer.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Getting up early the next morning Sean went out for an easy 5-mile run and returned to his parent's garden to go through the vigorous 30-minute exercise routine the physio at the hospital had given him.

It was a warm morning and, without thinking, he took off his t-shirt to finish his workout before entering the house. Surprised to find his mother in the kitchen drinking her morning coffee, along with his sister, he paused in the doorway.

"Coffee or tea?" Maureen Parkes asked as she went to the kettle.

"Coffee please mum." He smiled, wiping down his sweat streaked torso with his top, "Hi sis."

Briony looked at him and raised an eyebrow, her gaze wandering over his body, taking in the scars, a couple of them still quite vivid, as well as his muscles.

"My big brother is certainly a lot hotter now." She giggled, "You'll be fighting all the girls off."

"You do realise that just sounds really creepy when my little sister says it." He grinned back at her, "And as for girls there's no one in my life."