Mouse

chapter eleven

My father was delighted when I told him I could meet up with him before the end of the week. So we arranged it for two days later in the afternoon. He gave me the address where he now lived, I would have liked to met him on his own byt his wife would be there too

Paul pointed out he was probably as nervous as me and needed his wife around him as back up support him, when he came face to face with me.

I decided this was probably a plausible reason, and decided it was just something I would have to deal with, at least it was good he had that support there for him.

I, on the other hand, would have Ricardo with me.

I found him later, working out on the special gym equipment. Thankfully it was on ground level.

I told him about the arrangements I made with my father hoping he wasn't going to be awkward about it, and say that he wouldn't be able to take me after all.

But he made no objections about the day and the time.

I had made sure I had picked a day I knew Ricardo wouldn't be performing in the afternoon. Then just as I thought everything was going smoothly, he frowned thoughtfully at me

You know your Aunt Lizzie is not very happy with you going through with this"

"My Aunt Lizzie is never happy with anything I do anyway," I replied with a small sigh

"So how did you get in contact with your father in the first place to make all these arrangements?" Ricardo now asked with open curiosity. "At first I assumed it was through your Aunt, but she told me she is having nothing to do with it"

It was hard for me not to squirm under his dark gaze, I shrugged my shoulders lightly, "Paul let me use his phone," I told him, in what I hoped was a casual tone, but my heart was beating like crazy inside my chest.

"Paul?" Ricardo questioned with a frown, as if didn't have a clue who I was talking about. But then I realised why should he, as I suddenly recalled Paul's words about Ricardo practically ignoring him

" Y'know P-Paul Baxter, he is one of the new clowns who joined the circus a few weeks back," I then said unable to look Ricardo in the eye

"Oh," Ricardo finally replied unable to hide the surprise in his tone, "I see"

Up until now I realised, he had been totally unaware of my friendship with Paul, and I had wanted to keep it that way. But that was no longer an option

And why him?" he then demanded with interest.

"Because when he heard about my situation, he wanted to help. He is just a nice person" I said.

"Paul is that chubby guy from the circus school, who is always messing about acting the clown, even when he is not performing?" Ricardo then realised with a small frown

"Yes that's him," I replied feeling more uneasy.

"So you went up to him and told him and all about your father; just like that? And he just let you have his phone?" Ricardo's tone was casual, but I didn't miss the slight edge in it

"Not exactly," Now I was squirming, I wasn't sure why, after all there was nothing going on except an innocent friendship.. I had nothing to hide

"Since Paul joined the circus we have sort of become friends . So when I got the letter from my father I needed to talk with some one who could be objective, and didn't have some personal connection with me and my background.. H-he offered to listen and help me, that's all," I then explained, feeling my face burning