Free The Escape by Lynda La Plante

see and
hold his baby boy. It’s only right.’
    Karen hugged her little boy close and started crying. Her mother had to go and fetch a box of tissues, as she had started crying, too. Only her father was still surly and unforgiving, as he
refused to believe a word of what Barry had told them.
    ‘You’ve got to visit him, Karen. I will drive you there and back whenever you want to see him,’ Barry said.
    ‘No grandson of mine is going to be taken to a bloody prison. Having my daughter married to that man is bad enough.’
    Barry stood up, facing Karen’s father.
    ‘That’s not fair. You know that he was straight during the time he was working for you. He was doing good and got his life on track. Are you saying that doesn’t count for
anything? Didn’t he work hard for you? Didn’t he love your daughter? Won’t you at least help a man who risked everything to be with Karen when she gave birth? Your son-in-law is
not a bad bloke, but you leave him inside with no hope and he will turn bad.’
    Karen’s father was still not convinced and his wife asked to speak to him alone in the kitchen while she made a pot of tea.
    ‘Are you blind?’ his wife asked.
    ‘What do you mean by that?’
    ‘Can’t you tell how much Karen misses Colin? Deep down she still loves him so, when we go back in there, you will support her decision, whatever it is. Do I make myself
clear?’
    Her husband paused. ‘Yes, if that’s what you want,’ he finally agreed.
    They went back into the living room, carrying the tea and a tray of biscuits.
    ‘Do you want to see him?’ Karen’s father asked, though it was still clear that he disapproved.
    Karen looked at her mother. She had always found it difficult to stand up to her father, even more so lately, as she and the baby were living under his roof. Her mother nodded and Karen turned
to her father.
    ‘I want to see him, Dad. I don’t know if we’ll ever get back together, but I need to see him and at least talk to him. Colin has the right to see Justin and, as he’s just
a baby, he won’t even know he’s in a prison.’
    It was agreed and that, whenever Karen was ready to visit, Barry would drive her there. Barry was able to drive home feeling that he had finally done the right thing. His own
life had changed greatly since the escape and, unlike Colin’s, it was entirely for the better. Now he hoped that his dear friend’s life would change for the better as well.

Chapter Eighteen
    The visit from Barry had made Colin face the truth. He was destroying himself, drowning in self-pity and letting the system win. He decided to do whatever he could to improve
his life. He signed on for anger-management therapy. Perhaps with expert help, he could control his stammer, and find a better way to deal with all of his unruly feelings. He was also accepted onto
a writing course, which gave him a chance to express himself and something new to think about.
    Colin’s stammer didn’t go away, but he found that nothing halted the flow of words when he wrote things down. Writing helped him communicate and feel better about himself. His
rehabilitation was not immediate, but what drastically raised his spirits was the news that Karen was going to come and visit him.
    Barry was as good as his word. When Karen wanted a visit, he collected her and waited in the car park for her to come out again. He never asked to see his old friend then,
because he felt they needed the time to be together as a family. He visited on his own, and as often as he could.
    After a few visits, Karen brought Justin, who could now stand and totter along, to meet his dad.
    Colin was sitting, waiting expectantly. When he saw Karen heading towards him, and holding his son’s tiny hand, he felt an incredible joy.
    ‘This is your daddy,’ she said as they drew close.
    Colin opened his arms and the little boy was unsure for a moment, and then said ‘Dada’, before holding out his arms, too. Colin realised Karen must