Free Crossfire by James Moloney

with the cat all happened this morning, you say.’ She was looking around quickly as she said this as though she expected to find the culprit still present, or Alison lying prone on the carpet.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Aunty Belinda. Things sort of got a bit confused.’
    Luke heard his own voice say ‘Aunty Belinda’ and he cringed. It made him sound so childish. He had been hoping for over a year that she would quietly give him permission to drop the ‘Aunty’, as many of his friends were allowed to do with their relatives. But no such invitation had yet been issued.
    Luke hoped he wouldn’t have to tell the story of the attack in detail, but knew this was a forlorn wish. His aunt was about to burst forth with the dozens of questions which welled inside her when Danielle emerged from the kitchen.
    Luke reacted quickly. ‘Aunty, this is Danielle. She picked me up from the hospital and brought me home.’
    â€˜Hello, Danielle,’ beamed Luke’s aunt. ‘I’m Belinda Watty, Alison’s sister. We can’t thank you enough for leaping into the breach. Luke would have been in real straits without you.’
    Danielle managed a smile but Luke could see that she was suddenly uneasy, even embarrassed. ‘Oh, please, anyone would have done the same. Luke has been no bother.’ Indicating with a shrug of her shoulder the kitchen behind, she went on: ‘Your dinner is nearly ready, Luke. Then I’ll have to be off. Your aunt’s here to stay with you now.’
    While Luke ate his sausages, Belinda and Danielle fell into a predictable discussion over the bizarre attack, but even as they talked, Danielle retrieved her handbag from an armchair and made for the door. Belinda followed to see her out. She looked a little puzzled. ‘Thank you again, Danielle. Alison is fortunate to have someone like you so close at hand.’
    Danielle’s face coloured, but she was safely out of the door now. ‘I was glad to help out, Belinda, but actually, I’ve hardly even met your sister. Goodnight!’ she called, by this time at the bottom of the stairs. Then she was gone, leaving Luke to explain that last remark to his perplexed aunt.
    He knew why Danielle had looked so uncomfortable when Belinda walked in. It all had to do with the divorce. It was stale news to him now, but he knew that its power still lingered to distress the rest of his family.
    â€˜Luke, what did she mean just then? I thought she lived here, as a boarder.’
    â€˜That’s Sally you’re thinking of, Aunty Belinda. Danielle is Dad’s friend.’ Luke was determined he wouldn’t give away any more than he had to.
    â€˜Your father’s friend? You mean his girlfriend?’
    Luke shrugged. No one ever used that term. It was never said. There didn’t need to be a word. Danielle lived in the house that Wayne rented and they went everywhere together. But Luke never actually thought of Danielle as his Dad’s ‘ girl /friend’.
    â€˜Why did she need to be here?’ demanded Belinda, as though Danielle was some kind of petty criminal who shouldn’t be allowed through the door. Only a few minutes before, Belinda had been chatting away pleasantly with her, making gentle purrs of gratitude.
    â€˜I needed help to get home from the hospital. Dad wasn’t home, so Danielle volunteered to pick me up. Pretty good of her, really. We’re not her family, after all.’ Luke thought it was unfair of his aunt to take this tone when Danielle had gone out of her way to help. He was becoming angry.
    Belinda’s next remark didn’t help. She was just warming up. ‘That would be right. Your useless father. He was never around when he was needed years ago. It doesn’t surprise me that he hasn’t changed.’
    â€˜But Belinda,’ said Luke, deciding in his annoyance to dispense with the childish ‘aunty’ whether she liked it or