Inspired by the current new episode
of the series showing at the time this was written - 10pm, Jan 4th
2004, ITV.
Sun Set
by elfin
The evening sun was setting, the night still warm.
Cully found her father sitting at the picnic table, an untouched glass
of red wine in front of him, his arms crossed, looking out across the
garden to the trees beyond.
She watched him for a time, seeing the slump of his posture. The
weight of the world had been on those shoulders for the last three
weeks. Ever since Troy had left Midsommer for more northerly
climates.
His replacement, Daniel, was sitting chatting to her mum in their
lounge. Her Dad didn't want him here, in his house, where Troy
had been so welcome.
Not only in his house.
She approached him carefully, sliding her arm around his shoulders and
straddling the bench next to him.
He didn't speak, but when she leaned her head against his arm, he
turned and pressed a kiss into her hair.
They sat like that for a long time. She stole a sip of his wine.
It was a while before she realised he was crying silently.
Tightening her arm, she pulled him into her. "Oh, Dad...."
He swiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm sorry...."
"Don't be," she reassured him. "Please. I understand, I
really do."
"I miss him. So very much."
She nodded against his shoulder. "I know."
She did know. She'd worked it out almost immediately, although it
had taken her a time to realise it.
He and Troy had been inseparable. They picked one another up on
the way to work, Troy had evening meals and breakfasts with them.
They were friends. They were close.
Then one morning she'd dropped in to visit her father
unannounced. Her mum was away staying with her aunt Jess and they
were both worried that Tom wouldn't take good enough care of himself.
Troy was in the kitchen, mug of coffee in his hands. Her father
was frying eggs. Neither looked the least bit disturbed by her
visit and at the time she hadn't thought anything of it. But all
day she'd been nagged by the feeling that something hadn't been right.
It was only a couple of weeks later when she'd stopped by again one
morning, after her mum had returned, that she realised what it was that
had been out of place.
Neither her father nor Troy had been wearing ties.
She hadn't uttered a word, she'd simply watched them from a
distance. And nothing else out of the ordinary had happened, not
for a couple of months. Not until the police conference in London
when both her father and Troy had been gone for three days, attending
on behalf of the Midsomer force.
On his return he'd been... different. Smiling more. Like
that morning in the kitchen when he hadn't been wearing his tie.
To her surprise, she hadn't felt anger. Just a surge of love so
strong that first chance she got, she took her father to the pub,
bought him several cold beers and just before they'd left, told him
that she loved him, that she was proud of him. She'd told him
that she loved Troy too.
He'd paled but her hug as they'd walked back home had reassured
him. He'd reassured her too.
It wasn't serious. He and Troy had simply found some common
ground. They weren't particularly attracted to one another, well
- Tom found Troy annoying but completely gorgeous and Troy thought Tom
was a pain in the ass. Most of the time.
Her father still loved her mother. That wasn't going to change.
But something had changed. Over time, the feelings between the
two men had deepened until Troy had decided to leave. A change of
scenery would do him good he'd told Tom one late night.
Maybe her father had accepted it. Maybe he'd been able to believe
that Troy might hate it up north and come back to their quiet if
sometimes violent little haven.
Maybe he had. Until Daniel had arrived. Now it was real.
"One day, Dad," Cully murmured to him softly. "Maybe he'll be at
the Police Conference next year."
Tom turned his head. He regarded his daughter with a growing
smile. And eventually he returned her hug.
"Thank you."
"I love you, Dad. I know you love Mum. And I know you loved
him."
Slowly he nodded. Maybe. Maybe.
fin
elfin
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