“Uncle Dob’s Visit”

The ride home from Coffs had been a quiet one, both men lost in their thoughts. Colin – worrying about the paternity suit Richie was handling for him and Adam about the potential danger awaiting him back at home. The argument the two had had on the ride to the clinic still lingered in the back of their minds as well. Sure, Adam had managed to get a grip of himself and reign in his temper, but he was still quietly fuming and knew things weren’t completely worked out between them. Colin wasn’t one to just let things slide, he knew this, especially when it came to his sister.

Adam’s jaw was clenched tight when they pulled up in front of Colin’s house and saw the big black SUV parked in the drive.

“Who the fuck is that?” Colin asked as he grabbed his crutches and lifted himself out of the car and headed up to the front porch. He wasn’t in the mood for visitors today, especially unannounced ones.

Adam hesitated a moment. Shit, Dob was already there – inside – with his wife! He slammed his hands on the steering wheel, then quickly jumped out of the car and followed Colin up to the house.

“Hey baby, you’re home!” Raine greeted him at the door. “Look who dropped by to see you.” She smiled, indicating the large man sitting on the couch.

“G’day, mate,” Dob said, trying his best to sound friendly, though Adam knew better. This man was dangerous and here he fucking was – sitting here alone with his wife!

Adam quickly composed himself, not wishing to frighten Raine. He cleared his throat, managed a slight smile, “Um... g’day, Dob,” Adam replied, hesitantly, “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

“No worries, mate,” Dob grinned an eerie toothy grin, “You’re lovely wife here was kind enough to keep me company while I waited.”

“Oh, it was my pleasure, Mr. Finley, really,” Raine beamed at him, as she sat back down in an armchair across from him.

“Please, call me Uncle Dob,” he told her, taking her hand and giving it a pat.

“Oh, okay, Uncle Dob,” she giggled, then turned to Adam, “why didn’t you tell me you had an uncle living in the area, Adam? We could have invited him over for dinner sooner.”

Adam’s eyes lowered, his gaze never moving off of the man sitting on the couch, pretending to be a rellie of his. It disgusted him, how he had the nerve to sit there all smug like – talking sweetly to Adam’s wife – all the while he was most likely plotting Adam’s demise. His face became hot with anger, his mind racing as he tried to control the rage he was feeling inside. “I...um...I only just found out he was around,” Adam lied, taking a seat on the couch so he was positioned between Raine’s chair and Dob.

“Nice to meet ya, Dob,” Colin said, extending a hand towards the man. “I’m Colin O’Brien, Raine’s brother.”

“Colin... oh yes, Raine has been telling me all about you,” Dob smiled, firmly shaking his extended hand. “You own the garage Adam has been working at, very kind of you, yes, very kind.”

“He was kind enough to fill in for me while I’m out with this bum leg,” Colin replied, setting his crutches aside and sitting down in a chair. “Seriously, don’t know what I would have done without him, saved my business.”

Adam listened to Colin chatting away with Dob, Raine chiming in here and there. His eyes lowered, never leaving Dob. His stomach was churning. He knew Dob was up to something, but what? He waited until the conversations lulled and he spoke up, “So... um... Uncle Dob,” he nearly puked calling this man ‘uncle’, “perhaps we should get going? It’s getting late and I know you have business to attend to.”

“Oh, but he only just got here, Adam,” Raine chimed in, “Please, Uncle Dob, won’t you stay for dinner?”

“Raine...,” Adam started, but was interrupted by Dob.

“That’d be brilliant, luv,” he smiled at her, “It’s been a while since I’ve had a home cooked meal, and I do want to get to know both you and your brother here.” He turned to Colin, “If it’s okay with you, that is?”

Colin looked over at Adam, the lad was sweating something fierce. He could tell Adam was uncomfortable with his uncle being here and he wanted nothing more than to get rid of the man as quickly as possible. But why?

He cleared his throat, “I...um...actually, I had hoped your nephew here would drive me into town. I’ve got some more business there myself this afternoon, and he mentioned taking you out for lunch. Besides,” he turned to Raine, “Last I checked, we were shit outta food in the house, luv. Haven’t had the time to get ‘round to the market yet.”

Raine sighed, nodded. “Yes, that’s right, I was going to do the shopping after lunch. Sorry.”

“No worries,” Dob told her, patting her knee. “I’m sure there will be plenty of other opportunities for us to visit soon.” His eyes cut over to Adam, a slight sneer spread across his face.

Dob’s tone and meaning weren’t lost on Adam. It was all he could do to control the urge he had to break the man’s fingers when he had touched his wife’s knee. He stood up, motioning for Dob to do the same, as he lead the man to the front door. “Colin, perhaps we should get going, mate. I can drop you off in town, then Uncle Dob and I can stop in at Andy’s, get a quick bite to eat, and I’ll drop back by to pick you up afterwards. If that suits you?”

Colin looked at him suspiciously, nodded, “Yeah, yeah, that suits me fine. Thanks.”

“Good,” he replied, relieved that Colin had obviously picked up on the fact that he wanted Dob out of there. “Oh, Raine, luv,” he said, turning to his wife, “Perhaps you might call that friend of yours to take you to the market?”

“Friend... umm... Adam?” she asked, but was interrupted by Colin.

“Yeah, I’m sure Abby would love to go shopping with you,” Colin told her, “and you’d be doing her a favor by getting her out of the house. She can use the company after everything she’s been through.” Raine had mentioned earlier that day to Colin that she wanted to have a chat with Abby on Colin’s behalf, but Colin had nixed the idea and told her not to interfere in his love-life. Strange, she though to herself, that he would now have a change of mind.

“Abby? Oh... yes, I swear, I don’t know why that girl won’t give you the time of day, Colin. There’s no accounting for taste, I suppose, but I’ll give her a call, see if I can put in a good word for you with her.”

“Ta, luv,” he told her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“Give us a call when you’re at the market, luv,” Adam told her. Though Dob was leaving with him, he still feared for her safety. Adam knew Dob had other men – dangerous men – working for him, and any one of them could in fact be watching and waiting for his wife to be alone and that worried him.

“Um... okay,” Raine told him, wondering why he was acting so strangely. She shrugged it off as she watched the trio drive away towards town, then closed the door and went to call on Abby.