I suppose it's natural for all mothers to worry how their children will cope at university - mine was no exception. Even though I'd always been a very independent child, Mum somehow doubted my ability to survive in one of the most civilised cities in England. She was convinced I'd starve, freeze or otherwise blunder my way into catastrophe within a week of arriving in Cambridge.
So, at the end of June, she'd worked out a three-month plan to 'domesticate' me - teaching me how to cook, wash, clean and iron (not that I was lacking in any of those skills) and trying to keep me away from any farm duties. We'd struck a compromise deal, whereby I'd cook the evening meal for the family on the days when I was working the early shift at the Campsite (maybe two or three times a week) and I'd make a half-arsed attempt at doing my own laundry (at least some of the time). Recovering from my injuries after the attack had called a temporary halt to Mum's scheming, but I was pressed back to my chores as soon as I returned to work.
I enjoyed cooking. I hadn't been a novice at the start of the summer by any means, but having a regular commitment of preparing a meal for my parents (sometimes joined by my girlfriend) had given me an opportunity to hone my abilities and to experiment a little. As working at the Campsite and then at the Stables had turned to routine, I found (to my mother's delight) an opportunity for creative expression in my food. Dad was less thrilled; he was a man of simple tastes and preferred the traditional carb-laden British stodge to the more exotic dishes that I placed in front of him.
But despite my 'newfound' culinary prowess, Mum somehow still doubted the remainder of my domestic skills. We'd very nearly come to blows the weekend before I was due to leave, when she'd accused me of intending to go to university with only two pairs of jeans and a few faded t-shirts. She'd dragged me up to Kingston for a six-hour shopping marathon, to make sure I was "fully ready for the winter" (whatever the fuck that meant). I was met with a withering stare when I protested that I was sure they had clothes shops in Cambridge and that I could buy what I required when the need arose.
Mum's machinations aside, it had been a very quiet few weeks; all my friends (including Amy) had left for uni in mid-September and their departures had been followed by a flurry of photos on social media as they threw themselves headlong into the excesses of Freshers' Week. Everyone was drinking, dancing, partying - except me; my life was on hold as I waited for my term to begin.
I say 'all my friends', but there had been one exception - that was Billy; his term at Durham didn't start quite as late as mine, but he'd left for the north of England at least a week after everyone else.
I'd been unsure what to do about Billy ever since the attack. Clearly Amy and I owed him a great debt of gratitude for what he'd done that night, but it wasn't as simple as pretending we were suddenly best friends. Apart from having been at the same school for the previous seven years, seemingly we had nothing in common. I was apprehensive about going for a drink or a meal with him - what would we talk about after the first ten minutes of banal pleasantries?
By chance, Jackie (my boss at the Stables) was the one to provide the solution; as a birthday treat, her husband had bought her tickets for the theatre, but the date ended up clashing with a hospital appointment for her mother and so she offered them to me instead. Had my girlfriend been around, we'd have undoubtedly gone together but, to my cynical mind, this was a perfect way spend the time I owed Billy, without having to converse.
We met outside the auditorium with about fifteen minutes to curtain up and went straight through to take our seats. He was a little nervous and we'd exhausted the small talk on our preparations for uni by the time the house lights dimmed. I was steeling myself for more awkward chat as the evening progressed.
Despite my misgivings, the evening was a great success. There were two one-act plays on the billing - both comedies - well acted with witty scripts. We were both roaring with laughter within minutes and, by the intermission, Billy was a completely changed person - fully relaxed and enjoying himself. The conversation between us flowed easily, so easily in fact that the two of us decided to grab a quick drink together before getting the train home.
The other person I'd met up with, was Charlie. I'd worked with him up at the Campsite, but he'd stayed on into September when I'd switched over to the Stables. He was also a Cambridge undergraduate, studying engineering, and would be going into his second year as I started my first. We'd talked quite a bit about what to expect and he'd put some of my anxieties to rest. If everyone at Cambridge was like Charlie, I was going to get on just fine.
I dawdled through the farmyard, saying goodbye to the animals for the last time. I wouldn't see them again until early December - that seemed a very long way away. I glanced at my watch; it was about quarter past three. Mum had ordered me home from the Stables for half past, so that she could supervise my packing for uni. I was dreading the next few hours - I could see the two of us quickly falling out. Still, I thought, it would distract me from thinking about the court proceedings.
I rounded the corner of the barn. There were two cars parked in front of the farmhouse. I'd been expecting Mum to be home from her work already, but alongside her vehicle was the black Audi belonging to my girlfriend's mother.
I froze. Jenny wasn't supposed to be here until early evening. Why was she here now? Had something gone wrong in court?
I opened the gate into the garden, heading for the back door. I peered through the window, expecting to see two people sitting at the table, but the kitchen was empty. Had Mum taken her into the sitting room, I wondered. I crept round to the side of the house. The window was ajar - I'd be able to hear what they were saying. Feeling a little guilty, I slid down beneath it, straining to listen in.
"Jake'll be so relieved," Mum was saying. "He was really worried about having to appear as a witness. That'll be a big weight off his shoulders."
"I think it would have been a surprise if Richard had pleaded 'not guilty'," Jenny replied. "But there was always the chance that he'd try to contest the charge. It wouldn't have been fair to Jake to tell him that a 'guilty' plea was a foregone conclusion."
"And the other case, the student in the nightclub?" Mum asked.
"So he's pleaded 'not guilty' for that one," Jenny replied. "To both charges - the sexual assault and actual bodily harm."
"'Not guilty' to both?" Mum asked incredulously. I couldn't believe it either.
"I know," the lawyer answered. "If I'd have been his defence barrister, I'd have advised a 'guilty' plea to the ABH. But from his point of view, pleading 'not guilty' to the sexual assault is probably the right move; the prosecution will have a tough time proving the motive."
"So Richard's gone back to the Young Offenders' Institution?"
"Yes," Jenny replied. "The trial won't be until January, so technically he'll still be on remand. He won't be sentenced for Jake's case until then."
There was a silence as Jenny's news sank in. All I could hear was my heart thumping in my chest.
"Does Amy know?" asked Mum.
"Not yet. She's got lectures this afternoon. I'm going to phone her this evening. She doesn't know the hearing was this morning."
"Oh," Mum said. There was another pause. "You know Jake's going to see her tomorrow, on his way to Cambridge?"
"Yes, I did know that - it'll be good for them to see each other," Jenny replied. There was a pause. "And you're going to take all his stuff up on Sunday?"
"Yes, Alan and I both wanted to see where he'd be living. And there wouldn't be room in the car for the three of us. We're going to head off tomorrow afternoon and then stay with some friends half-way."
"Oh that's nice," Jenny replied. "Is he nervous about going up?"
"I don't think so. I can normally tell if he's worried, but he doesn't seem to be. One of the other lads up at the Campsite is there already - he'll be a second year I think, so Jake'll know at least one person. They went for a drink together last week. And then his College has given him a student mentor and they've been in touch on Facebook. But I think he's just impatient to get there now; he's been kicking his heels round here for three weeks and seeing photos of everyone else enjoying themselves!"
There was the sound of tea being stirred.
"And how's Amy finding London?" Mum asked.
"I think she's settling in quite well. It's a big change for her living in a city, but she's finding her feet and she seems to be making friends."
"Have you seen her since she moved in?"
