Once I brush myself off and get back on my feet, I take Skye and place her in her cot as my eyes start to grow heavy. My shoulders droop, and I barely make it to the bed before my eyelids close and I pass out from exhaustion.
“Maya.”The sound of my name has me jerking upright, my eyes nearly crusted together with a headache brewing.
I blink through my blurry vision to find Nina standing at the foot of the bed with a hand on her hip. Oh god.
“I asked you to tidy up the house while I was gone,” she snaps. “So, please explain to me why it looks like a pigsty in there?”
My hand raises to rub my face. “I-I lost track of time, Nina. I’m sorry.”
She throws her hands up in frustration. “I swear you do nothing all day.”
“Nothing?” I nearly choke. “I’ve been looking after Skye. I’m sorry, okay? I’ll do it now.”
Nina releases a breath through her nose. “Mum was right, there’s no way you could do this by yourself.”
Her words are a low blow, aimed straight for my heart.
“I’m doing everything I can.” I stand up to face her despite the sting in my soul. “It’s not my fault it ended up like this.”
She snorts. “Not your fault you got knocked up by an alcoholic?”
I flinch as if I’ve been slapped. “You know nothing about him.”
I’m stunned that I immediately jump to his defence—maybe because my hard exterior might have softened after seeing him turn up today and cry at the sight of our daughter. He might have a lot to prove, but I know that show of emotion cannot be faked because it’s exactly how I feel about her.
“I know that he messed up your life,” she shoots back.
“Skye is the best thing that’s happened to me.”
“Be real, Maya. You’re miserable.”
“And what if Finn wanted to come back into her life?”
Nina blinks at me. “You can’t be serious.”
“He says he’s sober.”
“How can you be sure of that?” Nina narrows her eyes. “Alcoholics know how to hide their problems.”
My fists tighten. “Because I saw him nearly drink himself to death on multiple occasions. You think I wouldn’t know if he’s been drinking? I’ve seen nearly every side of him, Nina.”
Her brow raises. “So not every side then?”
I press a hand to my forehead at the state of this conversation.
“Did you forget what he said to you when you told him you were pregnant?”
My chest aches. “No. Of course I haven’t, but Skye deserves a father, especially if he’s willing to change. I can’t keep that from either of them.”
Nina turns her nose up at me. “So you’ve already spoken to him?”
I close my eyes and take a needed breath. “I saw him today.”
“Well, don’t come crying to me or Mum when you get your heart broken again. We all told you what would happen, and you didn’t listen.”
When she leaves, I slump on the edge of my bed. I know she’s only trying to look out for me, but I can’t help but feel like my family is against me, no matter what choice I make. And god, the isolation increases because nothing I do is ever good enough.
CHAPTER 14
