‘I’m not mean!’
He raises an eyebrow. ‘She’s just a young girl who we gave a job to. And who, by the way, is doing that job brilliantly. I don’t think she deserves to be sacked.’
‘Not even if we don’t need her to do that job any more?’
‘What about Eva’s studies?’
‘I can help her with them.’
‘Can you? What’s changed, Gemma? Before we had Sadie, you were adamant that you couldn’t cut down your hours. You were stressed and overworked. Now, all of a sudden, you say you’re going to work less and manage everything yourself – the business, the house, the girls?’
‘I told you, I’ve promoted Damien.’
‘I know you. There’s no way you’ll relinquish any control at work. Especially not to your PA.’
‘I’ve had a change of heart. People can change, you know.’
‘Not that much. Why didn’t you talk to me before telling Sadie we don’t need her? You’d have gone mad if I went behind your back and did something like that.’
‘I know,’ I reply sheepishly. ‘I should have spoken to you first. But I wasn’t thinking straight. I just assumed that now I’ve fixed my work situation, you’d be pleased we can get our house back. Our privacy. You have to admit, it’s been odd having another person living in our house.’
Robert shrugs. ‘She’s not that intrusive. Half the time I don’t even notice she’s here. And you have to admit, it’s been great having the house spotless and our dinner cooked for us every night.’
‘I’d rather have our house back. And I feel like the girls have been relying on Sadie too much. They’re talking toherabout their issues rather than to us. That’s not right. I want to be the one to give our children guidance.’
‘Well, that’s because she’s the one picking them up from school.’
‘Exactly! It should be us. And anyway, I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel comfortable leaving our girls alone with her. I think she’s having a negative influence on Eva. She’s not the same girl she was before Sadie came along.’
‘Hormones?’ Robert says. ‘Puberty? She’s almost a teenager.’
‘It’s more than that. Eva ran away over a mobile phone! Does that sound like our daughter? She would never have done that a few months ago.’
‘Okay,’ Rob says grumpily. ‘So when’s she going? You know you have to give a month’s notice, right? And Mum will be disappointed. She loves Sadie.’
Everyone loves bloody Sadie.
‘Mum’s paying her salary,’ he adds. ‘So we’ll have to tell her soon.’
‘I said we’d give her two months’ salary.’
‘Oh.’ Robert’s face brightens. ‘Well that’s good. So she’s staying for a couple more months?’
‘Well…’ I shift from one foot to the other.
‘What?’ Robert’s eyes narrow.
‘I’m paying her two months’ salary, but she’s actually leaving tomorrow.’
‘Tomorrow? Why on earth—’
‘Because it’s awkward. I thought it would be best to have a clean break, for the kids’ sake.’
‘You know they’re going to be gutted.’
‘Yes!’ I cry, suddenly sick of trying to explain myself. ‘I know the kids will be gutted, and I know you’re gutted, and I know your mum thinks she’s amazing! But don’t you think that’s part of why I want her gone? I feel like a spare part in my own house. My own family prefer her to me. It makes me feel like shit, and I’m sick of it!’ I draw in a huge breath and exhale slowly, my body trembling.
‘Okay.’ Robert comes over to where I’m standing and pulls me into a hug. ‘Sorry, Gemma. I didn’t… I didn’t know you felt like that.’
