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“Thanks.” She watched Georgie poke at her salad with her fork. “Will you do something for me?”
“Sure.”
Leah smiled at the quick reply. “Will you promise to come and stay with me?”
Georgie looked up quickly. “I don’t think you want me doing that.”
“Shows what you know. I couldn’t imagine anything better. But if you don’t want to…”
“Do you mean it?”
“Yes, Georgie, I mean it.”
“Okay then. I will.”
“You promise?”
“Christ, you’re persistent. Yes, I promise.”
“Good. Now finish your salad so we can get gelati.”
???
Leah admitted to a little anxiety after she’d picked Lynne up and they’d headed home. But her father didn’t say anything when they walked into the house. He was sitting in the loungeroom, reading a newspaper. When they entered, he stood and walked up the stairs without a word. But the next night, at dinner, David made an effort to reassert his authority.
“Darling, what would you like to do for your birthday?”
“I don’t know, Mum. Maybe go out for lunch?”
“We’ll go to church.” David commanded, without looking up from his plate.
“I don’t think I will, actually.”
“Yes, you will.”
“Why on earth would I want to spend my birthday at church, seeing my ex-husband cavorting around with his new wife?”
“It’s God’s will!”
“What? It’s God’s will that my husband cheated on me, knocked up his side piece and then left me?”
“If you’d been a better wife —”
“Fuck off! I couldn’t have been a better wife to him. I was taught by you, after all. Never complain, never question. Do everything you say. I’m done with that.” She pushed back from the table and rose to her feet. “And actually, I’m done with you.” She made a snap decision. “I’m going home. Tomorrow. Sorry, Mum.” She walked out, up the stairs to her bedroom. She was shaking with anger. But also, feeling an overwhelming sense of rightness. She was ready. She was going home.
The next morning, Leah woke up with a feeling of excitement. It was mixed with a little fear. She’d stayed up late, writing a list of all the things she wanted to say to Callum. All the things she was prepared to demand from him. That she wasn’t prepared to compromise on. She deserved all of it. She dragged her suitcase down the stairs, sticking her head in through the kitchen door to say good morning to her mother.
“Good morning, darling. Happy birthday.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
“What would you like for breakfast? Bacon and eggs? French toast?”
Leah shot a look at David, sitting at the dining table, eating his breakfast. Ignoring her. Good, that’s just the way she liked it. Still, she didn’t really want to sit down to breakfast with him. “I think I’ll just head off, if that’s okay.”
Lynne flicked a glance at David. “Sure. Can I make you a coffee, before you go?”
“Yes, please. That would be lovely.” Leah wheeled her suitcase to the front door and came back into the kitchen.
