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33
CERYS
We arrivehome in Liam’s black Alfa Romeo; I wish he’d choose something less conspicuous when he parks outside my tiny house. He kills the engine and I sit for a moment, summoning up the motivation to climb out. How long before Craig appears?
“You okay?” he asks, closing a hand around mine.
“Tired.”
“Not as tired as your snoring princess,” he says with a smile.
Ella again insisted on wearing her princess costume for travelling. Her new favourite is Elsa and she complains she wants blonde hair. I explain there’s a lot in life we’d like but can’t have—a lesson reinforced now we’re home.
Liam carries Ella inside, and then wander back to the car for suitcases. I fill and switch on the kettle, straight back to my daily routine without thinking. We could be an ordinary couple returning from a brief holiday and part of me would give everything for Liam to be an ordinary man.
We sit together on the sofa in the lounge, and I’m dozing on Liam’s shoulder when the doorbell rings. Liam mutters something and I shake myself awake.
“I hope that’s not Craig,” I say.
“Who else would visit?” asks Liam. “I’m surprised he wasn’t at the bloody airport.”
“Ella’s asleep though. He can’t see her yet.”
Craig switches to banging on the door. “I doubt she’ll stay asleep much longer,” says Liam. “Do you want me to answer?”
“No!”
I nervously open the door. The Craig on the doorstep isn’t one I want to deal with right now; he has the stiff stance and darkened brown eyes I’ve seen in arguments in the past.
“Nice tan,” he says as he pushes into the house. “Where is she?”
“Asleep. Long flight. She’s tired.”
As he sees Liam, Craig pulls himself straighter and crosses his arms.
“Hello, Craig,” says Liam but there’s nothing friendly about his tone.
“I didn’t thinkhe’dbe here.” The temperature in the room turns icy.
“Liam dropped us home.”
“So he’s leaving now?” asks Craig pointedly. “We have things to talk about.”
“I’m too tired to argue with you right now, Craig.” I sit back onto the sofa next to Liam. “Come back tomorrow.”
“I came to see my daughter.”
“She’s asleep!”
“I’m sure she wants to see her dad.” He heads toward the stairs, calling her name.
“For fuck’s sake,” mutters Liam. “Do you want me to make him leave?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Maybe you should make yourself scarce while I sort this out.”
“I don’t think so,” he snaps. “I’m not leaving you with a man behaving like this.”
“He won’t do anything to me. Craig isn’t violent.”
