AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Liam strokes my hair. “You don’t have to be violent to hurt someone, Cerys.”
Mentally, I’ve prepared for this, but I shake with anger at Craig’s behaviour. Before he reaches the top of the stairs, I grab his arm. “Craig. Be reasonable.”
He yanks his arm from my touch. “Me? You took her away…with him!”
“For two weeks. You’ve spent two weeks away from Ella before,” I hiss. “Remember Christmas?”
“Oh right, throw that at me!” he shouts.
“Look, let’s go downstairs before we wake Ella and upset her.”
“No. I need to see her and make sure she’s okay.”
I bristle. “Okay? What do you think we’ve done to Ella?”
“I don’t know, but I didn’t like seeing her picture all over the place with you and him playing happy fucking families!”
I step back down a stair, incensed by his language. “That’s what this is about? Liam’s right. You’re just being territorial. You don’t care about Ella.”
“Don’t you fuckingdare!” he yells. “I’m her dad!”
I could say so much more but I know my words already pushed him too far. He has the look he gets that frightens me. The one where I’m unsure if hecouldbecome violent.
“Fine. Go upstairs and see her.” I turn to walk away.
“Stupid bitch,” he mumbles.
I spin round. “What the hell did you just call me?”
“I called you a stupid bitch,” he shouts. “You’re deliberately trying to keep my daughter away from me. Well, you can’t!”
“Don’t speak to me like that!” I yell back.
Ella appears at the top of the stairs, bleary eyed and brown hair sticking up around her head. “What’s happening?”
My heart sinks at her life rewinding—witnessing her mum and dad’s animosity that borders on hatred these days.
“Nothing, baby,” I say.
“Hey, Ella!” Craig switches to sweet and gentle mode as quickly as he turned anger on me. “I missed you.”
“Why are you fighting?” she asks, voice trembling.
“Daddy is upset about your holiday,” I say.
“Why?”
“I think Daddy wishes he’d come, too.”
Craig looks at me sharply. “Very funny, Cerys.”
“Daddy missed you, that’s all. He wanted to see you.”
Ella chews her lips. “I’m tired.”
“See?” I hiss then look to Ella. “I think he should visit you tomorrow.”
“Give me some time with her now,” demands Craig. “Then I’ll go.”
