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Craig gives me a sly smile and rests back in his seat. “Well, as long as Ella’s welfare is threatened, I will fight for full custody.”
The vanilla scent of the candle turns my stomach. The fake smell matches Craig’s mock concern for Ella’s wellbeing. His motivation behind this goes beyond concern for her welfare.
He wants control.
* * *
LIAM
I missCerys when I’m away and long for her calming influence and the natural connection we have. I worry that my constant trips away will interfere; that Cerys won’t want a half-baked relationship or she won’t trust me. Her implicit acceptance is part of what I love about her; a contrast to Honey’s insecure accusations and jealousy. If you love someone, you don’t try to run their life.
I’m supposed to be on a break but even without Blue Phoenix, I’m tightly held by my music world. I can’t say no when people ask me for help, and without Steve making the decisions for me, I’m saying yes a hell of a lot more than I should. The session work is over, but bloody Jem drags me around the country with Ruby Riot. I understand he likes the band and his passion for their music, but he isn’t their manager. I’m worried this will end badly, especially with the singer Ruby.
Cerys pushes Ella on the swing while I sit on the wooden bench beneath the willow tree and send some texts. I’m rearranging tomorrow’s plans because I’m positive Cerys needs my support. Something’s wrong, she’s pale and quiet. On the drive to the playground, Ella whined about wanting an ice-cream, and Cerys’s stern reaction was over the top. I’ve heard Cerys scold her daughter before, but always in proportion to the behaviour.
The sun shines through the thin material of Cerys’s knee-length summer dress emphasising her curves. Her brown hair grew over the last few months and she’s clipped some from her face. The huge brown eyes that once hid beneath her fringe are visible and hold a secret I don’t understand. Am I too complacent? Has she had enough of us?
Ella jumps down from the swing and heads for the slide. Cerys walks over and sits on the bench next to me; I place my hand on her knee, wishing I could feel the soft warmth of her skin beneath the cotton.
“What’s happening?” I ask. “Something is.”
She smoothes the dress where I’ve wrinkled it so I take her hand instead. “Craig’s being a pain in the backside.”
I should’ve guessed. “Has he started turning up at all hours demanding to see Ella again?”
“Worse.” The tears brimming in her eyes are unlike my Cerys and more like the hurt girl from Christmas.
“Again, what’s happening, Cerys?”
“Craig wants Ella. He’s taking me to court for full custody.”
“What the fuck?” She winces as I grip her hand. “He can’t do that!”
“No, I don’t think he’ll win. He’s selfish; we could’ve sorted this out through mediation, but he point blank refuses.”
I slump against the bench unsure what to say. I have no clue about this shit, but what I can’t understand is how someone who treated Ella and Cerys like he did, could achieve what he wants.
“I’ll get my lawyers onto this,” I tell her. “He won’t win.”
Cerys picks at the hem of her dress, head dipped. “Craig tells people you’re a drug addict endangering his daughter.”
“What the fuck? You have to be fucking kidding me!” The desire to wring this guy’s neck increases every day.
“That worries me. Blue Phoenix’s media image isn’t great.” She stares straight ahead and her refusal to meet my eyes prickles my neck. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Why? When was the last time I was implicated in anything? Can’t you see Craig is doing this to cause problems? He’s jealous!”
“Yes, but I don’t think it’s your relationship with me that he’s jealous about.”
Ella. She swings upside down on the climbing frame, her long brown hair hanging toward the ground as she grips the bars with her legs.
“This is about me and Ella?” I ask hoarsely.
“This is about Craig thinking we’ll take his daughter from him. If you’re not around, I think he’ll show his true colours and drop this.”
Not around.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask sharply
