Page 83 of The Forever Gift


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‘Oh, look,’ I say. ‘Peppa Pigis on.’

‘Yuck.’ Molly scrunches her nose. ‘Sam saysPeppa Pigis for babies.’

‘You are a baby, Molly,’ I sigh.

‘I. Am. Four!’

‘Okay, Molly. Okay. You’re four. And not a baby,’ I try not to laugh. ‘So, what do you want to watch?’

Molly doesn’t answer for a moment. Peppa is jumping in muddy puddles and Molly can’t seem to pull her eyes away from the screen.

‘Sam saidPeppa Pigis for babies,’ Molly says again, obviously sad as she shakes her head.

‘This Sam little shit again?’ I say.

Molly gasps and pulls her eyes away from the screen to stare at me with her mouth open.

‘Sorry,’ I say quickly, trying not to wince as I study Molly’s horrified expression. ‘I just don’t think Sam is a very good little boy. He doesn’t get to tell you what you can and can’t watch, Molly. Or what colour blocks you can play with. Or anything like that.’ I can feel myself grow crosser just thinking about this kid.

‘Do you want to watchPeppa Pig?’ I ask.

Molly nods.

‘Right, good,’ I say. ‘Hop up on the couch and stay here for a while. I need to go back upstairs and talk to Daddy.’

‘And then is it dippy egg time?’ Molly asks.

‘Yes,’ I nod. ‘After I talk to Daddy we’ll all have yummy dippy eggs, all of us together.’

It doesn’t take long before Molly is engrossed in TV and I go back upstairs.

I find Gavin asleep again but this conversation can’t wait until later. I slam the bedroom door behind me and stare at the bed, waiting.

‘Jesus,’ Gavin grumbles, his eyes opening slowly.

‘We need to talk.’

‘Later, Charlie, please? I’m so tired.’

‘I’m tired too.’ I fold my arms.

‘I know.’ He closes his eyes again. ‘Come back to bed.’ Gavin pulls the duvet around him and turns his back.

‘Are you kidding me?’ I shout.

‘Charlie. What?’ Gavin throws back the duvet, clearly pissed off as he sits up. ‘It’s barely morning. Will you calm down.’

‘Don’t you bloody tell me to calm down, Gavin. Just don’t.’

‘Charlie, come on.’

‘When were you going to tell me, Gavin, huh? Huh?’ I shout louder. ‘Were you ever going to tell me? Or did you think I wouldn’t notice when you and Heather started using our daughter for spare parts?’

‘That’s a horrible thing to say.’ Gavin’s eyes darken and I can’t tell if he’s angry or upset.

‘That’s not an answer.’ I shake my head as I turn my back. I can’t even look at him right now.

‘Charlie,’ Gavin calls after me as I open the door. ‘Charlie, c’mon,’ he shouts, reaching our bedroom door as I walk down the stairs. ‘You’re the one who said you wanted to talk and now you’re walking away.’

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