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He climbs into the car and turns to face me. We look at each other over Emily and through the gap in the front seats.
“Promise?”
“Of course.” He winks and turns to face forward.
“I love you.” I move away and tell Dillan to wave. Seconds later Nathan is driving away, leaving me feeling empty and uncertain.
“Daddy gone. Bye bye.” Dillan continues to wave to nobody.
I swallow, shake myself off mentally and carry my son inside. Jeanine will be here soon to care for Dillan while I work and I need to make the most of the short time I have left alone with my son.
The house is pitch black when I arrive home past midnight, much later than expected. Jeanine must already be sleeping. To take my mind off the reality of life, I buried myself in my work, working myself to the brink of death. I’ve never felt so exhausted nor have I ever pushed my limits so entirely. I have impressed Kerim and the others though and for that I’m happy. I didn’t realise just how able my body is to handle so much. I’ll be pushing myself more often.
I creep into my little boy’s room on shaky legs and kiss his forehead. The guest bed is set up in the corner. Nathan did that for me before he left; he’s such a sweetheart.
Jeanine stays in our bed when she comes due to her bad back. I don’t mind, though it’s hard getting ready in the dark and I daren’t turn the light on for fear of waking Dillan. If only Emily’s room was big enough to fit a spare bed; it’s only just big enough for her cot and furniture.
Nathan: We miss you.
The phone lights up the room like a sun in a can, so I pull the blanket over my head and stare at the text and three missed calls until my eyes adjust to the almost painful brightness. I should respond but I don’t want to wake him or Emily. He sent me this at nine so I know he’ll be sleeping now. He has a busy day tomorrow and Nathan is always responsible. He likes to be well rested before a busy day.
Instead, I tuck my phone under my pillow and wince when the quilt sounds loudly against the bed sheet. I’m going to be so stiff when I wake up in the morning from being too scared to move all night.
Never mind.
Chapter Eight
The past few days have been the longest. Dillan has suffered without his father, Daddy’s boy that he is, and I’ve suffered right there with him. Why do I seem to become afflicted with the need to fornicate whenever Nathan isn’t here to satisfy me? Maybe that’s why, because on a normal day, he’d be here to fornicate. I never go wanting when he’s around.
Unfortunately, I’m working when he returns in around an hour if my calculations were correct based on our phone call this morning. He will relieve Jeanine of her babysitting duties; she has been amazing.
“Pay attention,” Kerim bellows so loudly my right ear rings and tingles almost painfully.
“Sorry, Chef!” I rush, panicking, and unfortunately, in my panic, I drop the plate in my hands and it clatters to the ground with a loud smash. Pieces of ceramic fly in all directions.
“CLEAN UP!” Patience yells and one of the crew gets to work with a brush.
“Are you fucking stupid?” Kerim slides another plate in front of me before turning to Harold. “We need another duck over here.”
“I’m sorry,” I say meekly. I need to get my head in the game.
He flips me off and stalks away, grumbling in Turkish. I can’t imagine the translation would be very pleasant.
“Oh great, just what we need,” Kerim growls as I finish dressing the final plate and slide it towards the collection point. His fingers are suddenly gripping my bicep and I’m being dragged to the back entrance. “You have thirty seconds to say your hellos and goodbyes.”
I’m left in the exit area, feeling flustered and annoyed at being suddenly dragged without my permission.
“Did he just put his hands on you?” Nathan’s voice utters dangerously. I feel the tension radiating from him and slowly turn his way.
Before giving him the chance to further question about Kerim and his temperaments, I throw myself at the love of my life and bury my face in his neck. “I missed you.”
He returns the embrace and cups the back of my head with a large hand. “You smell like herbs and vinegar.”
“Sorry?” Pulling back, I glare up at him. “That’s the greeting I get?”
“It’s nice. I’m not complaining.”
Kissing him firmly on the lips, I push up to my tiptoes and hold him as tightly to me as I can. “You’re never going away again.”
He smiles against my mouth and then tastes me with his tongue.
