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“I guess that’s okay then.” My voice is a dull note as my hands wrap around his wrists to either side of my face. “It’s all fixed.”
“You don’t understand.”
I push his hands outwards away from me and wipe the wetness from under my eyes.
“Leave.”
There’s a loud knock at the door. It recurs for at least seven seconds before either of us make a move to answer it. Instead we stand, staring at one another, my stare full of heartbreak, Nathan’s full of regret.
When he opens the door I see him close his eyes and his lips thin to a white line before I look from his profile to the person knocking.
“What is she doing here?” I angrily growl, my eyes on Nathan and not on the hideous creature standing on my doorstep.
“I don’t know.” He blows out a breath and barks, “Did you follow us?”
“I wanted to help.” His mother responds and I scoff incredulously.
“You’re not helping,” Nathan whispers and goes to close the door, but her hand reaches out and presses against the wood.
“We have a huge bridge to build.” She says this to me, her eyes gentle and seeming sincere.
“Well then you can both build one together, behind my back. You seem to have been doing a brilliant job so far!”
“We really need to talk about this,” Nathan implores, turning to me with his hand still on the door handle. “Let me explain.”
My jaw hits the floor. “Explain what, exactly? I know what’s been going on and I’m beyond caring why.”
“Please.”
“You don’t get it,” I snap. “The fact you didn’t trust me to be understanding is…” I glare at his mother. “I’m not doing this in front of her.”
“You’re being very childish,” she remarks.
How dare she? I’m being childish?
“Are you kidding me?” I snarl and Nathan’s hand grips my trembling bicep. “Get off.”
“This is spiralling; you’re getting mad.” His hand tries to pull me back into the house. “Mother, you need to leave.”
“You both need to leave.” I pull my arm free and peer into the room where the kids are drawing all over a black mat with their multi-coloured blocks of chalk.
“I didn’t deceive you because I wanted to.” Nathan completely ignores my wishes. I can feel a stress headache begin to throb in my temples. “We didn’t.” He points between himself and his mother. “I didn’t mean to cause you pain.”
“Well you did.”
“And what of the pain you inflicted on Nathan?” Patricia puts in, her face twisted with a scowl.
“Sorry?” Confusion is the most prominent thing I feel at present, followed shortly by anger. “Have you been discussing our relationship with her?”
“No.” Nathan’s eyes widen. “What are you talking about? What pain?”
“He doesn’t need to tell me; every time I see him it’s been obvious. He’s always so tired, especially considering you won’t accept help from outside sources. Poor Nathan is running himself ragged,” she sneers, sounding every bit as pompous as she looks.
“Excuse me?” I hiss, my fists clenched by my side.
“Mother,” Nathan snaps. “That’s not true. It was I who refused help.”
“A real woman would have noticed and called for help anyway. There’s no excuse.”
How dare she question my parenting? How dare she? “I’m going to punch her in the fucking face,” I snarl, taking an aggressive step towards her.
“Gwen.” Nathan grabs my arm to stop me from unleashing my wrath. “That’s hardly helping.”
“Sorry?” I turn to him, my mouth hanging open in horror. “You’re defending her?”
“No, of course not, I just…”
“You just what?”
“She’s changed.”
“Because she wants something from you,” I yell after relinquishing a harsh laugh. Why can’t he see reason? “She allowed you to be abused for years.”
“Abused?” Patricia questions, acting the picture of innocence.
“She was under a lot of stress with Caleb’s health.”
“THAT’S NO FUCKING EXCUSE!”
“Gwen…”
“No!” I raise my hand to silence him and turn to the evil woman in my presence. I hate myself for losing control but I can’t help it. “If you even step within a million feet of my children again, I will kill you.” She blanches, probably seeing how serious I am and I am deadly serious. No pun intended. “You stay away from them.”
Nathan frowns. “It’s my decision too.”
“No, I’m taking that away from you until you come to your senses.”
“Excuse me?” His tone is dark and dangerous.
“You heard me, Nathan. I take away your rights, all of them, until you grow the fuck up.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” he spits bitterly, stepping into my space. “They’re my kids too.”
“And you’re willing to endanger them.”
“You can’t keep them from me.”
“Oh I can. If you insist this vile being must see them, then you can take me to court and trust me when I say I will air EVERYTHING.” His face visibly pales and I hate myself for hurting him this way. “To protect my kids, there’s little I wouldn’t do.”
