Broke by Mandasue Heller

Author:Mandasue Heller [Heller, Mandasue]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Thrillers, Crime, Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective
ISBN: 9781444712964
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2013-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

17

Jenny and Mark had just had sex and now she was snuggled up to him, playing her fingertips through the fine hairs on his chest. It had been a long day and they were both exhausted. But Jenny was especially so, having spent the last few hours trying to deal with Mark’s kids – neither of whom, despite her best efforts, seemed to like her. The boy had cried non-stop and kept soiling his pants. And the girl was a sullen little madam who hadn’t said two words all day, and had flat-out refused to eat the lovely dinner that Jenny had cooked so Mark had run out and got her a McDonald’s Happy Meal instead. Which had pissed Jenny off no end, because she saw it as the girl getting one over on her.

Still, it was early days, and Jenny was nothing if not patient.

‘We’ll have to get another bed,’ she said now, already planning ahead. ‘And a waterproof sheet for Bobby’s.’

‘Maybe,’ Mark murmured. ‘But let’s not rush into anything. Amy won’t want them to stay too often after she gets them back, so I don’t think we should waste money on new beds, and that.’

‘But they’re not going back.’ Jenny gazed up at him. ‘You said we’re keeping them.’

‘Might not be that easy,’ said Mark. ‘She won’t give them up without a fight.’

‘She’s got no chance,’ Jenny asserted. ‘We’re a couple, and we can give them a clean, loving home. She’s been neglecting them, so no judge in his right mind is going to hand them back to her. That’s why you need to see a solicitor as soon as possible and start divorce proceedings.’

Mark pulled a face. Jenny was getting well ahead of herself, and he wasn’t too happy about it. Divorce was the last thing on his mind. He was pissed off with Amy for finding a new man, and really pissed off that she’d supposedly left the kids on their own in order to go out with the bloke. But that didn’t mean he wanted to divorce her. Or keep the kids for ever. Sure, he’d said that when he’d first brought them home, but that had just been anger talking.

‘You do want a relationship with the kids, don’t you?’ Jenny asked slyly.

‘Yeah, course.’ Mark was starting to get irritated. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

‘Just think you need to be careful,’ said Jenny. ‘She’s not going to be too happy with you for taking them today, and if she gets them back she’ll probably put a block on you seeing them again. You see these things on the news all the time: parents split, mum gets spiteful, and dad hasn’t got a leg to stand on. You need to think ahead, that’s all I’m saying. They were a mess when they came and, if they go back, they’ll be worse next time you see them – if there’s a next time. And what’s to say one of them won’t get seriously hurt in

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