Worlds Apart by Crittenden Jane

Author:Crittenden, Jane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2023-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Later, Reuben pleads with us to load up the water pistols and have a water fight. The three of us chase the children and each other around the garden and soon we’re soaked through. Shannon wraps Kira and Reuben in towels and I flop on to the grass and let the heat dry my clothes. The sunshine against my eyelids reminds me of summery sixth-form days out on the field, where Chris and I would lie on the grass pointing out clouds shaped like animals. I smirk and think I must remind him of this memory – then I remember I’m supposed to be angry with him.

I wonder if I still am.

‘Any more news from Bea?’ Shannon calls over.

I sit up. She’s rubbing sun cream on to Reuben’s face and he scowls and darts from her grasp. ‘Not for a few days,’ I reply. ‘She’ll be home soon enough and she can fill in the gaps for me then.’ The distractions of the afternoon have stopped me dipping into my bag to check my phone and now Shannon’s reminded me, the urge is back. I’m about to get up when Chris appears at the door with Grant behind him. I freeze as the conversation we’d had in the paddling pool earlier comes rushing back. Will he tell him?

Chris steps into the garden. He’s wearing the annoying mirrored sunnies again, but his smile is friendly. My hand creeps up to touch my hair, flat and sticky around my face. I realise I’m staring and quickly say hello, and all I can think is Shannon and Grant both know Chris is Bea’s dad. What a bloody mess I’ve created.

‘Watching the rugby then?’ I find myself saying, desperate to stuff the silence with pointless words in case Grant says something that’s going to rip everything apart.

‘Been having a water fight?’

I pull at my damp T-shirt, sure my bra must be on show through the white fabric, and then fold my arms. Shannon hands me one of the kids’ towels and I hold it, unsure what to do. Wrapping it around my body feels like I’m drawing attention to the problem, so I drape the towel awkwardly around my neck. I look like I’ve just come back from a sweaty workout.

‘Where are you watching the game?’ I say.

‘Yes, where are you watching the game?’ Shannon’s eyes bore into Grant’s again. He avoids her gaze and catches Kira as she runs past, pushing her sun hat firmly back on to her head.

‘At the sports bar in the city,’ Chris says, blundering into a conversation I’m pretty sure Grant hasn’t had with Shannon yet. ‘Grant says it’s the best place to go, right, mate?’

Grant mutters something and Kira wriggles away, leaving him exposed to Shannon’s wrath. She flicks her head towards the door and he follows her inside with the children trailing behind, demanding ice cream.

‘You’ve dropped him right in it,’ I declare.

‘Whoops.’ He smiles and shrugs.

The sun’s still blazing and now we’re alone I don’t know what to do.

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