CHAPTER NINE
TOMMY
My head spins. “Wait, what?”
“Yep. Apparently, he hasn’t been happy for a while and was waiting until the end of the tour before he called time.”
My chest tightens, and Dani’s words scramble in my head. Did I hear her right? I scratch my beard in thought and pace the room. “No. No way.”
My heart is beating so fast. I can’t believe Brett would do this to three of his oldest friends. We put up with his shit, day in, day out, but this is a step too far.
“I knew he was up to something, but I didn’t expect this,” I say, shaking my head.
Slowly, sadness takes over as I reminisce about the four of us building Koolum Law together. Then slowly, my fists clench, when it dawns on me just how shitty he’s been acting lately. Maybe this shouldn’t be such a shock. Showing up late. His bad attitude. Now it all makes sense.
“We’ve made every decision as a four. We tolerate the bad, and fuck me, has he been bad lately. Who the fuck does he think he is? He can’t do this to us.”
“Well, he has. It’s a shock for everyone. Apparently, the only person he discussed it with was his solicitor. Fucking idiot,” Dani spits.
“Have you spoken to the rest of the guys?” I ask while I continue to pace.
“Only Ash so far. He knew he was in self-destruct mode, but he didn’t see this coming.”
I can’t get my head around this. “Did we miss something, Dani? Do you think his recent bad attitude was a cry for help?” I ask, trying to make sense of it all.
“Don’t over-analyse it. You’ll drive yourself mad.” I hear her sigh down the line. “Look, I’ve called an emergency meeting for tomorrow morning at seven and Ash suggested we use his place. The three of you have decisions to make. Have you any idea what you want to do?”
“Jesus, Dani. You’ve just dumped this on me. I don’t know what to think. I need to talk to the guys, but you have to call Max first.”
“Yes, I know. I’ve been putting it off,” Dani says, sounding almost human.
“Out of all of us, Max is going to take this the hardest.”
“I’m not looking forward to it. You don’t want to take that job on, do you?” She huffs out as if laughing.
“I can, but I think it’s better coming from you. I wouldn’t want him to think he’s the last to know.”
“Fuck it,” she hisses. “All right, I should get this over and done with.”
“Thanks, Dani.”
“Oh, and just so you know, Brett’s solicitor was talking about issuing a press release tomorrow. If they go ahead, we should react with a response as quickly as possible, so think hard and fast about your future, Tommy. Think about what you want.”
“Yeah, there’s a lot to take on board.” I pause before I ask, “Where is he?”
“Who, Brett? If I knew that, I wouldn’t be on the other end of a phone talking to you.
I’d be giving that fucker a piece of my mind, face to face.
He didn’t even have the decency to talk it over first or let us know this news in person, never mind telling me his whereabouts.
I’ve tried calling several times, but he won’t pick up.
He just issued all this crap through a third party and fucked off into outer space. ”
I glance over at Chelsea, who’s still waiting for me to finish this call. “Jesus. What’s the third thing going to be?” I say in a lower tone.
“What do you mean?” Dani asks.
“Bad news comes in threes, apparently. I’ve already had my fill today.”
“Why? What else happened?”
I sigh. “I’ll explain another time.”
“Well, I’m always here if you need me. Oh, and Tommy, I don’t have to tell you to keep this news quiet for now, which includes your wife.” I close my eyes. “You know she has a habit of shooting her mouth off.” I rub my hand down my face. “Tommy, did you hear me?”
“Yeah, you have nothing to worry about on that score. See you in the morning.”
I tuck my phone in the back pocket of my faded blue jeans and rub my fingers deep across my eyes. I can’t help but let a little frustration go free. “Jesus fucking Christ,” I growl.
“What is it?” Chelsea asks. “Has something bad happened?”
“Not now.” Wouldn’t she just love that? My world falling apart around me. Even if Chelsea was the last person on Earth, I wouldn’t talk this over with her.
“And you wonder why I don’t want to be married to you anymore.
This is typical of you. You’re always shutting me out,” she says, flying off the handle again, but if I’m honest, Chelsea isn’t wrong.
There’s a reason why I don’t tell her anything.
I can’t risk it. Surely, when you love someone, you share everything and trust them completely.
“I’m not shutting you out, but a lot of stuff just isn’t any of your business anymore and I doubt you’d care anyway.”
The only thing she’d care about is how Brett’s departure might affect her life.
If the band splits, would she still get the lifestyle?
The perks? And most of all, would she still get the money?
But I knew all this before I married her.
Even though I told myself that once our baby was born, we’d grow to love each other, deep down in my gut, I knew it would never happen.
What a fucking waste of time and energy.
Chelsea rolls her eyes, which spurs me on to get this wrapped up. Brett leaving the band has knocked the crap out of me, and I’m sure Ash and Max will feel the same. I need to be with people who care as soon as possible, but my son’s welfare is also at stake here.
I blow out a long sigh. “Look, Chelsea, we’ve got a lot to sort out, and, for Ozzie’s sake, we need to deal with this like adults.
I suggest we talk about what happens with our kid and do the rest when we’re not so angry.
” When she doesn’t argue, I know I’m right.
My only concern is for Oz. “Our priority has to be keeping Ozzie happy, which means equal time with both of us.”
“Sure,” she says, shrugging.
“So, how do you want to do this? A week with you, then a week with me?”
“How about a month with you first?”
My eyes widen as my finger rubs my brow. It’s obvious to me straight away that what Ozzie needs won’t come into this. “You want to see your son every other month?”
She purses her lips. “Sure, why not? You keep telling me how you missed him so much while you were on tour. Now you’ve got a chance to spend as much time with him as you like, and I don’t have a problem with a few weeks of peace.”
The pain in my chest must be my heart breaking for my son. I bite my tongue, for his sake. “I don’t want a four-week gap between each visit.”
“You managed it on tour. It’s no different.”
My muscles tense, my jaw clenches, and I tell myself to breathe. “I was working and had no choice.”
“You always have a choice, Tommy. Don’t give me that shit.”
“Yeah? Is that why you went out night after night and left our boy with Connie while I was touring?” It’s stupid and petty, but it feels good to get my own back.
Her mouth opens but nothing comes out initially until she stutters, “Well… you think you work so hard, but I’m the one left behind to cope while you’re out partying with bandmates and groupies. It’s wall-to-wall pussy on those tours. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
“For fuck’s sake—” I stop myself there. I’m not going down this tit-for-tat road with her.
Yeah, there’s always girls hanging around backstage or at the after show parties.
A lot of them, but I’ve never been unfaithful and she knows it.
I had a ring on my finger for a reason. It meant something to me; it meant I was willing to give this marriage everything I had.
I was stupid to think I could make this work with a girl like Chelsea and even more stupid to think she was capable of love.
Not with me, and not with our son either.
At least, not enough. I can’t explain how much it tears me apart to admit that.
Although I’m out of time and energy, we’ve got to come to some sort of compromise. Our marriage has gone to shit, but I still need to make sure she has somewhere to go.
I scratch my head. “Look, this isn’t getting us anywhere. What matters now is Oz. He should be our only priority.”
Her lips press together and she remains silent, which only causes me to sigh and count to ten in my head. Keeping calm is key here.
“Do you have anywhere to live?” I ask her.
“I’ll be staying with a friend.” She won’t look at me again.
“Which friend?”
“Never mind.”
I rub the back of my neck, trying to ease the tension building in my muscles.
“Okay, well then, I suggest when I have Oz, we stay here in the apartment, and I can rent you a place until it’s your turn.
You can move back in for the time you have him and I’ll take the rental.
That way, Ozzie gets to stay home and we keep things as normal as we can for him. ”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“No?”
“I’m moving out, Tommy. I’m packing my stuff today and I’m not coming back, not even for the month I have Oz. He can come to me.”
Leaning against the wall, I fold my arms. Honestly, I’m trying here, but all she wants to do is fight against me. I want to fight for what’s right for my boy because he’s the one who will get hurt.
I push myself away from the wall, run my fingers through my hair, and pace. “Unless you’re willing to tell me exactly who this friend is, it isn’t happening. He doesn’t stay with anyone I don’t know.”
“I didn’t say you didn’t know them—”
“Then who is it?” I ask, raising my voice.
“It’s none of your business.” She bats her lashes as if she has no idea what my problem is.
“It is my business if you’re taking my son there and, at this point, you’re still my wife.”
“In name only,” she spits.
I stop in my tracks and turn to face her. “I’ll repeat this, just so we’re clear. Ozzie stays here, and if you want time with him, you stay here too.”
“I’m not arguing with you, Tommy. Have your month and we’ll see what happens after that. I haven’t got time to go through this with you now. I have to go.”
The temperature of my blood rises. I thought I could keep it together, but Jesus, she pushes my buttons. “The way you’re talking, I don’t think you want him at all. Do you want to give him up? Is that it?”
She chews the inside of her cheek and shrugs. “I just need time for myself. I’m tired, Tommy.”
She didn’t say no.
I’m running out of patience. Ozzie needs a relationship with his mum, but not if she resents him.
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose.
“I don’t think you know what you’re saying, so I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt and some time to think hard about what you’re doing to our son.
For now, let’s say you’ll see Ozzie in a day or so.
He needs you to step up and keep things as normal as possible, just until we’ve sorted out how we deal with this going forward. ”
Pushing her shoulders back, she stands as tall as her five-foot-eight frame will allow. “No.”
Looking up to the heavens, I beg whoever is up there to give me strength. “I’m bending over backwards to make this easy for you. You’ll regret it if you don’t keep up a good relationship with him, do you realise that?”
“Don’t give me your nice guy act. I’m bored with it.” Her eyes lock with mine as she stands her ground. “Stop acting like you care.”
She’ll reject anything I suggest at this point. It’s time to give up. “When you’re ready to sort shit out, call me. In the meantime, you can explain to Oz why you won’t be around for a while.”
The click of her heels stops beside me. “Actually, it’s better if I don’t say goodbye to Ozzie. It might upset him more.”
Now I give her my attention. I point towards Connie’s bedroom door. “Get your arse in there and say goodbye to your son.”
“Don’t make this into a big thing, Tommy. He won’t understand.”
My fingers run through my shaggy hair and I blow out a frustrated breath. Has this woman ever had a maternal bone in her body?
This is stupid. While we stand opposite each other, I’m mentally begging her to walk into Connie’s room, pick Ozzie up in her arms, and make him feel safe. Instead, she struts past me. I’m not letting her get away with it and block her with my arm. She has no choice but to stop in her tracks.
“There’s a little boy in that bedroom relying on you,” I grit through my teeth.
But she ducks under my arm and calmly walks towards the door. “See you around,” she says over her shoulder before walking out on her only child.
Connie carefully places Ozzie in his bed.
He’s fast asleep, but his body jerks and wriggles into a more comfortable position.
At least it is for him. He’s lying on his front, his bum in the air and hands by his side.
I ask Connie to step outside of his room for a sec, so I can have a word and explain the situation before she goes to bed.
I’ve got to say, she’s pretty cool about it and maybe a little relieved. I think Chelsea gave her a hard time.
I sneak back into Ozzie’s room and sit by his bed.
He is the one constant positive in my life.
I take his tiny hand in mine and contemplate my next move.
Maybe it’s time I took Oz away for a while.
We could both do with it. We haven’t been back to England for ages, and I miss Braebeach and our family.
Oz loves Angie’s son, Josh, and he adores my mum and dad, his only grandparents.
Chelsea isn’t in touch with her family, so Oz has never met them. Come to think of it, neither have I.
I quietly push up from the floor, then gently ruffle his hair. “Sleep tight, buddy,” I whisper, knowing that before I can contemplate some time away with my kid, I have business to sort out.
The guys called me earlier. Ash is in a state of shock, and Max is clearly angry, but both of them agreed to come over to my place tonight.
We want to get our heads around this shit before our meeting with Dani in the morning.
I mean, who leaves a band when they’re at the top of their game?
There’s only one person who can answer that question, and we have no idea where the fuck he is.
I make myself a coffee, knowing it’s going to be a long night. As soon as the boys arrive, they’ll probably want something stronger.
I grab my phone, intending to call Angie. All I want is to hear a friendly voice, but then I notice the time. Jesus, where did tonight go? It’s the early hours of the morning with her, so I think better of it. I’ll see her soon enough anyway. It’s time to go home.