Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jules
M y fingers drum on the kitchen bench top as I fight the urge to pop a Valium and wash it down with a bottle of wine. I’ve cycled through the full gamut of emotions from embarrassed to sad to fucking furious. Just when I think we’re turning a corner, Mick goes AWOL. He’s not answering his mobile and, according to Claire, who checked with Jake, he left work after lunch. It’s now dinner time.
So, where the hell is he?
Zola slides across the floor, Riley hot on her heels. They collide with the fridge in a tangle of limbs.
I snap. “For God’s sake, no running in the house!”
Zola yelps, and Riley bursts into tears. Great. Just great.
I exhale heavily. This is not Riley’s fault. Mick’s the one who’s lit this simmering rage inside me. Not her. While she knows better, rain is bucketing down outside, and she and Zola have too much energy to burn. And maybe my negative vibes are rubbing off on them.
I crouch next to her. “Are you okay?” I ask in a softer voice.
She hiccups and wipes her eyes. “Yeah.”
I clasp Riley’s hands in mine and help her to her feet. Zola nuzzles my leg, then lets out a yip and barrels down the hallway. I sigh. Mick’s finally home.
Riley’s face lights up. “Daddy!”
She pulls out of my grasp and follows the excited dog. I hear the door creak open to a burst of barking and chattering. The wall blocks my view, but I can imagine Zola rubbing against Mick’s leg while Riley tugs at the other one. When he appears in the kitchen, his head is lowered. He knows he’s in the wrong.
“Your phone battery die?” I ask in a sweet-as-pie voice that has my husband’s gaze snapping to mine. Yeah, some communication would be helpful, honey.
“Sorry. I forgot to plug it in when I got in the car.”
Liar. Riley clings to him like a second skin, so I don’t call him out on it. “Jake said you left at lunchtime. Must have been a long drive.”
“I went back into the city. To the tax office.”
If I didn’t know Mick as well as I do, I’d miss the slight twitch of his eye that tells me he’s lying.
“You’ve been there all afternoon?”
“Mostly. I had some things to do.” He lifts Riley into his arms, making it impossible for me to dig harder.
I shove all my anger, disappointment and confusion into my gut and smile. It’s false. He’ll know that, but two can play this game. I peck him on the cheek. “Well, you’re home now. I’ll reheat your meal.”
“Jules …” He slides a hand into my hair. I breathe in deeply. Silently. There’s a hint of eucalypt and lemon on his clothes but no perfume. He kisses me on the lips. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” I pull away and busy myself with the fajitas I prepared for dinner. If Mick believes that’s the end of it, then he’s in for a rude shock. Because this conversation is far from over.