Chapter 25
MAYA
When I got up on Saturday morning, my head was fuggy from the wine I had drunk the night before.
I hadn’t touched wine since our session with Julia, although I dearly craved that feeling of relaxation – the sense of reward – that a glass of wine always gave me after Elliot had gone to bed, it proved that I didn’t have a problem with alcohol but I figured Friday night was fair game.
I was still furious with how they both had targeted me.
I waited until after Hugo had gone to bed because I didn’t need his judgement.
As I sipped on the delicate notes of passionfruit and gooseberry, I finally managed to escape from the thoughts inside my head.
I thought about the invitation Liv had extended to us for the following evening which I still hadn’t mentioned to Hugo.
Liv had been so enthusiastic inviting us over and I was keen to go – I enjoyed her company and although I had met Jay at the boys’ first day of school, I wanted to get to know him properly – but I knew Hugo could be a spanner in the works.
He would probably try to make an excuse to get out of it or else do his usual trick of cancelling at the last minute, pretending he couldn’t make it, leaving me to go alone.
The thought of broaching the subject with Hugo was making me anxious.
I didn’t say it to Liv but from what I had heard about Jay, he and Hugo sounded like totally different people and I didn’t think they would have much in common.
But then I reminded myself that appearances were deceptive; my friendship with Liv was testament to that.
From the outside looking in, we were chalk and cheese and yet we got on so well so there was no reason our husbands couldn’t either. Maybe I was being unfair to Hugo.
I heard noise coming from downstairs and realised that Hugo must have got up with Elliot and allowed me to lie in.
I went downstairs and saw them playing; they were building a fort out of the throws draped over the back of the sofa.
I stood at the kitchen door, taking a moment to observe them.
This was everything I wanted: just a normal family doing normal things.
‘This can be the base, Dad,’ Elliot was saying excitedly in his lispy voice. ‘And we can sleep in here.’
My heart softened at the sight of them playing together: Hugo getting caught up in stretching a blanket across the back of two chairs to make a roof. He adored Elliot and was a great dad. When he was there, another voice chimed in.
Hugo had thawed towards me since our session with Julia.
Perhaps he was feeling guilty for how they had both ganged up on me, I thought wryly to myself.
I had managed to quash down the horrible anxiety I felt every time I thought about the night of the launch and move on and although things were still strained between us, we were communicating when necessary.
Usually whenever Elliot was around, we made an effort with one another; we were both united by the fact that neither of us wished our son to witness the tension between us.
‘Good morning,’ I said brightly. ‘This looks like fun.’
‘Mummy!’ Elliot ran over and hugged me. ‘Daddy and me builded the biggest fort and guess what?’
‘What?’
‘Daddy said I can even sleep in it tonight!’
‘Wow,’ I said. ‘It looks so cool.’ I turned to Hugo. ‘Thanks for getting up early with him.’ I was keen to butter him up before my next request.
‘How are you?’ he asked.
I tried not to look too shocked that he was enquiring after me.
‘I’m okay.’ I paused. ‘Liv and Jay have invited us over for a BBQ, actually.’
He raised his head and looked at me blankly. ‘Who has?’
I lowered my voice so Elliot wouldn’t hear. ‘You know, the couple that go to the counselling session before us. Liv and Jay,’ I reminded him. ‘They have a little boy in Elliot’s class.’
He seemed amused. ‘The short, fat couple?’
‘That’s mean, Hugo,’ I retorted.
‘Come on,’ he snorted. ‘Don’t tell me you didn’t notice? They’re both wider than they are tall. I didn’t realise you were friendly?’
‘Well, I’ve met her at the school a couple of times and we’ve gone for coffee… She’s a really lovely person.’
‘I’m sure she is, I just didn’t have her down as your type.’
I felt myself bristle. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Nothing,’ he said with a smirk playing on his face. The tender softness I had watched just moments ago as he played with Elliot was gone and he was back to his cocky, arrogant self once more.
‘Their little boy is in the same class as Elliot,’ I continued, refusing to get dragged into an argument.
‘It’ll be nice to get to know another set of parents and it will be good for Elliot too to get to know Finn a little better.
’ I knew this was the angle I would have to play on if I had any hope of convincing him to go; although he didn’t care about pleasing me, I knew he’d do it for Elliot’s sake.
‘When is it?’
‘Well they suggested this evening.’
‘All right,’ he sighed.
‘So you’ll go?’ I said, trying but failing to conceal my shock.
‘Yeah, of course, it’s important that we get to know the parents of Elliot’s friends.’
I nodded. ‘Great.’