CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
TOMMY
Chelsea is on her way here. It’s been a while. I wasn’t sure if I should ask my solicitor to join us or not, as Chelsea has a way of twisting my words, but today isn’t about us. It’s about Ozzie.
At least Connie is around if it goes tits up. It’s not that I don’t trust Chelsea, but it wouldn’t surprise me if her visit is more about her and less about our boy.
Connie and I are keeping Oz occupied with Pop-Up Pirate. He loves this game and jumps out of his skin every time the pirate pops out of the barrel.
As time goes on, we exchange glances, both noting every minute she’s late. In the end, I take him in the pool for a couple of hours, which he loves, but I’m glad I haven’t told him his mum is coming over today. This way, I’m not setting him up for disappointment.
We’ve pretty much given up on Chelsea, and Connie is in the middle of making dinner by the time the gate phone buzzes to life. She’s nearly four hours late, but at least she made it.
I hear Ray’s voice and Chelsea appears behind him as she’s shown into the kitchen diner. By now, me and Oz are at the table, playing bug bingo.
“Is anybody home?” she sing-songs.
Oz looks up from the game. His tiny eyebrows squish together while he pouts. “Mummy?” It’s the first time I realise he’s losing his American accent. He also seems confused and his silence obviously shocks her.
“That’s right, Oz, it’s me. I’ve come to spend some time with you.”
Wow. It says a lot when your own kid needs an introduction.
Slowly, his face softens a little, and he climbs down from the chair. “That’s okay.” He seems a little put out but hugs her anyway. Maybe I should have warned him.
“How is my beautiful boy? Let me look at you.” She sets him down and steps back. “You’ve grown so much.”
Well, if she’d been here— I’ve got to stop with the negative thoughts. This isn’t good for my kid. It’s going to take a lot, but I should try to play nice.
She looks up at me as I make my way over to say hello. I lift my chin towards her. “Hey.”
“Hi, Tommy.”
“How's it going?”
“I’m doing okay, thanks.”
There’s no point asking her anything more. I've got no interest in how she’s getting on with my ex-friend.
“And how are you, Connie?” Chelsea asks, probably sensing I’m not in a talkative mood.
“I’m very well thank you, Mrs Graham.”
“That’s good.”
“Actually, Oz is about to eat dinner if you’d like to help him out.”
“It’s a little early for dinner.” She looks at her watch. “Oh, it’s later than I thought.”
It’s better if I keep my mouth shut about her time-keeping.
I pull out a chair across the table but focus on Oz. While I calm down internally, I repeat my mantra. This visit is all about him. This visit is all about him. It’s a pity Chelsea can’t get her head around it.
“I was just wondering, as I’m here, if I could talk a few things through with you, Tommy?”
Now I look her in the eye. “This isn’t the time. You should focus on Ozzie.”
“Oh, I will, but it seems a shame to pass up this opportunity.”
Fuck. I was afraid of something like this. There’s always a hidden agenda with Chelsea.
“If you want a meeting, arrange it with our solicitors.” I’m trying hard to keep my tone light for Oz’s sake, but it’s tough.
“It won’t take a minute and it's good news.”
Christ, that means nothing. “Fine, but when Oz goes for his bath. We can talk in private then.”
She smiles and goes back to cutting up the meat on Ozzie’s plate.
He can do it himself, but she’s already assumed he can’t and is taking over.
As this is the most attention she's given our son in a while, I let it happen, but Oz was cutting up his own food way before she left.
Did she really pay no attention to our son when she lived at home, or did Connie do it all?
Chelsea spends another thirty minutes playing games and colouring with Oz until her attention slips and her phone takes her interest instead. Connie and I exchange more looks until I’ve had enough.
“Bath time, Oz.”
“Oh,” he whines. “But I’m playing with Mummy.”
Chelsea finally looks up. “What’s going on?”
Jesus, if she would just pay attention. “Oz has to take his bath now.”
“So soon?”
The level of her sarcasm is off the scale, but thankfully, it doesn’t register with Oz. “Can we just play for five more minutes?”
I ruffle his hair. “Not tonight, bud.”
Oz looks over to his mum. “Will you promise to come and read me a story?”
“Maybe after I’ve spoken to Daddy, okay?”
“Okay,” Oz replies, scratching his head. He doesn’t seem too sure.
“Come on, little man. Let’s go,” Connie says, following him up the stairs at a snail’s pace. The poor kid is probably worried she’ll disappear before he's done.
It’s funny because I’m worried she will twist my words if I don’t have a witness. Neither of us trusts her.
“I’ve just got to get something. Back in a sec,” I tell her.
“Okay,” she replies. At least she’s not asking where I'm going.
Stepping out into the hall, I pick up the gate phone. “Can you do me a favour and come down here for five minutes? I need your help.”
“I’m on my way,” Ray confirms.
“Everything okay?” Chelsea asks when I return.
“Just give me a minute.” I don’t sit down. This is a little awkward.
“Why? Is there a problem?” she asks.
“Please, Chelsea.” I’m not looking at her either.
She practically jumps back in her seat, folding her arms across her chest. “You’re acting super strange.”
Giving her a sideways glance, I bite my bottom lip. Hard.
Finally, I hear Ray enter the house. “I’ll just be one more minute,” I say, while her wide eyes follow me out of the room.
“What can I do for you?” Ray asks as I meet him in the hall.
“Chelsea wants to talk and Connie is busy with Oz. Can you be my witness to the conversation? In case there’s any confusion.”
“No problem. Whatever you need.”
“Thanks, man.”
He follows me in and Chelsea stands with her hands on her hips. “What is he doing here?”
“Security,” I answer.
“Well, of course he is. I’m not stupid, but this is a private conversation. You don’t need security for that.”
“No. I need a witness.”
“You're kidding me,” she spits.
“Nope. Now, what do you want to talk about?”
She huffs and plonks herself down again. “I’m not comfortable talking in front of him.”
“Then that’s your choice.” I’m about to leave the room.
“No, wait.” She huffs again. “You really won’t back down on this, will you?”
I hold up my hands. “Take it or leave it.”
She scowls. “Have it your way.”
“Oh, I will.” I take a seat opposite her.
“After our last meeting, I took some time to consider everything you said.” She reaches into her bag and throws a brown envelope across the table.
I nod towards it. “What’s this?”
“A copy of the formal apology to Angie. The Times will be printing it tomorrow as an open letter.”
I raise an eyebrow while reading it over. “Impressive.”
“My solicitor said we should take care of it properly.”
“Your solicitor is a good guy.” I put the statement back in the envelope, but I’m happy Chelsea is admitting she was wrong. Angie didn’t deserve to be painted as the other woman. She was never that. I hope this will make her feel better.
“Is that it?” I’m about to get up from my seat.
“Not quite.” She clears her throat. “I’ve been thinking about what's best for Ozzie and you're right. He should live with you, so I won’t fight for full custody. Also, I’ve decided to stay in the States permanently.
After living there for so long, it’s home to me now.
So, now I’ve made the decision of where my home will be, I can agree to your visitation stipulations. ”
A weight lifts from my chest. Finally, I get what I’ve always wanted. Ozzie's permanent home is with me and I’m fucking ecstatic inside. Still, there’s a problem.
“That’s good news.”
“Yes. I thought you’d be happy about that, which is why I wanted to tell you myself. I’ve asked my solicitor to pass the news onto yours, so we’re all square.”
“Good.” I nod. “At least it would be if my situation hadn’t changed. I’m not coming back to the States at all.”
She tilts her head to one side, pursing her lips. “I assumed you were coming back to live in New York too.”
I shake my head. “I’ve never said that.”
“Oh, I didn’t realise. So, where will you be living?” she asks. When I don’t answer straight away, she says, “It would be helpful if you could share your plans with me, then I can at least try to work out my visitation schedule.”
I give in because she’s right. I can’t accuse her of not seeing her son, then make her life difficult when she wants to. “At the moment, I plan to stay in Braebeach, but we can fly over every few weeks or you can come here. You’ve got to consider he’ll be starting school in September.”
The band also has an upcoming tour, but that’s a complication I can’t share. I haven’t spoken to Angie yet and nothing has been formally announced. I’m also worried Chelsea will use it against me.
“I’m sure we can work something out.” Chelsea smiles half-heartedly.
She’s being pretty reasonable, but I’m still waiting for the bombshell. “What changed your mind?”
“Well, funny you should bring that up. I have some personal news.”
Yeah, I bet you do. “Uh-huh.”
“I’m buying a house.”
“You’re not living in the apartment?”
“Christ, no. I’ll probably sell it. Me and Dylan want a fresh start.”
“So, you are together,” I say crossing my arms and rolling my eyes.
“Whoops.” She smiles nervously and Ray raises an eyebrow.
“The apartment was yours as part of the settlement while you were a single mother. Shacking up with your boyfriend changes everything. I’m not funding his lifestyle too.”
“Fine. Dylan can afford a house without that money, so it isn’t a problem.”
“Good. So, we can work out visitation between the two countries.” I don’t feel great about this arrangement, but I’ll do it for Ozzie.
“Well, that makes life difficult for me,” she says, pursing her lips. “Because buying a new house wasn’t the only thing I had to share.”
Oh fuck. What now? “Okay. What else?”