Page 119 of Take My Hand

“I know.” Her gaze dropped to the marble work top. “It’s just been so difficult. We’ve been drifting apart for years, but him leaving me for someone else was just… difficult.”

“A blow to your confidence?” I asked.

“Definitely.” She gave me a small smile, the first in the couple of hours I’d been there. “She’s a little younger as well, so…” She shrugged. “I thought he only cared about the business, but it seems I was wrong. Knowing that it was just me he didn’t care about sent me over the edge, and it only went away when I got drunk.” Her shoulders went back. “But I know that isn’t going tohelp for long, and I’m finished with it before it gets to be a real problem.”

Her bottom lip trembled, and I felt for her. The situation must have been hard, but she was the adult. “I hope so, because she’s just a kid, Susan, and she’s supposed to be enjoying the best time of her life. Apart from the fact she’s got exams to study for.”

“How did you do it, Will?” she asked, putting her mug down and looking at me with sad eyes. “Bring Maddy up on your own all these years. How do you be both Mum and Dad?”

“I never knew any different, and you’re not on your own. Mike left you, but he didn’t give up responsibility for his kids. Besides which, Theo has left home, and Ana will be going to uni soon. So, until then, it’s up to you to hold it together. Now,” I said, tapping the top of her hand, “call Mike and tell him you need to sort out money, the business and whatever is best for Ana.”

She gave me a nod and when she pulled her phone from her hoody pocket, I stood up and left her to it and went to join the girls in the lounge.

Looking around, I felt proud of them and the work they’d put in to getting it tidied. When I’d arrived, Maddy and Emma were trying to persuade Susan to get a shower while Ana looked on scowling. Taking charge, I told the girls to start cleaning while I spoke to Susan, and I gave it to her straight. Told her that if she didn’t pull herself together, then she’d lose her kids as well as her husband. They were too old to be taken into care, but it didn’t mean they wouldn’t cut her out of their lives if she carried on drinking.

As I watched the girls finish up, Ana approached me, her feet dragging, and her shoulders rounded.

“Thank you so much, Mr Newman,” she said in a quiet voice, pulling the arms of her jumper down over her hands. “I don’tknow what you said to her, but at least she’s showered and dressed.”

I placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping it gave her some comfort. The poor kid didn’t know what had hit her recently. She was finding it hard enough with her dad leaving, then her mum checked out on life. I knew what it was like to have no one, and I hated the idea of that for her.

“I think she just needed to be reminded of the fact that life needs to carry on.” She gave me a watery smile. “She might take a few steps back at times, but she’s made a start. Andyoudon’t forget to call, Theo.”

Frowning, she nodded. “If I must.”

“Yes, you do,” I chastised her gently. “He needs to know what you’re dealing with and take some of the strain. This might not be a magical recovery, you know.”

Her shoulders dropped in defeat. “Okay. I’ll call him later.” She looked over her shoulder, at Maddy and Emma, who were giggling about something as they flicked dusters at each other. “I’m still mad at her for calling you, but she was right—we needed help.”

“Well, it should never have got to this, Ana, so, if there’s any hint of it happening again, you tell Mads, okay?” I peered into her eyes. “Promise me.”

With a single nod, she said, “Yeah.”

She didn’t sound very convincing, but I’d have to take her at her word. “Right,” I said, “we’ll go and let you have some peace. Pizza is on its way for you and your mum.”

Her eyes went wide with surprise. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I did, love, I saw what you had in your trolley at the supermarket. Pasta is boring without anything to put with it.”

We both grinned, and then she flung her arms around me and gave me a tight squeeze with a whispered, “Thank you.” Asshe moved away, her mum shuffled into the room with her arms wrapped around her body.

“Okay?” I asked.

She nodded and came over to us, placing an arm around Ana’s shoulder. “Your dad is coming over tomorrow, and we’re going to sort a few things out.”

The optimism in Ana’s eyes was brighter than the lamp shining next to the TV, but I had a feeling it was about to be dimmed. Susan had clearly been crying and they were threatening again. She must have noticed her daughter’s excitement because she pulled her closer and said, “He’s not coming home, love. We’re just going to talk about a few things, like the house and you and Theo, because you might both be grown up, but you’re still our kids. He also wants to spend some time with you.”

“I might not want to spend time with him,” Ana said sulkily.

“Ana,” Susan sighed. “This wasn’t all down to your dad.”

“He was the one who?—”

“Enough.” Susan stopped her. “You’re not privy to everything that went on with me and Dad, so just give him a chance.”

“And what abouther?” Ana spat out. “Is she coming with him?”

Susan swallowed and shook her head. “No. Just your dad.”

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