Page 131 of Take My Hand

“Not really, but at least I didn’t punch him.”

It had been hard to keep my temper to just yelling at him.

“Howdoyou feel?” Maya asked. “About him turning up. I know you told me you were angry, but there had to be some sadness there too.”

Contemplating her words, I ran my hand slowly up and down her calf. She was right, there was, but it was much more than that.

“Every thought of injustice I didn’t think I’d had, has come to the surface,” I told her. “Every bloody job my mum had to slog at. Every foster home I lived in. Every birthday or Christmas I’d spent alone. All of it came back like one big ball of black bitterness.” Rubbing at the bristles on my chin, I turned to seeher green eyes surveying me. “I’ve always been a positive person. I had to play the cards I was dealt and made the best of them, never thinking about what could have been. Now, though,” I sighed, “I can’t help but keep wondering what did I miss? What if?”

Maya shuffled closer, moving to straddle me, instantly putting soothing hands against my cheeks. “That’s all totally understandable, but don’t let his appearance make you think that you’ve lived an inadequate life.” She shook her head. “Because you haven’t. Look at what you have—Maddy, the bar, this house. Do you really think having your dad in your life would have changed any of that?”

“No, maybe not.” And I didn’t think it would. It had been Miriam’s generosity and my determination, to provide for Maddy that had given me everything. “Maybe him not being around is exactly why I have all this. Perhaps I’d have taken a different path, like a fucking car salesman.”

Maya grinned. “I don’t see it myself, but who knows. You in a suit and smelling of Lynx Africa might be sexy.”

Laughter moved on to kissing, and the film was forgotten, until there was a banging on the front door. It wasn’t just a knock it was a definite bang, and it was frantic.

“Who the hell is that?” Ushering Maya off my lap, I glanced at my watch. “It’s half ten.”

“Look through the window first, just in case,” Maya urged, getting off the sofa and following me to the hallway.

I flicked on the main light, and through the frosted glass panels I saw a tall figure with a shorter one next to him. I knew instantly who it was and rushed for the door, yanking it open.

“What the fuck happened?” I asked, seeing Maddy lolling against Zak, who had his arm firmly around her shoulder, while his other hand lay against her stomach. Over his shoulder, Ispotted Liam with Emma who was in a similar state to Maddy. “Get them inside.”

“Bloody hell,” Maya gasped behind me. “How much have they had to drink?”

As I led them down the hall towards the lounge, I could feel my blood getting hotter and my anger rising to boiling point.

“Get them both on the sofa for now,” I snapped. “I’ll get a couple of bowls.”

“I’ll get them,” Maya offered. “Where are they.”

“Under the sink, gorgeous. Ones got cleaning stuff in it, just tip it out.”

Zak and Liam helped the girls to the sofa, who, luckily for the boys were still able to walk. If they hadn’t been, it would have been a close call whether the boys would be, after I’d finished with them.

“I understand she’s an adult and makes her own decisions,” I said, turning on the boys and pointing an accusatory finger at them, “but I would expect you two to keep an eye on them.”

“It’s not their fault, Dad,” Maddy groaned as she flopped back against the cushions, her hand gripping Emma’s.

“So, what happened?” I asked again. “How did they get so wasted?”

“Ana,” Zak said solemnly. “She spiked their cans of cider with vodka.”

I blinked and then looked at Emma and Maddy, who both had their heads back and their eyes closed. “Ana, their friend?”

“She’d been doing it all night,” Zak gritted out. “We had no idea. At one point, Maddy felt a bit drunk, so I got her to drink some water, and she sobered up. Then Liam and I went to play darts, for, how long, Liam?”

“Half an hour at most. Honestly, Will, they were fine and then we came back, and they were like this. Zak managed to get it out of Ana what she’d done.”

“Is she fucking stupid?” I knelt down in front of Maddy and patted her knee. “Mads, sweetheart, are you okay.”

“Feel sick, Dad. Want to sleep.”

Sighing, I turned to her friend. “Emma?” I got nothing just a shake of her head.

It was then that Maya, appeared carrying two washing up bowls. “Are you putting them to bed or leaving them here?” she asked.

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