Page 46 of A Secret Escape

“It’s tough for Avery too. She has to share me with you and Zoe.”

The hand that wasn’t holding the phone curled into a fist.

“What did she expect? That’s what happens when you get involved with a married man who has a child.”

“I’ve never known you to talk like this before. What has happened to you?”

Milly stared into the distance. What had happened to her? The man she’d loved and trusted had left her, that was what had happened. And for months she’d grieved and blamed herself and wondered what she could have done differently. She’d busted a gut trying to make a bad situation as good as possible for her daughter. She’d moved out of the home she loved because that was what Richard had demanded. She’d turned up to work every day even when all she wanted to do was to curl up under the covers.

“Your comment about Avery was a little insensitive, that’s all.” She fixed her gaze on the photo of Zoe and kept her tone soft. “We’re all doing our best in difficult circumstances.”

“I’m just trying to be happy. To live a happy life. It’s not a crime, Milly. Not that I expect you to understand that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Forget it.”

The window of her office overlooked one of the forest paths, and she watched as a family of three made their way along the trail, loaded up for the day with backpacks and a huge picnic bag. The man carried the little girl on his shoulders, and Milly felt an ache of envy and sadness. Seeing a happy family enjoying their time together made her realize what a mess her own was.

“I don’t want to forget it.” So much for trying not to escalate things. “What is it that I don’t understand, Richard?”

“You don’t understand about enjoying life. Your whole focus is on duty and responsibility. All you think about is boring chores. Doctor’s appointments, and parent–teacher meetings and acting as a taxi service for Zoe. You’ve turned your life into a never-ending to-do list.”

“Because these things have to be done!” The injustice of it was like a knife to the heart. Something hot started to simmer inside her. “Doctor’s appointments, parent–teacher meetings—they all have to be done, and someone has to do them. And that someone is never you, so it has to be me.”

“I know you like to think you’re doing it all, but I helped out plenty of times.”

“Helped out?” The slow simmer became a dangerous boil of anger. “The responsibilities of life and parenthood are not mine for you to ‘help’ with. They’re ours, to be shared equally. It’s called being an adult, Richard. If I spent too much time doing ‘boring chores,’ then it’s because you weren’t doing your share.”

If she didn’t calm down she’d have a heart attack, and she could not leave Zoe in the care of this overgrown child. Zoe’s teeth would fall out, she’d have no clean clothes, and she’d never make it to school on time.Also, she’d give up drama, and Richard wouldn’t even think to ask her why.

“It’s not my fault that you’ve forgotten how to enjoy yourself. I should probably call you Martyr Milly.”

His words were so wounding, so deeply unfair, that for a moment Milly was robbed of breath.

“This conversation started because I was asking you to stick to the plans you make with Zoe. Or is she one of your ‘chores’ too? I’d hate to think that seeing your daughter deprives you of your precious fun.”

She was glad she was alone in the office. There was no chance of Zoe overhearing.

What had happened to him? Since when had he been this selfish?

“I’m going to ignore that because it seems you’re determined to be difficult. And as for Zoe, I can’t pick her up from drama this weekend because it’s Avery’s mother’s birthday, and we’re taking her for a champagne afternoon tea at a manor house near here, but she can come and stay with us next weekend. I’ll pick her up Friday after school and drop her back Sunday night.”

“And Avery is okay with that?” She was going to stay calm. She was going to overlook the fact that Avery’s mother’s birthday was taking precedence over his commitment to his daughter. “It isn’t going to get canceled?”

“Avery suggested it. She put it in the calendar.”

And Milly was expected to flex because that was what she did. And if she didn’t do it, Zoe suffered and Milly was labeleddifficult.

Milly felt the familiar pain deep inside her. The truth was she hated the weekends that Zoe stayed with Richard. She usually worked because that was a better alternative to mooching around aimlessly, trying not to wonder if Zoe was going to end up liking Avery more than her own mother. Was she more fun? Did Zoe think her mother was boring?

She dragged her mind back to the present.

“I’ll let Zoe know. But don’t forget her drama club. She can’t miss it because it’s not long until the performance.”

“You just said she’s thinking of giving it up.”

His comment reawakened her anxiety.

---