She curled her hands up, digging her nails into her palms to stop herself from screaming. ‘I’d kind of like to see my daughter on Christmas Day. She’s six years old, and I’d like to watch her open her presents and see her face light up. I know you want to see her, too, but we need to come to some compromise here.’
‘I knew you’d be like this.’ Thomas shook his head. ‘It’s pointless even trying to discuss anything with you. I expect you’d be happy if I just disappeared out of your life, just as long as I keep sending you those cheques.’
‘I’m not being like anything. I’m simply trying to point out that I’d like to spend some time with my daughter at Christmastime. And I know you would too. I don’t want you out of her life, I want her to know her father, and I want her to spend lots of time with you. But I can’t be the one to always give. You had Thanksgiving and other holidays, why can’t we share this one?’
‘Because I want to take her away. We’ve booked to go skiing in Colorado. I’d have preferred to go for a week, but I knew you wouldn’t agree to that, so a few days will have to do.’
Oh this was perfect. ‘You booked a holiday for her without asking me?’
Thomas threw his hands up in the air. ‘Oh Jesus, what do you think yesterday’s text was about? I just want to take my daughter away for a few days, teach her to ski and spend some time with our family. That’s not unreasonable is it?’
‘It’s unreasonable when you take her away for the whole of Christmas. We agreed I’d have her for Christmas and you’d have her for Thanksgiving. You’re being unfair.’
He sighed, shaking his head at her. ‘You’re making this very difficult. What is it you have planned for her? Won’t you be working in the shop up until Christmas Eve? If you think about it I’m doing you a favour.’
‘You haven’t done me a favour in your life.’
‘I married you didn’t I?’
Her mouth dropped open. She tried to think of a smart retort, but her brain turned to mush. All she could manage was, ‘Go to hell, Thomas.’
‘Mommy?’ Poppy’s quiet voice came from behind. ‘Is there something wrong?’
Her stomach dropped. Poppy took her hand, and cuddled into her side, the way she used to when she was a kid. Her toddler-like reaction made Juliet want to cry. In the months since their split, not once had Juliet been acrimonious towards her ex in front of their child. She’d made it her mission not to be. Okay, so Poppy knew things weren’t right, and knew the story of Juliet hitting her father’s PA, but she’d never heard her mother swear at her father before.
‘There’s nothing wrong, darling.’ Juliet deliberately tried to keep her voice light. ‘We’re just having a disagreement. You know, like you do with your friends at school sometimes.’
‘But you’re still friends with Daddy, right?’
‘Of course we are.’ Thomas leaned forward to ruffle Poppy’s hair, painting a smile on his thin lips. ‘We were just having a conversation, that’s all.’
‘It’s fine, Poppy. Now let’s get your bag, did you put your toothbrush in there?’ Juliet turned around, glad Thomas couldn’t see her face. A band of guilt around her chest replaced all the anger she’d felt at him.
She’d promised herself she wouldn’t be that sort of single mother. A bitter, angry one, throwing out accusations whenever she saw her ex. And yet here she was, arguing with him on the doorstep.
‘There you go,’ she said, false cheeriness still lightening her voice, as she passed Poppy’s case to Thomas. ‘Okay then, darling, I’ll see you tomorrow, have a lovely time.’ She kissed the top of Poppy’s head, inhaling the flowery fragrance of her shampoo. Her eyes squeezed tight, as she tried to commit that smell to memory. Saying goodbye didn’t get any easier, even when it was just for one night.
‘We’ll talk about that thing in the week,’ Thomas said, turning to walk down the steps. His words left her in no doubt he was still planning to get his own way.
Yeah, well, they’d see about that.
‘What are you doing right now?’ Ryan asked. Juliet smiled as she held her phone to her ear. Simply hearing his voice felt like fresh rain following a drought.
‘Not much,’ she admitted. Unless you counted rearranging the shop for the second time in a few weeks as much. Anything to take her mind off Thomas’s demands, and the anxiety that was nestling in her stomach. ‘I spent the afternoon at the shop, and now I’m beat. How about you?’
‘I had a day trip with Charlie on the boat planned out, but then he got a better offer. Apparently swimming and fast food plus a sleepover trump sailing with your old man.’ Though Ryan’s words sounded petulant, his tone was anything but. Juliet knew he worried that Charlie didn’t have enough friends his own age. It sounded as though things were changing for the better.
‘Poor you,’ she teased. ‘Jilted for McDonald’s. At least you know where you stand.’
‘Pretty much at the bottom of the list,’ he agreed. ‘Which was why I’m calling.’
‘Oh yes?’
‘I wondered if you’d like to join me for dinner.’
‘At your place?’ She sat down on the kitchen stool, leaning her head against the painted wall, trying to ignore the way his simple request sent h
er heart racing.