“No, I won’t speak to her. How can you say that after everything she’s said and done? I don’t care if I never speak to her again.”
Lottie’s eyes fill with tears, her hands on her hips as she faces her father.
She sees me enter.
“Aunty Pen, tell him.”
I hold up my hand. “Lottie, this is between you and your dad.”
“How can you say that, Aunty Pen? She broke you two up, kept you and Dad apart with her lies. She’s a selfish bitch, and I hate her.”
“Lottie! Do not call your mother that,” Elijah shouts.
“Why not? It’s true. She and Grandpa. I hate them.”
Shit.
I hoped she hadn’t picked up on that part of the argument.
“Your dad and I were never together, Lottie. We were very good friends, but that was as far as our relationship went.”
“But you wanted it to be more. No one is surprised you’re together. Even Granny is happy.”
I shake my head. “The past is the past. It wasn’t our time.”
The words taste chalky, coming out of my mouth.
Is now our time? I really don’t know.
I’m still struggling to understand how Darra played everyone so much. For years, she had two men dancing to her tune, but for different reasons. I’d be happy for Lottie to never speak to her toxic and manipulative mother ever again. But that’s not what Lottie needs. Lottie needs to find peace with her mum, whatever that looks like. Darra is her mother, and whether she likes it or not, she needs to hear her out. Whatever she then decides must be her choice.
“Well, you can’t make me,” she says, turning around and storming into her bedroom, the door rattling on its hinges as she slams it shut.
Elijah turns and storms into the living room, raking a hand through his hair.
“Bloody hell,” he seethes.
I move up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. He stops, spins in my arms, and pulls me against him, his head resting on top of mine.
“I’m sorry you came home to that,” he says.
“Give her time,” I say, looking up, our mouths mere millimetres apart. “Whatever she needs. If she’s going to be receptive, she needs to be ready to listen to Darra’s side of the story. If not, it could make things worse.”
“I know,” he sighs. “It’s just I’ve had Darra calling her solicitor. I’m tired, Pen.”
“Lottie is a strong, independent young woman. She has the right to make up her own mind, and Darra needs to accept that. She had her chance to answer her questions in the summer and didn’t. She has to live with that. When the time is right, Lottie will come around. Until then...”
“For someone with no children, you have an amazing insight,” he says.
A full three-sixty from the morning, Lottie went missing.
My stomach clenches at his words, but I force a smile.
“I was raised by a young, single mum. Life was not all roses.”
He drops his forehead to mine.
“I didn’t mean it. I will keep apologising. You’ve been one of the best things in my daughter’s life. She wouldn’t be as rounded if you hadn’t stepped in when Darra and I were making a mess of it. You’re one of the reasons she’s strong and independent. You are an amazing role model.”
