Chapter 56
Olivia
Mase has been gone for three and a half hours and I am missing him like crazy. My relief at his leaving lasted for the first hour and then the loss and sadness began to settle. We arrived here, at Charlotte’s house, last night after a couple of days together at home. After visiting my dad, where I got a little tipsy and fell asleep things settled between us. I was able to relax and have a conversation with Mase without pouncing on him, which was a relief because I was beyond sore. My body has recovered for the most part now, enough for us to have had sex last night and this morning, quiet sex because this is not our house, leaving me pleasantly aching now. I am changing into work clothes, preparing to put a few hours in on Charlotte’s sunroom. As I put my things away, I grin at my shoes, the strappy lace up ones I wore to my dad’s house, the same shoes Mase insisted I keep on when he shagged me last night which was unexpected but nice. Maybe he has forgotten or at least had a change of heart about marriage since he seems to have decided not to pursue it.
Fortunately, I have work to keep me busy. I am holed up in the sunroom which I am painting white, my blank canvas. Charlotte has popped in a couple of times and keeps telling me that she’ll pay for some help for me. I tell her that I’m fine on my own and with her choices of colours and themes agreed I’m confident she will have a new room by the end of the week.
Tommy is at home this week. I’m not even sure if he works or if he’s retired and it’s half-term so along with Bethy and baby Byron is Mia who seems to be pissed off with the world meaning Leo, for now, is not public enemy number one. She also seems quite put out at the attention her brother is receiving making me think back to Mase’s words about how she hadn’t shared Bethy with anyone for most of her life.
Charlotte insists that I take a break to have tea with everyone, everyone that now includes Bethy’s friend who I vaguely remember from the baby shower, Suzie Wright and Dec. She keeps smiling at me, Suzie, but somehow it doesn’t seem entirely genuine and her conversation keeps coming back to Mase.
“So, you’re working for Mase?” she almost accuses me.
“No.” I’m trying hard not to lose my temper with her. “I am currently working on a commission for Charlotte. My commission for Mason’s office is complete and then I intend to start work on the bedroom.”
“Bedroom? Whose bedroom?” She sneers and I am desperate to tell her to fuck off in a dozen different ways, but I don’t, I’m on my best behaviour here.
“My bedroom,” I say bravely. “Mine and Mase’s.”
I am sure she chokes on her French fancy, but I couldn’t give a shit.
“Mase wanted it doing before, when I was too busy, but as I’ve moved in with him, I’ll be on hand at all times, so that’s next on my to-do-list.”
The other woman is staring between me and Bethy and then turns to Dec who is grinning at me supportively.
Mia and I share a small smile, clearly, she knows when someone has had their arse handed to them and she approves.
“Can I help you do Grandma’s sunroom? I can paint really well, can’t I, Mum?” Mia draws her mother into things.
“I’m sure Olivia won’t want you under her feet.” Bethy smiles apologetically.
I have no idea which way to jump now. Should I agree with Bethy or find Mia some jobs to do? She is clearly bored stiff in this house of grown-ups and a bored Mia who feels pushed out can only be a bad thing.
“You could probably help me with some things later, or tomorrow,” I suggest and am rewarded with a smile, the first genuine one I’ve seen on her face since I arrived other than the one for Suzie being put in her place.
“Are you sure?” Bethy asks but I am waving away her attempts to relieve me of her daughter’s help.
“It’s fine.” I smile, getting to my feet. “Charlotte, thank you for the tea,” I say as I eagerly get back to my work.
I have all but finished giving the walls a coat of white emulsion when Bethy appears in the doorway.
“Mia, she is difficult. If you want me to distract her from helping you,” she offers, making me smile.
I wave off her offer. “This can’t be easy for her, a new stepfather and now a new baby.” I immediately regret it when I see her glaring at me, a stony glare much like her brother’s. “Sorry, I wasn’t judging,” I add, hoping to avoid a confrontation.
“No, you’re right. She is spoilt beyond belief and she never had a dad. She had a grandad and uncles, but no dad until Leo. Unfortunately, by then she was old enough to know he wasn’t her real dad, which is one of her favourite phrases.”
“And Byron must make her question where she fits in even more.”
Bethy sighs. “I didn’t even consider that when Leo and I decided to try for a baby, maybe I should have.”
I watch her expression morph into pure guilt and shrug at her. “Byron is here now so I suppose you just have to help Mia figure it all out.”
Bethy says nothing, but watches me, closely.
“I have a stepfather. I was a little younger than Mia’s when he came into our lives.” I shudder.
“You don’t get on?” She takes a seat on the stepladders I have been up and down for most of the day and I assume Jimmy and Mase haven’t shared my past with her.
