I followed over and stood behind where they were crouched on the ground around their son. ‘Is he okay?’ I asked.
‘Elliot pushed me,’ Finn cried.
‘I did not!’ Elliot screamed.
‘Hey there,’ I said, going over and putting an arm around my son to let him know I was there. ‘Calm down and tell me what happened.’
‘He tripped over the step.’ Elliot pointed at the timber sleepers that framed the sandpit.
‘I didn’t trip,’ Finn cried hysterically, his face covered in snot and tears. ‘You pushed me!’ he accused.
‘Okay, everyone, let’s calm down,’ Jay said. ‘I’m sure it was an accident.’
‘But it wasn’t, Daddy.’ Finn cried even harder. ‘He pushed me.’
‘Elliot,’ I began, ‘is that true?’
He shook his head. Although Elliot was denying it, something about his demeanour and the way he wouldn’t meet my eyes told me that it wasn’t an accident.
‘I’m so sorry, guys,’ I apologised. ‘I’m not sure who’s telling the truth.’
‘H-he pushed me, Daddy.’ Finn continued to sob.
‘I’ll go get the first aid kit,’ Jay said to Liv.
Liv sat down at the table with Finn on her lap. I saw he had a small cut on his shin. I watched as she wriggled his ankle joint and then his knee to check for broken bones. Jay returned moments later and began fishing out antiseptic wipes and bandages. I caught a glimpse of Hugo’s face; his eyes told me he thought they were overreacting. Although I agreed they were fussing over what appeared to be a minor cut, we all parented differently.
Hugo put his hands out and Elliot climbed up onto his knee.
‘Lucky we have two nurses on standby,’ I said to lift the mood.
‘Ow, Mammy,’ Finn wailed as they cleaned the cut. ‘It hurts. Stop, Mammy, stop!’
‘He’s a baby,’ I heard Elliot whisper to Hugo and Hugo laughed.
I turned to Hugo and hissed, ‘This is the second time something like this has happened when he’s been playing with Finn. We need to nip this in the bud.’
‘What are you talking about? Let’s not overreact,’ Hugo defended his son. ‘The kid said he didn’t do anything. I believe him.’
‘It’s okay,’ Liv said to appease the situation. ‘They’re five-year-olds; they’re only learning how to socialise.’ Clearly, she believed her son.
‘I think he’s okay,’ Jay said after he had cleaned up the cut.
‘Well, that’s a relief,’ I said sympathetically while Elliot and Hugo sat smirking together.
‘Would anyone like dessert?’ Liv asked, clapping her hands together as if to signal an end to this conversation.
‘I’m good, thanks,’ Hugo said, patting his stomach and standing up from the table. ‘I think we should go now, actually.’
‘Yeah, it’s getting late anyway,’ I agreed, standing up and slipping the strap of my crossbody bag over my head. The evening was ruined now. I couldn’t see any of us being able to sit down and enjoy one another’s company after this. ‘I’m sorry, Liv.’
‘It’s okay,’ she said in a tone that told me it wasn’t. ‘I’ll walk you out.’
I placed a hand on her arm. ‘I don’t want to humiliate Elliot here in front of everyone but I promise, we’ll talk to him when we get home,’ I assured her in a whisper as she saw us out. Jayfollowed after us, carrying Finn in his arms. ‘Thanks for having us over,’ I said to the two of them. ‘I hope Finn will be okay.’
‘Thanks for coming,’ Liv said, pursing her lips into a smile that didn’t stretch up her face.
28
