‘Well, that was fun. Let’s all get together again soon,’ Jay announced sardonically as we watched Hugo’s car pull out onto the road and drive off down the street.
‘I’m sorry.’ I sighed, resting my head against his shoulder. The evening air had turned chilly and I shivered in my t-shirt and Birkenstocks. ‘I didn’t think it would go so badly.’
We came back inside the house and Jay placed Finn down onto the floor before shoving the door shut behind us.
I moved Finn’s scooter out of the way and crouched down beside our son. ‘How’s your leg, sweetheart?’
He looked up at me, his huge, brown eyes like two liquid pools of cocoa. His beautiful face never failed to take my breath away. ‘It’s really sore, Mammy.’
‘You poor little thing. It was a nasty gash.’
‘If he ever pushes you like that again, son, you be sure to push him right back, do you hear me?’ Jay blustered.
Finn looked up at his father in shock. ‘But I’ll get in trouble if I hurt him.’
‘No, you won’t.’ Jay shook his head angrily, ‘Not if you’re defending yourself, you won’t.’
‘Here,’ I said, wanting to end this conversation. ‘Let’s go and get you comfy on the sofa.’
Finn ran ahead of us to the TV room, clearly enjoying the attention. I made him snug with cushions and put a throw over him, while Jay turned on the TV for him to watch. Once he was snuggled up, we headed out to the garden and began the clean-up.
‘I should have listened to you,’ I said as I gathered up a salad bowl and tongs and brought them back inside. ‘But I really thought we could all get along together for a couple of hours.’
‘Hey, it’s not your fault,’ Jay cajoled as he followed after me and returned the ketchup bottle and jar of mayonnaise to the fridge. ‘Maya seems like a nice person and all but I don’t know what she sees in Hugo. He’s an arrogant twat. And for what it’s worth, I believe Finn. He wouldn’t make something like that up. I think Elliot pushed him.’
‘I know but maybe it was an accident and Finn overreacted.’
Jay raised his brows sceptically. ‘You really think that?’
I sighed. ‘They’re just kids, Jay.’
‘I presume you’re counting Hugo in that too,’ he quipped.
I shook my head and laughed. ‘I just don’t get why the boys don’t get along,’ I went on as we returned outside to gather up the remaining items.
‘Look, I know you like Maya but Hugo is an ass and I think Elliot is heading the same way.’
‘Jay!’ I said, shocked by his uncharacteristic jibe. ‘You can’t say that. He’s only five.’
We both gathered up the last of the plates and glasses and returned into the kitchen.
‘Well, mark my words: like father, like son,’ Jay said as he scraped a plate of leftovers into the bin.
‘That’s harsh. I know Hugo isn’t your cup of tea but Maya is a good mother and she doesn’t turn a blind eye to his behaviour. I’ve heard her correct him when he’s out of line.’
‘But no matter what she does or how great a mother she is, the child doesn’t stand a chance growing up with a father like that,’ Jay protested.
‘C’mon,’ I coaxed. ‘I think you’re being a little extreme. They’re five years old – they got into an argument; that’s what kids do. Even if Elliot deliberately pushed Finn, I don’t think we need to make a big deal over it.’
‘I won’t have my son be bullied by a spoilt, obnoxious, little brat.’
‘I think we just need to give them a little more time to warm to each other.’
‘Well, I don’t want Finn hanging out with Elliot if he is going to treat our son like that.’
‘Jay!’ I said, a little taken aback. ‘Look, Maya is my friend, I’ve never had a friend like her before, I really like her so I want the boys to get along.’
‘But at what cost? I was bullied for years in secondary school; I know firsthand the damage it can do. I don’t want Finn going through the same thing as me.’
