‘Yikes, so young,’ she agreed. ‘So are things okay between you?’
‘I think so. Although I’m hurt and angry at his deception, I understand his reasons for not telling me.’
‘That’s good. I’m glad things are okay between you. I didn’t get much sleep last night,’ she admitted.
‘Don’t worry about it. In a weird way, I’m glad I know now and he’s promised me that he has no more skeletons in the closet.’
‘Glad to hear it. Right then, I’d better go. We’re heading over to the golf club for lunch and I need to get ready.’
‘You and Hugo?’ I was surprised.
‘Uh-huh. There’s some prize-giving thing on and he wants myself and Elliot there… All the golfers’ wives and families will be there so we can’t let the side down,’ she added bitterly.
‘Well, that sounds nice…’ I was trying not to sound too shocked. He had been his usual obnoxious-self last night, slipping in the digs where he could, but it seemed as though Maya had no choice but to dance to his tune and play perfect families.
We hung up and I headed back downstairs and put it out of my head. I came into the kitchen and saw Finn standing there with a pair of scissors in his hand.
‘Oh my goodness, sweetheart! What are you doing with that?’ I asked, rushing over and taking it from him. ‘You know you’re not allowed to play with scissors.’
‘But I want to cut my hair,’ he explained as if it was perfectly reasonable.
It was then that I saw clumps of his curly hair strewn around his feet on the tiles.
‘Did you cut your own hair?’ I asked, aghast.
He nodded proudly.
‘Why did you do that?’
‘’Cause only girls have long hair.’
‘Hey, everything okay?’ Jay asked, coming into the kitchen behind us.
‘I just caught Finn in the middle of giving himself a haircut!’
‘What?’ he said in disbelief. His face fell when he saw the dark locks spread around the floor.
‘Why are you cutting your hair, Finn?’
‘’Cause I don’t want long hair any more.’
Jay looked crestfallen. Finn had always worn his hair long like Jay’s. It had been a source of pride between the two of them. He had only ever had small trims and now his curly, shoulder-length hair was long enough to tie back in a ponytail exactly like Jay wore his.
‘What’s brought this on?’ Jay asked.
‘Only girls have long hair and I don’t want to be a girl.’
‘I have long hair and I’m not a girl,’ Jay said petulantly.
‘But Daddy, nobody in school wants to play with me because I look like a girl.’
I crouched down before him. ‘Did something happen, sweetheart?’ I probed, trying to calm myself even though blood was pounding and whooshing around my ears. ‘Did somebody say something about your hair?’
‘Elliot said I look like a girl.’
‘Elliot?’ I repeated, wanting to be sure I had heard him right.
‘Who else would it be?’ Jay muttered sardonically.
