“I make sure you have a business to run.” She stomps her foot so hard, the force of it rattles my desk.
“How?” I stare up at the red face of a woman who is about to give birth any day now. Why did I start this argument? I should know better than to say anything. Pregnant women scare me.
“Because if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t know if you were coming or going. You’re so disorganised. You were a dick to her. Apologise.”
“No, I’m busy.” I look back at my paper.
She walks out, slamming my door. The glass shakes to the point I think it might shatter, and my mood darkens even further when Julia’s name flashes on my phone again.
“What?” I say in anger. Now I’m the one who’s pissed.
“Have you signed it?” she’s so abrupt, but I have come to expect nothing less now, she’s a cold-hearted woman.
“Yes. I hope you know the damage you have caused two little children,” I spit into the phone.
She hangs up, not even caring.
I decide to collect the children from school, letting Gemma know on the way. I need to hold them, to show them they’re loved.
Penny spots me and gives me a massive smile, waving at me as I wait for Ace to come out. Eden holds my hand so tight I think she cut off the blood supply. She’s telling me about everything that happened at school today and who she has fallen out with.
Girls.
“Dad,” Ace shouts as he sees me.He waves at me with the biggest smile.
As the children are released from their classrooms, Ace’s teacher catches my eye.
“Mr Whitlock, I need a word, please. Can you wait?” the teacher asks as Ace tries to come to me.
I stand back until all the other parents and children have gone. She waves me and Eden over.
“Hello.” She smiles. The middle-aged woman looks tired; her hair has strands of grey and blonde mixed together. “We had a slight incident at school today, which is very unlike Ace. Unfortunately, I don’t know the full details as none of the boys are talking, but Ace pushed someone to the floor atbreak time. The other child is fine. Ace admitted he did it, but that’s all. He won’t tell me why.”
“Ace? What’s going on?” I question him.
“Nothing.” Ace looks down at his shoes.
“This doesn’t sound like him,” I tell the teacher.
I’m shocked by Ace’s behaviour. He is so well-mannered. If I was told Eden had done it, I wouldn’t even question it.
“I know, I was very surprised as well.” She turns her attention back to Ace. “Ace, if something is going on, I want to know. I’ll be talking to the other child’s mum tomorrow.” She gives me a sad look. “He might talk to you.”
“Is he getting expelled?” Eden asks, smiling.
I have serious concerns about my daughter at times.
“No,” both his teacher and I reply. We try again to see if Ace will tell us more, but he keeps saying he doesn't know.
“Let’s go home and talk about this.” I take his hand and walk out of the school grounds.
The ride home is in near silence. Ace doesn't say a word, but Eden makes up for it. She mutters to herself for the entire journey about Annabelle and something to do with getting some scissors and needing to cut hair. I need to have words with her as well.
When we arrive, Gemma is walking around on her injured foot, and dinner is being cooked. I look in the pot: what the hell is this?
“Sit down, Gemma. I’ll make dinner,” I tell her, not exactly sure what I’m meant to be doing either. “Ace, we need a chat first…” I look at Eden, who has started rifling through the cutlery drawer. “Eden, what are you up to?”
She picks up the biggest yellow scissors she can find.
