“Yes, well, I didn’t think you’d hand them over to someone who’d laze around and let them run riot!”
“Kate, Adam was working on the house.” Theo is keeping his voice down, presumably so the kids won’t hear. “We’re doing a renovation project, remember?”
“As if I could forget that slap in the face!” she blasts on. “Doing up that massive house he inherited from some rich relative, while I’m slaving away doing up someone else’s, trying to make ends meet!”
Theo gives a short sigh. “Kate, you’re not ‘trying to make ends meet.’ I gave you every penny you asked for in the divorce. And the calculations you made were based on you not working. Now you are, I’m happy to renegotiate.”
I’m surprised to hear Theo standing up to Kate about finances. In the past, he’s rolled over and taken whatever she’s thrown at him. I wonder if my message about going easier on himself has got through.
“Well, that’s just like you,” she hisses. “Or should I say the new you, sinceAdamgot his claws into you?”
Why can’t she say my name in her normal voice, rather than pronouncing it as if it’s the name of some hideous flesh-eating disease? Then I find myself wondering if Kate would hate me quite so much if she knew Theo had cheated on her with a man. If she knew their marriage didn’t stand a chance—with or without me.
“But of course, now I’m trying to scrape together a little bit of money,” she thunders on, “you want to take it away from me.”
“I don’t want to take anything away from you,” Theo hits back. “I’m pleased you’re rebuilding your career.”
She gives a high-pitched huff. “Well, I might have to give up this job now. First Callum gets wasted, Mabel drives her bike into a car, all three of them get attacked by a snake, and now Adam’s supposed to be looking after Archie and lets him fall into a dungeon. As a mother, quite honestly I’m terrified.”
Theo runs his hand over his stubble. “Look, I get you’re frightened and I’m sorry about that, but I promise you there’s no need.”
Kate changes tack and addresses me directly. “Adam, I don’t expect you to understand this. Everything you do makes it blatantly obvious you’re not a parent.”
I become aware of a fluttering sound and look up to see two moths dancing around one of the night lights. I keep my eyes on them as I tell myself not to let her get to me.
Before I can respond, Theo cuts in. “Kate, don’t say that. Just because Adam hasn’t biologically produced a child doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of looking after them.”
Kate gasps. “Theo, what’s happened to you? Stop trying to pass off his negligence as some kind of stand for gay rights. It’s quite simple: you let your eight-year-old son be looked after by someone who isn’t capable.”
“No,” Theo says, “Adam and I let Archie be looked after by his older brother and sister. Just like you do when you’re busy. What’s the difference?”
“How many times do I have to say it? I’m theirmother! Not some skank you picked up online!”
“Mum, don’t talk to Adam like that!”
I turn around to see Callum standing in the doorway, Mabel cowering behind him.
“Bloody hell.” Theo shoots up out of his seat. “Cal, Mabel, you’re supposed to be upstairs.”
But Mabel ignores him. “Mum, you’re lying!”
Kate sounds like she’s got something stuck in her throat. “Shouldn’t you be in bed, sweetheart?”
“Lying about what?” Theo says.
“She isn’t working!” Mabel shrieks.
“Mabel, sweetheart.” Kate’s tone has suddenly become much softer, more conciliatory.
But Mabel isn’t having any of it. “Mum, I’m not covering up for you anymore! You only said you had a job because you wanted to get rid of us!”
She bursts into tears.
“Mabel, that’s not true,” Kate insists. “I didn’t want to get rid of you at all.”
Theo scratches his cheek. “But what about the job, Kate? Does it exist or not?”
There’s a pause.
