It had to be a phone problem. Didn’t it? He wouldn’t seriously do this to Ava, would he? Even before her phone pinged, she knew the answer, but the message that just dropped in confirmed it.
Sorry – won’t make it. Family stuff.
Kiki felt every muscle in her stomach tighten into a knot, and a red rash of fury began to creep up her neck as she texted back…
Kev, SHE IS YOUR FAMILY TOO.
Sorry.
Don’t be sorry, just get here. You can’t do this to her. She needs you here.
Can’t be helped. Sorry.
Shit. Fuck. Bugger. It was all she could do not to send back a torrent of fury. Instead, she took a deep breath. For Ava’s sake, she couldn’t make this worse. Couldn’t give him an excuse to be an even more shit parent than he already was.
Her thumbs flew over her screen as she typed.
And the birthday present you promised her?
Money’s a bit tight right now. I’ll sort something out when I can.
Money was tight? He worked on the rigs and made a flipping fortune compared to what she made. His money was only tight because his wife didn’t work, and they lived in a fuck-off big house and drove matching Mercedes.
Stuff the texting. She called again. Voicemail. This time she didn’t hang up and the torrent of fury she’d been holding back could no longer be restrained. ‘Kevin, you absolute arse of a man. How could you do this to Ava? She’s going to be heartbroken. All these years, I’ve defended your indifference, made excuses for your lack of commitment to your child because you’re her father…’ She was hissing the words out like bullets so she couldn’t be overheard. ‘But given this little performance, I’ve reconsidered that perspective and decided you can fuck right off. You’d better beg her to forgive you because, let me tell you, our wonderful daughter deserves so much more than you.’
She slammed the phone down, breathless, desperate to bang her head on the counter until she blacked out and this all went away, but right now, her priority was breathing. In. Out. Until she got control of her overwhelming need to scream. She could do that later. Right now there was a far more important problem.
She popped her head back into the office, where Ava was still packing.
‘Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. Dad just sent a text to say he’s stuck at work and won’t make it. He’s gutted, he really is.’
So much for not making excuses for him, but she wasn’t going to break Ava’s heart on her big day.
If Ava had wailed or cried, it might have been easier, but somehow, the sad, resigned shrug was so much worse. ‘I figured. It’s okay, Mum. Don’t worry.’
There it was again… Ava suppressing her feelings because she didn’t want anyone to feel bad for her. It wasn’t okay. None of this was okay. He’d made promises and broken them – but all that mattered right now was that Kiki found a way to put those promises back together again.
‘Look, I know he was supposed to buy your outfit for tonight…’
‘That’s okay, Mum, I’ll just wear this.’ She pointed to the shorts and T-shirt she was already wearing. Fine for a summer’s day, but not for an evening event that was important to her.
‘I was thinking you should go and pick something from the shop…’
‘Mum, we don’t have the money. It’s fine. Honestly.’
Kiki expected that and was ready for it.
‘No, no, it’s on your dad. He said I’ve to let him know how much it cost and he’ll transfer the money to my bank.’
The lie was worth the way her girl’s eyes lit up. ‘Seriously? He did?’
Kiki nodded. ‘He did. Now go on. Go and find something nice.’
Ava didn’t need to be asked twice. Just as she dashed past Kiki, Dinah came back in from the storeroom. ‘Did I just lose my helper?’ she asked, smiling.
Kiki lowered her voice. ‘Dinah, I need a huge favour and I’m sorry to spring this on you… but if Ava chooses an outfit, can I pay it up?’ She did a quick calculation. ‘Don’t give me any wages for today, and I’ll work next Saturday for nothing too. Would that be okay?’ She’d been counting on that money for her electricity bill, but she’d just have to find another way to cover that. She’d manage somehow.
The expression of understanding on Dinah’s face was almost worse than having to ask in the first place. She wouldn’t have blamed her if she’d refused – Dinah was always saying that profit margins were tight in the shop, with Shein and Temu selling things cheap as chips.
