“No, it isn’t. It’s not the same thing at all.”
Rosa sighed. “Right now, we’re going to play happy family and have lunch with her, and then we’re going to talk about this.”
“Okay, I want to do that, but I’m notplayingat anything.”
Imogen ran back over to them. “Okay, just need to get changed, then I’m ready to go.”
Rosa smiled at her. “We’ll be outside.”
Billy watched Imogen enter the small brick building that housed the changing rooms, then spun around to Rosa.
“I’m sorry.” She reached out and took Rosa’s hand, elated when Rosa let her. “You are absolutely right to be upset with me. I’ll make sure in future that I pause and speak to you regarding anything to do with Imogen, or any other issue we might face together.”
Rosa studied her face.
“I’m not the same person I was, Rosa. You know that. And you’re right, communication was the biggest problem before and I’m not going to let that be an issue moving forward.”
As people started talking and closing in, Rosa pulled free, thrusting her hands into her pockets.
“I need to trust you, Billy. I need to know—to really believe—you have my back in this, because if you thought having a baby was difficult enough…” She scoffed. “You’ve got no idea about a teenager. You see her for a couple of days a week, when she’sall happy and enjoying the way you spoil her. There’s more to parenting than giving her everything she wants.”
“I know that—”
“Do you? Did you stop to think about how she’s going to get to this trial? Will you be taking the time off of work to pick her up from school and take her? Because it’s across town, too far for her to walk.”
Billy nodded. “You’re right. So, let me do more. Let me show you I can handle this…that I’m in this.”
Chapter fifty-four
“So…” Imogen shovelled a handful of fries into her mouth and chewed. “Do you think I’ve got a chance?”
Rosa pulled the bowl away. “Can you eat those like a normal person, please?”
“Sure, Mum,” Imogen said, grabbing the bowl and pulling it back towards herself. She made a point of only picking one up and eating it.
“Imogen,” Billy said, a warning tone in her voice. “Your mum doesn’t deserve being disrespected.”
Imogen’s eyes flicked to Billy, then back to Rosa. “Sorry, Mum. I’m just excited.”
“As you should be.” Rosa smiled.
“Training with Bath Street Harriers, and I can take a day off school.”
“Half a day,” Rosa said.
“But Mum—”
“Imogen,” Billy said again.
Eyebrows pulled together and eyes narrowed. “Why are you all ganging up on me?” Imogen asked, as another chip made its way to her mouth.
“We’re not ganging up. This is parenting,” Billy answered. “We’re your parents.”
“Yeah, but you’ve always been—” Imogen stopped talking.
“The walkover parent?”
“No, that’s not…” Imogen said before breaking into a smile. “I mean, okay…not a walkover, but the easy one.”
