‘I only ever put myself first now.’
Richard rolled over until he was covering her. He kissed her deeply. ‘I think I may have met my match with you.’
‘Good, because you’d be wise to remember that. I’m not as weak as my sister.’
‘And I’m not stupid enough to tell you I killed my father when I didn’t.’
He stared at her and for a moment she thought she saw a shimmer of anger. But it was matched with her determination. She was cleverer than she was making out, purposely.
And he wasn’t clever enough to realise.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
2018
When Sarah got in from work that evening, Paulette was sitting with Poppy on her knee.
‘Where’s Jessie?’ Sarah asked her.
‘He went out an hour ago. Said he was meeting Hudson.’
Sarah’s features darkened. ‘He promised to stay in with me tonight. He also said he’d look after Poppy.’
‘One out of two isn’t bad,’ Paulette humoured.
‘Don’t tell me he’s been here all day, because I know that’s probably not true.’
Paulette blushed, giving it away. ‘He looked after her this morning and then I said as I was in, he might as well go out.’
Sarah sighed as she took Poppy from her. ‘I want him to be more involved with Poppy. He’s not like he is with Ethan.’
‘Boys will be boys.’
‘That’s not how it works.’
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to joke. But you know Jessie, he’s one of the lads.’
Sarah wondered whether to discuss her concerns with Paulette. It was difficult because he was Jessie’s mother. But she was also Poppy’s grandmother and if she was fearful for her child, perhaps she’d be better speaking out about it. She decided to bite the bullet.
‘Paulette, do you think Jessie has changed recently?’
Paulette looked up with a quizzical look. ‘In what way?’
Sarah dropped Poppy into a highchair. ‘He seems to be angry all the time.’
‘Has he done something to you?’ Paulette gasped. ‘He hasn’t hit you?’
‘No, and he’d better not. I’d wallop him back if he did and we’d be gone the next day.’
Paulette nodded her approval. ‘That’s good to know, though. His father used to clout me all the time. I was hoping it wouldn’t be passed down to Jessie as he grew up around it.’
Sarah gave out a huge sigh. ‘I just wish he’d take more responsibility with Poppy.’
‘I’m sure the men in this family don’t want to do that about anything, and that has nothing to do with me.’ She stood up. ‘I’ll make us a cuppa.’
Sarah ran a hand over her daughter’s forehead, pushing away her hair as she prepared to feed her. Jessie’s huge brown eyes stared back at her, theshape of his nose. Poppy had Jessie’s colouring too. She was the spit of her father, a constant reminder of him.
Why didn’t Jessie want to spend time with them? Why did he always want to be with that stupid Hudson more?
