“It’s normal that he wants to let off steam after everything that’s happened. I was the same when my dad left us. I watched that prick beat the shit out of my mum, but I missed him when he left. How fucked up’s that?”
“I think your feelings were perfectly normal and valid. You were just a child. But Cairen’s dad hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s still a big part of his life.”
“Get Justin to talk to him about his behaviour. I can’t say anything to him. The little dude hates my guts.”
“He doesn’t hate you.”
Cal stares at me with an eyebrow raised. “Yeah, he does. I can see the anger in his eyes every time he looks at me. And me being here makes things worse for him.”
“Perhaps I should enrol him in kickboxing lessons so he can get it all out of his system.”
“Train him to kick my arse. Great idea.”
I laugh, then wince at the pain in my ribs.
“Have you had your meds this morning?”
“Yes, first thing.”
“I’m going to the library today to that parent toddler group you go to. I was gonna see if you wanted to come if you felt up to it. A change of scene might do you good.”
“I can’t, Cal. I can’t face it, not yet. It takes all my strength getting to the bathroom.”
He gives me a sympathetic smile. “I’ll take Caleb. Do you want me to get you any books while I’m there?”
“I’d love that. You know what I like.”
“Yeah. Do they have a smut section at the library?”
I throw another cushion at him with a wince, then wish I hadn’t as it was propping my arm up.
He tosses the cushion to one side. “I have some in the car, actually.”
“Have you been reading smut too? Is it because you’re not getting any?” I giggle, then wince, and not just from the pain in my ribs, but the thought of him with another woman hurts more than any physical pain.
He stands and straightens the cushions on the sofa. “What do they do at this library gig, then?”
“Sing a few nursery rhymes, and the leader reads a story. The kids have a little play, and there’s a cafe so you can get a drink.”
“Sound. What do you want for lunch? I can bring you something back.”
“A sandwich will be fine when you get back.”
“All right. Can I get you anything before I go?”
“I’d like another coffee, but I daren’t have one in case I need the loo again. I’m just going to veg in front of the TV. Unless you grab me those books from your car. I hope the pages aren’t sticky.” I smile as he narrows his eyes at me with a smirk.
“Hang on.” He walks out of the living room, jingles his keys, and the front door opens and closes. He returns with two thick books in his hand. “Have you read them before?”
I take them from him, examining the front cover of one with a tattooed chest. “No, I haven’t. Did you buy these for me?”
“I just got them a while ago.”
“Thank you.” I can tell they’re used as the spines are creased and the pages are dog-eared, a bugbear Cal always does and it drives me mad. I wonder if these were his mum’s. Either way, the fact he thought of me makes my heart melt.
“Right then, little dude, shall we have a sing song?”
Caleb looks up at his dad and smiles, displaying his perfectly placed dimples and his tiny milk teeth. Cal scoops him up in his arms and passes me the TV remote.