Spiralling Skywards: Fading (Contradictions, #2)(53)
I entered the family room, MTV was blaring “Gangnam Style” from the telly, while Liam and Carter did their own interpretation to the dance in front of it. The twins were each in their highchairs with what looked like Weetabix smooshed all over their faces and in their hair, the pair of them were laughing hysterically at their dad and older brother. Lucas was sound asleep in his bouncy chair, completely unaware of the chaos happening around him.
I remained silent, standing back and taking a few moments to appreciate the people I loved most in the world. I was bone tired, still bleeding heavily after the birth of my fourth baby in four and a half years, desperately in need of a cut and colour. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had shaved my legs, I had nail polish missing from at least seven of my toes and would have killed for a mani and a pedi, but none of that mattered because I had this. My handsome husband and my beautiful boys, my world.
“Mummy.”
Carter called after spotting me from the corner of his eye and launching himself at me. Liam turned, and my eyes took him in, just as the song on the telly changed to Labrinth’s “Beneath Your Beautiful”. He held his hand out.
“Dance with me, pretty girl.” Carter climbed up onto the sofa, clapping his hands and shouting at us to dance, so I stepped into Liam’s waiting arms. He wrapped them around me. His hand slid down to my bum, and he pulled me closer so he could kiss me gently on the mouth.
“Daddy. You’re touching Mummy’s booty.” Carter laughed.
“Who taught my child that word?” I asked, my face pressed against my husband’s bare chest.
“Who told you to call it a booty, big man?” Liam asked him.
“Uncle Luke.”
“There ya go.”
“Why aren’t you at work?”
“It’s Saturday, I stayed late last night and got everything done that I needed to so I wouldn’t have to go in this morning.”
“I’ve lost track of the days.”
“I’m not surprised. Things have been a little hectic around here.”
“Just a little. Thanks for letting me sleep in.”
“No worries, the kids have been fed and the breakfast dishes loaded into the dishwasher. I can’t believe you slept through the noise they were making earlier. You obviously needed the rest. How you feeling, you look a little pale.”
“Drained, but I’m good.”
“I was thinking that maybe today we could put up the decorations and then tomorrow we can go and pick a tree and take this one to see the big man in red?”
“That sounds like a perfect weekend.”
2013
Christmas was chaotic, but our New Year’s Eve was quiet. Sasha, who never did finish with Shain, had finally taken the plunge and moved to Australia to be with him.
Luke was still “seeing” Grace, but they hadn’t moved in together, and I had given up trying to work out what he wanted from their relationship. Not that he was all that open with me anymore, though. Luke and I weren’t as close as we used to be. I knew that he was working all the time and probably didn’t feel the need to protect me now that I was married, but it wasn’t just him who was pulling away. I figured I still blamed him a little bit for Liam missing out on the birth of the twins and for the fact that I’d been left on my own to deal with Grandad’s death. He was my brother and I loved him, but I resented him just a little bit too.
Nan was living in a retirement village. She had her own little one-bedroom bungalow and was self-sufficient but with the added bonus of an onsite doctor, day centre, gym, and a swimming pool, all within a gated community. It meant she kept the independence she insisted upon but had companionship on her doorstep.
Liam had taken two weeks off over the Christmas holidays and had spent a lot of one-on-one time with Carter. He was still being a little aggressive, and it wasn’t just towards Lucas anymore. It was towards Archer and Flynn, too. Despite both Liam and me talking to him and trying to get to the bottom of it, we were still at a loss as to why.
I was just heading in to see my doctor for a check up, when my phone rang. I rummaged in the hood of the pushchair for my phone, and my stomach dropped when I saw who was calling.
“Hello.”
“Mrs Delaney?”
“Speaking.”
“Good morning, Mrs Delaney, it’s Ms Winshaw, Head of King Charles Preparatory School. How are you?”
Tired. Exhausted. Over it . . .
“I’m good. What can I do for you?”
I tried to remember if I’d paid the fees. I was sure we set them up as a direct debit, and I definitely remembered to pack Carter his lunch that morning.
“I was wondering if there was any chance that you or Mr Delaney could come in for a quick chat regarding Carter.” My stomach twisted itself into a tight little knot, and my head began to pound.
“Of course. Is there a problem?”
“Well, we’re having a few concerns regarding Carter’s behaviour at the moment, and we’d just like clarification on what he’s got going on in his life right now so we know best how to help him through this difficult stage.”
“Difficult stage?”
“I’d really rather not go into details over the phone, when do you think you or your husband could make it in?”