Unplugged (Blue Phoenix, #3)(66)
“Why don’t you discuss sharing care of Ella so she can stay alternate weeks, or something similar?” suggests Carol.
“No! Craig, this isn’t fair. Don’t disrupt Ella’s life. If you want, you can see her every weekend!”
“Oh, yeah, that’d suit you; leave you the weekends free for you and that loser.”
I focus on the picture hanging behind Carol, an abstract painting covered in circles of bright oil colours. Why is he doing this? I fight down the tightening anxiety in my chest.
“Craig, I’m happy to arrange something reasonable with you, but please don’t do this.”
“She lives with me,” he says firmly.
“I have to agree with Cerys that coming to a mutual agreement is a lot simpler than taking things further,” Carol says.
“Taking things further?” I ask.
“If you can’t come to an agreement and don’t agree to full mediation to solve this, the next step would be court involvement. I would strongly advise you avoid that.”
Craig twists to look at me. “It’s not just the drugs and lifestyle; what if this gets serious? Would you move overseas? Then how would I see her?”
I blink. “We’re nowhere near that stage! I can’t answer that question.”
Craig looks back to Carol. “Can I stop her taking my daughter away to another country?”
“That situation is something that would need to be addressed if it arose, and would depend on Ella’s residency arrangements at the time. If Cerys doesn’t have sole parental responsibility, she would need your permission, yes.”
“Well, as long as I feel Ella’s welfare is threatened, I will fight to get custody.”
The vanilla scent of the candle turns my stomach, the fake smell matching the mock concern of Craig’s for Ella’s wellbeing. His motivation for this goes beyond concern for her welfare.
****
LIAM
I miss Cerys when I’m away, her calming influence and the natural connection we have where I can sit in silence with her and feel as if we’re communicating. I worry that my constant trips away will interfere; that she won’t want a half-baked relationship or she won’t trust me. Her implicit acceptance is part of what I love about her; a contrast to Honey’s insecure accusations and jealousy. If you love someone, you don’t try to run their life.
I’m supposed to be on a break but even without Blue Phoenix, I’m tightly held by my music world. I can’t say no when people ask me for help; and without Steve making the decisions for me, I’m saying yes a hell of a lot more than I should. The session work is over, but bloody Jem drags me around the country with Ruby Riot. I get he likes the band, understand his passion for their music; but he’s not their manager. I’m worried this will end badly, especially with the girl, Ruby.
Cerys pushes Ella on the swing while I sit on the wooden bench beneath the willow tree and send some texts. I’m rearranging tomorrow’s plans because I’m positive Cerys needs my support. Something’s wrong, she’s pale and quiet. On the drive to the playground, Ella whined about wanting an ice-cream, and Cerys’s reaction was over the top. I’ve heard her scold her daughter before, but always in proportion to the behaviour.
Cerys’s knee-length summer dress catches the sun, which shines through the thin, white material emphasising her curves. Her brown hair has grown over the last few months; and now is clipped out of her face. The huge brown eyes that once hid beneath her fringe are visible and hold a secret I don’t understand. Am I too complacent? Has she had enough?
Ella jumps down from the swing and heads for the slide. Cerys walks over and sits on the bench next to me; I place my hand on her knee, wishing I could feel the soft warmth of her skin beneath the cotton.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
She smoothes the dress where I’ve wrinkled it so I take her hand instead. “Craig’s being a pain in the backside.”
I should’ve guessed. “Has he been turning up at all hours demanding to see Ella again?”
“Worse.” The tears brimming in her eyes are unlike this Cerys and more like the hurt girl from Christmas.
“What’s happening?”
“He wants Ella. He’s taking me to court for full custody.”
“What the f-uck?” She winces as I grip her hand so I rub her fingers. “Sorry. He can’t do that!”
“No, I don’t think he’ll win. He’s being selfish; we could’ve sorted this out through mediation, but he point blank refuses.”
I slump against the bench unsure what to say. I have no clue about this shit; but what I can’t understand is how someone who treated Ella and Cerys like he did, could achieve what he wants.
“I’ll get my lawyers onto this,” I tell her. “He won’t win.”
Cerys picks at the hem of her dress, head dipped. “He’s telling people you’re a drug addict endangering his daughter.”
“What the f-uck? You have to be f-ucking kidding me!” The desire to wring this guy’s neck increases every day.
“It worries me. Blue Phoenix’s media image isn’t great recently.” She stares straight ahead and her refusal to meet my eyes prickles my neck. “I don’t know...”