Read Online Just for Fun by Rosalind James - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rosalind James
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yet, not till we’ve got to know each other a bit. But
yeh, I’d like them to move. The neighborhood’s good enough, but the flat’s
pretty dodgy. I’m thinking some kind of settlement, for the back support. What
I’d have been paying if I’d known.”
“What? You have no legal obligation, Nic. Surely
Oliver explained that. I’ve barely touched on family law myself, thank God, but
even I know that. There’s no obligation until maintenance is ordered. You’d
better not have mentioned that to her. I’ll ring Oliver tomorrow,” she
decided. “Find out what the process is, what our options are.”
“No.” He was firm now. “I’ll cope with Oliver. This is my
responsibility. And it has nothing to do with what’s legally ordered.” He cut
her off as she began to argue. “It has to do with getting them out of there,
and into something better. He’s wearing buggered rugby boots. And pajamas two
sizes too big.” He struggled to express the distress those pajamas had caused
him. “He deserves better. They both do. Emma didn’t ask for this.”
“I think that’s exactly what she asked for,” Claudia said
sharply. “If she dropped her drawers for you two seconds after meeting you.”
He stared at her in shock. “And how long was it before we
had sex? If you’d fallen pregnant, what would you have expected me to do?”
“That was different. We were dating. I wasn’t some groupie.”
“And neither was she. It wasn’t like that.” He was in
dangerous territory, he knew, but he couldn’t help coming to Emma’s defense. “Anyway,
it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we’re having the blood tests on
Wednesday, so I won’t be home to dinner. And I’m giving them tickets for the
game on Saturday,” he went on, wanting to get everything out there now. Since
it had all turned to custard anyway.
“Oh, no. You’re not expecting me to get to know him. Or that
. . . woman.”
“Of course I am. They’re both in our lives now, like it or
not. Sooner or later, he’ll be here. Every week, I hope, if I can make that
work. And the only way to do that without a court battle is if we have a civil
relationship with Emma.”
“I need your help with this, Claud.” He softened his voice, reached
for her hand. “We’re meant to be partners, aren’t we? This is one of those times,
one of those unexpected things that happens in life, that we need to get through
together.”
She held his hand, but he could sense the reluctance in her,
the unmistakable pulling back. “I just don’t know,” she said slowly. “I’m not
ready for this. She’s not sitting in my section, is she?” she asked in sudden
alarm.
“That’s where all the seats are, that I get,” he said,
exasperated again. “You know that. It’ll be a chance to get to meet them in a
neutral setting. Think of it that way.”
“No.” She shook her head, the silky hair swaying. “Not yet.
If they’re coming on Saturday, I’m staying home.”
“I’d like you to be there. For me, as well as for this.”
“No,” she repeated. “Not yet. Give me a chance to get used
to this, Nic. I’ll watch the game, here. But I’m not going to sit next to that
. . .” She broke off, seeing the danger in his expression. “And be friendly,
like this is some kind of normal social occasion. She won’t want to meet me
either.”
“She’s going to want to get to know the woman who’ll be
looking after Zack, while he’s here,” he pointed out. “And I’m sure she’s none
too comfortable with that idea, either. He’s her world. That’s plain to see.”
“That’ll mostly be Rose, surely,” she objected.
“Not if it’s at the weekend. Which’ll be hard enough, with
my playing schedule.” He ran a hand over his face, rubbing his eyes, suddenly
feeling alarmingly weary again. “I don’t know. I don’t have the answers yet. I
only learnt all this myself a week ago. And I’m shattered from the game, and
the journey,” he
yeh, I’d like them to move. The neighborhood’s good enough, but the flat’s
pretty dodgy. I’m thinking some kind of settlement, for the back support. What
I’d have been paying if I’d known.”
“What? You have no legal obligation, Nic. Surely
Oliver explained that. I’ve barely touched on family law myself, thank God, but
even I know that. There’s no obligation until maintenance is ordered. You’d
better not have mentioned that to her. I’ll ring Oliver tomorrow,” she
decided. “Find out what the process is, what our options are.”
“No.” He was firm now. “I’ll cope with Oliver. This is my
responsibility. And it has nothing to do with what’s legally ordered.” He cut
her off as she began to argue. “It has to do with getting them out of there,
and into something better. He’s wearing buggered rugby boots. And pajamas two
sizes too big.” He struggled to express the distress those pajamas had caused
him. “He deserves better. They both do. Emma didn’t ask for this.”
“I think that’s exactly what she asked for,” Claudia said
sharply. “If she dropped her drawers for you two seconds after meeting you.”
He stared at her in shock. “And how long was it before we
had sex? If you’d fallen pregnant, what would you have expected me to do?”
“That was different. We were dating. I wasn’t some groupie.”
“And neither was she. It wasn’t like that.” He was in
dangerous territory, he knew, but he couldn’t help coming to Emma’s defense. “Anyway,
it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we’re having the blood tests on
Wednesday, so I won’t be home to dinner. And I’m giving them tickets for the
game on Saturday,” he went on, wanting to get everything out there now. Since
it had all turned to custard anyway.
“Oh, no. You’re not expecting me to get to know him. Or that
. . . woman.”
“Of course I am. They’re both in our lives now, like it or
not. Sooner or later, he’ll be here. Every week, I hope, if I can make that
work. And the only way to do that without a court battle is if we have a civil
relationship with Emma.”
“I need your help with this, Claud.” He softened his voice, reached
for her hand. “We’re meant to be partners, aren’t we? This is one of those times,
one of those unexpected things that happens in life, that we need to get through
together.”
She held his hand, but he could sense the reluctance in her,
the unmistakable pulling back. “I just don’t know,” she said slowly. “I’m not
ready for this. She’s not sitting in my section, is she?” she asked in sudden
alarm.
“That’s where all the seats are, that I get,” he said,
exasperated again. “You know that. It’ll be a chance to get to meet them in a
neutral setting. Think of it that way.”
“No.” She shook her head, the silky hair swaying. “Not yet.
If they’re coming on Saturday, I’m staying home.”
“I’d like you to be there. For me, as well as for this.”
“No,” she repeated. “Not yet. Give me a chance to get used
to this, Nic. I’ll watch the game, here. But I’m not going to sit next to that
. . .” She broke off, seeing the danger in his expression. “And be friendly,
like this is some kind of normal social occasion. She won’t want to meet me
either.”
“She’s going to want to get to know the woman who’ll be
looking after Zack, while he’s here,” he pointed out. “And I’m sure she’s none
too comfortable with that idea, either. He’s her world. That’s plain to see.”
“That’ll mostly be Rose, surely,” she objected.
“Not if it’s at the weekend. Which’ll be hard enough, with
my playing schedule.” He ran a hand over his face, rubbing his eyes, suddenly
feeling alarmingly weary again. “I don’t know. I don’t have the answers yet. I
only learnt all this myself a week ago. And I’m shattered from the game, and
the journey,” he
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