Read Online Never Close Your Eyes by Emma Burstall - Free Book Online

understand why he doesn’t want to be with me.’

Chapter Seven

    Neil’s Alfa Romeo was outside the house when Evie and the children returned. She shivered. She hated that car: his tart cart. He’d bought it soon after he’d walked out, leaving her with the ancient Renault Espace. She’d like to run a fifty-pence piece all along that horrible, sleek, shiny black side.
    He’d let himself in as usual and had his back to them when they entered the kitchen. There was a strong smell of toast. He’d obviously been making himself at home. She felt a prickle of irritation. That was her coffee and her bread he was using, but she couldn’t say anything. She mustn’t upset the kids.
    He turned to face them and grinned. Evie registered the full, soft mouth surrounded by day-old stubble and the dimple in his chin. Her insides fluttered. Why did he still have this effect on her?
    â€˜Hey, Michael, where have you been?’ He ruffled his son’s hair, which was dark brown like his own. Freya hung back with her mother.
    â€˜C’mon. Give your old dad a kiss,’ Neil said. Freya allowed him to peck her on the cheek.
    â€˜I’ve got to do my homework,’ she said, moving quickly towards the door.
    â€˜Supper will be about half an hour,’ Evie called after her.
    Neil fetched himself a plate from the cupboard and sat down at the kitchen table with two slices of buttered toast.
    â€˜Want some?’ he asked Michael, who shook his head.
    â€˜I had tea at Dominic’s.’
    Evie got out the salmon pieces she’d defrosted in the fridge and stuck them in the oven. Then she made a salad and fetched knives, forks, glasses and put them on the table. She made it take longer than necessary. She needed something to do.
    She listened to the pair of them discussing Michael’s day, and then the big football match coming up and which side they wanted to win. She wanted to cry. It sounded so artificial, like small talk. Before, when Neil was at home, he didn’t need to ask questions like that, he just knew whom Michael would be supporting.
    â€˜Haven’t you got any homework?’ she asked Michael eventually. Neil had had long enough. Michael sloped upstairs. She waited for Neil to leave but he didn’t.
    â€˜I’ve got something to tell you, Evie,’ he said.
    Her heart started beating faster.
    â€˜Sit down,’ Neil said. ‘Please.’
    â€˜I’d rather stand.’ She needed to retain some sense of control.
    â€˜Helen’s pregnant,’ he told her. ‘The baby’s due in April. We’re very pleased.’
    She felt herself sway slightly and put her hands on the worktop to steady herself.
    â€˜I wanted to tell you first, of course,’ he went on. ‘Then Helen and I would like to tell the children together. We might take them to a restaurant, have a bit of a celebration.’
    Evie bit her lip. She wanted to cry but she was determined not to give him the satisfaction. Instead, she fetched herself a glass of water.
    â€˜Congratulations,’ she said, deadpan.
    â€˜Don’t be like that,’ he replied, coming up behind her. ‘It’ll be nice for the children to have a baby brother or sister.’
    He started to put his hands on Evie’s shoulders but she squirmed away, raising her flattened palms. ‘Don’t touch me . . .’
    He backed off.
    â€˜I’m very happy for you, Neil,’ she went on, as steadily as she could. ‘But I’d like you to be careful with the children. They’re still very upset about us and this’ll be a big shock.’
    Neil made to sit down again but Evie knew that she couldn’t hold it together for much longer. ‘Please go now,’ she said quietly. ‘I need to get supper.’
    He sighed. ‘OK. I should be able to pop round again tomorrow, bar emergencies.’
    â€˜Please don’t,’ she said under