Read Online The Fallout by Tamar Cohen - Free Book Online Page B

eyes had an unnerving yellow glint to them, like a cat’s. “Is he starting to come around yet? Does he miss us, do you think? You’re his friend. He must have talked to you about it.”
    â€œNot really.”
    â€œWell, how does he seem, then? Is he down? Subdued? Does he give you the impression he’s having regrets?”
    Josh had a flashback to the night before, when Dan had been entertaining them with stories of the shoot he’d done that day involving a flatulent Great Dane and its nerdy trainer. Dan did not give the impression of a man who was consumed by doubt. He shrugged uncomfortably.
    â€œYou know what Dan’s like. He plays things pretty close to his chest.”
    â€œMummy!”
    The shout coming from Lily’s room was so piercing it could only belong to one person.
    â€œMummy! Come here. I need you.”
    Sasha stayed on the sofa, with her hands wrapped around her mug, still frowning at what Josh had just said.
    â€œMummy!”
    â€œI think September might be calling you.”
    Sasha didn’t respond.
    â€œSeptember. She’s yelling for you.”
    â€œOh, right. It’s okay, sweetie. I’m coming.”
    But still Sasha made no attempt to move off the sofa. Josh waited for a moment and then, knowing how Lily hated raised voices, he went to investigate.
    Lily’s normally neat bedroom looked postapocalyptic. Boxes of toys had been emptied onto the floor, the wardrobe door was open and clothes were spilling out in a tidal wave of pink and flowers (they’d tried to get Lily interested in less stereotypical, more androgynous clothing, but to no avail). Someone had obviously been trying to make a fort out of Lily’s bedcovers, which were pulled off the bed and draped haphazardly between a chair and table. Lily’s prized collection of kitten stickers lay scattered like confetti over every surface.
    â€œIs everything okay?” Josh frowned, taking in the carnage.
    Lily took after him in feeling more comfortable when things were calm and orderly. Though her little round face lit up in a smile when she saw him, he could tell by her eyes that she was worried. Something in Josh constricted at the sight of her and her transparent conviction that he would make everything all right.
    â€œI wanted Mummy,” said September, who was kneeling on the floor wearing Lily’s treasured Snow White dress, with lipstick smeared all over her mouth.
    â€œMummy’s a bit busy. Can I help?”
    â€œNo. I need her to do my hair special. You can’t do that.”
    Josh agreed that doing hair special fell outside of his area of expertise.
    â€œI’ll ask Sasha to come in when she’s finished talking to Lily’s mummy, shall I?”
    September eyed him coolly.
    â€œAre you coming to live with me?”
    Josh was used to Lily’s non sequiturs but this one from September caught him unaware.
    â€œWell, my daddy has come to live with Lily, so Lily’s daddy must come to live with us.”
    From the corner of his eye, Josh saw Lily’s eyes widen and her chin start to tremble.
    â€œI’m sorry, September. That’s not how things work, I’m afraid. I live here, with Hannah and Lily and Toby.”
    â€œBut that means Lily gets two daddies and that’s not fair.”
    Now both little girls looked to be on the edge of tears.
    â€œThis is only for a few days, September, while your mummy and daddy sort things out.”
    â€œThen he’s coming home?”
    â€œYou’d better talk to him about that, sweetheart.”
    The endearment came out clumsily. While Josh had no problem being lovey-dovey with Lily, he always felt awkward around other people’s children, sure he sounded phony and, even worse, creepy.
    Now September started crying in earnest, her brown eyes brimming with tears.
    â€œI want my daddy,” she wailed . “I want my daddy!”
    Finally Sasha appeared in the