reply flatly as I stare out through the windshield.
He frowns. “What do you mean sure? Is that to shut me up?”
“I mean, sure, get out of the car. I’m not having this conversation with you. I’m done. You are not my friend, Cameron. You’re my son’s father and nothing else now. We have been over this a million times. Stop bringing this up.”
He stares out the front window. “Wow,” he mouths sarcastically.
I swallow the lump in my throat and stare straight ahead. “What do you want me to say, Cam?” I whisper.
“I want you to scream at me. I want you to punch me. Anything is better than this ice queen treatment you’re giving me. I can’t stand it.”
I nod as I purse my lips, and I turn to him. “I would do all of those things if I still cared.”
His sad eyes hold mine.
“I don’t, Cam. I’m sorry, I just don’t. Move on. I have.”
“Hello, Ash,” Cameron’s deep voice travels down the phone. It’s Wednesday, around lunchtime.
“Hi, Cam.” I smile.
“I have a problem.”
I frown. “What’s that?”
“Abigail just rang me and she can’t work this week because her husband is sick.”
Cameron has a nanny the days he has Owen because he leaves so early in the morning. Abigail gets Owen up and ready for the day and drops him at preschool. She then picks him up and watches him until Cameron gets home.
We interviewed for her together and she’s a really nice middle-aged lady with her own grownup children. Owen adores her and it’s working out well.
“That’s okay. We can just leave this week then and you can pick up next week.”
“No,” he replies quickly. “That means I won’t see him until the weekend,” he answers in a panic.
I widen my eyes. “So what do you want to do?”
“Well, I was thinking if I could just have him at night and then come over to your house and tuck him into bed, and then he can sleep at your house so Jenna is there.”
I frown. “Yeah, I guess. That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Good. I’ll pick him up about five and then we will be back about eight? Is that okay?”
“Yeah, fine. See you then.”
I’m lying on the sofa in my flannelette pyjamas when they come bursting through the door. Owen is on Cameron’s shoulders and they are laughing and wrestling.
“Hello?” I call from my relaxed position. Jenna is out for dinner with her boyfriend.
“Hey, Mom.” Owen laughs as he leans down and tries to eye gouge Cameron.
“That’s it.” Cameron laughs as he flips him over onto the couch.
Owen squeals in delight and wrestles harder.
I frown as I try to watch the show on television. “Can you two go away?” I sigh with a shake of my head. “What happened to my nice, quiet son? Where did he go?” I ask myself.
“He was a wuss,” Cameron teases.
“You’re a wuss.” Owen screams as he launches himself at Cameron again.
They wrestle into the kitchen, and then I hear a bang as the bin knocks over.
“That’s it!” Owen screams. “I’m getting you bad now.”
“Oh, yeah, tough guy. Bring it.” Cameron laughs in delight.
They both growl as they wrestle.
“Cut it out,” I yell over the television.
I swear to God, he’s turned him into an animal.
All this testosterone is bloody noisy. “Owen, it’s nearly bed time,” I call out.
“Okay,” he calls back.
“Dad’s reading to you tonight,” I add. Ha, sucked in. It is his night, after all.
“I’m reading Diary of a Wimpy kid,” Cameron calls.
“You’re a wimpy kid!” Owen yells.
“I’ll give you wimpy kid.” Cameron growls and Owen squeals in delight.
I roll my eyes as I turn the television up louder so I can’t hear them.
They wrestle up the stairs, and moments later I hear the shower turn on and peace is finally restored.
I have a cup of tea and finally, when I think the book reading is over, I head upstairs to say goodnight. Owen’s door is closed and I stand outside, leaning against it as I listen to the two of them talk.
“I’m going to try and jump tomorrow,” Owen says.
I frown as I listen.
“Yeah, you can do it. I told you that,” Cameron replies. It sounds like Cameron is walking around tidying up as he talks.
I smirk. What the hell are they talking about?
“Hey, Dad, play our song,” Owen says.
“What… now?”
“Please?” Owen begs.
“Okay, just one last time.”
I narrow my eyes as I listen to them and then I hear a song play on Cameron’s phone. I’ve heard it before on the radio. It’s