Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“Fine. James got into trouble for speaking out in Maths again. Mr Kelleher is threatening to drop him down to Ordinary Level.”
“And how does James feel about that?” I queried. He and Pablo had been mates for years, but the kid could be a bit of a bad influence at times. I’d once caught him trying to smuggle a bottle of gin into Pablo’s bedroom when he’d come to over to play video games. If he didn’t find me so scary, I was pretty sure he would’ve mouthed off to me about confiscating the bottle. That was one of the benefits to being tall and grouchy. It intimidated unruly teenage boys.
“I think he’s fine with it. The only reason he tries to stay in Higher Level is so we can be in the same class.”
“Yeah, well, don’t you go getting any ideas about dropping a level,” I warned. Maths was Pablo’s best subject.
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I need it if I’m going to study engineering. Besides, that’s my easiest class,” he went on with a shrug, and I shot him a proud look before focusing back on the omelette I was making.
“She’s dead posh,” Pablo went on, and I arched an eyebrow at him.
“Who is?”
“Gigi’s friend. She’s from England, talks all fancy.”
This piece of information had me going still. Nuala mentioned something a while back about Milly having a daughter, but I couldn’t recall if she was Gigi’s age or not. To be honest, when it came to Milly, I hadn’t wanted to know too many details and tended to change the subject if my sister ever brought her up. There was no point pining over someone who’d refused me.
Was it a coincidence that Gigi had made friends with the new girl at school who just so happened to be from England right at the same time Milly had moved back from London with a daughter? Just as I was asking myself the question, the apartment buzzer sounded. Thinking it was probably my parents stopping by to see the kids, I went to answer it.
“I’m buzzing you through,” I said just as a hauntingly familiar voice said, “Hello? I’m here to collect Deirdre.”
Of course, it was her. I’d thought running into Milly at my mother’s party, then again at Christine’s and again at the swimming pool were bad enough. Now it appeared our daughters had forged a friendship, one that had made Gigi sound so happy I didn’t have it in me to tell her she had to stop being friends with the new girl.
“Okay, come on up,” I replied flatly and suspected from the prolonged pause that followed that Milly had recognised my voice just like I’d recognised hers.
A minute later, there was a gentle knock at the apartment door. I went to answer it and found her standing there with her long hair hanging straight and neat around her shoulders, a purple woollen coat on over a navy dress. She was stunning, like always, and I gritted my jaw in annoyance.
“Okay, this is getting ridiculous,” she said after holding my stare for several long beats.
“You’re telling me,” I practically growled as my traitorous eyes refused to stop soaking her in.
Milly blew out an exasperated breath. “Well, it looks like our daughters have become friends.”
“Yep.”
“I’m just here to collect her, if you could let Deirdre know I’m here.”
“I didn’t know you had a teenager,” I said, unable to keep the statement in.
“I do, and you have two kids, right? Nuala mentioned them.”
I nodded. “Gigi and Pablo. How old is Deirdre?”
Milly’s brow crinkled. “She’s fifteen.”
“Really? You must’ve still been in college when you had her.”
She stiffened. “I don’t see how that’s pertinent.”
I shrugged, unable to hold back the acidity in my tone. “It’s just surprising for someone who prides themselves on making prudent decisions.” Milly’s eyes flared wide as I threw her choice of words from so many years ago in her face. The flicker of hurt in her expression made me want to instantly snatch back what I’d said. What the hell was wrong with me? Just because I was deeply irritated by her continually turning up in my life didn’t give me the right to be a judgemental arsehole.
I opened my mouth to apologise when Milly fired back, “Well, judging from what a prick you’ve turned out to be, I’m glad I managed to at least stick to that one prudent choice. And for your information, having Deirdre was the best decision I ever made.”
Running my hands through my hair in agitation, my guilt continued to expand. I really was a piece of shit, and Milly clearly had zero regrets about having her daughter. Bowing my head in shame, I stared at my shoes, searching for some way to repair the damage I’d done with a single snide remark. In the end, I swallowed thickly and lifted my gaze. Milly’s blue eyes were hard as she stared at me. At last, I cleared my throat, managing to respond, “I’m glad to hear it. I’ll go get her for you.”