I smile briefly at the hostess as she takes my coat. That’s all I can manage these days.
Jack and Danny are already seated at the table, laughing at some private joke. They stop laughing abruptly when they see me, and their expressions become serious.
“Don’t stop on my account,” I mutter dryly, taking the third seat. “Just because my life is all shades of shit right now doesn’t mean you two have to be miserable bastards as well.”
“You look rough, mate,” Danny says cautiously. “You need to look after yourself.”
“Thanks.” I slump into my seat. “I haven’t slept in five days.”
Jack pushes a Scotch my way. “We thought you would need it.”
“You thought right.” I bring the glass to my lips and sink most of it in a few gulps. The burning sensation on my throat gives me mild relief.
They exchange looks.
“Don’t fucking start,” I growl at them, running my hand through my hair.
Jack puts his hands up in defence.
“Any news?” Danny asks tentatively. “Have you seen Daniel?”
“I’ve only seen him once,” I say, doing my best to manage my tone. “Gemina’s holding off access.” I knock back the final dregs of my Scotch and nod to the bartender for the same again. “He’s fine though,” I say softly. “He’s enjoying being the centre of attention and having time off school.” I shake my head letting out a bitter laugh. “I’m going to murder him when he’s old enough to understand the drama he’s caused. I thought I raised him to be smarter than that.”
Danny laughs dryly. “Like you, he refuses to eat bread after its sell-by date. Yet he is curious enough to overdose on pills he found in a bag.”
Jack smirks. “I’d rather take pills than eat some of the wacky canapes Tristan offers at parties.” He cocks a brow. “Too early to joke?”
“Too early,” I warn them. The bartender barely sets down my fresh Scotch and I lift it. “Gemina wants to see me this evening. A proposition, apparently.” “Do you have any idea what?” Jack asks.
I blow air into my cheeks. “Who the fuck knows, I’m sure nothing good for me.” We fall into silence as they exchange glances between them.
“Just ask,” I snap.
“Have you spoken to Elly?” Jack asks.
“No.” I scowl. “I haven’t spoken to her in five days, not since the hospital.”
“It was an accident,” Danny says carefully. “You can’t blame Elly. She didn’t mean for this to happen.”
I run both hands through my hair. “I’m furious with her,” I snap. “It’s my own damn fault for going out with a twenty-five-year-old. No sense of responsibility. Bringing unprescribed pills into my house with my son there.”
Danny leans in. “You’ll get through this but don’t throw away something amazing. You haven’t liked a woman like this in ten years. Not since…”
“Not since Gemina? Really? You’re going there?” I glare at him and down the last of my Scotch. He’ll understand when he has children what it’s like to have a child in danger. The dull chest pain that has been plaguing me all week returns. My doctor tells me I’m stressed.
“I gotta go. I have to fix this. Whatever the hell Gemina wants from me, it’s a yes.”
***
Half an hour later, George pulls up outside Gemina’s mansion. I’m used to collecting Daniel here. Often he runs straight out as soon as I pull up, and I don’t have to get out of the car.
Not today, though. Today I would have to get out and grovel, kiss her feet, give her a blank chequebook or whatever the hell she wants me to do. Both of them. So if I have to play their game, that’s what I’ll do. The alternative was losing Daniel, and that simply wasn’t an option.
Taking a deep breath, I finally get out of the car and walk up the path to the house.
Gemina opens the door. She’s wearing dark blue jeans with knee-high heeled boots, along with a loose, red wool sweater. Her long blond hair falls in waves over her shoulders. She looks like she’s ready to go out, but then she always looks like that. “Gemina.”
“Tristan. I’m glad you came.” She smiles but her eyes look red as if she’s been crying.
“Is he here?” I ask curtly.
She shakes her head.
“Dad!”
I manage to crouch just in time as my son bursts through from the kitchen, a huge grin splitting his face. He throws himself into my arms. Once again, I feel the familiar jolt of pain at how much Daniel looks like his mother and nothing like me. Not that it altered how much I loved him. Not in the slightest. “Daniel, Mummy needs you to go upstairs and play while she and Daddy talk.”
“Only if I’m allowed a coffee.” He pouts. “Mummy said I can’t have coffee.”
I look at him bewildered. “Why do you want coffee? You can have one tea on a special occasion. You know this.” And if he thinks he’s consuming anything without my consent for the next ten years, he’s got another think coming.
“I’m not a baby,” he growls. “Can’t you come up to my room and play for a while?”
“Not right now, buddy,” I reluctantly tell him. I put my hands on my son’s shoulders to look him in the face. “Mummy and I need to have a boring grown-up talk. I promise I’ll be up to play as soon as we’re done, okay? Then we both can have some frothy milk instead of coffee.”
“You promise?”
“You bet. Why don’t you go up and pick out what you want to play?”
“Okay!” Mollified, Daniel turns and runs up the stairs. I watch my son-and he is still my son, whatever any DNA test said-only turning back to my ex-wife once Daniel is out of sight. “Can I get you a drink? Tea? Coffee? Scotch?”
“I’m fine.”
“Come on.” She leads me into the kitchen. “You drove all the way here. I have your favourite
Scotch ready.”
“George drove all the way here. Fine. Scotch then. With-”
“Two ice cubes.” She smiles sadly. “You think I don’t remember?” Her hand brushes across the top
of mine as I take a seat beside the kitchen island.
“What’s the proposal, Gemina?” My nerves are shot.
Her back is turned to me. She says nothing for a moment as she pours. Slow deliberate movements.
Finally, she turns to look directly at me, her eyes filled with tears.
“Hey,” I close the distance between us and take her shoulders gently. “Daniel’s fine, Gemina.”
She lets out a loud sob and clutches my bicep. “Tristan. I’ve really fucked up. I’ve ruined everything. I’m so unhappy. Matias…I’m sorry, h-he’s the biggest mistake of my life.” I flinch.
Matias.