The Draw

32

As Stacey had feared, Liam was not thrilled about Stacey's decision to introduce Evie and Dan. She had hoped to keep it secret for now. But Evie had told him all about her day and their trip to the park with mummy's friend. Liam hadn't immediately responded to her and she'd gone on to tell him about the chocolate ice cream she'd eaten. Stacey wasn't in the room at the time.

'Who was mummy's friend Evie?'

'Dan. He had a poorly leg.' That moment Stacey walked in with the washing in her arms. He was looking right at her, a confused look on his face.

'Stacey?' He urged an explanation.

'I just wanted to get it out of the way.'

'And I guess you've told Evie-'

'No. He's just mummy's friend as far as she knows.' She whispered back. The conversation was dropped.

After Stacey had put Evie to bed that night, she walked down the stairs, worried about what Liam was going to say. She knew she should've been honest. But she wouldn't have got his blessing. She took extra long sorting out Evie's lunch box in the kitchen, Liam sat one his laptop in the living room. The longer she drew it out, the better, she thought. It wasn't that she didn't value his opinion, but when it came to Evie, her word won. Always.

'How long are you going to hide in here?' He had come into the kitchen.

'Im not hiding. I'm busy.' She was cutting her sandwiches into squares.

'You know I'm pretty pissed at you for going behind my back.'

'I didn't go behind your back. You knew I was going to let him see her at some point.'

'I don't get why you've let him get into your head. Everything he's done to you...and you just let him walk right back in. And I know you've been going to see him.'

'Yeah, I have Liam. Because he got badly smashed up and needs help.' She could see Liam was trying his hardest to start an argument with her. She knew him well enough to know just what he was thinking. And that was that she was cheating on him. She wouldn't even assure him she wasn't, it wasn't worth her breath. 'I know this is tough for you, and I'm sorry. But I am doing this for Evie and Evie alone. Please don't over think things.'

'Just please Stacey. Please be careful with him.' He kissed her forehead and left the room. What was that supposed to mean? Had she not learnt her lesson from before? She would never ever, in a bazillion years, let him hurt her again. She would kill him first. She didn't much feel like talking to Liam anymore that night and went straight to bed. Though it was only 8pm. She had some uni work to do, so sat up doing that. Liam never came to bed.

She couldn't believe how difficult he was being about it. She could appreciate how hard it was for him. To watch his wife's ex boyfriend come in and steal his child. But it was her decision. She had weighed up all the outcomes. And surely, Evie having both her dads in her life was better than just one? Didn't she owe it to Evie to let her know her real father? She couldn't let her grow up thinking Stacey had stopped her ever knowing her real dad.

Liam was still silently protesting a week later when Stacey was taking Evie round his house for a couple of hours. He hadn't told her she couldn't, but he never said goodbye to Stacey.

'See you later princess.' He'd given Evie a big smooch and ignored Stacey.

'Buh bye daddy.'

Evie knew they were going to to see mummy's friend again. In the car she was asking how his leg was and if Dan liked monkeys.

'His legs still poorly and I think he likes monkeys, sweetie.'

'I like monkeys. Do you think he likes zebras too?'

'I don't know, you'll have to ask him.'

They pulled up and he was at the front door, waiting for them.

'Hello Evie!' Dan smiled.

'Hi!' She waved. 'We've come to play at your house today.'

'I know. And I've brought you some toys, would you like to see them?'

'Would I?!' She gasped. She took his hand and he led her in. Stacey couldn't help but laugh. Watching them interacting was so funny. Because he had always reminded her of an over grown child it was lovely to see him be able to connect with her on the same level. Sure enough, he had wrapped up half a dozen presents.

'Now these are for all the birthdays and Christmases I've missed. How fast can you unwrap them all?' He didn't need to tell her twice. She was in there like a hurricane, tearing through the paper and casting it aside.

'Look Mummy! Look!' She squealed, showing Stacey a Peppa Pig teddy. 'Ive always wanted this.' She beamed and cuddled it.

'Oh wow baba, isn't that good?!' She and Dan watched with joy as she opened each one by ones and expressed her love for them. 'That was a really good idea.' Stacey told Dan. He shrugged.

'I figured she'd need some bits for here.' A red stain on Dans shirt caught her eye.

'Whats that?' She pointed. He lifted up his shirt, blood had soaked through his bandage. 'You've torn your stitches.' She made him lay down and got out his dressings from his hospital pack. He winced as she touched the wound that ran from the bottom of his rib age to his pelvis. Her hands were shaking. 'Sorry.' She muttered. She cleaned up the blood and held it together with one hand as she got a butterfly stitch out and gently placed it on his skin. Once she'd done, she put a new dressing on and ordered him to be more careful.

'Cheers.' He smiled sheepishly. Evie had never noticed a thing, too enthralled by her toys. 'I've been thinking about doing the room upstairs for her.'

'Cool. Yeah.' She said quietly. It was a good idea but she couldn't help but think of Liam and his utter resistance to all of this. And Dan read her mind.

'Hows your husband taking this?'

'Not well if I'm honest.'

'I'm sorry. Look, if you want me to back off...?'

'No. Definitely not. He'll be fine.'

They continued to watch Evie, she kept handing Dan things to untie and de-box.

'What do you say to Dan for your presents?' Stacey asked her.

'Thank you.' She smiled sweetly. And then she hugged him. Stacey watched him embrace her tightly, his eyes closed. She felt proud. Proud that they had agreed to this. They didn't spend long there. The plan was to spend an hour or two a week and build up to longer, and then possibly tell Evie that Dan was her real dad and that she was to stay with him, without Mummy, sometimes. She wondered what Evie would think. What went on in a three year olds mind? So far she hadn't seemed at all fazed by 'Mummys friend' in a bad way. In fact, she was rather taken by him.