“I know.”
“You realise that soon you won’t be able to control what he does? He’ll take advantage of you, lie to you…”
“He’s a good kid. He doesn’t give me much trouble, he’s good at school, he doesn’t steal and he’s not rude. So, a little bit of trust…”
“You shouldn’t feel guilty because he doesn’t have a father.”
“He has a father.”
Vic bursts out laughing.
“What? Martin’s a good dad.”
“Yeah, sure, when he shows up.”
“He’s there when we need him to be, that’s what counts. I can do the rest on my own.”
Vic looks at me, unconvinced, before hopping down from the counter and taking one last sip of her wine.
“Seeing as you’re on your own tonight, fancy a drink together? What do you say?”
“And what is it we’re doing right now?”
“This doesn’t count, it’s basically our lunch break! Once we’ve closed up, let’s go toLittle Venice, have something to eat and a few glasses of wine. Trust me, we’ll be home before ten.”
I don’t doubt that. I rarely go out, and when I do, I’m always back before Evan. I want him to find me there, waiting for him. I don’t want him to think his mother is out and about doing God-knows-what with God-knows-who.
I have to set a good example, and while he’s at this difficult age, I can’t slip up now.
“Fine, we’ll go toLittle Venice. But just for some pasta and one glass of wine, okay?”
“Cross my heart,” she says, gesturing.
I barely believe her.
