My face feels like it’s on fire when I see myself portrayed in that way, wearing nothing but a revealing thong. I can’t believe these photos are being used against me.
“It was a private party.”
They also paid me well for the evening. I was able to buy shoes for Mason so he could play rugby on the school team.
“Apparently, it wasn’t so private, as people circulated these photos freely.”
“Can they take the kids away from me just for these?”
“Let’s say they don’t play in your favour.”
“I guess not, but pictures from a party do not define a person.”
“A judge might not think so.”
I sigh, defeated.
“Seth, these photos barely scratch the surface.”
“What… what’s wrong?”
“You are alone.”
It hurts to hear this, but I can’t help nodding.
“You have a precarious job.”
“It’s not precarious. It’s just at night.”
“You don’t have medical insurance.”
“I have always paid for visits and exams.”
“But now there are four of you. There’s not just you.”
“I can take extra shifts.”
“More hours away from home? At night?”
“I don’t know how to do anything else, I told you.”
“You could try interviewing.”
“Have you looked at me?”
Rowan gives me a look that hurts more than all I get daily.
“I get it. You’re like everyone else.”
“Everyone else?”
“People. On the street. In the supermarket. Outside school. You look at me the same way.”
“I don’t know what you mean…”
“Please. I may not be as intelligent and cultured as you, but I am not stupid.”
“I don’t think you are. And I assure you, I don’t look at you like that. No one in this firm would ever do that.”
