‘No! That is NOT the reason. I loved being in charge of Maxxed Out. But I studied psychology before you were born and I had this cool idea for a business that could help people and I really want to see it through. Plus, I wanted to make sure that we had another job so that whenever you don’t feel like doing the channel any more there’d be a fallback, well not afallback. Another option.’ She rushed to correct herself, not wanting it to sound like they were currently solely reliant on him and Maxxed Out. ‘Sweetie, Maxxed Out doesn’t really need me any more. But promise me, anytime you want to throw in the towel on Maxxed Out, you’ll tell me, won’t you? We don’t mind. You know that, right, honey? Daddy is just being a grump today – I’ll talk to him.’
‘I told you I don’t wanna stop the channel.’ Max was emphatic. ‘I just want Dad to care about playing with me, not just for YouTube all the time.’
‘He does, Max – he loves you.’ Lindy pulled him closer, hugging him tightly.
‘Mu-um! Stop it!’
She smiled and felt some relief at his grumbling resistance. If he’d succumbed to the cuddling too readily, she’d know that he was really upset, but the fact that she was annoying him with her affection meant he was his usual self once more. For now.
‘OK, I’d better go hang out with my friends before I have to go to my office. I have to meet my new business lawyer this afternoon! Sounds fancy, right?’ She held up her hand for a high five and he obliged.
‘I love you, Mom.’
She made her way back to the house. Adam was on his way back too, scrolling on his phone as he walked. She caught up with him. ‘I think Max is OK, just a bit tired, maybe.’
‘Hmmm …’ Adam barely looked up.
Watching your other half mess with their phone has to be one of the most annoying things about marriage.Lindy felt like slapping it out of his hand. Interestingly, as soon as he spotted her looking, he abruptly shoved it into his pocket.
Rachel? From the way he’s acting, it has to be.She hated being so paranoid, hated that he’d done this to her.
‘You’re on the phone so much these days,’ she said, to see how he’d react.
‘Just work emails,’ he quickly responded.
‘Oh, really? Anything I should know about?’
‘Now that you’re just a board member? No, Lindy. Don’t worry, Jamie and I have it covered.’
She opted to ignore the petty tone. ‘After Sigrid, Giuls and Miriam leave, I’m meeting Finn up at the Work Hub.’
‘What time will you be home today? I have a work call scheduled for 9 p.m.’
‘Oh? About what? Weird time for a call.’ Why was she pressing him? It was like running a finger along the blade of a knife: dangerous but strangely irresistible. She wanted to see him sweat a little. She wanted to examine him as he lied to her. What was she looking for? Signs that he found it hard to deceive her? A sign that he still cared about her?
‘It’s just a preliminary call about an investment opportunity. They’re in New York.’
You think you’re so smooth, Adam.
‘I guess I’d better start thinking about investors too!’ Lindy smiled tightly. She’d need more than the lump sum from Maxxed Out that they’d agreed to put into her initial costs. The 10k would cover her office space and the course in September but she’d need to put a lot into advertising and social media come January.
‘Right, sounds like this Snag List thing is really shaping up. I’m glad.’
‘So am I.’ She was grim. ‘Maxxed Out has a shelf life, Adam. Max seems fine to go on a dino hunt now, but what about next week or next year?’
‘We shoulda had more kids.’ Adam didn’t seem to get that this wasn’t the time for jokey quips.
‘We’d need to have sex to do that,’ Lindy snapped. ‘You should have a think about next steps too. What do YouTube dads go on to after they’re put out to pasture? You could do a fitness channel, I guess, or gaming? You love your VR helmet so much.’
He looked startled, which was satisfying at least. She swept back towards the house.
‘OK, the solicitor says he’s running about ten minutes late …’ Finn read from her phone as she and Lindy entered the enormous reception space of the Monteray Work Hub later that afternoon.
Lindy nudged the distracted Finn. ‘Hello? Will you look at this place?’
Finn’s eyes widened. ‘Whoa! Are they real trees? Is that a waterfall?’
‘It is.’ Lindy smiled, glad to have time to give Finn the tour. It would hopefully help to shake off the edgy hangover from the tricky morning at home. ‘It’s the largest man-made indoor waterfall in Europe.’
