Page 104 of Tears of Glass

There’s a pause. “No, seriously, are you free?” Her voice is tight.

“Sure, what’s up? Is Lewis okay?”

I don’t know whether Lewis and Tabs are on or off. It’s a teenage thing I don’t understand. But then I don’t understand anything about relationships. Eli is my first boyfriend and I’ve moved in with him. I think that speaks for itself.

“Yeah, he’s fine, working I think. Sienna came and got him.”

“Hm.”

“Are you still sulking about Sienna?”

“I wouldn’t say sulking exactly. I could have done without her turning up for a Friday night dinner.”

“They are just friends, Faith. That’s all they have been for a long time.”

I sigh and scrub a hand down my face. “Yeah, I know.” This relationship thing is hard.

“Anyway. Can you come here?”

“I was going to go work in the studio.” I sigh. “Okay, I’ll be there soon.”

I hang up and go to the ensuite, switching on the shower. No day is ever as I plan and this is largely why planning sucks.

I ring the doorbell at my own apartment and Tabitha answers with a grin. “You can use your key.”

“I could.” I walk in and drop my bag in the small hallway space, peeling off my leather jacket. Tabitha is pink, her body rigid. “What’s wrong? You sounded funny on the phone and now you look like you’ve run over someone’s cat.”

“Hello, Faith.”

I freeze as Jennifer Fairclough steps out into the hallway. It was cramped before, now it’s suffocatingly small. What the hell is she doing here? I glare at Tabitha, the bloody traitor.

“Listen.” I hold my hand out. “I honestly don’t have anything to talk about with you.” I’m just going to get it out there. I won’t forgive her for what she made Elijah do at the ball.

“Faith, please can we just have a moment, for the sake of my son? This doesn’t need to be awkward.”

I snort. “Not awkward? You’ve made it perfectly clear I’m not good enough for your son.”

“And I know I was wrong. I can admit that. Can you admit the same?”

I shake my head. “No, because you haven’t shown me anything to the contrary.”

She hesitates, her face dropping. “Being a Fairclough is very complicated, I’m sure you can appreciate that.”

Good God, is she actually going to talk now she’s away from the icy stare of the wicked witch Connie?

“I know you sacrificed everything for the name, and I know Eli won’t do the same, so I don’t think we have any common ground to talk about. Your actions hurt your son.”

Her shoulders slump. “I know.” She meets my gaze. “That’s why I want to mend bridges. I want my daughter back, and my son.” She forces down a lungful of air. “And I want to welcome you, too.”

Tabitha pales. “Mum, I’m happy here at the moment.”

Jennifer casts her cool gaze across her daughter’s face. “Sweetie, I know you’ve had issues with that boy.”

Tabs’ mouth drops open a little bit. “His name is Lewis, Mum, and he’s lovely, kind and caring.”

“And in trouble with the police.”

“Once.” I’m quite proud of Tabitha standing her ground.