Sadly, however, my smugness was short-lived and within hours of being back with my kids, I was reminded that single parenting was not for the faint-hearted.

Chapter 46

46

Friday evening, when Saxon had retreated to his room and Payton was watching replays of the last World Cup on YouTube, the doorbell rang. I was delighted to find Hayley standing on the front porch. Between my weeks in the Point and her relationship with Wei, I hadn’t seen her as much as I usually did.

‘Hello,’ I shrieked, dragging her into the house, happy for some adult company. ‘Long time no see.’

‘I know. I’ve missed you,’ she said, holding up a bottle of sav blanc and then giving me a quick hug. ‘We’re long overdue for a drink.’

I eyed the wine in her hand with lustful yearning—nothing appealed to me more than alcohol right now. ‘I’m not supposed to be drinking during my week at home.’

The expression on Hayley’s face told me exactly what she thought of that. ‘It’s Friday night. What Adrian doesn’t know won’t hurt him and surely one glass won’t do any harm?’

I thought of the beer bottles I’d found on Adrian’s bedside table—why should he be the one having all the fun? Besides, it was unlikely Saxon would emerge from his bedroom again and Payton was so glued to the soccer she wouldn’t notice if the house caught fire. Not to mention the fact that unlike my ex, I’d be sure to cover my tracks.

Arm well and truly twisted, I led Hayley into the kitchen, grabbed two glasses from the cupboard and together we sat perched on stools at the breakfast bar.

‘So, how’s things?’ she asked, twisting the stem of her wineglass between her fingers.

I took a sip from mine and almost moaned in satisfaction. It felt like years since the last glass of wine I’d had with Jedda on Sunday night.

‘Exhausting,’ I admitted. ‘I’d been so looking forward to coming home but arrived to an absolute mess and I’ve spent all week nagging the kids to do homework, eat their vegetables and stop bickering. Not to mention the words I had with Adrian.’

‘What do you mean? I thought with this arrangement you guys barely spoke.’

‘Emails and the odd text message have sufficed the last few weeks, but he called me the other day because I took “unapproved” money out of the podiatry account for a cleaner to tidy up his mess.’