He lifted his head up off my shoulder and pierced me with a pleading look. Within his eyes, his fear blossomed. Jeremiah dropped his gaze to his hands that he twisted into a knot over his knees. He blew out a breath and fidgeted. “I heard Gran telling Pop. That awful Monique lady sent an email from Dad’s account to the lawyer.”

“What?”

Jeremiah nodded. “Gran told Pop last night. That’s why the suit already got dropped.” Jeremiah pointed to the newspaper I hadn’t bothered to pick up. I did now and read the article. Short and to the point: Monique Lanson’s contract with Simon’s record company was terminated, effective immediately for ethics violations and lies to the press.

I sat back against the settee, staring at the paper.

“Mom?”

“Yes?” I forced my gaze back up to my son’s face.

“Dad still loves you. And the baby.”

“I don’t know what to say, Jeremiah.”

“Will you think about going home after New Year’s?”

“What if we do this?” I rubbed my palms across my thighs. “What if we let Dad spend time with you for as long as he’s here. We’ll see how it goes between him and me. And I promise not to uproot you from your friends and your life without discussing my reasons for doing so first.”

Jeremiah hugged me, hard. His cheek pressed into my neck. “Thanks, Mom. Really. Thanks!”

He hopped off the settee and flew from the room. A whoop trailed behind him.

“I’m proud of you, Ella.”

I started. Mum set down a plate of biscuits and a strong cup of tea. After a small hesitation, my mother settled into the space Jeremiah left. This time, she settled her arms around my shoulders.

“I had an affair, you know.”

I turned to look at her, eyes wide and mouth gaping.

Her normally ruddy cheeks paled and her lips pressed tight. “You were five. I’d had a miscarriage and the doctor told us I couldn’t have more children. Dave turned inward, toward you and making your world perfect, whereas I sought comfort—no, an escape from the pain of that loss—elsewhere.”

Mum dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief she kept in the pocket of her long woolen cardigan. My mother, an affair?

The world seemed mad. Sheer craziness had taken over. No way my mum cheated. But she’d told me she had. I pressed the heels of my hands to my temples and breathed.

“That’s part of what your father is having such a hard time with now. Between you and Simon. He remembers how hard it was to trust me again, and he doesn’t want that for you.”

She laughed, but it was watery and a bit sour.