Pushing his way out of the gym doors, Max was just about to head for his car before an unmissable sight caught his eye. It was very difficult to ignore that bright red hair considering it resembled his own almost identically. Those were the genes that had blessed him with the locks you couldn’t ignore, yet the person they belonged to was someone that Max was determined to escape from right now. However being unable to avoid taking a glimpse, it was them his mum caught his eye too and was not going to ignore.

“Max!” Liliana called out and she immediately began making a beeline for him.

Max let out a long sigh in frustration as he knew there was no way he could avoid this now. So instead, he just stood there expressionless, making no attempt to head in her direction, leaving it all down to her.

“Oh my gosh! Max!” She exasperated, her voice getting higher in pure glee. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you! How are you?”

Max didn’t know how to answer that question or even how to act in this situation. His mum was acting completely normal, as though there were no issues between them and it didn’t make sense.

“I’m fine.” He responded blankly, knowing that the quicker he could get this small talk over with, the quicker he could escape.

“Great!” Liliana smiled as her eyes skimmed the length of his body and back up to his face again. “Gosh look at you! It’s been only a matter of months and yet you look so different. You look so grown up… no longer a boy, more like a man.”

As Liliana reached out to touch Max’s arm in awe of the man he was growing into, Max immediately pulled away. He cringed at the thought of it, not wanting this woman anywhere near him. However, there was something about this interaction that was standing out to him. His mum seemed normal. She wasn’t drunk, she wasn’t even tipsy, he couldn’t smell any evidence of alcohol on her, which was unusual and he couldn’t help himself from pointing it out.

“Have you ran out of stash or something? Or are you out collecting the booze now?” Max asked bluntly and at first his mum’s face filled with shock at his words before she very quickly recollected herself.

“No…” she muttered, as a sadness filled her voice. “No Max, that’s not me anymore. I’ve stopped. I haven’t had a drink in months. I’m sober now, I finally got help.”

If it wasn’t for seeing her in person right now and the difference within her, then Max wouldn’t have believed it. However seeing her in this state with her own eyes made it so difficult to deny… because she did seem different. She was well dressed and put together, the bags under her eyes were gone and she looked fresh faced and alive once again.

“Right…” Was all Max said because he didn’t know what else to say. He was in shock yet at the same time, slightly unbelieving that this could possibly be true. This woman was far from the mum he had grown up with.

“I heard you moved into your own place…” Liliana said, immediately trying to change the subject. “That’s amazing Max! I’m so proud of you.”

Max just nodded his head, not wanting to hear those words from a woman who had never been present in his life to be proud of anything he did before. He had been the one who kept a roof over his parents heads for years. They had been the reason he had only just been able to do this for himself now.

“I also saw….” Liliana spoke softly before pausing and Max noticed that tears were no threatening her eyes. “I also saw that you have a baby girl now too… I…. I didn’t know… wow… I just… I’ve seen photos and she’s beautiful!”

Max suddenly felt sick at his mum’s mention of Brinley. He had wanted to keep his daughter as far out of his parents lives as possible after everything they had done to him. He didn’t trust them at all and had not wanted that toxic mess in her life. However, now hearing his mum mention her seemed to destroy the distance he had created between them.

“I would love to meet her one day.” Liliana said with hope laced in her voice yet Max immediately began shaking his head.

“That’s not going to happen.” He replied bluntly and he watched as his mum took the blow before recovering from it once again.

“I know I haven’t exactly been the best mum… I know I have failed you and for that I’ll forever be sorry Max, trust me, I feel awful. But I’m really trying to change now. I want to be better and I want to be in your life like I should have been before. I want to watch you grow into the amazing man you are and I also want to be in your daughters life… my granddaughter.”

“No.” Max bit, immediately cutting his mum off with such a sharp and angered tone. “No. She is my daughter but she is not your granddaughter. It would be a privilege to be in her life and you haven’t earned that.”

“Max…” Liliana muttered as she took a step towards him, trying to hard to get through to him.

“I want her as far away from your and dad as possible. You’re both toxic. That house is toxic and she doesn’t need such waste of space humans in her life.”

There was so much anger building up in Max right now and he was struggling so hard to keep it at bay. His chest was rising and falling at such an erratic pace that he felt like he was going to explode. The mention of Brinley had brought fourth a protective side to him to such an extreme that he didn’t really know how to deal with it. He just knew that he needed to get away from here.

Just as his mum was about to say something else, her eyes caught sight of someone behind him, making her way over. Immediately turning around to see where her gaze was lingering, Max caught sight of Grace and Brinley heading in his direction.

His eyes automatically darted back towards his mum with a warning glint in them, daring her not to make a move. Then as she stayed stationary on the spot, debating whether to comply, Max took that opportunity to immediately make his way over towards them. Sweeping Brinley off the ground and into his arms, he didn’t say a word as he grabbed Grace’s hand and pulled her over to his car.

“Get in.” He ordered, his voice coming out more demanding than he intended but right now he just had to get away from here, away from his mum.

Once they were all in the car and belted up, Max took one last glimpse in his rear mirror to see his mum still standing there, making no attempt to move. She looked sad… heartbroken even but right now that was the least of his worries. He didn’t owe her anything and he wanted to create as much space between her and his family as possible.

….

"What about you then? I need an update of your life." Sophie spoke with an expectant tone to her voice, as though she already had ideas of her own looming.

...that was true, she did. She had direct questions she wanted to ask but knew it was best not to. There were things she had heard that she knew Juliet was keeping from her and Sophie wasn't sure why.

"There isn't much to tell to be honest." Juliet replied and those words screamed 'lies' to Sophie. It wasn't a good enough answer.

"Really?"

"Really." Juliet repeated yet there was such force to her voice that it confirmed everything to Sophie, giving her enough reason to direct the topic face on.

"Why haven't you told me about you and Matt?" Sophie asked and Juliet's now paling face was even obvious to see through the fuzzy screen of their Facetime.

"Wh-what?" 

"I know you're not together anymore. Why haven't you told me?"

There was silence for a moment while Juliet didn't say a word and instead just stared into space. She couldn't force herself to speak. No words were leaving her mouth. She just sat there and looked blankly ahead of her into the screen.

"What happened Juliet?" Sophie's voice turned more calming and sympathetic.

"I was going to tell you eventually..." Juliet muttered as her eyes began to tear up once again. This was exactly what she hadn't wanted and it was why she had been avoiding speaking about this to anyone. "I just wasn't ready. I haven't spoken to anyone about it. People know because it's Brighton and the word gets around but I haven't verbally told anyone but my family and kids."

"Did he break up with you?" Sophie asked yet she already guessed the answer.

Juliet looked absolutely broken. How she had managed to keep herself so composed throughout the first half of their conversation, Sophie didn't know.

"Yes... he did. There was a lot to it... it wasn't sudden, it had been a build up."

"Had you been arguing?"

Juliet nodded while looking down at her hands that were now entwining with one another.

"We've been arguing for months now... all revolving the gang and the major involvement Matt has had with it again."

"So he broke up with you over that?" Sophie asked and Juliet could sense her tone getting more and more frustrated. She had anger for Matt but even greater anger that she was across the world and unable to help Juliet, someone she had always seen as her little sister.

"It was a mixture of things but the arguing just became such a huge part of our marriage that I think he... I think he just lost interest in us... he didn't want to put the effort in anymore and found more enjoyment in other people." Juliet muttered causing her voice to break.

"In other women?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Juliet couldn't confirm or deny that point. She had just been putting two and two together yet had never actually approached Matt on the topic. By the time she had figured it out, it was too late, things between them had ended anyway. So instead, she had just been trying to cope with the situation she now found herself in and get over the huge part of her life she had so suddenly lost.

"I just..." Juliet began before shaking her head. "...honestly, I just don't want to talk about this now. I don't want to get upset, I'm sick of it."

This had been the reason Juliet hadn't told Sophie yet... because she wasn't ready. She hadn't felt ready to talk to anyone about it and answer their questions because it just made her upset.

The past few months had been so difficult for her and she had suffered day in and day out with that sudden feeling of loss. A man she had spent so much of her life with was no longer apart of it and everything about that felt wrong.

She had felt lonely, more lonely than she ever had before yet had done everything in her power to push past those emotions. She had her kids and that was what mattered the most. She felt lost without Matt but she could never be alone with her children by her side, supporting her every step of the way.

She hadn't expected any of this but life was a test and this was one she was going to have to battle through.

"Okay... we'll stop talking about it..." Sophie began, her voice soft yet determination suddenly covering her face. "...but just know that I'm getting a flight to England tomorrow and I'm coming to see you."

"Wait...wh-what?" Juliet stumbled her words in complete shock yet she received no answer as the Facetime immediately cut out.


...

to be continued

...

‘I need an update Sophie Carter!” Juliet insisted as she looked at the screen of her iPhone to see Sophie grinning back at her.

This girl was very good at giving absolutely nothing away. Juliet hadn’t spoken to Sophie in weeks yet so far it wasn’t proving so easy to get the gossip she had been hoping for.

“I have read too much shit online, now its time I get the real update from the girl herself!”

“There really isn’t much to tell.” Sophie replied as she rested her MacBook on her office table and took a seat so she was in frame. Now Juliet was able to take in the views behind her, appreciating the large ceiling height windows that provided a beautiful view over New York City.

“Then I will start by asking how you and Todd are doing? How is my dear brother-in-law treating you? Or, how are you treating him should I ask instead?’

As Juliet asked that question Sophie ran her hand through her beautiful blonde locks of hair before flipping it over her shoulder.

“We’re not together anymore.” Sophie said so simply as though it wasn’t going to be shocking news to Juliet.

“Um… what?!” Juliet exasperated as a look of shock covered her features. This was the first she had heard of this and had no ideas as to why this could have happened.

“We're not together.” Sophie repeated as she continued to busy herself by holding up different fabrics to the light of the city below her.

“You’re going to have to give me more than that Sophie Carter because I am so confused right now! This is like breaking news! What happened?”

Chuckling, Sophie placed the fabrics she was holding back on her desk before facing the camera.

“Nothing happened. It wasn’t anything huge. I just decided to end it.”

Initially, Juliet was shocked at how cool and calm Sophie was being about this but she quickly reminded herself of who she was talking to.

“You got bored?”

“Mmm, not bored, I was just ready for a bit of a change. I’m sure we’ll get back together at some point but right now I am truly living my best life. Didn’t anyone tell you that Christmas is the best time to be single?’

“Um…. No?’ Juliet looked at Sophie in question as she got a patronising smile in response. It was one that used to frustrate her however as she had gotten older she had just learned to let it go over her head.

“There are so many parties going on in New York around this time and parties lead to men… hot businessmen, hot sportsmen, and hot policemen…”

“Oh my God! You’re sleeping with Jace again aren’t you?” Juliet exasperated, immediately picking up on the hint.

Sophie didn’t have to say anything for Juliet to know she was right. Although it was partly surprising, it also wasn’t at the same time. The pair had remained friends and as far as Juliet was aware, had continued to meet up on a regular basis. It was inevitably going to happen the moment things with her and Todd came to an end.

“Are you like dating him or something?”

“No! Of course not. I’m single and Jace just happens to be one of the guys I’m sleeping with. Like I said, Christmas is the best time to be single.”

Although Sophie seemed confident in her words, Juliet wasn’t so sure. Sophie hadn’t changed since being with Todd however, time had matured her, yet this woman seemed like the old Sophie was back in full force.

“So how are you spending your Christmas then?” Juliet asked. “Just partying?’

“That will definitely be one of the things I do but I’m having Christmas Day at mine with the kids… my mum, dad, sister and brother will be there with their families too.” Sophie began yet Juliet could tell she wasn’t quite finished by the tone in her voice. “And Aaron is coming to spend it with us as well.”

“He is? He’s coming to spend Christmas in New York? Seriously?’

“Shocking right?’ Sophie laughed and it truly was.

New York had been the starter of all of their problems and Aaron hadn’t been a fan of the place since. When the pair had both moved on to start their new lives, he had avoided going out there and had the kids switch between there and Brighton. Therefore, the fact he was choosing to go and spend Christmas in the city was incredibly shocking to Juliet.

“Is he taking Georgia and their kids?’ Juliet asked referring to Aaron’s girlfriend of many years.

“No actually, he’s not. She’s spending it with her family and they’re doing something for New Year instead.” Sophie replied so casually as though that wasn’t really strange.

“So you and Aaron are getting on well again then? To be willing to spend Christmas with your family instead of his own must mean things are seriously good.”

“They’re good… yeah.” Sophie smiled with that look in her eye that made Juliet’s heart skip a beat.

“No Sophie. No no no no no.”

“What?’

“Please tell me you’re not. Please.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sophie grinned, playing dumb but she knew exactly what Juliet was referring to.

“You’re sleeping with Aaron too aren’t you? That’s why he’s been in New York more! You two are fucking around again and you’re doing it in the worst way!”

There was silence for a moment while Sophie’s attention went back to her fabrics and she acted like they were not having this conversation. She was so unfazed by the mess of this and although Juliet was frustrated by it, she wasn’t surprised. This was Sophie Carter, the girl who had always done what she wanted and got what she wanted, whatever that took. She may have grown up but that girl was still there. The one who had flown through life with guys dropping at her feet was still managing to get exactly what she wanted while never being the one to get hurt.


....
to be continued
…