Clean Break Read Online Free Page B

round. I waited for him to tell me I’d got it all wrong. He wasn’t really talking to some girlfriend. He was acting a part, playing some stupid joke. Dad could always talk his way out of anything. I wanted him to tell me any old story, even if I knew he was lying.
    He didn’t say anything. He just stood staring at me, biting his lip foolishly the way Maxie does when he’s been caught out. The mobile phone buzzed as someone spoke to him.
    â€˜Call you back,’ Dad said and he switched the phone off. He held it warily, as if it was a hand grenade.
    We stared at each other, standing freeze-framed. I wished I could rewind a minute so I could be back in the hall, happily waving my emerald ring around.
    â€˜You’re not really leaving us, are you, Dad?’ I whispered.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Em,’ he said softly.
    The room started spinning. I staggered to the sink and threw up all over the china in the washing-up bowl.

2
    â€˜ IT’S ALL RIGHT, EM, it’s all right,’ Dad said, holding me.
    We both knew it could never be all right again. I retched and sobbed, unable to reply.
    Gran came bursting into the kitchen, disturbed from her nap.
    â€˜What’s going on? Oh, for God’s sake, you’ve been sick all over my best china!’
    â€˜Who’s been sick?’ said Mum, coming in too. Vita and Maxie followed her.
    â€˜Em’s been sick,’ said Gran. ‘I
told
you not to make a pig of yourself, Emily.’
    â€˜Yuck!’ said Vita.
    â€˜It smells!’ said Maxie.
    â€˜You two, out of here,’ said Mum. ‘Go into the living room with your gran. I’ll clear it all up.’
    â€˜Maybe you’ll listen to me when I tell you that child should stop stuffing herself. God, what a mess! It’s even splashed on the curtains!’ Gran was nearly in tears herself.
    â€˜I’ll wash everything. Just leave us alone, please,’ said Dad.
    He said it very quietly, but Gran stopped fussing and dragged Vita and Maxie out of the kitchen.
    â€˜Oh, Em,’ said Mum, dabbing at me with a tea towel. ‘We’d better pull these things off and stick you straight in the bath. Couldn’t you have run to the toilet if you were going to be so sick?’
    â€˜It wasn’t her fault,’ said Dad. He was so grey-white he looked like he might be sick himself.
    â€˜What do you mean? What’s going on?’ said Mum, trying to hitch my sweater over my head.
    â€˜Don’t tell her, Dad!’ I said through layers of soggy wool.
    If he kept quiet then maybe it wouldn’t be real.
    â€˜I was planning on telling you anyway, but I was leaving it till after Christmas. I’m so sorry. I just hate myself for doing this to you. I didn’t mean it to happen.’
    â€˜What the hell are you talking about?’ said Mum, letting go of me.
    Dad took a deep breath. ‘I’ve met someone else, Julie.’
    Mum scarcely blinked. ‘Yes. Well. That’s nothing new,’ she said.
    â€˜But this time, well, I love her. I’m sorry, I don’t want to hurt you, but this is it, the real thing. It’s never been this way before.’
    â€˜You don’t want to hurt me and yet you’re telling me you love someone else?’ said Mum, her face crumpling.
    â€˜Oh, Mum, don’t cry,’ I begged. I wanted to put my arms round her but I was so wet and disgusting I couldn’t touch her.
    â€˜Go and get in the bath, Em,’ Dad said. ‘Your mum and I need to talk.’
    â€˜
I
need to talk too,’ I said. ‘You love
us
, Dad – Mum and me and Vita and Maxie.’
    â€˜Of course I love you, darling. I shall come and visit you lots, but I can’t help it. I have to go.’
    â€˜You can’t do this to me! You can’t, you can’t!’ Mum started sobbing, swaying on her silver sandals.
    Dad tried to put his arm round her but she started hitting