98

MAXINE

I nodded. "Yeah. And she's thinking things." I replied.

Tobias ran a hand through his hair. "I messed up. Shit." He replied. "I've just been working extra hard, getting more jobs. I'm doing it for our future, for our baby."

"She doesn't know that. All she sees is that you're coming home later and not seeing her." I said. "Her words. She says it's like you know that she's around but you don't see her. She thinks it's because there's someone else. Someone else who has your attention, your time, your love."

He let it sink into his head. "I was just so tired. Always am. I didn't know this was affecting her too." He said.

"You should go let her know. I'll wait here so you guys can talk. Or better still, I'll leave." I offered.

"Thanks for all you do, Maxine. Thank you." He said.

"Don't mention. What are friends for?" I said. I left the room.

Ella was still in the kitchen, cleaning. My thought was that she was trying to keep herself busy. But I knew that she was thinking about Tobias