It's All About Him by Colette Caddle

does he look?'
    'Fantastic. He's filled out in all the right places and looks much more of a man.'
    Lisa's eyes narrowed. 'I hope you're not going to fall for him all over again.'
    'Don't be mad, after what he put me through?'
    'Yes, well, don't you forget it. I don't know about you, but I can never forgive him.'
    Lisa had been the one to pick up the pieces when Dee had arrived home from Greece, distraught and inconsolable. She had been the one to support Dee through her pregnancy and act as a buffer when Aunt Pauline had called her niece a slut and a tart.
    'She's Sam's only relative,' Dee had reasoned when Lisa had asked why she had anything to do with the old witch. 'And she can't help the way she is; she's a product of her upbringing.'
    'Your mum wasn't like that,' Lisa had pointed out. Her memories of Catherine Hewson were of a quiet, gentle woman who lived for her daughter.
    'No,' Dee had agreed, 'but Pauline was the eldest and always much more controlling than Mum.'
    'She's a bully,' Lisa had retorted, 'who walks all over everyone, especially poor Jack. How did he ever marry her?'
    It amused Dee that Lisa could be so tough on Pauline and Neil and yet see nothing wrong with Ger and how he treated her. That was the problem with being in love with someone; you exaggerated the good points and tried to ignore the bad ones. Not that Dee for one moment thought that Lisa was in love, more likely she was in love with the idea of being in love. Lisa loved being in a relationship, she loved being part of a couple and she got very depressed when she was single. Whether that was because she missed a man's company or just craved to have children with someone – anyone – Dee wasn't sure.
    'So are you going to let him meet Sam?'
    Lisa's voice pulled her back to the present and reminded her of the conundrum she faced. 'I don't know.' It was nearly three weeks ago now since she had received that awful bill and wondered how she was going to manage. Now there was a cheque for five thousand euros burning a hole in her pocket.
    'I really don't think it's a good idea,' Lisa continued. 'I mean, anyone can say that they own a huge company in another country, who's to say it's actually true?'
    'I can. He gave me his business card and I went on to the Internet and found Continental Coaches, based in Benidorm.'
    'He could have forged the business card,' Lisa pointed out. 'And even if it's true, it's still no guarantee that he's kicked the gambling for good.'
    'No,' Dee agreed, 'but he's definitely different. He couldn't have been more understanding, not in the least bit pushy. He says the ball's in my court now and he'll wait for my call.'
    Lisa laughed. 'How very big of him! Dee, have you forgotten this guy stole from you? You could pick the phone up right now and call the cops.'
    'Aren't you forgetting about this?' Dee waved the cheque under her nose.
    'If a bank robber brings back the loot they don't say, "Thanks very much, off you go".'
    'It's not the same, Lisa, and I would never go to the police.'
    'More fool you.'
    'He's still Sam's dad.'
    'Is he? Is he really? Conor's been more of a dad to Sam these last couple of years.'
    'I know.' Dee sighed. 'I always thought that if he showed up I would slam the door in his face, honestly I did, but if Neil has really changed how can I stop Sam getting to know him? If he found out about it later in life he'd never forgive me.' She groaned. 'This is so bloody hard, Lisa, so bloody hard.'
    Lisa took her hand and squeezed it. 'Don't rush into anything, Dee.'
    'I'm not going to,' Dee assured her.
    'Good girl. You need to think long and hard about this and then,' she shrugged, 'if you still want Sam to meet the asshole, I'll support you one hundred per cent.'
    Dee laughed. 'Thanks.'
    'Are you going to tell Conor?'
    Dee frowned. 'I suppose so. God, I can't think straight. It's so hard to process all of this with a hangover.'
    Lisa rooted in her bag and produced some paracetemol. 'Take two of these and