Knowing Me Knowing You by Mandy Baggot Page B

pounding.
    ‘ I can’t afford it, what wit h bills and the car and my flat. I just can’t afford to pay you any more , ’ Matthew repeated in a businesslike tone.
    ‘ But Matthew, Bethan needs the money . S he needs clo thes and nappies and food and… ’ Kate began, trying hard not to cry.
    ‘ You’ve got a good job, ask for a pay rise. Anyway, I told you, I never wanted a kid in the first place, I don’t see why I should pay for something I didn’t want, ’ Matthew spoke.
    The words cut at Kate like little arrows fired at her heart. This wasn’t the man in their wedding pictures. This wasn’t the man who waltzed her on the dance floor to Celine Dion and kindly held the best man’s head over the toilet as he puked up before the cake- cutting. This was someone else, this was the man who had pre-packed his belongings and left her standing tearfully in the kitchen trying to ignore the depressing wails of Chris Martin.
    ‘ How can you say that Matthew? She’s your daughter . W hy doesn’t that mean anything to you? ’
    ‘ I don’t want to talk to you about this Kate. ’
    ‘ But we have to talk about it, I need some financial help fro m you, it’s what was agreed in c ourt. You have to help pay for her, it’s the law. ’
    ‘ Look, I can’t afford it, it’s as simple as that, sorry, ’ Matthew said not sounding as if he was sorry at all.
    ‘ Matthew, I really think … ’ Kate started.
    The phone went silent. He had hung up.
    Kate looked at the phone, unable to believe what had just happened. He wasn’t going to pay her anything . H e didn’t care about Bethan , he had a new flat, obviously a new girlfriend and a new life. Kate and Bethan were history, he had moved on and he wasn’t looking back. He had hung up on her; put the phone down like she was a cold caller from Calcutta .
    Suddenly she was overcome with grief all over again. She burst into tears and waves of sobbing rode over her. She put the phone down, sat on the sofa and cried into her hands until they were saturated with tears. What was she going to do? Her beautiful little girl had a father who had disowned her and a mother who was struggling to make ends meet. She had wanted the best for her, a good, solid start in life with a mum and dad who adored her and could give her everything she needed. The reality was the complete opposite. It wasn’t fair, she didn’t deserve this and she didn’t know how to get out of it.
    But very quickly, aided by another glass of wine, the hostility Matthew had in his voice hit her like a train. It had been like he was talking to someone he hated, not the mother of his child, not someone he had shared a life and a marriage with. Kate hurriedly wiped the tears off her face and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She picked up the photo frame that contained their wedding picture . C almly , she opened the back and took out the image. She looked at it, her smile, her beautiful dress, Matthew next to her. The wavy hair and boyish looks. He had held her hand so tightly. It had all been a lie, all his declarations of love and vows of eternal devotion. Looking at the photo now just made her feel sick. She ripped it harshly, first in half and then into tiny little pieces until there was nothing visible left.
    Then, almost controlled, she went back over to her laptop and typed ‘Child Support Agency’ into the search engine. She would not let him ruin Bethan’s start, and she was not going to be walked over any more.

Ten
     
    ‘ Morning, ’ Kate spoke cheerily as Hermione opened the door to her on Monday morning.
    ‘ Ooo , someone sounds happy. W hat did you get up to yesterday? Any more television shows I should know about? Hello Bethan Sweetie, ’ Hermione greeted, lifting up the little girl and giving her a kiss.
    ‘ God no, no I spoke to Matthew on Saturday night and briefly to his new girlfriend, ’ Kate stated in a matter of fact manner.
    ‘ Daddy, ’ Bethan suddenly announced at the