Chapter 7 x
Getting out the shower he could hear Duffy and Ryan arguing, all be it trying to do it quietly. He'd only been here a week but he got a strong impression all was not well within their relationship but then again maybe he was seeing what he wanted to see. He'd made it no secret that he didn't approve of their relationship, not that he'd mentioned it since arriving but he just didn't trust Ryan. Once a con man always a con man. As he got dressed he could hear Duffy's voice get louder before the door shutting and Ryan obviously going to run the country club. Glancing out the bedroom window Ryan was standing just outside, his hands at his head looking terribly frustrated. God knows what they were fighting about but if Ryan looked that wound up she was going to be worse. Heading doing the stairs he could hear her movements in the kitchen, trying to distract herself. Smiling at her, pretending not to have heard them, as he enters the kitchen she swings around on hearing him and gives a half hearted smile back. She looked tired not to mention upset and that was the way he found her most mornings.
"Morning." Passing Paul his breakfast she replies again half heartedly with "Hey." Frowning he gives up his pretence. It was hard to stay out of their disagreements when all wanted to do was her to see sense and leave him, not that he'd been cruel or nasty to her since he arrived.
"Everything alright? I heard raised voices..." Flicking the kettle on she grabs two cups and places them at the side before twisting to face Charlie. She'd tried to keep her voice down this morning, not wanting Charlie to hear but Ryan had wound her up so much she forgot.
"Ah. Sorry." Shaking his head she was avoiding the question.
"Don't be. Are you alright?" Making their morning coffee she considers her answer carefully before passing him a cup and taking a seat at the kitchen table. The last thing she wanted was for Charlie to dislike Ryan more than he already did but it was difficult with them not getting on right now. If only Charlie had visited before she got pregnant. It was all so much easier back then. Less to fight about.
"I'm fine. It was just the work argument again." She knew Charlie had overheard them disagreeing over her working more than once, he'd just been too polite to admit it.
"Ah. I'm guessing he wants you to give up your job?" Rolling her eyes as she places the cup back on the table she nods.
"He didn't want me to take the job in the first place. It's only two days a week for christ sake and yes of course I'll give it up eventually. I can't look after a newborn a toddler a child and a teenager, work at the hospital and help run the club and golf course. But I don't see why I should give it up now." Out of all Duffy's past relationships there had always been the same problem, her job and eventually her job always won. If Ryan had any hope of her staying with him he had to realise that and faster than Billy, Peter, Paul and Andrew had.
"Why can't you work? Peter and Jake will be a school, Paul at nursery and Ryan should be able to run the club himself with all the staff he has and he can always have the baby two days a week whilst you work. I don't see the problem." Leaning over the table she encouraged her toddler to eat his breakfast and not just play with it before looking back up at Charlie. He spoke sense and it was something she'd thought of already but Ryan was refusing to budge.
"Ha! Can you imagine the response I'd get if I suggested that? He's angry enough at me for refusing to leave until 35 weeks never mind going back."
"If he expects you to be the happy housewife then he doesn't know you well at all Duffy. Why can't he step away from the club? Why is it always the woman who is expected to give up work? You've never let anyone tell you what to do, don't start now." Rubbing her head with one hand she sighs.
"I know Charlie. He's a bit like Andrew was, old fashioned. I did used to complain that my job back home took too much of my time up. He's just worried it will be too much to deal with. I guess it's something we will just have to address again further down the line." There was that sadness in her voice again but he still knew she wouldn't respond well if he question her yet. He had to bide his time. Not to mention she still referred to England as Home not New Zealand, maybe she was missing it more than she wished to admit.
"Do what is right for you Duffy, not anyone else." Standing up before picking up her toddler, another argument he'd heard them have often this past week, she'd missed Charlie's talks. No one could calm her down like he could.
"Don't worry, I will. Now I best clean up the trouble maker. Help yourself to breakfast. I won't be long." Heading out the room and upstairs as Paul protested in her arms that he didn't want to be clean he hoped Duffy wouldn't make the same mistake again and stay in a relationship for the sake of her children. It didn't work with Andrew and it wouldn't work this time either.