Free The Divorce Club by Jayde Scott Page B

might come and sneak you some
bird seeds though."
    Sam laughs as though he's just told the joke
of the year. Had I said that to her she would've jumped through the
roof, not talking to me for a week. She might've even cut off my
head in the process.
    "Yeah, like the police would ever arrest a
kid for something as stupid as watching a movie," Sam says.
    "Actually, it's true, and they'll do it too
if your phone rings, so better shut that baby off."
    "Maybe later." Sam starts scrolling through
the other choices and groans. " The Chronicles of Narnia: The
Voyage of the Dawn Treader ?"
    "There you go, PG13." Jamie winks at me.
    I blink several times because I can't believe
what's happening here. Sam just picked a reasonable movie with no
fight whatsoever. With me, she would've thrown herself on the
ground like a two-year-old, kicking and screaming until she got her
way. "Thanks," I whisper.
    "Mum never goes out," Sam says.
    "Of course I do." I nudge her lightly, lest
she say more and risk embarrassing me. "I've just been busy
lately."
    "She always says we can't spend money we
don't have." I gape in horror at her, but she doesn't acknowledge
me as she continues, "I try to tell her you don't have to spend
money to have fun."
    Jamie places his palm on my lower back to
guide me to my seat, then slumps down next to me. "I'm not sure
about that, Sam. Having fun without money's getting harder
nowadays. When I was a kid we used to wait until a film finished.
After everyone left we'd just pretend we forgot our bags and
squeeze back in, then stay put until the next film started."
    "Did it work?" Sam asks, wide-eyed.
    "Every time."
    "I don't think you should teach my daughter
how to be dishonest," I hiss. "We have enough politicians in this
country."
    "Don't worry. If I don't teach her someone
else will. I'm kidding, Sarah." Jamie smiles and crosses his
fingers so Sam can see. She bursts out in laughter. His eyes
twinkle so I'm not sure whether he's winding me up or meaning it.
Either way, I decide to ignore his comment.
    To my surprise, Sam takes a seat on the other
side of him and starts digging into his popcorn. The film begins
and I relax, but I can't stop peering at him from the corner of my
eye. Sam and he whisper to each other, then laugh, excluding me
from their joke. It's strange to see her so comfortable with
someone other than her father.
    Time seems to fly, because before I know it
the credits roll and the lights go on again. Jamie hasn't said a
word to me yet, which makes me worried that I did something wrong.
Maybe he finds me just as boring as Sam does.
    "I think she liked the film," I whisper as
Sam visits the washroom before we head out.
    Jamie shoots me a strange look. "She just
said she hated it."
    Granted, it was a bad movie, but I have this
strong need to make him feel good about taking us to the cinema. "I
enjoyed it."
    "She said the acting flat out sucked and the
screenwriter couldn't write a good script if it bit him in the
butt." Jamie smiles. "If I may give you a tip, just say the same
and she'll love you for a whole week."
    "A whole week, huh? Tempting." I click my
tongue. "You want to bet on that?"
    Sam returns and we walk to the car, then
drive the short distance to a restaurant that boasts the 'best
pizza in town' on a large banner covering two windows. I actually
anticipated Pizzahut , so this sure beats my expectations.
Sam seems to match my enthusiasm because she marches in and takes a
seat near the window, grabbing the menu before we've even removed
our coats.
    "What are you having?" Sam asks Jamie.
    He cranes his neck to scan the menu. "I'm
thinking about a Big Mac Extra Value Meal ."
    Sam laughs. "For real."
    "Not sure yet. Nothing with spinach though
since it always gets stuck in my gap." What gap? He doesn't even
have one.
    "Mum always has it," Sam says. "With extra
garlic, and then you can smell her from a mile." She turns to me.
"You're going to order the usual, right?"
    I smirk. "Not tonight. I'll give