Keeping Juliette Company

by Sarah Picson

  The sound of the doorbell echoing round the house startled him from his memories. He frowned at his watch; Miss Saunders was late. Muffled voices from the hallway seeped through the closed study door and he heard movement and chatter moving further into the house.

  A few minutes later, Robert padded into the kitchen. It was unrecognisable from the first day they’d arrived and eaten Chinese takeaway on the floor. Moira had transformed it from an empty, grubby shell to the hub of the house: light, warm and always smelling of something delicious. The radio on the windowsill purred out a smooth jazz song and Moira’s hips swayed gently from side to side as she wiped down the large island in the middle of the kitchen.

  ‘I like the look of her,’ Moira said, as she bustled about.

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘Miss Saunders. I like the look of her.’ Robert nodded, unsure how to reply. ‘You don’t?’ Moira asked, always unfailingly direct.

  Robert moved around to the kettle and busied himself making tea.

  ‘Don’t what?’

  ‘Like Miss Saunders?’

  Robert sighed.

  ‘I don’t know her,’ he said, with a shrug. ‘We don’t know anyone round here, do we?’

  ‘No, we don’t, but that’s half the fun, meeting new people. There’s a bridge club in town that I’m trying tomorrow night. You’re welcome to join me.’

  ‘Bridge?’ Robert repeated.

  ‘That’s what I said. It might do you some good.’

  He lowered his head and concentrated on filling up the kettle.

  ‘I don’t need to go to a bridge club.’

  ‘Okay, suit yourself. By the way, I had trouble with the hot water today. It cut out several times.’

  ‘I’ll take a look at the boiler.’

  On his way to the utility room, Robert found himself slowing down outside the dining room. Miss Saunders and Abi were sat at the far end of the table, their heads huddled together. Yet again, he was pleased to see Miss Saunders looking professional in a smart white blouse, her hair tied back neatly at the nape of her neck. Her voice was warm and encouraging and Robert found himself getting caught up in what she was explaining to Abi.

  ‘Yes, you’re quite right, well done. A linear equation is an equation that describes a straight line on a graph. So, the standard form looks like this.’

  Ellie scribbled something down on a pad.

  ‘I remember. X and Y are the points that you plot on a graph.’

  ‘Spot on,’ Ellie said, with a smile. ‘I’ll give you an example and you can try and plot it on a graph.’

  Abi grabbed a biscuit from a plate and studied what Miss Saunders was doing on the pad. Robert felt a little of his earlier irritation at Ellie’s timekeeping slip away as he watched her working.

  She slid the pad over to Abi, who began scribbling furiously. Miss Saunders took a small sip from a glass of water and reached out her fingers for a biscuit. Her eyes rose up and spotted him in the doorway and she snapped her empty hand back. Robert gave a tight smile and stepped into the room.

  ‘Abi shows a lot of promise, Mr Finch,’ Miss Saunders said, shuffling about in her chair.

  They both looked expectantly at him as he loitered in the doorway. He cleared his throat.

  ‘Good. Have you got everything you need?’

  ‘Yes, I think so.’

  ‘Right. Good. Could you see me in my study before you leave, Miss Saunders?’ he asked.

  Without giving her the chance to reply, he marched off to investigate the boiler.

  ~

  An hour and a half later, there was a quiet but firm knock on his study door. Robert peeled his glasses off and tossed them on the desk, before crossing the room to find an apprehensive maths tutor on the other side of the door, fiddling with her handbag and car keys.

  ‘Please come in, Miss Saunders,’ he said, pointing to a chair on the other side of his desk. She walked with slow, cautious steps, as if entering a lion’s den, although he caught the admiring gaze she gave his bookshelf.

  ‘You have a lovely home, Mr Finch,’ she said, lowering herself into the chair and gripping her bag in front of her as if it were some sort of body armour.

  As Robert sat down, it occurred to him that this was the first time they’d been alone since the night they’d met. A sudden flashback took him by surprise: the heat of her body next to his at the bar and the fresh smell of her skin. He shook his head, trying to dislodge the memory.

  ‘I’d appreciate it if you arrived on time in future, Miss Saunders,’ he began. Her nostrils flared and she pushed her shoulders back but he carried on. ‘If you could ensure you stick to our seven o’clock arrangement, please.’

  ‘I sat with Abi for thirty minutes longer than our arrangement, Mr Finch. I’m sorry I was late but my car wouldn’t start,’ she said, in a haughty tone that he suspected she reserved for her students. ‘In fact, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make it at all.’

  ‘It sounds like you need to get your car seen to then.’

  Miss Saunders immediately sucked in her cheeks, glittering flares bursting from her narrowed eyes.

  ‘Look, I apologise for my behaviour in The Olive Tree last week; for the things I said and for spilling my drink over you, but if you’re going to call me in here every time I’m a little late, I don’t think…’

  Robert raised his hand sharply and she stopped. He didn’t want to be reminded of the things she’d said that night. No one had ever spoken to him about his marriage like that before, yet she had speared him right where it hurt.

  ‘The simple fact of the matter is you were late and I like punctuality. Let’s move on, shall we?’

  An uncomfortable silence descended over the room as they glared at each other across the desk.

  ‘Fine,’ she replied.

  ‘All I’m interested in is that you can provide adequate tuition for my daughter, that’s my priority,’ Robert said, making an effort to soften his tone.

  ‘Of course,’ she said, her voice clipped and professional.

  He saw her eyes slide to the photograph in the silver frame.

  ‘How did it go this evening?’ he asked.

  ‘Very well,’ Ellie replied, meeting his eye again. ‘Your daughter is bright. I don’t think it will take her long to get up to speed.’

  ‘What areas of the curriculum is she less confident with?’

  ‘It’s too early to tell, I’m going over last year’s work first.’

  ‘What do they study this year? Algebra, geometry?’

  ‘Both of those, Mr Finch and a great deal more. I need to ensure she’s familiar with the foundations first, after all I’ve only been teaching her for a few days.’

  ‘How long will that take?’

  ‘That’s hard to say after one tuition session.’

  ‘How many more will it take?’

  She raised her chin higher, her eyes still ablaze.

  ‘Mr Finch,’ she said. ‘I am a maths teacher with over ten years’ experience. I hope that you can accept my judgment on how to proceed with your daughter in my own time, otherwise I suggest that you look for another tutor.’

  Robert jabbed his glasses up his nose and leaned forward, his fingers spread taut across the smooth surface of the desk.

  ‘I want the best for her.’

  ‘I am sure you are, but Abi is trying to find her feet in a new school and shake off the damage a previous teacher has done to her confidence.’

  Robert stared at this lucid woman in front of him and acknowledged that she had a good point. He was so intent on trying to fix Abi’s problems, like one of his work issues, that he’d lost sight of the fact that she was still a girl trying to deal with big changes in her life.

  ‘Very well,’ Robert said. ‘I’d like you to keep me informed of her progress.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘We’ll see how the tuition goes for a month, shall we? I’ll review it after that.’ She pursed her lips but didn’t say a word. ‘Don’t
let me keep you any longer, Miss Saunders, it’s very late.’

  She couldn’t scuttle out of the house fast enough. Robert watched her clamber into a small, red car parked on the driveway that had definitely seen better days before closing the door.

  ‘How was it tonight?’ he called, as he caught sight of Abi bounding up the stairs.

  ‘Good.’

  ‘Right,’ he muttered.

  ‘She’s much better than Mr Tunks,’ Abi said, over her shoulder.

  Robert’s face creased into a small grin, her simple words making him feel ten-feet tall.

  Chapter 13

  Ellie was organised, but even she had never been so up to date with assessments, marking and lesson planning as she had been for the last few weeks. The first person to arrive in the mornings and the last to leave in the evenings, Ellie was spending more time at school than she was at home.

  Slapping the final exercise book shut and adding it to the top of a pile of marked books, a rustling noise drew her attention. She looked up to find Abi hovering in the doorway of her classroom.

  ‘I can come back later, if you’re busy,’ she said.

  ‘I’ve just finished, Abi. Come in,’ said Ellie, beckoning to her.

  ‘I finished that sample paper you gave me,’ said Abi, digging about in her bag as she approached Ellie’s desk.

  As Ellie took the paper, she noticed Abi was wearing makeup. Sticky, plum-coloured lip gloss and clumpy mascara that she’d never seen her wear before.

  ‘You completed this quickly, well done,’ said Ellie. ’How did you find it?’

  Abi shrugged.

  ‘The last few questions were tough, but it was okay.’

  ‘I’ll take a look at this now and then we can go over it at our next tuition session. Are you finding them helpful?’

  ‘Yes. My brain freezes up a lot with numbers, but I’m starting to find it easier to deal with them. It’s like, I’m less afraid of them.’

  Her gaze dropped to the floor and she gave a little shake of her head.

  ‘You’re better than you think you are. There’s nothing to fear from numbers, it’s just a matter of breaking the problem down step by step, so it doesn’t overwhelm you.’

  ‘I guess,’ she replied, a shy smile lighting up her face.

  ‘You’re very bright and determined, Abi. It’s my guess you won’t need my tuition for long.’

  The smile dropped from Abi’s face.

  ‘Oh, right.’

  ‘But of course, we’ll keep working together for as long as you feel you need me.’

  She twirled a loose strand of hair around her finger.

  ‘It’ll be Dad who decides, not me.’

  ‘What does your mum think?’ asked Ellie.

  Abi seemed to shrink in on herself at the question, taking a step away from her desk.

  ‘My mum can’t…she isn’t…’

  ‘What about your grandmother then?’ Ellie blurted out, horrified she’d made Abi feel so uncomfortable.

  Abi’s face creased up in confusion.

  ‘My grandmother?’

  ‘Yes, doesn’t she live with you?’

  ‘Do you mean Moira?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Oh, she’s not my grandmother. She works for my dad. She cleans and cooks and does all the stuff he doesn’t have time to do.’

  ‘I see,’ Ellie said, smiling up at her.

  She had a sudden urge to wrap her arms around this girl; with a new school to navigate, her confidence bruised by a previous teacher, a complicated relationship with her dad and the dawning reality that her mum wasn’t around, Ellie made a quiet promise to look out for Abi Finch.

  ‘You know, if you ever need to talk about anything, Abi, my door is always open.’

  ‘Thanks, Miss Saunders,’ she said, the corners of her mouth turning up and a blush staining her cheeks.

  As Abi reached the corridor, a girl appeared, drawing her close and linking their arms together. Abi’s face lit up at the sight of Leonie Williams and all Ellie could do was sit back in her chair and fold her arms as she watched the girls disappear. Of all the students Abi could be making friends with, she hadn’t expected that.

  Ellie flicked through Abi’s paper and her mood lightened to see how well she had done. Abi was curious, intelligent and took her time to assess the questions and offer thoughtful answers, something her blunt father could learn from.

  Ellie had found the meeting in his study unpleasant to say the least, the way he had tried to tell her how to do her job! His arrogance had left her winded. She gritted her teeth at the thought of him issuing her with a month’s trial, she’d been close to walking out.

  As he had scowled at her, Ellie almost hadn’t recognised his bright, smiling face in the photograph on the desk. He had been hugging a much younger Abi, and there was an attractive woman beside them, staring pensively out of the photograph. The woman bore a strong resemblance to Abi and Ellie assumed it must be her mother.

  She wondered if her parents were separated as there was never any sign of Abi’s mother in the house: no coat in the entrance hall, no handbag or heels to be seen. Instead, it was always Moira who greeted Ellie with a warm smile, welcoming her into the house.

  Finishing Abi’s paper, Ellie admitted to herself that there was absolutely nothing else to be done, it was time to leave work.

  In her car, she took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut as she turned the key in the ignition. After a few catches, the engine jumped to life and Ellie sighed in relief.

  ~

  Meandering along, Ellie pulled into Thistleby High Street, constructing a long list in her head of things she needed from the shops, in an attempt to put off going home for as long as possible.

  A familiar building caught her eye: its black door stood open with a sign above it, hanging against dirty pebbledash walls. Ellie’s stomach clenched and before she could think it through fully, she swerved her car off the road and parked haphazardly across two parking spaces at the back of the building. A nervous energy propelled her into the back door of The Bell & Whistle.

  At four o’clock in the afternoon, it was busy with people propping up the bar, a buzz of chatter and laughter rippling across the tables. Ellie scanned the pub for Dominic or his friends but she couldn’t see anyone she recognised.

  At the bar, she drummed her fingers on the sticky surface, ignoring the voice in her head asking her what on earth she was doing. Down the far end, a man with a thin ponytail snaking down his back, wearing a grungy, shapeless t-shirt, was serving customers. He seemed to be the only one working, but then out of the corner of her eye someone approached from the other end of the bar.

  Ellie’s heart hammered in her chest as Scarlette poured a pint for an elderly man just along from her. The man made a joke that Ellie could barely hear and Scarlette flashed him a lazy smile.

  Before she had time to prepare herself, Scarlette was standing before her, looking her up and down through thick, false eyelashes, the faintest flicker of recognition in her eyes.

  ‘What can I get you?’

  Despite her mouth being as dry as sawdust, Ellie suppressed the sudden urge for a strong drink.

  ‘An orange juice,’ she croaked.

  ‘There you go,’ Scarlette said, placing the drink down on the bar. ‘That’ll be two pounds.’

  Ellie took her time fishing the right change out of her purse and placed the money carelessly on the bar.

  ‘Is Dominic due in tonight?’ Ellie asked, watching with some satisfaction as Scarlette picked the coins up one by one.

  ‘Who’s asking?’

  ‘A friend. Will he be here tonight?’

  ‘He usually is on a Friday,’ Scarlette replied, letting the coins drop into the till with a tinkle, before moving on to another customer.

  ‘Are you seeing him?’ Ellie said, her fingers curling around her glass of orange juice.

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘Dominic. Are you seeing him?’

/>   Scarlette’s head whipped round and she planted a hand on her hip.

  ‘What?’

  ‘He’s engaged!’ Ellie cried. ‘But then you know that, don’t you?’ Scarlette’s dark eyes narrowed as they studied Ellie. ‘Are you seeing him? Are you sleeping with him?’

  Ellie didn’t care that she was beginning to attract glances from people around her now.

  ‘You!’ Scarlette replied, her perfectly plucked eyebrows shooting up her forehead. ‘You were at my house. You’re —’

  ‘I’m the woman whose fiancé you’re cheating with,’ Ellie hissed, stabbing her finger on the bar. ‘We had our engagement party here.’

  ‘I remember you. The perfect little Barbie doll, clinging to Dom’s shadow. Not so perfect, though if he’s in here all the time and not at home.’

  Ellie gasped, her stomach lurching as Scarlette’s sneer twisted up her face, the clink of glasses and monotonous football commentary from the TV on the wall swirling on around them.

  ‘Joe, I’m taking my break,’ Scarlette called.

  The man with the ponytail raised his hand and Scarlette walked away.

  ‘No, you don’t!’ Ellie said, a lightning bolt of hot rage searing through her.

  She marched after Scarlette, slamming open the back door of the pub to find her leaning against the wall, blowing out a long puff of smoke from a freshly-lit cigarette.

  Ellie approached Scarlette with gritted teeth and imagined how good it would feel to grab her hair and pull it until she got the answers she wanted. Instead, she took a deep breath.

  ‘Please,’ Ellie said. ‘I need to know.’

  ‘Know what?’ Scarlette muttered, staring into the distance.

  Ellie swallowed hard.

  ‘Are you having an affair with Dominic? How long have you been seeing each other?’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Scarlette, taking a rough drag on her cigarette.

  ‘I need to know. Just a shake or a nod of your head, that’s all I’m asking for.’