‘OK see you later.’ Unfortunately, she added silently. Actually, Cleo hadn’t been that bad last night. She’d even looked sorry about offering her mum’s quilting to Pharos.
As Alex lay in bed deciding whether it was time for her to get up, she heard Neil moving about. God, she’d forgotten about him. He was a real taker and she was amazed that Cleo hadn’t shown him the door. He was in the kitchen, and then on the phone.
‘No, Marianne, that’s impossible. I can’t do that. I’m homeless. This is a temporary address and the landlady that I’m lodging with is an old bag.’ Then he went off into another language, too fast for Alex to understand. What was he talking about?
She got up to go to the bathroom and, as she passed Cleo’s room, she saw Neil lounging back on Cleo’s bed with a plate of toast in one hand and the house phone in the other.
‘My God, you gave me a fright!’ his hand jumped and the toast slipped onto the duvet when he saw her.
‘I live here as much as you do, Neil.’ She was about to add ‘with the old bag’ but she didn’t. It was unfair to Cleo and she didn’t want Neil to know she’d heard him on the phone.
She felt like supporting her big sis, for once.
‘Why haven’t you gone with Cleo?’ he asked.
‘That’s for me to know - and get off her bed! She wouldn’t like your toast crumbs all over it.’ Alex left him moaning about his back and the blow-up mattress.
Catching the metro was fine. It was easier and quicker than the bus she took to get to her own school from Dunleith. A few kids from Tyneview got on at the next stop and were eyeing her up. You would with any new girl. When she reached school, she headed straight for the office. She asked for the head of Admin who had enrolled her at the school. Ann came out to chat to her.
‘I think it would be better for my sister, and for me, if I used my middle name while I’m here. I’m Alex McAplin Moon but while I’m here I’d like to be known as McAplin. Can you do that?’
‘That shouldn’t be a problem, Alex. Leave it with me and I’ll see that your name change is passed to your tutor.’
‘Thanks. It may save Miss Moon from being embarrassed – and me!’ she grinned and checked her school planner to see where her tutor group met. Phew, as Alex McAplin the day would be easier.
Gracie Grieves had been sent to the office to pick up the new girl.
‘Gracie this is Alex. Take her to the sixth form block and show her round,’ said Ann.
Gracie looked Alex up, down and back up for good measure. Alex pretended not to notice and tried not to show she was swallowing hard. Stand firm, look chilled.
‘A new lass, the lads are ganna love you. Stick with me and I’ll point out the dickheads.’
‘Thanks. I’d like that.’ Alex breathed a sigh of relief.
Gracie Grieves was tall, muscular and had jet black hair backcombed into a nest of a ponytail that made her tower above Alex. She talked like they did on ‘Geordie Shore’. The EllaBellas would be gobsmacked by her.
‘Are you Scottish then?’ Gracie frowned down at her.
‘No, but I live... lived on the Northumbrian border so we can sound a bit like that.’
‘As long as you’re not posh.’ Gracie’s smile showed big white teeth. ‘Ha’way - that means come on - I’ll take you to meet the rest.’
‘I can understand you, I’m not daft,’ Alex grinned back. ‘Ha’way then, let’s go.’
Gracie and her gang befriended Alex and she went for lunch with them. They weren’t actually having lunch, they were going to the local precinct for a ‘c and c’, ciggies and chips, but she was glad to tag along. She caught sight of Cleo looking out of her window as she was walking down the drive and felt a thrill of rebellion. Big sis certainly wouldn’t like her hanging round the shops.
Alex just listened at first and didn’t believe half the things the girls said they got up to. When she joined in, she found herself telling them about Edinburgh, with a little embellishment about how many times she’d been to The Nest. The night of the hospital drama gained her a bit of credit, she could tell. She felt a bit guilty about using Ella’s hellish time to impress them, but she knew that Ella would understand when she described the crowd she had to fit in with.
A group of boys sidled up to join them. Gracie nudged her.
‘Told you they’d be round you like flies around a cowpat. Anyone new. Just watch the gobby one with the stupid hair.’
The gobby one, they called him Ty, kept looking at Gracie as they all joked and argued with one another loudly enough to get dirty looks from shoppers trying to get past them. Alex was relieved when it was time to head back to school.
‘See you tomorrow, Alex. I’m not gannin in this afternoon.’ Gracie was walking away from the group.
‘What are going to do?’ Alex called after her.
‘Fryin’ other fish. Can’t say.’ What did that mean? Alex felt puzzled as she walked back into Tyneview. Ah, that was half the day over.
The Art department was fantastic; much better equipped than her own school’s cosy but ancient art block. Mr. Rutherford was really laid back. He introduced her to the others, asked Lee to show her around the studios and then left her to her own devices.
She would be able to work with the group and get on with her portfolio of work over the next few weeks. They all knew each other well and there where ‘in’ jokes that she didn’t pick up on but they were open and showed her where things were and she thought she’d fit in better here than in her tutor group.
Lee walked out of school with her and they discussed the differences in their Art syllabuses because Alex was studying under a different exam board.
‘I live in Victoria Crescent; whereabouts are you headed?’ Lee asked as they reached the main road.
‘I’m taking the metro,’ Alex started to explain just as Gracie caught up with them.
‘Hi, I came back looking for you to make sure you get on the right metro. Ha’way there’s one due in five minutes.’ Gracie looked down at Lee. ‘She’s a toony, not a posh piece like you,’ she said, grabbing Alex by the shoulder to hurry her off.
‘Bye, Lee!’ Alex smiled and hurried off.
‘Bye, Lee!’ Gracie parodied her and then grinned and stuck up two fingers as they walked off.
Alex had to say something. As they approached the station she said, ‘There was no need for that, Gracie.’
‘For what?’
‘The two fingers, at Lee. I like her.’
‘Ah that. It just makes the posh bitches a bit nervous of me and that’s how I like it. It’s just a reminder that they don’t take the piss out of me, not ever.’
‘I think it’s uncalled for.’
‘Bloody Hell, it’s a good job that I’ve decided I like you or you’d know what was uncalled for. Look here’s the train.’
Alex walked towards Mariner’s Wharf, Cleo’s block of apartments, thinking about Gracie. She liked her but she was mouthy and seemed defensive about lots of things. Questions were answered with ‘What’s it to you?’ or ‘Never you mind’ but she was nosey about Alex. She grinned as she thought of how she’d used Gracie’s own answers to avoid saying where she lived or why she was there. She definitely didn’t want Gracie knowing that she had anything to do with Cleo.
They’d travelled home without giving anything away but Gracie had still called out that she’d see her in the morning. She’d couldn’t wait to give the EllaBellas a ring and tell them about Gracie and Lee and her day when she got in.
Alex unlocked the door of the flat and, as she pushed the door open, Pharos jumped onto her shoulder from a bookcase by the door.
‘Hello lovely boy!’ he loved a shoulder carry.
‘Hello’ a small voice piped up from the sofa. Alex looked over to see a blonde haired boy with a face covered in orange ice lolly and sticky hands that were being wiped on a grey cushion.
He turned back to the TV and was watching ‘Charlie and Lola’ on CBeebies.
; She gently put Pharos onto the floor and he strolled towards the kitchen.
‘In a moment greedy, I’m just going to say hello to this other lovely boy.’ She was rewarded with a head turned from the TV and a grin.
‘I’m Alex. How did you get here?’ she asked, sitting down on the sofa and away from melted lolly.
‘I’m Josh. Daddy’s just in his office.’ Daddy? Bloody hell, Neil you’re full of surprises.
Neil came out of the office. ‘Hi Alex. I see you’ve met Josh. His mum has had to leave him with me. A bit of an emergency.’
His hair was ruffled and harassed. Not the usual suave Neil at all. ‘Have you any idea what time Cleo will be back?’ he asked.
‘It’ll be late. She has a meeting and said she’d bring in a Chinese supper at about seven. I think she meant for just the two of us, though.’
‘Ah OK. Look Alex, I must go to see a client. Would you mind if I left Josh with you for an hour or two? It would be very difficult to take him.’
Josh was looking at her with solemn grey eyes; what could she say? She couldn’t refuse in his hearing.
‘All right but you must be back before Cleo comes home to do the explaining.’
‘You’re a star, I will. Josh, Daddy’s going out and you must be really good for Alex.’
Josh nodded and went back to watching Cbeebies.
Alex followed Neil to the door. ‘Is he sleeping over?’
‘Unfortunately, he has to. His mum has gone off for a week, maybe two,’ whispered Neil.
‘That long?’
‘Exactly. What can I do?’ he hissed. ‘Alex, do you think you could put him in the bath and ready for bed before Cleo gets home? He’s never a bother. His bag with pyjamas and clothes is in the office. I’m going to go and get some groceries after this five o’clock meeting and I’ll be back before seven. It would be best if Josh was in bed before Cleo got home and then I would have a chance to explain.’
‘Make sure you’re back.’
The door closed. Alex thought of how Cleo would take this news and actually felt sorry for Neil. She looked at little Josh; poor kid it wasn’t his fault. She had done quite a bit of kiddie sitting in Dunleith so she didn’t mind keeping Josh occupied. She’d make him something to eat and pop him in the bath so that he’d look like a little cherub by the time Cleo got home.
16
Cleo stifled a yawn. The senior management meeting had gone on for ages and she really wanted to get back and find out why Alex had chummed up with Gracie Grieves of all people. She liked Gracie but she could be the centre of trouble and often got into fights or slanging matches with other girls. She hoped that Neil would be out so that she could chat to Alex and they could enjoy their Chinese takeaway in peace. Should she get extra in case he was there and hadn’t eaten? Bloody Neil, he’d better get himself sorted soon.
‘Cleo, Cleo?’ she brought her attention back to the table and felt Telford’s eyes on her. ‘We’re waiting for an update on your teen mothers’ project.’ Cleo was on instant alert. Yes, she couldn’t wait to tell the others how well it was going and how everything was on schedule.
It was after seven when Cleo pulled up beside the apartment. She looked around for Neil’s car. Not there, she felt a surge of relief that she could get home and relax. To her surprise, she had found that having Alex to stay wasn’t half as irritating as having Neil around.
She walked in to a tidy apartment with the table set for two.
‘Hi Alex,’ she called. Alex came out of the office with her finger on her lips. Cleo automatically lowered her voice.
‘What are you doing in the office?’ she asked.
‘Sit down and I’ll pour you a drink and tell you.’ Alex sat her on the sofa. There were damp patches on it.
‘Has that cat been peeing on my sofa?’
‘Certainly not!’ Alex indignant.’ It met with a different accident and I’ll tell you, if you don’t overreact and you have a drink first.’
Anxiety raised its familiar head; so much for a relaxing meal.
‘What about the food?’ Cleo indicated to the cartons on the bench. ‘Can you put it in the oven with the heat on low if we’re not eating right way?’
Alex slipped into the kitchen area to turn the oven on and deal with the take away and she sat there waiting,
‘Come on, Alex. There’s something you’re not saying and I’d rather know.’
Alex brought her a very large chilled white. She sipped. It was one of her very good Pinots.
‘Well,’ started Alex. She was kneeling on the floor in front of her and Cleo looked over Alex’s shoulder at a small green figure under the coffee table.
‘Does that dinosaur belong to the cat?’
‘No. That’s what I need to tell you. It’s Neil again and, typically, he’s not here to do his own explaining even though he promised that he would be back.’
‘What now?’
Just then, the office door opened and a small figure in superman pyjamas stood there.
‘Hi Alex. I could smell Chinese and thought Daddy might be back.’ Cleo was speechless as she stared at the boy and then at Alex.
‘Cleo, this is Josh, who I’m trying to tell you about.’
Neil arrived just as supper was being served. He looked sheepish and was all apologies for being delayed at his meeting but he took a huge portion of their supper. It was a good thing that she’d played safe and bought extra.
Cleo found that she’d lost her appetite anyway and watched Alex and Neil tucking in to the Szechuan chicken that she usually loved. Josh sat beside his daddy eating fried rice and yawning. What the hell was she going to do? She’d have to have it out with Neil but not in front of his son or her sister.
Eventually, Neil lifted up a very sleepy Josh and carried him into the office.
Cleo grabbed Alex and ushered her into the kitchen area to whisper, ‘Alex, when Neil comes back in here, I’m going to take him down to the car for a private word or two. I don’t want to wake up Josh. Is it OK if you stay here while we’re gone?’
Alex nodded, she was still munching her way through her third bowl of food and the odd prawn cracker.
Neil came out of the office and shut the door quietly. He turned to look at Cleo and seemed subdued for once. ‘Cleo, now he’s asleep, let me explain...’
‘Stop right there, Neil. Get your jacket because I want to talk to you privately. We’ll have to sit in my car seeing as my whole apartment has been taken over.’ She strode to the door and Neil had little choice but to follow her.
‘What the hell is going on in your life and why is it happening in my home? Answer me without any lies or excuses.’ Cleo knew she was shouting instead of talking but felt like physically shaking this man who had got her into such a mess.
‘Cleo, calm down. This isn’t making anything better. I can explain but please hear me out.’
‘Don’t dare to tell me to stay calm. Don’t dare to say another word unless it is to say goodbye!’
‘Don’t be mean. I didn’t intend to put you in a spot. I’ll move on as soon as I can.’
‘When?’
‘It’s complicated. First of all, I haven’t been completely honest. I’ll come clean and tell you that I rented part of a house and I got behind with the rent so I was asked to leave. The locks were changed while we were in Italy so I had to move in with you. I was a bit cowardly and I didn’t tell you the truth because...because I owe you money already and you’d realise that I couldn’t pay you either.’
‘Why? How can you owe so much when you’re working?’
‘I do have a house but Marianne, that’s Josh’s mum, lives there and I help her with the mortgage and bills.’
‘Are you married?’
‘Technically, but we don’t live together.’
‘Then this Marianne is your wife. You have a wife and child that you didn’t tell me about, Neil. That’s so unfair of you.’
‘I liked you and I wanted us to have a chance
at a relationship, Cleo.’
‘By lying? You are so dishonest!’
‘I’m not, Cleo. I do have feelings for you’.
‘Oh yes, a fine way to show it. Get Cleo to pay for the holiday, forget to mention a family, a little boy. Pretend you’ve mislaid your credit cards and sponge from Cleo. That holiday really finished things for me, Neil.’
Neil looked surly, ‘So you’ve said but, for the whole flight home, you didn’t say.’
‘I didn’t say! Look at what you haven’t said. I just want us to call it a day and for you to take Josh and yourself back to wherever you can go.’
‘I’m sorry you feel that way. I’ve got nowhere until I get some money from clients; it’s a question of cash flow. I now have the added worry of Josh because Marianne is away for two weeks.’
‘Two weeks! How could she leave a little boy with a complete waster like you?’
‘Steady on, I’m his father and he loves being with me. She knows he’ll be fine. She had to go because her father’s ill, seriously ill, and he lives in the Netherlands.’
‘Why couldn’t Josh go with her?’
‘More complications.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘Marianne is Dutch; her father lives in Delft. She couldn’t take Josh because she couldn’t find his passport. That was my fault. You see, I was worried she’d move back over there one day and I’d never get to see him so I destroyed his passport months ago. I couldn’t foresee all this. She didn’t know about the passport so she couldn’t sort out a new one in time. I’ve signed the forms for a replacement so he can join her as soon as possible. She wasn’t at all happy about leaving him with me.’
‘I wonder why.’ Cleo felt some compassion for the little boy left with an unreliable parent and for his mother, who must’ve been pulled between seeing her father and leaving her son.
A Jarful of Moondreams: What Secrets Are Ready to Spill Out? Page 11