by Lucy Daniels
She went back upstairs. Jack was in the bathroom. He’d managed to strip to the waist and was wiping at his face with the towel. Susan quickly helped him dry his hair. He too could get into pyjamas. Once he was dry, she went back into her room and dug out some dry clothes for herself. She pulled a comb through her damp hair and checked the mirror before heading back downstairs with Jack.
Douglas had found his way to the kitchen. Susan put his wet clothes in the dryer while he switched the kettle on. Susan couldn’t help but snort when she saw the pyjamas. They stopped halfway down his calves, revealing a pair of very white legs. The sleeves made it past his elbows, but only just. Jack took one look and roared with laughter. Douglas stood with his hands on his hips, giving him a mock-glare. ‘I’ll have you know this is the height of fashion,’ he said.
‘Go on then,’ Susan teased. ‘Give us a twirl.’
Douglas put an arm in the air, as if he was doing a highland fling, and hopped round in a circle. Jack was laughing so hard he could barely stand. Susan put a hand up to her mouth, but she too began laughing as he stood on one leg like a ballerina and stretched upwards.
‘Very graceful,’ she said, once she had caught her breath.
The kettle had boiled. ‘Tea?’ she suggested.
‘That would be lovely,’ Douglas replied.
She threw teabags into mugs and poured on the hot water. ‘Would you like some milk, Jack?’ she asked as she added a drop to each cup.
‘Yes please.’ She poured him a small glass and watched as he drank it, then wiped off his milk moustache with the back of his hand. Then looking up at Douglas, he asked, ‘Do you want to see my bedroom? Mummy’s painting it.’
Susan cringed inside. She had started to paint the bedroom weeks ago, but somehow, there just hadn’t been time to finish it. Douglas was looking at her, asking with his eyes whether she was happy for him to follow Jack upstairs. ‘It’s nowhere near finished,’ she said, feeling her face redden.
He smiled, his eyes reassuring. ‘I started decorating my kitchen two months ago and so far, I’ve only painted half the cupboards,’ he said. ‘I don’t know where the time goes.’
Jack led Douglas up the narrow staircase and Susan followed. They trooped into Jack’s room. Susan had painted two of the walls with golden-yellow paint, but the other two were still plain white with grubby marks.
‘Mummy’s going to make it like being in a wood,’ Jack announced. ‘It’s going to have trees and animals and everything.’
Douglas smiled at her. ‘I bought these,’ Susan told him. She held out the pack of decals she had bought. There were two tree trunks and lots of leaves to attach. There was a mummy owl and a baby owl to sit in the branches of one of the trees and a family of squirrels for the other. There were little birds, and butterflies with patterned wings.
‘They’re great,’ Douglas said, looking at them one by one. He handed them back, then pointed at the white wall. ‘You’re going to paint over that, right?’
Susan laughed. ‘I certainly am,’ she said. ‘Though Jack’ll be helping.’
‘I love painting,’ Jack told Douglas.
‘I see you have some paints there.’ He pointed to the small pots of paint Susan had bought. She was intending to paint some background for the decals and there were lots of different colours, as yet unopened. ‘Would you mind?’ he asked.
‘Be my guest,’ Susan said. She watched as he picked up a paintbrush. This was turning out to be one of the most unusual non-dates she’d ever had.
Douglas knelt down and started to paint. A few moments later, there were two little hedgehogs, standing on their hind legs and holding paws as they looked up at a bumble-bee.
‘Snowflake and Frosty!’ Jack was thrilled. Susan wanted to laugh at the awe on his face.
‘That’s right,’ Douglas said. ‘Your very own.’
‘You know I won’t be allowed to paint over that now.’ Susan smiled.
‘Can you do Barty the Badger?’ Jack asked. ‘And Archie Rabbit?’
Douglas laughed. ‘Only if Mummy says so,’ he said.
He looked at Susan, who nodded. ‘Of course you can,’ she said. ‘Though if you start taking requests, you’ll never hear the end of it.’
There was silence for a few minutes as he set to and painted several of the other characters from the book. Then he sat back on his heels to inspect them. ‘You know,’ he said, ‘I could help with the painting if you like. I’ve done one mural in my office and another in the hallway outside. I could paint a whole woodland scene on this wall.’ For the first time since they’d arrived back, he was speaking hesitantly, as if he wasn’t sure if he was overstepping the mark.
Susan felt almost as uneasy as he sounded. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I’m not sure I’d have the money to pay …’ She trailed off.
Douglas’s eyes widened and he shook his head. ‘I didn’t mean that,’ he said. ‘I meant as a friend … of Jack’s.’ His voice was unexpectedly flustered.
‘Please, Mummy?’ Jack looked as if Christmas had already come.
Susan looked from Douglas to Jack. Two pairs of eyes, one blue, one brown.
‘I guess that’s a yes then, so long as you’re sure,’ she said.
Relief spread over Douglas’s face. ‘It shouldn’t take too long,’ he promised. ‘We can set up a time. Whenever you like.’
‘That would be lovely,’ Susan admitted. It would be much easier to finish the room with his help. And Jack would have the most wonderful bedroom at the end. ‘I’ve just thought,’ she said. ‘Would you be able to do some painting at the nursery? They’re looking for someone to paint some new scenery for the Nativity play. Mrs Armitage will pay. I can recommend you, if you’d like?’
‘That would be great,’ Douglas said.
The beep-beep-beep of the dryer sounded downstairs. ‘That’s your clothes,’ she said. The three of them trooped down the stairs together. Susan opened the dryer and pulled out Douglas’s clothes. ‘Here you go,’ she said, handing them to him.
‘Thanks,’ he said. He left the room, then reappeared a few moments later, back in his normal clothes with the red Christmas pyjamas bundled neatly under one arm. ‘I’d better head off,’ he said, handing them back to Susan, who couldn’t help letting out another chuckle. He headed back out into the hallway and Susan opened the door. He turned on the doorstep. ‘Thanks for a lovely afternoon,’ he said. He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder into the gathering gloom. The rain had stopped. He turned back to Susan. ‘I’d like to take you out again,’ he said. ‘If you wouldn’t mind. I’ve had a great time.’ He smiled, looking suddenly shy. ‘Doesn’t matter if you’d rather not,’ he said. ‘I’ll still paint the mural. I told Jack I’d do it …’ He trailed off and looked at her, his face open. He really was … Susan sought for the right word. Decent. The old-fashioned concept swum into her mind. For all his bumptiousness when he was working, he really was incredibly kind. Whatever was happening with Michael, she shouldn’t let it interfere.
‘Yes please,’ she said. ‘I would like to go on another date.’
She was rewarded with that enormous smile. ‘That’s great,’ he said. ‘In that case, I’ll get planning.’
Susan closed the door behind him, then leaned back on it, looking down the hallway. Jack appeared on the landing. ‘Will Douglas be coming back?’ he asked. ‘He won’t forget, will he?’
Susan shook her head. ‘He won’t,’ she said. She found herself grinning at nothing. He was coming back and she was looking forward to it just as much as Jack.
Chapter Fourteen
The children sat cross-legged in the book corner, looking up at Mandy and Susan. Excitement was simmering. It was time for the parts in the Nativity play to be announced, and after that Mandy would tell the class the results of the kitten-naming competition. They’d had a lot of fun looking at the suggestions. Some had been very traditional, such as Kitty. Others had been more unusual. Susan wondered what would happen if a new ow
ner was presented with a kitten called Floofylegs or Santa Claws. Mandy had eventually shared the names with James as Susan had felt that with Jack involved, she wouldn’t be able to judge in an impartial way. There were five kittens, so several of the children would have their names used, but there would be one overall winner.
Susan had also spent a long time discussing the Nativity with Nina. It was always difficult to keep things completely fair, but they did their best. Jack had been asking for days whether she thought he would make a good Joseph. It had been a difficult question to answer. Though she was sure he would have been fine in the part, it had gone to Armando. Jack was to be one of the shepherds. She had fudged a reply, saying she was sure he would play any part well. She had reminded him too that all parts were important. Now she just hoped he wouldn’t be too upset.
‘Okay, everybody. Shush.’ She put a finger on her lips and one-by-one the children followed. They were still shuffling, but at least they were no longer in uproar. ‘I’m going to read out the parts now, so I want you all to listen carefully. Firstly, Herbinder, you will be Mary.’ Her eyes fell on the sweet oval face with its dark-brown eyes. Herbie had breathed in and was sitting up very straight as she looked round proudly. Christina, who was sitting beside Herbie managed a smile, though Susan could see she was disappointed.
Her eyes dropped back to the list in her hand, though she had no real need to read what it said. ‘Next, Joseph.’ It was the boys’ turn to sit up straight. Several of them crossed their arms as if to tidy themselves in the hope they would be chosen. ‘Armando, you will be playing Joseph.’ From the corner of her eye, she saw Jack’s shoulders slump. This was the downside of being Mum to one of the class. Much as she loved being able to spend so much time with Jack, it was hard too. She knew that she was often so careful not to show favouritism that she sometimes leaned towards favouring any other child over Jack. It was such a hard thing to balance.
She began to speed up. She raced through the angels and the kings, then came to the shepherds. ‘Three shepherds,’ she read, ‘Neil, Jack and Kendall.’ Jack sent her the tiniest of smiles and she sent him one back. Kendall also had a small smile on her face, but when Susan looked at Neil, she saw trouble brewing. He looked as if he was about to bawl, and indeed as Susan watched, his mouth opened wide and he started to howl.
To Susan’s relief, Nina scooped him up. ‘What’s up, Neil?’ she asked.
Neil was sobbing still, but now he was making an attempt to speak. ‘… not fair,’ he gasped. ‘… wanted to be Baby Jesus.’
Christina burst into a loud fit of giggles and Susan wanted to laugh as well, but she quickly shushed the class again. ‘I’m very sorry, Neil,’ she explained. ‘But Jesus is a tiny baby and we’ll actually be using a dolly. Mary has to hold Baby Jesus, you see.’
Neil’s chin was still shaking. He was clinging on to Nina. With a final glance, Susan moved on. He would get over it in a minute or two. It was better not to pay too much attention.
Once all the parts had been allocated, it was time for Mandy to speak.
‘We had a lovely time looking at all your names,’ she said. ‘Some of them were very unusual indeed and all of them were good, so thank you. We’ve chosen our five favourites.’ She held up a photo of the largest black-and-white-kitten. ‘We’re going to name this little guy Joey,’ she said, and looked up. ‘Who was it that came up with that name?’
A little girl called Naomi raised a shy hand. ‘Well done,’ Mandy said. She put down the photo and picked up one of the little black male kitten. ‘And this little boy is going to be called Fiddlesticks! Whose idea was that?’
Susan was pleased to see Noah raising his hand. He was one of the shyer boys in the class and she knew this would give him a boost of confidence.
Next, Mandy held up a picture of the two black-and-white female kittens. ‘These two are going to be called Ana and Elsa. Who came up with those lovely names?’
Herbie and Christina put up their hands, exchanging beaming smiles.
Susan noticed that Jack was leaning forward, his face a picture of hope. He must be hoping to name the little white kitten, she realised. She found herself desperately wishing that he had won. She knew it would mean so much to him, since he already had a bond with the little thing. And it would soften the blow of not getting the Nativity part he wanted. . .
‘And finally,’ Mandy looked around the class and held up a photo of the little white kitten. ‘We come to the last name. One of our kittens is rather special. The smallest of the litter is the white one and he’s actually deaf.’ There were one or two murmurings around the class. ‘But that doesn’t mean he won’t be able to have a lovely life,’ Mandy assured them. ‘We wanted him to have a very special name and there was one that really stood out.’ She smiled again. ‘The name for the little white kitten is … Frostflake.’
There was a gasp from Jack. ‘That’s my name,’ he said in a loud voice. ‘I chose it.’
Mandy smiled. ‘Well done, Jack,’ she said. ‘It’s a great name. It really suits him.’
If Jack had been disappointed over Joseph, he was thrilled now. Susan had rarely seen him look so happy. His eyes caught hers and he sent her a beaming smile, which made her heart swell. Frostflake. He’d put together Frosty and Snowflake, the names of the hedgehogs in Douglas’s book. What a wonderful name for a white cat. She would have to tell Douglas, she thought. He would be pleased.
‘Well, thank you very much, Miss Hope,’ she said. ‘It’s been lovely having you here and we’re all looking forward to our next visit to Hope Meadows, aren’t we?’
‘Yes!’ the class chorused, even Neil, whose disappointment in not being Jesus seemed to have worn off in the face of Mandy’s kittens.
She began to clap and the class joined in. Jack clapped hardest of all, and Susan felt her heart swell.
The taxi was late. Susan had waited at her mother’s house, patiently at first, then less so. She was going out for the evening with Michael. It was purely a business meeting, she reminded herself as she glanced at herself in the mirror for the fourteenth time. She had put on a plain black dress, then had added gold earrings and a necklace. It was important to feel good, she told herself. This was to be a negotiation. If she felt comfortable, she would find the evening much easier.
She sat in the back of the cab, trying not to think too much about Michael himself. They were going to discuss his future relationship with Jack. It would be filled with practical conversations about where and when they would meet and for how long. And about how he intended to parent Jack. It was important that she set the right boundaries.
But in spite of her good intentions, her memory kept drifting back to the last time they’d met. There had been a spark between them, hadn’t there? Or had she imagined it?
The different versions of Michael in her head clashed awkwardly whenever she thought about him. There was the old Michael, the fun-loving and hard-working man she’d fallen in love with, and there was also the cold and selfish man who’d broken her heart and abandoned Jack, whom she’d hated for so many years … and now there was this new, improved, serious Michael who just wanted to make things right. It was hard to believe they were all the same man.
She looked out of the window. She was almost there. They were meeting at Sheep from the Goats, a bar in Walton that had opened last year. It was Michael that had suggested it. Susan had never been before. The taxi pulled up outside an upmarket building with its name spelled out in brightly lit letters. The interior was equally stylish. Very Michael, she decided as she cast her eyes over the white leather seats and black lacquered tables. Although she was a little late, he didn’t seem to have arrived. She pulled her mobile from her handbag and checked her messages. She was in the right place. He’d be along in a minute.
It was busy at the bar. Susan had to wait until two men had been served before she even managed to get an arm on the counter. Even then, it seemed like the barman would never notice her. Three times he whisked
past, carefully avoiding her eye. She eyed the rows of bottles as he flitted past again. What should she drink? she wondered. She didn’t fancy wine. It would be nice to have a cocktail, but she shouldn’t get carried away. Just one, then she’d stick to orange juice.
‘How about an Old Fashioned?’ The voice came from behind, as cool and smooth as the marble surface of the bar. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
‘Michael.’ She swung round and found herself smiling. He’d looked good last time they’d met, but this time he took her breath away. He was wearing chinos again and a fitted cashmere sweater that accentuated his broad shoulders. His brown hair was brushed back from his forehead.
‘Hi.’ His voice was slightly husky. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. ‘Well?’
‘Yes please,’ she said. It was years since she’d had an Old Fashioned. Back when they’d been together it had been her go-to drink.
Michael turned to the barman. ‘Two Old Fashioned, please,’ he said.
The barman responded immediately. It was as if there was nobody else in the bar that mattered. He grabbed two glasses and began to mix their drinks. Michael stood there smiling, as if the barman’s reaction was nothing more than he expected. Susan felt torn between irritation that she’d been ignored on her own and amusement that Michael could drift in so easily and get served first.
‘Why don’t you go and sit down?’ Michael said, turning to Susan and nodding towards a booth that had just been vacated. It was more of a command than a suggestion. Susan felt suddenly flustered. She had meant to stay in charge of this conversation.
‘I’ll pay for this one,’ she said, reaching for her purse.
‘I’d like to pay.’ His words were polite but firm. Susan didn’t know how to refuse. She didn’t want to start this meeting with them squabbling over money, so she nodded and went to the table.
Two minutes later, he set down the two glasses on the table and slipped into the booth beside her. It was tucked away in the corner, and unlike the other booths, which had longer seats opposite one another, this had only one curved bench. Susan shuffled along a few inches. He was a little too close for comfort.