by Annie Lyons
‘Are you all right, Ellie?’ asked Cat. Ellie had already finished her sandwich and she glanced at her father before clamping her lips together tightly. Cat looked at Andrew who was smiling at her, a look of innocence on his face. Cat knew this look only too well. ‘What’s going on?’ she said.
Ellie couldn’t hold back any longer. ‘We’re going on holiday to the cottage Daddy booked before Mummy went away and Daddy told us to be good so that you’ll agree to take us and Finn and Daisy are coming too!’ cried Ellie, her words hitting Cat’s ears in rapid succession so that it took her a moment to register exactly what her niece had just said.
Cat turned to Andrew, who was staring down at his plate not daring to meet his sister’s gaze, like a small boy who had been found out. ‘I need a coffee,’ she said, rising to her feet and heading into the kitchen.
Andrew followed closely on her heels, his hands held out in front of him defensively. ‘Now, Cat, don’t get mad. Let me explain.’
She plonked the mug she was holding onto the work surface and spun round to face him. ‘What do you think you’re playing at, Andrew? I said I would look after your children. Isn’t that enough for you? What possessed you to cook up this little scheme?’
‘Okay, okay,’ said Andrew, ‘I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit hasty. I should have talked to you first, before I told the kids.’
‘Do you think?’ cried Cat, turning back to fill her mug with coffee. Andrew reached into the fridge and handed her the milk. ‘Thank you,’ she said, sploshing it into the mug before handing it back to him and taking a gulp. ‘You’ve put me in an impossible position, haven’t you? And as for asking Finn – ’
‘Actually, I haven’t asked him yet. That was Ellie’s idea but to be honest I think it’s a good one.’
‘Oh really,’ said Cat. ‘How is sending me to – ’
‘Suffolk,’ finished Andrew.
‘Right yes, how is sending me to bloody Suffolk with know-it-all Finn going to help?’
‘Well I thought it would be an extra pair of hands and he’s really good with the kids.’
‘Oh you don’t have to tell me how good Finn “uncle of the year” Thomas is with the kids.’
‘Are you jealous?’ asked Andrew amused.
‘Pfff, don’t be ridiculous. I’m not jealous of him,’ replied Cat a little too quickly. Andrew raised his eyebrows quizzically. Cat hit him on the arm. ‘We’re getting off the point here. You should have talked to me first.’
Andrew nodded and cleared his throat to show that he was taking his sister seriously. ‘I know. You’re right. I’m sorry. But listen, I thought it would be good for you to get away and we booked it before Mel’s dad got sick so we’d lose the deposit and it would be a shame for it to go to waste.’ He gave her that small-boy-lost look, which made her hate him even more because she couldn’t resist it. ‘It’s a very nice cottage, you know, in a great location – beautiful beach and there’s even a brewery in the town.’ Cat rolled her eyes in exasperation. ‘I’ll show you the pictures online and then it’s entirely up to you. No pressure.’
Cat glanced at the doorway. Ellie was doing a very bad job of trying to hide behind the doorframe as she eavesdropped. ‘Come in, Ellie,’ said Cat. Ellie took a step back out of sight. ‘I know you’re there,’ she continued.
There was a five-second pause before Ellie stepped into the room, a picture of innocence. ‘Oh hi, Daddy, Auntie Cat. I was just bringing out my plate – to be helpful.’ She beamed with saintly pride.
‘She’s learnt that from you,’ observed Cat.
‘What?’ chorused Andrew and Ellie, wide-eyed with feigned ignorance.
Cat shook her head and refilled her coffee mug. ‘I am going to have a shower. And then you can show me this cottage.’ She ignored Andrew and Ellie’s high five. ‘But I haven’t agreed to anything yet,’ she called over her shoulder as she made her way upstairs. Cat could hear her mobile ringing in the spare room. She darted through the door and felt her stomach drop as she spotted the caller ID.
‘Ava. I am so sorry,’ she cried as she answered.
‘I’m hoping that you’re waking up alongside Ryan Gosling,’ purred her friend. ‘Otherwise I can’t imagine why you would be breaking our brunch date.’
‘Well I did have an eventful Saturday evening but not in the way you’re thinking.’
‘Care to spill?’
Cat took a deep breath. ‘I bumped into Jesse at a concert. Let’s just say I think my PR career may have fallen off the tracks.’
She could hear Ava exhale in a way that suggested she already knew this to be the case. ‘I’m sorry, honey. Donald plays hardball sometimes but he usually comes round in the end.’
‘Thanks and sorry again for missing our date.’
‘Hey, don’t sweat it. How about next Sunday? Your treat.’
‘I would love to and I definitely owe you but actually, I think I’m going away.’
‘Oh? You don’t sound very sure. That’s not like the Cat Nightingale I know and love.’
‘Believe me, it was a big surprise for me too. My brother has organised a little impromptu holiday.’
‘Sounds like a great idea. What’s the catch?’
‘I’m not going alone.’
‘Sheesh, are you off to build sandcastles with the ankle-biters?’
Cat laughed. ‘I’m afraid so.’
‘Well, you know, you might enjoy it,’ said Ava in a consoling voice.
‘Really?’
‘I only said “might”. I take it your brother isn’t going.’
‘No, but he’s suggesting that we ask this guy Finn and his niece Daisy along.’
‘A guy? Sounds promising.’
‘Trust me, it’s never going to happen.’
‘Oh sweetie, never say never.’
‘This is the exception to that particular rule.’
‘Whatever you say, sugar. Well I wish you all the luck in the world.’
‘Thanks,’ said Cat weakly. ‘I’ll call you with a progress report.’
‘You do that,’ said Ava.
After she had hung up, Cat wandered onto the landing just as Charlie darted from his room looking upset. He had his back to her as he ran to the bathroom and shut the door swiftly behind him before she had a chance to call his name. His bedroom door was open and Cat hesitated before sneaking in. She could see his iPad open on the desk. She glanced behind her before making her way over and peering at the screen. Cat could see that Charlie had been sending and receiving messages from Tom, the boy from the park. The exchange had begun with a shy ‘Hi Tom’ from Charlie, which had been met with, ‘’sup Loser?’ from the boy. Ben had joined in a little later and the conversation had quickly degenerated.
Tom
‘Been practising football? cos u need 2.’
Charlie
‘A bit.’
Ben
‘Do u still like Liverpool?’
Charlie
‘Yeah.’
Tom
‘You sad muppet. Every1 knows they r shit.’
Ben
‘Sterling is a baby.’
Tom
‘So is Charlie. And they’ve both got crap hair.’
Ben
‘And no friends.’
Tom
‘LOL. Charlie and Raheem are gay.’
Ben
‘LOL.’
Charlie has left the conversation.
Cat heard the toilet flush and quickly exited the room. She met Charlie on the landing. He was frowning and she could tell from his eyes that he had been crying. Cat wanted to ask him about what she’d read but knew he’d be furious if he found out she’d been prying.
‘Everything okay?’ she asked.
He mumbled something incomprehensible and disappeared back into his room, closing the door firmly behind him. Cat felt a pang of sympathy before something clicked in her brain – a moment of recognition confirming what she needed to do. She went downstairs to find A
ndrew. He was sitting at the dining room table, nursing a mug of coffee. His laptop was open and Cat could see images of a very pretty cottage. Ellie sat opposite him, staring up at her aunt, her face filled with expectation and hope. Cat folded her arms and cleared her throat. ‘Ellie, can I give you a piece of advice?’
Ellie looked uncertain. ‘O-kay.’
Cat’s face was serious. ‘If your brother ever tells you that he’s doing something for your own good…’
Ellie was hanging on her every word, ‘Yes?’
Cat stared at Andrew. ‘Punch him on the nose and run in the opposite direction as quickly as you can.’
Ellie giggled. ‘What does that mean?’
‘It means we’re going on holiday to Suffolk,’ said Cat with a sigh.
‘Yay!’ cried Ellie, leaping to her feet. ‘With Finn and Daisy?’
Cat shrugged. ‘Why not?’ She could think of lots of reasons why not but they seemed irrelevant now.
Ellie rushed to her aunt and flung her arms around her middle. ‘Thank you, Auntie Cat. You’re the best,’ she declared before rushing upstairs. ‘I have to pack! Daddy, you call Finn,’ she called over her shoulder.
Andrew stood up and put an arm around his sister. ‘Thanks, sis. You won’t regret it,’ he said.
‘I better not,’ warned Cat with a rueful smile.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll come and stay at the weekend and I’ll see if Ronnie wants to as well. It’ll be fun.’
‘Hmm,’ said Cat. Fun wasn’t a word she associated with a family holiday in Britain; rain and wasps and sand in your picnic were more appropriate but like many things in her life now, Cat had no choice. It was a case of going with the flow and praying that she didn’t drown or murder Finn Thomas in the process.
Chapter Twelve
‘Are we there yet?’
‘Ellie, we’ve just turned out of your road.’
‘I know. I was only joking,’ said Ellie with a mischievous grin. Cat glanced at her in the rear-view mirror. Her face was a picture of bubbling excitement. It made Cat think of holidays as a child. Her parents had loved Cornwall and she recalled endless sunny days peppered with the odd rain-washed moment. Life seemed to go on for ever back then; everything was filled with light and fun: cricket on the beach, fishing in rock-pools, melting ice-creams and the occasional greedy seagull. She couldn’t remember ever feeling sad. It was funny how life turned so quickly, how the innocence of youth could be replaced by the experience of adulthood. Cat could barely connect that happy-go-lucky child with her grown-up self.
‘Would you like me to sing to you? Or should we play I Spy?’ asked Ellie, interrupting her thoughts.
The options were given as two very clear choices. Cat glanced at Charlie and could see that he had wisely plugged in his earphones and was listening to music whilst drawing. She had never been on a long car journey with a child before. She took a gulp of the coffee Andrew had made her before she left. He had squeezed her arm in a way that was supposed to reassure. ‘Good luck. Call me when you get there.’ It was ridiculous given everything that Cat had achieved in her life but as she pulled away in the car she had felt the burden of responsibility like a weight around her neck. It was all very well looking after the children in the day to day; keeping them alive in the relative safety of their own home was one thing but taking them out of this world to a completely new and unfamiliar environment was different.
Cat told herself to relax; she could do this. All she had to do was ensure that they arrived before Finn so that she could collect the keys and suss out the place before he started undermining her with his ‘fun uncle’ act. She would show him how fun she could be; she would out-fun him by the end of this holiday. Finn Thomas was in for a shock.
‘Let’s play I Spy,’ she said to Ellie with a smile.
‘Okay. I’ll start,’ replied her niece. ‘I spy with my incredibly tiny eye, something beginning with – R.’
‘Road,’ guessed Cat.
‘Nope.’
‘Road signs.’
‘Nope.’
‘Red light,’ said Cat, pulling up at a junction.
‘No.’
Cat wracked her brains and tried to think like her niece might. ‘Rocks?’ she asked hopelessly.
‘No-oh,’ said Ellie with increasing impatience. ‘Do you give up?’
‘Yes,’ said Cat gratefully.
‘Rhinoceros!’ cried Ellie victoriously. Cat was flummoxed. ‘In my sticker book,’ she added, holding up a book from the back of the car.
‘Ellie, you have to choose things that I can actually see,’ Cat pointed out.
‘Oh. That’s not how we usually play it,’ said Ellie perturbed.
According to her satnav, their journey time was around two and a half hours. Cat estimated that this was an ideal amount of time for her niece to occupy herself on the iPad. ‘Why don’t you watch one of your films?’ she suggested.
‘I’d rather talk to you,’ replied Ellie. ‘Anyway, we haven’t finished the game. It’s your turn.’
Cat took another large gulp of coffee. ‘I spy with my little eye, something beginning with – C.’
‘Cars,’ said Ellie flatly.
‘Yes!’
‘That was too easy. You have to make it more difficult next time. My turn.’
After a further half an hour, Cat decided that ‘I Spy’ could happily win the award for ‘game most likely to make you want to drive into a speeding truck’, and this was despite the fact that Ellie tried to spice it up by choosing words that it was not possible for her to have spied at all.
‘But I did see Father Christmas,’ she declared at one point. ‘He’s magic and you can only see him if you believe in him,’ she added with an accusatory tone.
‘Oh well then,’ said Cat.
‘You don’t believe in Father Christmas?’ cried Ellie horrified.
Cat realised this was a test and she must not fail. ‘Of course I believe in him. I love Father Christmas.’
‘So do I,’ said Ellie happily. ‘What did he bring you last year?’
‘Erm, an iPad and a new handbag,’ replied Cat, winging it.
‘Wow – you must have been really good.’
As they joined the queue for the Dartford Tunnel, the traffic ground to halt. Cat checked the satnav. There was an accident up ahead and an alternative route was offered. ‘Shall we listen to some music?’ asked Cat longing to bring ‘I Spy’ to an end.
‘Can we listen to Frozen?’ asked Ellie.
‘Erm, okay.’ Within seconds a CD was thrust into her hands. Ellie knew all the words but unfortunately, the tunes had passed her by so that after the first few songs, Cat was seriously contemplating suggesting another game of ‘I Spy’. The traffic wasn’t moving and she was starting to feel a little desperate. Her phone began to ring, interrupting the music. She noted with irritation that it was Finn. Probably phoning for directions. She couldn’t imagine him being satnav-savvy.
‘Hello?’ she answered.
‘Cat? It’s Finn. Listen, which side of the tunnel are you?’
‘We’re just waiting to go through it. Why?’
‘Oh we’re the other side.’
Of course you bloody are, thought Cat. Probably already at the cottage putting on the kettle.
‘Yeah just to say, don’t follow your satnav. The accident’s nearly cleared so you’ll be fine if you stick to the original route. Those things take a while to update sometimes.’
Cat was irked. She knew that. She was the queen of technology. She didn’t need him to tell her. ‘Thanks for letting me know. We’ll see you there,’ she replied curtly.
‘Cool. Want me to collect the keys seeing as we’ll probably be there before you?’
Cat definitely did not want that but it seemed churlish to refuse. ‘Fine. We’ll come straight to the house then.’
‘Great, I’ll make up the beds and get everything organised.’
‘Thanks,’ she said through gritted teeth.
‘Bye, Finn!’ cried Ellie from the back. ‘I love Finn,’ breathed Ellie as Cat pressed the ‘end call’ button. ‘I wish he was my uncle.’ Cat’s knuckles whitened as she gripped the steering wheel and concentrated on the traffic. She could clearly see the matrix board reporting the accident and her satnav was echoing this and offering the alternative route. Finn had only said that the accident was nearly cleared; surely it was more sensible to take the other road. After all, the Highways Agency probably knew what they were doing better than Finn Thomas and if she was lucky she might even get there before him. She decided to risk it.
Four hours later, Cat pulled up outside the cottage. Not only had the diversion taken them a lot longer, Cat had misinterpreted the instructions resulting in them driving down a narrowing track and having to reverse when confronted with a tractor driven by an irritable farmer.
‘That was fun!’ declared Ellie after Cat had whizzed the car back towards the road. As she pulled off back to the main road, Cat had to admit that this hadn’t been the ‘fun aunt’ experience she’d been aiming for.
They piled out of the car, Ellie darting on ahead declaring that she needed a wee. Cat and Charlie followed behind, taking in their surroundings. ‘Shell Cottage’ was a lovely red-brick, period cottage overlooking a large playing field with a playground attached. A beautiful fifteenth-century church with a rectangular bell tower and blue copper roof rose up behind the field. The clock signalled that it was two o’clock.
‘Hello?’ she called following Charlie through the front door. There was no answer. How could there be no answer? She had pulled over and texted Finn half an hour ago so he knew they were coming. Ellie returned from her toilet trip and initial inspection of the cottage.
‘It’s so awesome!’ she cried, bouncing up and down. Cat noticed that Finn’s and Daisy’s bags were still in a corner of the spacious lounge, which led to the kitchen diner. She heard the front door open.
‘Hello?’ said Finn. Ellie squealed with delight and ran out to greet Daisy. Finn’s face soon appeared at the living room door. He was carrying two bulging plastic bags, which he placed on the table. ‘You made it then,’ he said with a wry smile.