Mondays. Probably the worst day of the week. The impending doom of 5 busy days ahead of you.
Ok, I'm exaggerating a tad, but in some ways its true. Ever since I stopped work, those 5 days where Rob goes to work, and Liam goes to school, I don't really have much to do. And looking after Mabel doesn't count.
This meticulous Monday was horrible. I had hoped for sun, or at least dry weather, but no. Even without opening my eyes I could detect the soft pattering of rain on the window and I inwardly groaned. At least the weekend had been nice.
Robert worked late on Mondays, so he was still sleeping heavily when I woke up at 7:30. I grinned, and decided to poke him.
"Oof." he grunted, rolling over to the other side of the bed. I laughed silently, and swept the curtains away from the window. I was right. The rain poured down, though not as ferociously as it did last Thursday, but enough to make me shiver in apprehension.
"Can you go wake up Liam?" I asked Robert, noting his open eyes.
"Sure, 5 more minutes." Robert yawned, quickly closing his eyes again.
"No, you'll fall asleep again!" I persisted, throwing the cover off him, making him curl up tightly to save himself from the rush of cold air.
"Fine, you win," he muttered, stretching, and walking out our bedroom. I followed him, but we split when we got to Mabel and Liam's bedrooms. I turned left to go into Mabel's, and he turned right to go into Liam's. The soft blue glow of the rain glittered through a gap in her curtains, and lay across her face, making her look like a sleeping angel.
"Oh Mabel," I smiled, crouching next to the bed, and gently picking her up, "Come on, time to get up."
"Sleep." Mabel murmured, rubbing her balled fists against her eyes.
"You've slept for a good 11 hours," I told her, placing her on the ground, "Much more than me or Daddy."
"More sleep," she said, yawning hugely. I caught it, and started to yawn too.
"No, up you get," I said firmly, sliding her nightie over her shoulder.
"Cold." Mabel shivered, glaring at me.
"Lets get some clothes on then," I suggested, taking the leggings and jumper I had picked up last night. Gold star for Mummy's organisation, eh? I helped my daughter into them, and ran a comb through her hair, not bothering with any elaborate hairstyle because Mabel was sure to mess it up later today.
"I'm finished, you can play for a bit while I get your breakfast." I said, swatting her on her bum. She giggled, and plonked herself onto the floor, reaching for the box of toys.
Breakfast was ok, only because I had downright refused to let Liam handle any boxes of cereal or any cartons of milk. After a small tantrum, he calmed down, and allowed me to pour a decent amount of Cheerios into his bowl, and splashed the milk on top.
"Ready for school?" I asked, sipping on a cup of tea.
"Yah huh," Liam nodded, running a toy car across the kitchen table, "When's Maisy comin' in?"
"Next week, I think," I replied, narrowing my eyes as the metal wheels made a slight indentation on the wood.
"Cool." Liam said, not taking his eyes off the car.
"Well, best get your bag ready, then." I sighed, pushing the cup to one side, and straightening up. Liam's eyes widened.
"Don't look in my bag." he said, jumping up and running into the corridor. I followed him curiously, and saw him up zip the bag and pull something out, before hiding it – not so secretly – behind his back.
"Liam what's that?" I asked, trying to peer around him.
"Nuffin'," he said, a little too fast, "Just…"
"Li," I said, trying to sound stern, but failing under the look he was giving me.
"I forgot about it," Liam said quietly, tears starting to appear in his eyes.
"What did you forget?" I asked gently, bending down to his level.
"Homework." Liam sniffed, slowly producing the crumpled piece of paper, and handing it to me.
"Oh Liam." I groaned, taking the paper into the kitchen, and setting it down, "Let's do it quickly now, before we go."
"It's hard!" Liam cried, scrambling to get back onto the chair he had only just vacated.
"It's not, look," I said, pointing at the spots on the back of the Ladybirds, "How many spots are there on this one?"
"Uh…" Liam deadpanned, doodling with the pencil I had just handed him, "I dunno."
"Count them." I told him, removing the pencil from his hand.
"One…two…four?" Liam offered, but I shook my head.
"One, two… three!" Liam said, and at my nod, carefully tracing a number 3 next to the 3 spotted ladybirds.
"Now this one," I said, pointing to the next ladybird, which had 6 spots on it, "It's double 3."
"I don't that." Liam muttered, retracing the 3.
"Then work it out." I said, placing the tip of my finger on the biggest black spot.
"One, two, three," Liam began, "Four…nine?"
"No, 9 doesn't come after 4." I said patiently, telling myself over and over again that he's only 4.
"What does?"
"Use your hand," I suggested, and started counting on my own fingers to demonstrate.
"Oh," Liam said, carefully lifting each of his own fingers up, "One, two, three, four…five…uh… SIX!" he yelled, and I smiled.
"How'd you draw a six?" he said weakly.
"It's a swirly one," I said, taking the pencil, and drawing a '6', "Draw a loop, then a little hoop"
He imitated me, and looked proudly at his slightly wonky 6.
"There's only two left, now!" I urged him, gesturing the two ladybirds without a number next to them.
"This one has two, I know that one." Liam said, pointing to the ladybird that had one single black dot on it.
"Well done, what about this one?" I asked, pointing to the final bug. I swear, by the end of this, I'll be all ladybirded out.
"It's got too many!" Liam cried, frowning at the paper, "I can't count that many!"
"Sure you can!" I said, "Just do what we did before."
"With my fingers?"
"Sure."
"One, two, three, four, five, six… seleven… eight…nine…ten!" Liam shouted triumphantly, pounding the air with his fist. I grinned as he said 'seleven', combining seven and eleven together, but nodded as he finally reached 10.
"Brilliant, Liam, you're very clever," I gushed, kissing him on the forehead, "Go put it in your bag." He smiled happily, and leapt down from the table, thrusting the paper into the depths of his bag.
I got up a few seconds after him, glancing at the clock as I went. I did a little start when I realised it was 10 past 8, and scrambled to my feet, chucking the empty bowl into the sink, and the now cold tea in the bin.
"Rob! Bring Mabel down, we're running late!" I yelled up the stairs, flurrying Liam back up to do his teeth before he went to school.
As I said, school runs were unexplainably busy.
We left at 17 past; much later than usual, and shot off to the school, arriving in the nick of time.
I flung open the door, and put Liam's bag in his hands just as the bell rang.
"Go!" I told him, as soon as we reached the safety of the gates, "I'll see you at 3:30!" I gave the briefest of kisses, and watched as he jostled into the classroom, his bag trailing behind him.
"You alright, Katie?" a sudden voice behind me said, making me jump.
"Ginny!" I gasped, "Yes, I'm fine, just busy."
Ginny grinned, "You shot straight past me a second ago."
"Oh, sorry," I said, guiltily staring at the ground, "Liam forgot to do his homework on the weekend, so we did it together this morning."
"James only told me at 7 O'clock last night, just as I was settling Al into bed." Ginny said, and at this, I noticed she was completely child free.
"Where's Lily and Al?" I questioned, walking back with her to the school gates.
"With my Mum," Ginny said, I noticed she looked a bit uncomfortable.
"What happened to Lily, anyway?" I asked, suddenly remembering that Harry and Ginny had to leave in a rush on Saturday.
"We don't know," Ginny muttered, looking down, "We took her to the doctors, but they said she was perfectly healthy."
"Oh." I said blankly, unsure of what to say, "What do you think?"
"She's acting odd." Ginny said simply, looking back up, straight into my eyes, "I feel like it's something to do with the- never mind, actually, it's not important."
I was confused, to say the least. I wanted to question Ginny about what she was on the verge of saying, but I decided against it.
"And… where's Harry?" I said weakly.
"At work," Ginny said, a small frown starting to appear on her face, "They keep calling him back in."
"My friend's, Sarah's, husband knows Harry," I decided to tell her, and she looked up curiously.
"How?"
"He's in the police, and they've just moved here. Their daughter is coming to Downlow Primary next week"
"Would Harry know him?" Ginny asked, and I shook my head.
"No, he said he's too far down to know Harry" I confirmed verbally, "But he seems a bit upset with him"
"Why?" Ginny asked, her brows furrowing.
"Apparently Dillon – that's Sarah's husband – isn't get any information from the met to help track the murderer." I said stiffly.
"A lot of people are angry over that," Ginny sighed, "But Harry can't exactly go and tell every single Police officer in England the leads they have on the Sheffield murders!"
"I know, I know," I said quickly, "He said himself he was too far down to be able to speak to the heads of the case."
"I'll ask Harry to talk to him, if you like," Ginny offered.
"No, don't." I said firmly, grabbing Mabel from running off.
"Well, I better go," Ginny said, reaching her car, and opening the door, "See you this afternoon, hopefully."
"Yeah." I nodded absent mindedly, wondering why Ginny's happy tone had turned so bitter all of a sudden. Had I said something? I shook my head as I watched Ginny drive off, and thrust open the door to my own car.
"Right, Mabel, what shall we do today?" I said, shaking off my confusion.
"Park." Mabel said instantly, and I let out a breath.
"Not the park." I told her, inwardly kicking myself for asking a question like 'what shall we do today' to my 3-year-old daughter.
"Why?"
"It's raining." I said simply, flicking on my left indicator, and turning out the school gates.
"Why?"
"I don't control heaven, Mabel."
"Why?"
Why didn't I control heaven? Sure, Mabel, good one.
"Because I'm your Mum, and Mum's don't control heaven, I'm afraid." I said, proud with my own answer.
"Oh."
We drove in silence for a bit, and after the 7th minute of quiet, I pressed play on the radio.
Ten little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away-
"Mumma duck said QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK and only 9 little ducks came back!" squealed Mabel, moving her head in time with the music.
The song lasted about 2 minutes, but by the end I was all ducked out. Seriously, the songs they write for children these days! Ludicrous!
"Again! Again!" Mabel cried, pushing the heel of her foot against the back of my seat.
"What about a different song?" I said meekly, switching the song.
Row row row your boat –
Typical. The song that instructs you to scream.
-if you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream-
"AHHH!" Roared Mabel, shaking the sides of her car seat in enthusiasm. I winced at the sound, and gratefully turned into our driveway, slapping off the cd player, and hopping outside. The big car had left, telling me that Robert had too, so I pulled out my keys and unlocked the front door.
"Right, you rascal, in you go." I said, freeing Mabel, and locking the Focus.
"I no rascal." Mabel frowned, trying to unclip her Mary-Janes.
"You are." I told her, bending down to help her.
"No, I not." Mabel said firmly, pushing me away, and continuing to play with the buckle.
"Ok." I agreed, trying not to arouse an argument.
"I am." Mabel said, looking at me defiantly.
"Sure, that's what I said." I said, just a bit confused.
"I go up." Mabel stated, finally succeeding in the removal of her shoes, and scampering up the stairs to her room.
"I swear, how did my genes make such a random child?" I muttered to myself, pushing Mabel's discarded shoes to one side, "It's like she's not related to me at all!" I could almost hear Robert's reply in my mind, and it made me grin. She is related to you, you act the exact same, Katie.
I walked into the living room when the hallway was clear from coats, shoes, and toys, and settled on the sofa. I didn't really fancy watching TV, so I picked up my book that was lying on the coffee table. I don't have that much time to read usually, and when I do, it's not for very long. I reckon I could read about 1 chapter before Mabel yells for me at the top of the stairs.
I don't actually like romance novels, but Robert's sister had recommended it to me, and I felt obliged to read it. 'Loving Frank' is one of those incredibly cheesy American love stories, you know, the ones where the woman is looking for her perfect man. I don't want to be disrespectful seeing as the book is based on a true story, but I need to express my true thoughts on it, right?
I opened the first page, and started reading. Well, I say reading, but I was really just blankly staring at the words, their meanings rushing through my brain as if blocked by an invisible barrier. Again and again I reread the same thing, and each time the words just didn't make sense. So, I gave up.
I threw the innocent book back onto the small brown table, hitting an empty mug and making it hurtle onto the ground.
"Shit." I muttered, getting up and replacing the mug firmly where it began. My desire to not watch TV had gone, and I had changed my mind, spying the remote on the left armrest of the sofa.
I reached over to it, and clutched it firmly in my hand, pulling myself back over to the centre of the old brown couch. I pressed the 'on' button, and the TV flared with its complementary 'Panasonic' logo.
Of course the screen opened on CBeebies, so I cruised through the channels in order to find a suitable one for an almost 40-year-old woman. I stopped on the BBC, intrigued of what might be playing 10 O'clock on a Monday morning, but froze in my tracks when I saw 'BREAKING NEWS' emblazoned across the tv. I leaned closer to the screen, turning down the volume so Mabel couldn't hear.
'- just received news of yet another murder connected to the Sheffield case, however the victim was found further south – Nottingham. The usual applies, stay on guard, don't walk alone, and try and stay inside after dark'
I wasn't aware of my stock-still body, my backside rigid against the soft cushioning of the sofa.
'The victim was 39-year-old Roland Davidson. His family and friends implore anyone who knows anything about his murderer to come forward –'
I had been so caught up with everything that I had forgotten that the murderer could still potentially strike again. The fact the murders were moving down south freaked me out a little, and I had the sudden urge to pack my bags and move our family to India or something. I had to remind myself that Nottingham was a good 3 and a half hours away from where we lived in Kent, but the last death was in Leeds, an hour away from Nottingham. The murderer was moving south, and fast. Downlow had one small village police, but I didn't know how much I could trust them to prevent a murder happening right in the heart of our small town.
At this, I wondered if Harry was already in the midst of investigating this murder, and if Ginny knew. Maybe that's why she was a bit put out this morning. Maybe she already knew about Roland Davidson's death.
'- officers are fully focused on this case, and hope to resolve it soon. On another note, people in Austria are sending in amusing videos of snowmen being built halfway down ski slopes, much to the dismay of local skiers –'
I switched off the TV, not in the mood to hear stupid things like snowmen being built on ski slopes, and let my head roll back onto the back of the sofa. My head was flooding with thoughts, overwhelming my body and my mind, and I closed my eyes.
Maybe Sarah knows a small voice in the back of my brain whispered, maybe Sarah knows more about the murders. You could easily go and ask her, you know, she's moved.
I argued back with myself, saying that I couldn't possibly hinder their moving process, but the little voice egged me on, jeering at me.
My fingers twitched, reaching for the phone that lay a mere 50 cm from me, and picked it up. I dialled Sarah's number, and held it tentatively to my expecting ear.
"Hello?" came Sarah's voice, sounding mildly surprised.
"Uh, hi," I answered, completely unsure of why I called her in the first place.
"You alright?" she questioned, sounding slightly bored, and vaguely tired.
"Yes, of course." I said back, trying to sound more confident, "Have you heard about the murder?" I added grimly.
"I have, it's terrible, isn't it?" she replied, sounding upset.
"Are you ok?" I asked her, noticing.
"No, not really. Roland was in my class in primary school. I haven't spoken to him, no, not in nearly 30 years, but it suddenly hit that anyone could be targeted, just like that." she said, her voice wobbly.
"Oh God, I'm so so sorry!" I gasped, feeling tears springing to my own eyes.
"It's ok," Sarah sniffed, "but it's just so real, isn't it?"
I agreed silently, and let her go on.
"Deranged people like that don't give two shits about who lives and who dies," she said fiercely, "I just hope that Potter has it under control so no more innocent people have to die!"
I was slightly stunned, and I felt the need to defend Harry.
"It's not his fault people are dying." I said quietly.
"What?" Sarah said, her voice strong but the slight wobble at the end of the word letting her disguise slip.
"I said, don't blame Harry for something he's trying so hard to prevent." I repeated, and heard Sarah take a sharp intake of breath.
"I didn't, I-" Sarah began, but I interrupted.
"It's nobody's fault but the killer, and definitely not the investigators." I said.
"I know that, I just… I just… I don't know." Sarah said, obviously slightly taken aback.
"Do you want to come over to mine, to chat?" I offered, not really knowing why I did offer.
"Sure, I need to see you, I reckon." she replied, and I frowned.
"Ok, I'll see you whenever, yes?"
"Yes, I'm in Downlow at the moment, so I shouldn't be too long. I'll leave the kids with Dillon." she said.
"What about we go out for lunch together, so we're not cooped up in my house."
"That's sounds nice, thanks." Sarah replied.
"Come to mine before, so we can all go in the same car." I instructed, starting to get up so I could gather Mabel from upstairs.
"Yours, I suppose?" Sarah sighed.
"Yes, is that ok?" I said warily.
"That's fine, yes, I'll see you then." she said briefly, hanging up almost instantly after.
"Oh, ok then." I muttered to myself, shoving my mobile into my pocket.
"MABEL!" I yelled up the stairs, and smiling slightly as I heard small footsteps bound across the landing.
"MUMMY!" Mabel yelled back with the same about of volume I had used, and she bounced down the stairs, her hair flying out behind her.
"We're going out for lunch." I told her, and she giggled.
"Toby carbery." she told me, grinding her teeth together in anticipation.
"No way, we had that yesterday." I laughed, watching as she narrowed her eyes.
"Where?" she asked me.
"I don't know, somewhere local, I hope." I answered, handing her her shoes just as I heard a car pull up. I let go of Mabel, and opened the front door with a slight 'click', and saw Sarah standing there, a small smile plastered on her face. I could see faint silver tracks were obvious tears had fallen earlier, and I reached forwards to hug her.
"Are you ok?" I murmured, and I felt her nod.
"It's horrible." she said quietly, releasing me, and wiping her eyes, "I remember Roland so well. He's my friend on Facebook, and his wife had just given birth to his second daughter. He didn't deserve to die"
"No one does." I said simply, bending down to pick up the small bag of toys I had gathered for Mabel to play with, "Come on, Mabel."
My daughter trotted obediently to my side, and smiled up at Sarah.
"Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating her curds and whey!" she sang, darting out into the driveway.
"Careful, Mabel!" I called after, but she obediently waited by the car whilst I locked up the house.
We drove to the village, conversation flitting in and out, and I parked up by the village pub.
"This looks nice," Sarah commented, as I stopped the engine and began to get out the car.
"It is." I agreed, releasing Mabel from her seat, and holding her securely by the hand.
"Do you come here often?" Sarah wondered, following me into the brightly lit pub.
"No, we've been as a family about 9 or 10 times." I said, shaking my head, and pushing open the door. She smiled, and let me hold the door open for her.
"Let's sit by the window." I suggested, leading us to the 3 seats by a small, but bright window. Honeysuckle and ivy had wound itself from the outside, creating a halo of colour that poured into the pub.
"It's very pretty here." Sarah said, sitting in one of the seats.
"Agreed." I grinned, putting Mabel on her own seat, and handing her the bag full of toys, paper, and colouring pencils. At once, she pulled out the paper, and started drawing a, well, something.
"So, how's the move going?" I asked, confident Mabel was in her own little world, and wasn't interested in our conversation.
"It's going great!" Sarah nodded, "The walls are being painted as we speak, and Dillon's out with the children to get carpet samples."
"I would never trust Robert to pick out the carpet for our house." I grinned, and she laughed.
"I gave him specific colours to choose from, don't you worry." she told me, and I nodded in approval.
"You're in one of the 3 new houses, aren't you?"
"Uh, yes, I think so," Sarah said, looking slightly uncomfortable, "And I assume that you know who sold us our house by now, given the way you asked."
I was only slightly surprised.
"Yes, I do – " I began, but Sarah broke my sentence.
"He's not a very nice man, I agree, but we needed this house, Katie!" Sarah told me seriously.
"You needed this house?" I asked in incredulity.
"Yes, we did," Sarah said quietly, looking out the window, "But it's complicated."
"I'm good with complicated –" I started, but again, Sarah suspended it.
"And it's long."
"We can be here until 3:15 if necessary." I shrugged.
"Fine," Sarah sighed, taking a deep breath, "To start off, Dillon and I didn't simply 'want' a house in Downlow, in some ways, it was essential we got one. When I found out I was pregnant with Posie back in August, my anxieties got worse, and I couldn't bear living in Gillingham anymore."
"Anxieties?" I asked, "What do you mean?"
"The constant fear of death, people following me home when I collect Maisy from school, mad gunmen breaking into our house and shooting the children." she shuddered, "It was horrible."
"How is it any different now that you moved to Downlow?"
"Nicer people, safer environment, much more hidden," Sarah said, looking straight into my eyes.
"I'm the same." I nodded, glancing at Mabel, who was blissfully unaware of our conversation, "Foulness was so busy compared to this."
"How long ago did you move, it was, what, 4 years ago?" Sarah asked.
"Almost 5," I grinned, "Liam was 1 month old."
"I remember a baby Liam so well." Sarah smiled, "Blue-eyed, blonde-haired, chunky baby!"
"Seems like only yesterday, doesn't it?" I agreed, "Maisy too. I remember holding her and impatiently egging Liam on to come out."
"Seems weird to think we were both pregnant at the same time." Sarah smiled, eyes shining with memories.
"I was a bit early with Mabel," I said in reply, thinking back to the time when Mabel was born in March, and Sarah called me to say that Alex wouldn't be making an appearance until August.
"Ah, I missed having you around for my pregnancy with Posie, Katie." Sarah said.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not having any more," I grinned, "But if I did, I'd want a brother for Liam."
"Why a brother, and not a sister for Mabel?"
"Liam sees his best friend and his little brother. He asks me why I 'ordered' a girl instead of a boy when I had Mabel."
"Bless him," Sarah commented, "Maisy was delighted when I told her she was getting a sister."
"If I told Mabel I was giving her a baby sister, she wouldn't give two sh – damns." I said, quickly correcting my word tumble, "Watch,"
I leaned over, and wiggled my hands in front of Mabel to get her attention.
"Hey, Mabel, what if I told you you were going to get a sister?" I asked her, and silently laughed as Mabel gave no reaction.
"Baby play with my babies." Mabel said simply, pushing me away, and continuing to colour.
"I can't wait until Posie starts playing with dolls," Sarah told me, "Maisy never was into that sort of thing."
"I love having a daughter," I smiled, and Sarah nodded in enthusiasm.
"The girl baby clothes are so much nicer than the boys," Sarah grinned, "And that's the main reason I'm glad I didn't birth 3 boys."
"I think even 2 boys would be crazy!" I said, "So I'm taking back that statement earlier when I said I would want a little brother for Liam."
"Good!" Sarah laughed, "I did wonder if you had had too much – what is this? – orange juice."
That got me laughing, and Mabel looked up from her work, a scowl appearing on her face.
"Shh, mine colouring!" she said, pressing a finger to her lips, but it only made me laugh harder.
Our time at the pub went so fast, and by the time I next looked at my watch, the minute hand was silently cruising past the 12, adding yet another minute to our time.
It was 1:57.
"Blimey, I better get going!" I exclaimed, slapping down money for the bill, and getting to my feet.
"Oh, god, I said I'd be back at Melford by 1:30!" Sarah gasped, clamping her hand to her mouth, "And my cars at your house!"
"I'll drive you to yours, and I can drive yours back, if you like." I suggested, but Sarah shook her head.
"You're not insured with it, you'll get arrested." she said firmly, "Don't worry, I'm sure it's not urgent."
"But we really should go, anyway." I said, quickly thrusting the pens and paper back into Mabel's bag, "Come on Mabel J," I muttered, placing Mabel on the floor, and hurrying back to the car.
We drove back to Oak Tree End, and Sarah hopped out.
"Thank you, Katie, I had such a good time." Sarah said, rushing to get into her own car.
"Anytime." I smiled, turning off the engine, and watching as Sarah reversed out my driveway.
In the last hour left before I had to collect Liam, I tidied. Again. Don't come at me for it, it's what I like doing.
Anyway, I was glad when the clock struck 3, for it meant I had something proper to do, instead of moseying around, re-tidying things I had tidied minutes prior. I called down to Mabel for the second, or even third, time today, and stood impatiently as she tried to do up her shoes.
"Mabel, please –" I began.
"NO!" Mabel shouted, slapping my helping hand away.
"Suit yourself." I muttered, leaning back against the door, arms folding over my chest, "But hurry up"
"I do it myself." Mabel said stubbornly, failing to get the strap through the metal loop.
"Fine." I replied.
"See, I can do it!" Mabel murmured, finally pushing the first strap through.
"Oh Jesus help me," I muttered to myself, scratching my forehead.
"No." Mabel said again, standing up, the tails of the buckles sticking out.
"That's good enough, come on!" I said, tapping my keys on the side of my arm.
"Li." Mabel said, looking at me expectantly, and I nodded.
"Yes, we're collecting Liam." I told her, piling her into the car as per usual.
It was the usual. First couple of minutes in silence, before the music came on, and Mabel's singing at the top of her lungs, kicking the back of my seat.
I drew the car into the carpark, parking in my favourite spot, under the shady beech tree, and turning off the engine. I unlocked the door, and freed Mabel, before stepping out into the soft drizzle of rain.
"Rain, Mummy!" Mabel cried, cringing away from the water, "I get wet!"
"No, you won't," I sighed, pulling her by the hand.
"I no go." Mabel yelped, trying to shake of my hold. I reached down, and plucked her up from the ground, hugging her against me, trying to shield my fussy child from the light patter of rain.
I almost ran to the gates, Mabel giggling slightly from somewhere by my shoulder. I ducked into the playground, seeking shelter from a tree.
"Right, no more rain," I said, putting my daughter back on the ground, "So don't complain."
"I not wet!" Mabel tittered, patting the tree with her small hand, "Tree keep me dry."
"Yes, it does, and –" I started, but I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw Zara right next to me, watching my exchange with Mabel with curiosity.
"Oh, sorry," Zara said, realising I had noticed her, "But I don't have a daughter, so I find it so, well, weird."
"How'd you mean, weird?" I said quickly.
"That they do the same things as boys, but with less gusto, and more giggles." Zara said, eyes widening, "I didn't mean your daughter was weird."
"Oh, ok, good." I said, awkward confusion rushing through my head.
"Nevertheless, I suppose you saw about the murder on the news this morning." she said, changing the subject abruptly.
"Uh, yes, I did," I said, the awkwardness not only in my head, but running through my body, obviously. Socially Awkward Robert's voice said in the back of my mind.
"What do you think? You reckon the murderer might be coming down to Kent?" she replied. I saw Mabel looked up suddenly.
"Mumma, what's a murberder?" She asked me, head tilted slightly to one side. I sucked in a sharp intake of breath.
"I'll tell you later, Mabel." I covered quickly, glancing at Zara, who had conveniently decided to walked off. I looked back down at my daughter, and was pleased to see she had dropped the question, and was back to playing with sticks from the ground.
"Katie." Another voice said, and for the second time in almost 5 minutes, I jumped.
"Ginny!" I gasped, "I'm so sorry, I didn't realise you were there!"
Ginny grinned, "Oh, woops, I apologise."
I scanned her face, and to my relief, saw no worry. So I smiled back.
"We didn't really have enough time to talk yesterday morning," Ginny said, waving to Mabel, who looked around Ginny's legs for Al.
"Al's not here." Ginny told her, following my daughters gaze.
"Where Al?" asked Mabel, looking at Ginny with round eyes.
"He's with his grandma," Ginny smiled, "He's had a grandma day today."
"Wish I could do that," I muttered, and I saw Ginny raise a questioning eyebrow, "My parents live in Cardiff, and Roberts in Cornwall."
"Oh, I see how that's a problem," Ginny grinned, "If you ever wanted a day to yourself whilst Liam's at school, I would happily take Mabel out for lunch." she added earnestly.
"Oh, uh, I hadn't really thought about it before." I answered, feeling slightly empty at the thought of leaving my daughter in the care of another; I'd never done that before.
"Well, offers there, if you want it," Ginny shrugged, brushing her fingers over Lily's pram, "I totally understand if you don't."
"I'm not in need of a day off anytime soon," I said honestly, "To be honest with you, I'd rather spend the time I've got with her now, before she gets sent off to school."
"I see what you mean, but that's-"
"It's next September." I smiled sadly, not wanting to imagine my little girl all dressed up in the navy blue of Downlow primary, her cheesy smile as I take her first school picture by the school gates…
"Katie! Katie, are you alright?" came Ginny's voice, sounding ambiguously distant.
"Sorry, yes, zoned out." I said blankly, staring down at Mabel, who had her small hands clamped around the sides of Lily's pram.
"Look, I'm sorry," Ginny said uncomfortably, "You know, if I triggered something."
"No," I sighed, "I just don't want her to grow up."
"I know what you mean." Ginny murmured, looking at me reassuringly, "Lily's only 3 weeks old, and yet she's already smiling constantly at me and Harry."
"How is Harry?" I asked, glancing at Mabel, was dangling her hands over the side of the baby's pram, speaking words of comfort, whilst the baby in question looked curiously up at the older girl's distended arm, her wide brown eyes following its movements.
"He's fine." Ginny said shortly.
"He's not investigating the most recent mur-" I began.
"I suppose so, but I've had no news saying he won't be coming home." Ginny replied, rubbing her thumb over her palm.
"No police we caught in the backfire, I assume?" I asked, and Ginny shook her head.
"No, it was in the middle of the night."
"Oh."
The bell rang, and I glanced at my watch, realising that the children had been let out 3 minutes later than usual. Liam and James scurried out together, waving identical pieces of paper with synchronised fervour.
"Mummy! Mummy look!" I heard James squeal, as he ran up to Ginny.
"I got one too, Mum! Look!" Liam shrieked, waving his own piece of paper in front of my own eyes.
"What's this, Li?" I asked him, taking the paper from him, and reading the letter.
"It's to go on a coach with my class and see the butterflies!" Liam cried in joy, and James nodded in an equal amount of gusto.
"Huh?" Ginny said, obviously confused, eyes scanning over the letter.
"I think their year is having a school trip." I said uncertainly, fingering the words on the paper.
"Oh." Ginny said, mirroring my hesitation, "How far away is this 'butterfly garden'?
"We've bee there once when Liam was 2," I told her, "It's about an hour away."
"An hour?" Ginny asked, incredulous, "How many adults do they have to keep 60 4- and 5-year olds in control?!"
"I think you can volunteer to help out." I explained, not entirely sure myself.
"Oh, good." Ginny grinned, looking relieved, "I'll persuade Harry to get a day off work."
"Ah, sneaky" I chortled in reply, "I was thinking of going myself, actually."
"Good for you." Ginny smiled, "What'll you do with Mabel?"
"Dunno," I shrugged, "Maybe Sarah will look after her," I suggested to myself.
Ginny frowned, "Who's Sarah?"
"Oh, I forgot you didn't know," I said to myself, "She's my friend, you've met her once, and she moved to Downlow on Saturday."
"I've met her, how?" Ginny asked, looking baffled.
"She's the lady with baby Posie." I explained, watching as I prompted a memory in Ginny's brain.
"Ah," Ginny nodded, "Her daughter got a spot at the school, then?"
"Yes, she's starting next week." I confirmed.
"Oh, yes, I think you mentioned her this morning." Ginny smiled.
"Can I go?" came a voice from the ground, and we both looked down to see James, the letter clutched tightly in his fist.
"Go where?" Ginny asked, and James waggled the paper again.
"To see the butterflies." James said, rolling his eyes.
"I don't see why not," Ginny shrugged, "When is it?"
James glanced at the sheet, eyes hovering over the date, trying to work out what it said.
"17th June." He said slowly, looking slowly back up at his mother, "Is that right?"
Ginny nodded, confirming his reading skills. James grinned happily.
"Daddy might come too, if you ask him nicely," Ginny added, watching as James' face grew even brighter.
"I'll ask him very nicely," James said, his hazel eyes dancing with excitement, "I'll ask him when he gets home."
"Good idea," Ginny nodded, grinning, "Let's go collect Al, then you can go ask Daddy."
"Where's Al?" James asked, looking around for his brother.
"With Nana," Ginny said, taking the now crumpled letter from James' hand, and putting it in her pocket.
"Cool," James commented, "Coz I'm hungry."
