Abigail pulled her daughter into another hug. “Shhh, shhhh, it’s okay.” She looked over her daughter’s head and mouthed a sorry in my direction. “Come on now, no need to cry.” Still the sobbing continued. “Whatever is the matter?”
After what felt like an eternity, the tears slowed down and, in between little sniffs, Lucy spoke to Abigail. “Lady not take you way mummy.”
“What?” Abigail laughed. “Oh silly. I’m not going anywhere. Why would you think that?”
“Lady take Daddy.”
“No, this lady is here to help. She’s going to find Daddy.” She stood up and gently led Lucy in the direction of the gate. “Come on, let’s go home.”
She walked ahead of me, holding Lucy’s hand. I followed behind at what I hoped was a respectful distance. This was exactly the scenario I’d been keen to avoid. There was something about me and little ones, we just didn’t hit it off. The walk home took twice as long thanks to the regular pauses to pick up stones and pull up socks and I was certain that if I heard ‘why?’ one more time, I was likely to go completely mental. It gave me a new found admiration for full time parents though. They were clearly saints and far superior to the likes of me.
Eventually we arrived back in the relative safety of Abigail’s front room, although the child was still looking at me like I was one of Cinderella’s ugly sisters.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” Abigail asked me.
“Not for me thanks. I really should get going. I imagine you and Lucy have things to do.” I looked at Lucy and gave her what I hoped was a winning smile.
“I hungry.” Lucy stared straight at me as she spoke and I wondered for a split second if she might be talking to me but I was saved from answering by Abigail handing her a little bag of animal biscuits.
“Here’s a snack. Would you like some milk?”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?” Abigail said.
“Yes pease Mummy.”
“Good girl. Here, you can watch a cartoon for a few minutes.” Abigail switched the telly on then turned to me. “Would you mind giving me a hand with something in the kitchen?”
I glanced over at Lucy before following Abigail out but the girl’s attention was focussed on the colourful images on screen.
“Sorry about today. I know it’s not been ideal but,” Abigail hesitated. “Will you help? Please?”
A wave of guilt washed over me. I hadn’t realised there was still any doubt around me taking the case, I’d known before I’d left her yesterday that I would. I resisted the urge to hug her and opted instead for a bright smile. “Of course. Sorry. Didn’t I say that yet? Sign the letter of engagement and I’m all yours.”
Abigail’s face brightened instantly. “Really? That’s brilliant! Thank you so much!”
A cry from the other room dragged our attention back to her family circumstances. I looked at my watch. “I really do need to go now though. Let me make some enquires and I’ll be in touch. Okay?”
I let out my breath in a sigh as I beat a hasty retreat. There was something about a wailing child that had the ability to totally set my nerves on the edge. Natural selection, my father would have said. Survival of the fittest. If a baby couldn't persuade its carers to look out for it, it deserved everything it got.
It was the thought of my father that saw me turn the van in the direction of my parent’s house. Either that or I was just too spineless to call my mother back. Ain't that the truth. She'd always been difficult but losing my dad had been the final straw that tipped her over the edge into complete and total bitch mode. All she needed was the fur coat and she'd easily give Cruella a run for her money. Small children and puppies beware. On a good day she was barely tolerable but her constant jibes about my inability to keep a husband wore pretty thin and I could already feel a stabbing pain between my eyebrows at the thought of what delights she might have in store for me today.
Pulling up outside what had once been my family home, I crossed my fingers that I might find her not home but I was kidding myself. She never went anywhere these days. I dragged my feet to the front door and rang the bell.
My mother’s face peered out from behind the door and when she saw it was me she scowled.
“Not dead then,” she said as she led me into the kitchen.
“Lovely to see you too.” I glanced around and took in the mess. Every surface was covered in a combination of half chopped ingredients and saucepans. “Are you expecting company?”
“Ha! As if you didn't know. Your sister is coming to dinner. Bringing that new young man of hers.”
This was news to me. I’d long since given up trying to keep up with my baby sister’s love life. The last I’d heard she was dating a paramedic. My sister Frances was the good girl in the family, the golden girl who could do no wrong. Choosing to keep ninety per cent of her love interests under wraps, I knew it must be fairly serious if she’d chosen to bring this one home to meet our mother.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” I said, grasping onto any excuse that might allow me to skip the Spanish Inquisition.
“You don’t have to Charlotte. There’s plenty enough here for everyone. Why don't you ring the girls and see if they want to join you here for tea later?”
“Can’t I’m afraid. Drama tonight. Louise won’t want to miss it. Besides, we’re paid up for the term.”
“That’s a shame,” she said, sounding like it was anything but. I knew she liked to have Frances all to herself.
I gave her a cursory kiss on the cheek, made the usual promises to call, and was soon back in the safety of my van. Phew! Made it! I looked back at the house and was surprised to see my mother at the window watching me. Weird. Now what was that about?