She was feeling so motivated – so inspired – by the time she emerged at the top of the steps leading up to the promenade that she could almost feel the pen in her hand as she envisioned signing the form. And she probably would have done it, would have gone straight out and posted the damn thing, if she hadn’t stumbled upon Jack, his hair sticking up in little peaks where he’d been running his fingers through it, pacing up and down in front of his van.
‘I’ll be there as soon as I can, Mrs Hornchurch. Have you managed to find the stopcock? And you’ve turned it off? Excellent. Like I said, I’ll be there as soon as I can.’ Jack ended the call and threw back his head, squeezing his eyes shut tight.
‘Everything okay?’ Katie could have kicked herself. Of course everything wasn’t okay. This was not the pose of a man whose life was currently hunky dory. ‘Anything I can do to help?’
Jack opened his eyes and pressed the palms of his hands together. ‘Is there any chance you have secret plumbing skills?’
Katie barked out a laugh. ‘As if. But you do, so what’s the problem?’
‘The pipes behind Mrs Hornchurch’s kitchen units, apparently.’ Jack opened the van’s door and unclasped his daughter from her car seat. ‘Her kitchen’s flooded, and it seems to be coming from behind her crockery cupboard. She’s phoned five plumbers so far, but nobody’s free until at least seven this evening. She sounds like a sweet old lady, and I don’t want to say no, but I have Vevie this afternoon. The childminder isn’t well and Anita – my ex-wife – can’t get out of work. I didn’t have any bookings this afternoon, so it didn’t really matter until Mrs Hornchurch called in a flap.’ He lifted his daughter from the van and rested her on his hip. ‘I’ve tried my mum and sister, but neither can get away…’ His phone started to ring from his jeans pocket, and he closed his eyes briefly after seeing the caller details. ‘It’s Mrs Hornchurch again.’
Katie lifted her hand up as his thumb hovered over the answer button. ‘Wait! I’ll do it!’
Jack frowned at Katie. ‘You’ll find what’s causing Mrs Hornchurch’s leak and repair it?’
Katie tutted and took the child from his arms. ‘No, you great dumpling. I’ll look after Vevie while you go and do all that plumber stuff.’
Jack’s thumb was still hovering over the answer button. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course. We’ll have fun, won’t we, sweetie?’ Katie stuck her tongue out at the little girl and she giggled as though it was the funniest thing ever. ‘See?’
Jack’s gaze flicked briefly to the screen of his phone. ‘I could be gone a while.’
Katie shrugged. ‘That’s fine.’
‘And Leo and Ellie…’
‘I think I can just about remember the way to the school.’ She pointed at the still-ringing phone. ‘Just make sure you give the school a quick call to let them know it’ll be me picking them up.’
‘Will do. You’re a star.’ Jack grinned at her before he accepted the call. ‘Mrs Hornchurch? Good news…’
‘I am a star,’ Katie whispered to the little girl, and she giggled again. This was the easiest gig Katie had ever had. If only Elliot and Lizzie were still so easily amused. ‘Shall we go inside? It’s a bit nippy out here, isn’t it?’
Jack popped into the house once he’d delivered the good news to Mrs Hornchurch, so he could drop off the buggy, the nappy changing bag, and a lidded beaker, and to say goodbye to his daughter and thank Katie – repeatedly.
Katie and her temporary charge spent the afternoon colouring (or rather, Katie coloured while trying to prevent the toddler from snacking on the crayons), playing music with impromptu instruments Katie found around the house (a couple of saucepans and a wooden spoon and plastic ladle for beaters), and finishing off with a bit of CBeebies. Soon it was time to get bundled up in hats and coats and head to school, and it was only as they passed the post box halfway there that she remembered the acknowledgement of service, which was still to be signed.
It seemed like a million years ago that she’d walked through the school gates of Southcliff Primary, but the school hadn’t changed much over the past couple of years, apart from a new wooden play area in the early years’ section of the playground and a brightly painted mural at the entrance. Katie made her way to the doors where the reception children would file out, joining the group waiting for their charges. The teacher stepped out of the door, keeping it open with his shoulder as he called out the names of the children whose parent or caregiver were waiting to collect them. Katie held back, waiting until he’d stopped calling out names until she stepped forward.
‘Excuse me? I’m here to pick up Ellie Benson. I’m her next-door neighbour. Her dad was called out on an emergency. A plumbing emergency. Not medical.’ Katie pressed her lips together. She was babbling and had to stop before she rattled off her entire life story.
‘Ellie Benson?’ The teacher looked behind him, back into the classroom. ‘Could you wait there for a second?’
‘Sure,’ Katie said, but he’d already ducked back inside, the door clicking shut behind him. The wind had started to pick up and it was starting to drizzle with rain, so she stooped to make sure her new little friend’s blanket was still tucked in and her hat was pulled down over her ears.
‘Sorry about the wait.’ The door had opened again, and the teacher was back. Unfortunately, he didn’t have Ellie with him. ‘I just had to check we’d been given permission to let Ellie go home with someone not on our list.’ He pulled a face. ‘And I’m afraid we haven’t.’
‘Jack hasn’t called? But I reminded him!’
The teacher pulled the face again. ‘I’ve asked the office to call Ellie’s dad, just to confirm. Would you like to come inside while you wait?’ He looked out at the sky, which had turned an ominous shade of grey. The drizzle was on the verge of upgrading to a downpour.
‘Thank you.’ The teacher held the door open while she pushed the buggy into the classroom.
‘No problem. Sorry about this, but we have to be sure…’
‘It’s okay. I understand.’ Katie would throttle Jack later though.
‘Take a seat.’ The teacher indicated one of the tiny plastic chairs. Was he having a laugh? But, not wanting to appear awkward, she eased herself onto the miniature seat. There were only three children left in the classroom, who were waiting on the carpet area. One of them was Ellie, who waved when she spotted Katie.
See? Katie wanted to say. She does know me. I’m not some nutter who’s come to snatch her and her brother.
Oh, God. Leo!
‘Excuse me, Mr…’ Katie cringed. She had no idea who this teacher was as he hadn’t been on the staff when Lizzie and Elliot were at Southcliff Primary. He probably hadn’t sat his GCSEs by then, Katie mused. He only looked to be in his early twenties. Mid-twenties at a push.
‘Thompson.’ He smiled, and the finest lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. Perhaps he wasn’t as young as he appeared at first glance. ‘Mr Thompson.’
‘I’m supposed to be picking Ellie’s brother up too. Leo. He’s in Year One.’
‘Leo’s in Miss Baxter’s class,’ Ellie said. She was still sitting on the carpet, but she was up on her knees now.
‘That’s fine. We’ll let Miss Baxter know the situation. It won’t be a problem.’
‘Mr Thompson?’ Ellie had her hand up in the air, stretching it up as far as she could, her fingers waggling. ‘Katie lives next door to me.’
See? Not a nutter.
‘Mr Thompson?’ Ellie waved her hand frantically