Chapter 2
ROBYN
As Jess was in the process of sending her daughter upstairs to remove the make-up from her eleven-year-old’s face, her sister, Robyn, was down in the bedroom of the Dower House cottage in the centre of the beautiful village of Beddingfield, eating toast and Marmite while simultaneously doing her own make-up.
‘So, what’s with the full make-up and smart suit?’
‘You’re in your best suit. Which, by the way, is my biggest turn on: a man in a navy suit.’
‘I hadn’t noticed.’ Fabian grinned, moving behind her and lifting her mass of black curls in order to nuzzle at her neck.
Robyn eyed him in the mirror, felt the pressure of a navy trousered leg against her own, smelt the tang of a subtle aftershave and leaned back into him, loving the feel of him, loving the fact that he was here with her.
Would be here with her into the future, now that he was about to take on The White House with Kamran Sattar rather than moving back down to London to take up life as a KC barrister with his family firm once more.
Today was going to be Fabian’s final case, a favour to Sorrel before packing away his wig and gown and doing what he really wanted to do – starting this new restaurant with Jess and Kamran.
‘You know perfectly well why I’m in my best bib and tucker.’ Fabian smiled at Robyn’s reflection. ‘But you? You’re usually in your dance and drama outfits.’
‘It’s been a long time, Fabian,’ Robyn said, ignoring his question as to why she was dressed up like an air hostess in navy blue. ‘Almost three months to get to this final hearing.’
‘Certainly longer than we’d anticipated or hoped for,’ Fabian said.
‘Being a child, Joel’s case should have all been done and dusted weeks ago.
So? What are you up to? Trying to seduce that headteacher of yours once more in that skirt?
Have to say it looks good on you, Robyn.
Not often I get to see those gorgeous legs of yours. ’
‘Yes, that’s right.’ Robyn pouted, smoothing on a layer of Coral Glow to her full lips. ‘I’m going to shimmy into Mason Donoghue’s office and offer my body in return for no more covering of Year 9’s lessons when their teachers are skiving again.’
‘No, come on, where are you off to? Parents evening, is it, later?’
‘I’m going with you.’
‘With me?’ Fabian frowned at Robyn’s reflection. ‘What d’you mean?’
‘Mason, as Joel’s headteacher, is going to court to support him. And, as Joel is Sorrel’s boyfriend…’
‘Robyn, a youth court, unlike an adult court, won’t allow anyone in who has nothing to do with the case. And why you anyway?’
‘I wanted to see you in action once more before you give it all up.’ Robyn felt slightly embarrassed at her answer. ‘And so I asked Mason if I could go with him and he said yes.’
‘I bet he did. Any chance Marvellous Mason gets he’ll have you sitting next to him. Especially in that skirt.’
‘Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Fabian. The thing is, Sorrel wants to come too.’
‘Absolutely not.’ Fabian shook his head.
‘For a start, she’s not eighteen and, even if she were, she wouldn’t be allowed in a youth court.
She shouldn’t be getting involved in this dangerous situation of Joel’s.
That gang of his that got him into this mess to begin with are still out there, probably watching every move he makes. ’
‘Joel’s her boyfriend…’ Robyn began.
‘Of sorts. Once she’s off down to London after Easter to start at this theatre school, she’ll forget all about him and move on.
As she should. She has her whole life ahead of her; she shouldn’t be involved with someone who’s become embroiled in county lines when she’s only sixteen.
I’m sorry, Robyn, I like Joel very much, and I’m sorry for the utter mess he’s found himself in, but you all need to keep out of this and let me get on with doing my job of defending him.
The local authority will then use their jurisdiction as to where he should be placed if the CPS decide, because of his age and because of the coercion I will say he’s been under, whether to go ahead with the prosecution.
And don’t forget that he was attacked by a rival gang and ended up in hospital.
If, on the balance of probabilities, the jury decide Joel is a victim of these gangs – and I truly believe he is – then hopefully the CPS will decide not to go ahead with the case. ’
‘Mason wants to be there, wants to support Joel. And I want to go too.’
‘You’ve kept all this to yourself.’
‘Because I knew this would be your reaction. Any chance to have a go at Mason and you’ll take it.’
‘Not Guilty, Robyn.’ Fabian kissed her cheek. ‘I just reckon any chance that headteacher of yours gets to be with you and he’ll take it.’
‘We’re both going for Joel’s benefit and so I can report back to Sorrel. Are you sure Mason and I won’t be allowed in?’
‘Not unless he’s acting as Joel’s responsible adult.
And, as far as I know, that’s Joel’s aunt who he’s been living with over in Castleford once he was discharged from hospital after the knife attack.
It’s a waste of time you going, Robyn, honestly.
You’re far better going into school as usual and waiting until I ring you to let you know the result of the case. ’
* * *
‘You do know we won’t be allowed into the court room itself.’ Robyn pulled on the seatbelt as Mason Donoghue reversed from his spot in St Mede’s High School car park and headed for the motorway.
‘Yes, I know. Although I’m still hoping they might make an exception for me as his headteacher and let me in as additional support for Joel.’
‘According to Fabian, no way. And don’t forget, with Joel being away on local authority bail miles away in Castleford, you’re not actually his headteacher any more. And his aunt and support workers will be with him.’
‘Well, at least we can be outside the court room with him before his case is called on. Show him he’s not alone and that we’re supporting him.
’ Mason hesitated and then, stopping to allow a group of nursery kids cross a zebra crossing, turned and asked, ‘You OK? Is it all working out with this barrister of yours?’
‘It is. It’s lovely.’
‘Good for you.’
‘And you and your wife?’
Mason shook his head. ‘Not really.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘So am I.’
‘So, what does that mean?’
‘Thinking of moving on.’ Mason gave a little grimace.
‘Probably best to jump now before we’re actually thrown out.
The Sattar brothers are determined to have the school site for a new factory and, of course, the local authority would love it too.
The demolishing of their worst sink school and plenty of money in their back pocket as well.
Perfect answer to the St Mede’s problem. ’
Robyn exhaled. She knew this plan had been mooted back in January, but then nothing appeared to have been done about it.
‘Well, at least we’ll be able to get this production of Grease out of the way before the bulldozers come in…
’ She trailed off, realised she was being flippant.
And also realising how much she didn’t want the school to go under.
If she’d been asked her opinion on the fate of the school even a couple of months previously, she’d have been at the front of the queue with the demolition ball, but now it actually all felt a bit different.
‘You’ll be happy to see it go, won’t you?’ Mason asked, concentrating on the road ahead. ‘You’ve never really liked the place or the hard-work kids that are our clients.’
‘A bit harsh, that.’ Robyn frowned and then relented slightly. ‘OK, OK, yes, you’re right, I’ve done nothing but complain about the place since I started.’
‘But it’s grown on you?’ Mason shot her a smile.
‘Suppose. I mean, what will happen to the kids? Where will they go? Will the authority build Little Micklethwaite village a new school?’
Mason gave a mirthless laugh. ‘Another school? What world do you live in? And what with? The authority’s as broke as every other authority in the country.
No, they’ll pocket a fantastic amount of money to spend on mending potholes and ensuring their diversity and working from home issues are sorted.
And the kids will be dispersed, probably at random, to other high schools in the area.
I suspect some, nearing the end of their education, just won’t bother going any more. ’
‘All five hundred of them to new schools?’
‘We’re down to four hundred and ninety.’ Mason sighed. ‘Beddingfield High has already taken another ten of ours this month, now that it’s out that St Mede’s is on borrowed time. Sometimes, you know, running a school like St Mede’s is a bit like wading through treacle. Or shit.’
Robyn pulled a face, not relishing that particular picture Mason had put into her head. ‘But what about your plans for St Mede’s as a school at the forefront of the performing arts?’
Mason laughed somewhat hollowly. ‘That was just me trying to promote the school when we had Focus North in to those early Grease rehearsals before Christmas.’
‘Oh? Really?’ Robyn found herself disappointed at Mason’s volte-face. ‘Focus North did say they’d be in again once we were heading for the actual performance.’
‘Don’t bank on them coming in again, Robyn. You ready to roll? I watched your rehearsal last week and it seemed to be coming together – apart from a couple of issues with the kids not turning up for rehearsal.’
‘Sorrel as Sandy and Seb Kingsley in Year 10 as Danny Zuko are certainly on target. Have you seen Seb when he’s performing? He really was a good choice for Danny.’
‘You wanted Joel.’ Mason shot her a look.
‘Of course I did. That would have been so good. He’s a superb dancer, Mason.’
‘You don’t have to remind me, Robyn. I’ve seen him in action.’
‘Well, it’s a good job Joel refused to have anything to do with the performance from the get-go. The production would have come to nothing once he was arrested for drug pushing. Even though he would have been absolutely superb in it.’