Chapter 9
Kitty was collecting shells for Emily’s sandcastle when she noticed Nick and Carla walking down the staircase.
She waved and made her way towards them, casting a quick glance at Emily to check she was still engrossed in her building work.
Despite the mess she’d stumbled into, she was glad of the time she’d spent with Emily.
The girl was bright and funny, and for the first time since she’d arrived in Saffron Bay, Kitty had felt comfortable in her own skin.
‘Has she been alright?’ asked Carla, glancing over Kitty’s shoulder.
‘She’s been great. She’s a credit to you.’
Carla’s beaming smile was replaced by eyes brimming with tears. ‘I don’t want to say goodbye. We’ve never been apart for even one night. And now I’m leaving her with a virtual stranger.’
Kitty glanced at Nick, who was hanging back and looking decidedly uncomfortable with his hands wedged in his pockets. ‘You’re leaving her here today?’
Carla sniffed, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. She squared her shoulders. ‘I’m not a bad mum.’
‘I never said you were.’ Kitty placed a hand on Carla’s arm. ‘I’m surprised, that’s all.’
‘I have to go today. My dad is so poorly, each day could be his last, and I don’t want him to die alone.’
Nick stepped forward and cleared his throat. ‘Don’t worry, Emily will be fine with us.’
Us? Kitty frowned at Nick as panic bubbled in her chest. There was no us in this situation, and she very much hoped he wasn’t referring to her.
In response, Carla walked to where Emily was adding shells and pebbles to the walls of her sandcastle.
She crouched as the child pointed proudly to her work, then Carla placed her hands on Emily’s shoulders, their smiles dropping as she spoke.
Kitty watched, too far away to hear what was being said. Her heart went out to both mother and daughter. She turned to Nick, the third party in the drama. ‘Are you alright? You’ve gone very pale.’
He swallowed. ‘This is all a bit much. I can’t get my head around it.’
‘I’m sure.’
They watched as Carla took Emily in her arms, holding her tight and blinking away tears. Kitty made her way over and sat down on the sand beside them.
‘Mummy’s got to go now, sweetie,’ Carla was saying. ‘You’ll have a great time here with Kitty and Nick, and I’ll call you later on your iPad.’
‘I don’t want you to go, Mummy.’ Emily clung to her mother. Her mouth wobbled.
Carla sniffed and held Emily’s face in her hands. ‘I don’t want to go either.’ She smiled sadly. ‘Remember I told you Granddad is poorly?’
Emily nodded.
‘He needs me to take care of him for a few days, and I have to do that because he’s my dad. I’ll be back soon, I promise, and I’ll call you every day.’
Emily’s big hazel eyes filled with tears, and Carla kissed her daughter and ran a hand over her hair.
‘I love you so much, my darling girl. Be good for Nick, and I’ll call you on your iPad at six o’clock.
’ Carla kissed Emily again, hugged her tightly before taking a couple of faltering steps towards Nick.
‘I’ll look after her,’ he said.
‘You better, or I’ll kill you.’
From the tone of Carla’s voice, Kitty knew she was serious. Nick’s face turned from white to grey.
‘Keep an eye on him,’ she told Kitty over her shoulder as she walked steadily away.
Kitty watched Carla climb the long wooden staircase, the shuddering of her shoulders unmistakable as sobs.
She returned to Emily, who sat cross-legged beside her sandcastle, her eyes turned to the ground.
‘You’ve done brilliantly with this sandcastle.
It’s fit for a princess. Shall we make a moat?
Or we could add some seaweed as decoration? ’
‘The castle’s finished.’ Emily kept her gaze down.
‘OK. How about a paddle in the sea?’
‘I’m hungry.’ There was no mistaking the wobble in Emily’s voice.
‘In that case,’ said Kitty, holding out a hand, ‘why don’t we head to the house, and Nick will make you some lunch?’
‘I don’t like all these steps,’ said Emily, pointing to the staircase.
‘There are a lot of them,’ agreed Kitty. ‘Would a piggyback help?’
Emily nodded. Kitty crouched in front of her, and Emily climbed onto her back, wrapping her small arms around Kitty’s neck.
When Emily leaned closer, Kitty felt the dampness of tears against her skin and the shudder of the girl’s small body as an emotion she couldn’t yet understand got the better of her.
‘We’re heading to the house,’ Kitty told Nick, who was staring out to sea as though in a trance.
‘What?’ He shook his head. ‘Sorry, I was miles away.’
‘I said we’re heading to the house. Emily is hungry.’
‘Oh, right. OK.’
There was no offer of help, and Kitty’s muscles strained as she began the long ascent, one hand gripping the railing to make sure she kept her balance.
Her T-shirt clung to her back, Emily’s warmth adding to the heat of exertion.
When they reached the top of the cliff and she stepped onto the lawn, Kitty breathed a sigh of relief.
‘I’m going to have to put you down now,’ she told Emily, bending as the child slithered off.
A single tear slid down each of Emily’s cheeks, and she hiccupped a sob.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Kitty, taking her hand.
‘Everything will be alright. Mummy will be back soon. Think of this as a holiday by the seaside. Have you been on a holiday before?’
‘Only once. We stayed in a caravan.’
‘And was it fun?’
Emily frowned. ‘It rained all the time, but Mummy made it fun with lots of games. And there was a pool, and she bought me a blow-up dolphin.’
‘That sounds like lots of fun. And this holiday will be fun too. Nick has a very nice house for you to stay in, and you’re right by the beach. I’m sure he’s good at playing games, too.’
‘Can he play hide and seek?’
‘Probably. Why don’t we ask him?’ Kitty turned to Nick, who was lagging several paces behind. ‘Emily is wondering if you can play hide and seek?’
‘Um… I guess so?’
Kitty tried not to sigh. Yes, the man had had a shock. Acting like a zombie and ignoring the situation wouldn’t make it go away. Much better if he could try smiling for Emily’s sake.
When they reached the house, Kitty sat Emily on the sofa and followed Nick into the fancy kitchen. ‘Where’s the fridge?’
‘Here, although there’s not much in it.’
Kitty opened the fridge to find a six-pack of beer and several leftover takeaway containers. ‘Where’s all the proper food?’
Nick frowned. ‘Maybe try the cupboards?’
‘You do live here, don’t you?’ said Kitty, opening each cupboard and finding most empty.
When she found a tin of tomatoes, a few condiments and half a pack of pasta, she almost cheered, until she realised they were the sole contents of the large designer kitchen.
‘You literally have no food. How do you survive?’
‘On pizzas mainly.’ He lifted his palms. ‘And I ate the last one last night.’
‘You need to do some shopping, get some food in.’
‘What do kids eat?’
‘Usually the same as adults, although I don’t think Carla would be too pleased to find all you’ve fed her daughter is frozen pizza and cans of Stella.’
‘Can you help me?’
‘Cook?’ Kitty pursed her lips and shook her head. ‘No way. I only came here to return your jacket. You’ve got another think coming if you believe I’m going to be your unofficial nanny and housekeeper.’
‘Please,’ said Nick, a desperate edge to his voice.
‘Just for today. I’ve no idea what to do with a kid.
A little boy would have been marginally better, but a five-year-old girl?
Kitty, I’m completely clueless.’ He clasped his hands, prayer-like, to his chest. ‘Please, you work with kids. Couldn’t you hang around for a bit longer and give me a few tips?
I’ll get down on my knees and beg if you need me to. ’
Kitty steeled her heart. ‘I’m meant to be sorting out my classroom today.’
‘Can’t you do it tomorrow?’
Kitty frowned. Yes, technically she could go into the school tomorrow. That didn’t mean she was going to alter her plans for the man-child standing in front of her.
‘Kitty?’
She turned to look at a small face creased in confusion, Emily’s bottom lip quivering as she tried to make sense of the situation she found herself in. Kitty fought to hold on to her resolve. She should walk out. This wasn’t her problem; it was Nick’s.
Resolve was hard when Emily’s eyes were full of hope, and Nick, useless as he was, looked like a man about to drown. Kitty wavered, and when Emily began hopping up and down, her mind was made up. ‘Do you need the toilet?’
Emily nodded, her cheeks flushing.
Kitty turned to Nick. ‘Where’s your bathroom?’
‘Down the hall, third door on your left.’
As Kitty helped Emily find the bathroom and take off the dungarees she was wearing, she decided.
She would give Nick one day. Not for his sake.
Leave Nick and Emily alone now, and all she’d do was go out of her mind with worry.
If a day was all it took to make sure Nick had grasped at least the basics of caring for a child, the time would be well spent.