Chapter 5
Chapter Five
‘I’m sure it won’t be that bad.’ Sophie lowered her voice as her daughter, Florrie, paused and came skipping back down the narrow track along the edge of a field just outside the village to her and Gemma.
‘It was. He was. He is. He’s just awful.’ Gemma shook her head. Ever since getting home an hour ago, Gemma had tried to distract herself from thinking about how Jonathan had spoken to her, about her, in front of her colleagues.
‘Auntie Gemma, can I walk Alfie for a bit, please?’ Florrie knelt down in front of the small Lhasa Apso and began fussing over him.
‘You sure can.’ Passing Florrie the lead, Gemma grinned. Gemma had known Florrie her entire life. If Florrie had been a year younger, Gemma would be teaching her too. However, Florrie had moved into Year One just as Gemma had transferred to reception, so they’d passed each other.
‘Thanks.’ As Florrie took the lead in her hand, her eyes shone with happiness.
‘Did you meet Mr Higgs, Florrie?’ Sophie asked as they began walking again.
‘Who?’ Florrie glanced back at her mum, momentarily confused, before turning back to Gemma. ‘Can he run? If I run, will he run with me?’
Gemma laughed. ‘He can run.’
‘Just don’t go too far ahead…’ Sophie shook her head as her daughter ran off in front of them, little Alfie trying to keep up beside her.
‘She’ll meet him tomorrow. I’m guessing he’ll send a letter out to the parents, too.’ Gemma threw the slightly gnawed tennis ball she’d brought with them in case Alfie wanted to play in the air before catching it again.
‘Ah, I see. It’s all been very hush-hush, hasn’t it?’ Sophie looked at Gemma. ‘Has something awful happened to Mrs Norton?’
‘It has been rather secretive. It still is. Even in school, we’ve not been told why Diane has stepped down. I’ve no idea what’s happened.’ Gemma shrugged. She assumed the truth would come out eventually, but until then, she could only guess as everyone else was.
‘I’m sure once he’s been there a few days things will settle down.’
‘I hope so. One thing’s for sure, though, I shan’t be going out of my way to help him settle in.
I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed there’s been some mistake and Diane will come in tomorrow as though nothing’s happened.
’ Gemma sighed. She had a feeling she’d be waiting a very long time for that to happen.
Somewhere between a million years and forever probably.
‘Sorry, all I’ve done this evening is moan at you about work. How are things with you?’
‘Okay, thanks. Lewis let Florrie down at the weekend again. Surprise, surprise.’ Sophie rolled her eyes.
‘Oh, Soph. He’s awful. Was he supposed to have her the whole weekend?
’ Ever since Sophie and Lewis, Florrie’s dad, had split two years ago, he’d let Florrie down time and time again, despite them having arranged amicably between them that he’d have her to stay every other weekend, plus have her over to his one evening a week after school for dinner.
‘It was. I shouldn’t have told Florrie and got her hopes up, but he’d been so insistent. He’d even told me he’d booked tickets for the cinema, so I stupidly assumed he would keep to the visit.’ Sophie slapped her forehead.
‘Hey, you’re not the stupid one.’ Linking arms with her friend, Gemma pulled her closer and nodded ahead towards Florrie, who was now attempting to teach little Alfie to spin on command. ‘He is. Look what he’s missing out on.’
‘I know.’ Sophie smiled as Alfie lay flat on the grass, oblivious to Florrie’s demands.
‘It’s tricky though, as then I have to ring my parents and get them to have her whilst I go to work, and they shouldn’t have to.
They have her every weekend she’s with me, which in reality means just that, every weekend. ’
‘I know for a fact they don’t mind. They couldn’t love anyone more than they do Florrie.’
‘That’s true but they deserve a life of their own too. They’ve done so much for me and Florrie. Taking us in when me and Lewis first split, babysitting while I work, you name it, they’ve done it for us.’
‘Well, as I’ve said a million times before, if you ever need a hand, I’m here.’ Gemma grinned. ‘And I happen to have a little bit of experience with children.’
‘Haha, thank you. You know I just hate asking.’
‘You wouldn’t be asking because I’ve already offered.’ Gemma shrugged.
‘Thank you.’ Squeezing Gemma’s arm, Sophie smiled. ‘I really am lucky to be living here close to my parents and my besties.’
‘Just as lucky as we are to have you here, too.’ Gemma looked down at the ground. ‘I just keep going over how the new head spoke about me and my singing session this morning.’
‘Well, don’t. He’ll soon come to learn how fabulous a teacher you are.’ Sophie shook her head vehemently. ‘Florrie sings your praises every single day, and she doesn’t even have you as a class teacher!’
Gemma gave a quick smile. She’d needed to hear that. ‘Aw, that’s sweet. I just, I don’t know, I normally love work and look forward to going in each day, but quite honestly, if it wasn’t for the kids, I’d be tempted to take a sick day tomorrow and lick my wounds.’
Pausing, Sophie turned towards her and cupped her friend’s elbows. ‘Don’t you dare let him win. Show him that he can’t come swanning into the school, not knowing Bob from Bill or whatever the saying is, and criticise everyone.’
‘Not knowing them from Adam.’ Gemma laughed quietly.
‘Yes, that too.’ Sophie rolled her eyes at herself. ‘But it’s true, he’s never met you or any of the other staff before. He can’t make a snap judgement like that, and he’ll realise that. He’ll realise he’s made a mistake.’
Gemma nodded as they began walking again. ‘You’re probably right. He probably just wanted to come in hard because he thinks it looks good or something.’
‘Or his behaviour is to cover up the fact he doesn’t really have a clue what to do.’ Sophie sighed. ‘You never know, Mrs Norton might decide to come back after all.’
‘Umm…’ She knew Sophie would find out anyway, if there was one thing Gina was better at than leading the PTA, it was feeding the gossip train. Better than Annie even and that was saying something. ‘Look, if I tell you something, then you’ll promise not to mention it, won’t you? To anyone?’
‘Of course.’ Sophie frowned. ‘You know you can trust me. I didn’t say a word about Reece and… you know who.’
Gemma nodded, memories of the school summer fete three years ago flashing through her mind.
After spending hours at the raffle stall sweltering in the heat of a particularly hot July day, she’d managed to sneak inside for a quick break and had headed straight to her classroom and the promise of a warm and soggy cheese sandwich she’d left on her desk.
Only when she’d walked in, she’d found Reece, her then-partner of six years, in an embrace with Mrs Norton’s daughter, Issy, which hadn’t left much to the imagination.
‘Gemma? Are you okay?’ Sophie’s voice was quiet, etched with concern.
‘Sorry, I was miles away.’ Shaking her head, Gemma pushed all thoughts of Reece and the mess he’d left behind out of her head.
Of course, she’d never uttered a word to Diane Norton about what she’d seen and later learned about Reece and her daughter’s relationship, but shortly after Gemma had chucked Reece out, Diane had come into school upset that her daughter had left her son-in-law for another man.
Still, Gemma had kept quiet. It hadn’t been Diane’s fault that her daughter had ruined Gemma and Reece’s relationship.
In fact, she hadn’t. Reece had managed that perfectly well on his own.
‘Rumour has it that Diane didn’t leave of her own accord and that she was pushed out. ’
Bringing her hand to her mouth, Sophie was clearly shocked. ‘Seriously? Why? What on earth could Mrs Norton have done to lead to dismissal?’
‘People are saying it’s something to do with the finances.
’ She shrugged. She’d possibly said too much, but she knew Soph wouldn’t tell anyone.
Not after she’d promised not to, and she had no one else to talk to about this sort of stuff.
Hannah was on holiday, and she always struggled to catch Lucy when she wasn’t working or helping out with the guides.
Besides, Sophie was the only one of the four of them who had a child and understood the school system.
Plus, the only one the change of headteacher affected besides herself.
‘I don’t know. I’m sure it’s nothing and she’s off with work-related stress or is poorly or something. ’
‘Umm, I won’t say it, but there is one way to find out.’ Sophie looked at her out of the corner of her eye.
‘No chance! There is absolutely no way I’m going to be asking Reece. Nope, he’s in my past, and he can jolly well stay there.’ Gemma grinned. ‘Actually, whatever the reason for the change of head and however much Diane Norton will be missed, at least there’s that sliver of silver lining.’
‘That’s true. No running into Reece at school productions or fetes or anything else Mrs Norton’s daughter decides to drag him along to in order to support her mum.’
‘Exactly.’ It was true. With Reece now living with Issy in Meadowfield, there would be no reason for Gemma to cross paths with Reece again. Good riddance.
‘Talking of school, I’d best get this one home and up to bed.’ Sophie waved her hand towards Florrie and called to her, ‘Time to head back, Florrie.’
‘Can we just get to there?’ Florrie pointed to a small woodland copse on the horizon.
‘Nope, not today, kid. It’s bedtime in fifteen minutes.’ Sophie glanced at Gemma. ‘Not that she knows what bedtime actually means.’
‘Is she still not sleeping?’
‘I don’t think that kid will ever learn to go to sleep on time.’ Sophie sighed and shook her head. ‘Never mind. At least she’ll be the most knowledgeable pupil in school when it comes to wildlife.’
Gemma laughed. ‘You’re still relying on David Attenborough documentaries to lull her to sleep?’
‘I sure am,’ Sophie grimaced. ‘Believe me, over the five years of her life, I have tried absolutely everything. I’ve followed every self-soothing gimmick, read all the books and gained nothing but a few days of no sleep for myself.
David Attenborough just has one of those calm voices and his documentaries are interesting enough to keep her focused at bedtime but calming enough to lull her to sleep. Plus, I enjoy watching them too.’
Gemma watched as Florrie picked up a stick from the ground and held it out in front of Alfie as she walked back towards them, using the stick to keep him following.
She needn’t have, though. As Alfie was a rescue and Hannah hadn’t known anything about his past, she’d been worried about how he’d behave around children, especially due to him being temperamental towards adults, but both he and Florrie had become firm friends from the moment they’d met.
He’d have followed her anywhere. ‘From what I’ve heard about parenthood, you do whatever works for you and your child. ’
‘Exactly. Lewis blames me for her not sleeping, but maybe if he’d actually shown an interest when we’d been together and helped, things might not have come to this.’ Sophie rubbed at her temples. ‘Not that it affects him anymore as he very rarely actually keeps to a visit.’
‘Aw, Soph. Things will get better.’ Gemma frowned. She couldn’t imagine having to raise a child alone, and Florrie was such a credit to her friend.
‘Oh, I’m not complaining. I have a lot more help with my parents and brother being around the corner than a lot of other single mums.’ Sophie grinned and linked arms again. ‘Plus, I have you, Lucy and Hannah here.’
‘It’s lovely having Hannah back, isn’t it?’ Now Hannah had decided to give up life on the road in her camper and set up home in the cottage she’d inherited from her grandad, their friendship group was finally back together.
‘It sure is.’ As Florrie caught them up, Sophie turned back the way they’d come, and they began walking again. ‘And I’m so happy Hannah and my brother are together.’
‘It’s lovely, isn’t it?’ Gemma grinned. Hannah and Sophie’s brother, Josh, suited each other perfectly.
Once they’d reached the stile back out onto the path leading into Nettleford-on-the-Wold, they went their separate ways, Sophie to battle the bedtime chaos and Gemma to find a tub of Ben & Jerry’s she was certain she had hidden in the freezer for emergencies.