I smiled hesitantly. ‘No blood at all. That must be considered a win?’
‘With those two, definitely. Dare I ask what happened?’
‘I think it’s best you don’t. I’ll do my best to rescue your beautiful carpet, though.’
He shrugged.
‘It’s only carpet. Don’t worry too much, as long as the children are okay. See you later then.’
He strode off through the house, and I wasted no more time in clanking up the stairs to start scraping up the sick. Once I had got the worst of it into the empty bucket and dumped on plenty of bicarb, I put my head around the bathroom door to see how the party was going in there. It sounded riotous from outside the door and, indeed, proved to be so inside. The scented foam was now spread around much of the bathroom and the twins had started remodelling their hair into rather limp spikes. Bunny had sunk her head into her hands, but looked up when I came in.
‘Oh, Pixie, there you are. How are you getting on?’
‘All right, I think. Pilar was wonderful, she helped me find everything I need.’
‘Pilar did?’
‘Yes, she was really kind.’
‘Darling, how on earth do you do it? I find Pilar absolutelyterrifying. I barely dare ask her for the time, let alone anything else. She fixes me with such a stare and I simply quail. I’m sure the bulls never stood a chance.’
‘Bulls?’
‘Oh yes, she’s Spanish.’
I wasn’t quite sure how to respond to this; did Bunny think there were enormous bulls roaming the streets of Spain, which needed to be regularly quelled by the residents? Or maybe Pilar had an exciting past as a matador? Today, nothing would surprise me. I might have asked more, but Bunny looked too drawn and tired to be questioned about such things, so I returned to the landing to inspect my soggy efforts. I was about to wield the spatula when Pilar arrived.
‘How are you doing? Is it coming off?’
‘Phase one has been successful, and I’m about to start removing the bicarb. It doesn’t look as bad as it did, so I’m hopeful.’
‘Can I help?’
I lowered my voice.
‘Not with this, but if you’ve got a few moments, Bunny looks exhausted. Maybe you could sit with Phina and Caspy while I carry on out here? I won’t be much longer.’
‘Sí.’
She went into the bathroom and, within seconds, Bunny had emerged, smiled gratefully and disappeared for a lie-down. The squawks of excitement from the twins stopped abruptly and, peeping in, I could see them being removed from the bath and wrapped in towels. For all Pilar’s sternness, she was smiling, and gave each child a hug as she dried them off.
‘Bien, now run to your room and find your pyjamas. I am following you.’
They scampered past me shouting, ‘Look at us, Pixie, we’re naked!’ as I sponged a mixture of detergent and vinegar into the stain. Pilar followed at a more stately pace.
‘Thank you so much,’ I said. ‘I shouldn’t be much longer here and then I’ll come and take over.’
‘Ningún problema. We will be in the kitchen having tea.’
It was there that I found them twenty minutes later, glued to Paw Patrol on a tablet propped up against a jar of jam and eating baked potatoes and beans. It never fails to amaze me how quickly children recover; I wouldn’t be gobbling down supper so soon after being violently sick. They looked adorable in their pyjamas: Phina’s were orange and scattered with glow-in-the-dark insect pictures and Caspy’s green with various hedgehogs and squirrels gambolling across them. I put down my cleaning paraphernalia and went to give them both a squeeze around the shoulders.
‘Are you feeling better, Caspian?’
‘Yes thanks, much.’ He paused. ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Of course you can.’
‘Is your name really Pixie?’
