Sensing he and Hannah were about to have a row, Edie had pretended to misunderstand.
‘So, we’re all in agreement then,’ she’d said, fake-innocently. ‘Excellent. I’ll invite Jessica and let you know what she says.’
At school the next day, Jessica had seemed delighted with the proposal, and so it had all been settled.
With big exams coming up soon, Edie didn’t mention the impending trip to her GCSE or A-level students, knowing the poor things would be mired in revision throughout half-term.
However, the day before she left, she did tell her ex-pupil, Amina, who was still helping out in the IT department.
‘I hope you have a wonderful time, Mrs Lovell,’ she said, watching Edie stuffing books and items of clothing from the staffroom locker into a big carrier bag.
The school bell had just rung and they could already hear pupils pouring out of classrooms and thundering down the corridor, excited to be having a week off.
‘Thanks, Amina. I hope you have a nice break, too,’ Edie said. ‘What are you up to?’
Amina looked down at her feet. She was wearing a white hijab over loose black trousers, black shoes and a purple tunic top.
‘I need to look after my little brothers while my mum’s at work.’
Edie felt a rush of sympathy. Amina had so many responsibilities for a girl her age, but never complained.
‘Let’s hope it’s good weather and you can take them to the park,’ Edie replied brightly. She knew the brothers were about eight and ten.
Amina nodded. ‘They’re a bit too old for the swings but they like playing football.’
‘Or what about Frensham Ponds?’
‘What’s that?’
‘It’s a wildlife sanctuary and there are two ponds, surrounded by lovely woods. You’re allowed to swim in the big pond. It’s quite safe and the water’s tested regularly. There’s a sort of beach – and a café where you can get ice creams and things. You could catch a bus. The boys would love it.’
Amina’s eyes lit up. ‘That sounds great. Thanks. I’ll take a look at it.’
Edie was pleased. She knew the family was hard up and Amina and her brothers didn’t have many treats. This could be a fun activity for them all and it wouldn’t cost much more than their bus fares.
As she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed down the corridor towards the stairs, she found herself thinking how different Amina’s life was from Maisie’s.
There was Maisie, earning a handsome salary and working hard but having the time of her life with her boyfriend and pals in central London, while Amina struggled to fit her job around helping her parents and caring for her younger siblings. And all because of an accident of birth.
It wasn’t fair, but then nor was life itself. At least Edie could be a listening ear for Amina and give her a little of her time. It wasn’t much, but it had to be better than nothing.
Jessica was just coming out of her classroom on the ground floor when Edie passed. She was wearing a smart tan trench coat, belted at the waist, with her black handbag slung over one shoulder and a heavy-looking brown holdall over the other.
‘Are you packed?’ Edie asked with a grin. She was already dreaming of boarding the plane tomorrow morning and arriving in Crete to bright blue skies.
‘Almost.’
Jessica turned to check she hadn’t left anything behind before switching off the lights and closing the heavy wooden door. Then they walked, side by side, towards the car park.
‘Are you sure you don’t mind picking me up?’ Jessica asked, her black court shoes clip-clopping on the tarmac. ‘It’s a bit of a detour.’
‘It’s fine,’ Edie assured her. ‘The taxi driver knows already; he’s got your address. We should be with you by six thirty, but don’t worry if we’re a few minutes late. Ralph usually forgets something and has to run back.’
In actual fact, it was normally Edie who forgot something, like her sunglasses, phone charger or book, but she didn’t say so.
They stopped by Jessica’s car – a newish-looking, electric blue Mini – and she fished the keys out of her bag.
‘How are the others getting to the airport?’ she asked.
