‘Are you not happy in our school?’
‘It’s not that. Not at all. I love it here. I love this job.’
‘Then I don’t understand. Have you been looking for other jobs?’
I swallow. ‘My husband spoke about leaving, at the beginning,’ I say. God, I hate lying. But what choice do I have? I can’t tell Mike that, actually, yes, I am leaving. I’m moving to Hull. The sooner the better. I’ve got a freezer to get rid of first.Does he know anyone who wants a freezer? They can’t ever open it, though. ‘Max wasn’t happy here, and he suggested we move. I made some vague enquiries. I don’t know how Mrs Ashford-Wells found out, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t think Max wants to leave anymore anyway.’
He doesn’t look very relieved by my answer. ‘So…you might still leave?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘I see.’
‘But Mrs Ashford-Wells had no right to discuss my private life. And she should never have brought up Holly.’
‘Believe me, I agree. I’ll talk to Mrs Ashford-Wells. I’m waiting for her to call me?—’
‘I want a letter of apology from her to Holly,’ I blurt.
He raises an eyebrow. ‘I don’t know that Mrs Ashford-Wells?—’
‘I don’t care what Mrs Ashford-Wells wants or thinks. She had no right to bring up my family in the school Facebook group. She needs to apologise, and I want assurances, and I mean iron-clad assurances, that it will never happen again.’
He blinks at me, eyes wide. ‘I see.’
‘Could you organise a meeting with her? Today? Now?’
‘I don’t know…’
‘Can you try?’
‘I suppose so… I mean, of course I was going to discuss the situation with Mrs Ashford-Wells. It’s unacceptable that she should bring up teachers’ personal affairs?—’
‘Exactly. We need to discuss it, and I need to be there.’
From the look he throws me, I think he’s starting to wonder if I’m planning to strangle her or hit her over the head with that nice shiny glass paperweight on his desk.
‘You should go to your pupils.’ He checks his watch. ‘All we can do for the moment is wait until she gets back to me. I’ll keep you posted.’
I pick up my bag. ‘I really, really want to put this to bed, Mike. If she wants to enrol Gregory in an advanced class, I won’t stop her. If she wants to enrol him in a special programme outside school, I will gladly write lyrical statements to the effect that her son is a genius. But she cannot, ever, bring up my family in any way, and she cannot, ever, talk about Holly. You understand? That is what we’re going to discuss at our meeting. Not Gregory. And if she doesn’t sign a letter of apology and a promise never to do it again, I will get a lawyer. In fact, I’m talking to a lawyer later, at lunchtime,’ I say primly.
Which is true. I called Penny Malik last night and told her that I needed to speak to her urgently, and she agreed to see me because I was Mel’s colleague.
Obviously, I won’t be discussing Diana with Penny Malik, but I wouldn’t be upset if Diana were to hear about this meeting. I hope she does; I hope it brings her anxiety.
‘Unless Mrs Ashford-Wells can meet with us at lunchtime, in which case, I am prepared to cancel my appointment with the lawyer.’ Another lie.
But it doesn’t matter. Mike doesn’t hear anything back from Diana.
Penny Malik works for Hudson Page, not that far from the school. I introduce myself to the receptionist, and then Penny – as she asks to be called – comes to get me. She’s a petite woman in her early forties with dark hair and an air of relaxed confidence.
‘What can I do for you, Kate?’ she asks, hands clasped in front of her.
I take a breath. I’ve been rehearsing my little speech all day. I put my hands on my knees.
‘I have a personal matter to discuss. It’s a little sensitive.’
‘I understand.’
