‘Oh.’ There’s silence on the end of the line.
‘Sadie? Is everything all right?’ I tense up, starting to get a little worried now. ‘Is Robert there?’
‘Yes, he’s here. It’s just… the play starts in forty-five minutes and we need to leave now if we’re going to get parked in time to make the show.’
‘The play?’ I scratch my cheek. ‘You meanA Midsummer Night’s Dream? But that’s tomorrow. It’s Wednesday today. I said I was free on Thursday.’
‘Oh.’ She sounds thrown by this.
‘Didn’t I? I’m sure I said Thursday.’
‘I… thought you said Wednesday.’ Her voice is panicked.
‘Okay, look, don’t worry.’
‘We can meet you there if it’s easier,’ Sadie says. ‘Or if you want to come home first, we can afford to be a little late – although, I don’t think they let you in once the curtain’s gone up, so we’d have to miss the first act…’
‘No,’ I say. ‘You go without me.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely.’ I didn’t realise I would feel so disappointed at missing out. I’ve been looking forward to the play all week. Although, come to think of it, the girls seemed to assume we were going to the play tomorrow as well. ‘Are you absolutely sure you’ve got the date right?’ I ask. ‘Maybe just double check.’
‘I’m so sorry, but yes. I’m looking at the tickets right now.’
‘Is Mummy coming?’ I hear Katie’s voice in the background and it breaks my heart.
‘Tell the girls I’m sorry.’
‘I feel terrible about this,’ Sadie says.
‘These things happen. It can’t be helped. I’ll let you go – I don’t want you all to be late.’
‘All right. Maybe we could plan another show?’
‘Great, yes, of course. Get Robert to give you money for ice creams and programmes.’
‘Okay. See you later, Gemma.’
‘Bye.’ I end the call with a sudden feeling of heaviness. The girls will think I’ve put my job above them. I do work hard, but I always make a point to keep my word. If I say I’m going to do something with my children, I try to stick to my promises. And I really wanted to go. It was going to be the perfect way to reconnect with my girls after a few weeks of change. This was going to be my chance to be a ‘fun’ mum again.
Did I give Sadie the wrong day? I suppose it’s possible. I should have double checked. But I could have sworn I said to her this morning that I was looking forward to the show tomorrow. I check my online calendar and see that I did put in the correct date originally, but then changed it for some reason. Oh well, it can’t be helped now. Like I said to Sadie, these things happen.
And right now I somehow have to summon up the enthusiasm to talk to my clients. Normally I enjoy this part of my job. Now, I just wish I could cancel all my meetings and go to the theatre.Come on Gemma, pull yourself together.But I keep hearing Katie’s little voice asking if I’m coming.
When I finally pull into the driveway and turn off the car engine, it’s after ten and the whole house is sitting in darkness. Even the hall and porch lights are off, which is unusual. There’s just a faint glow from the street lamps beyond the hedge. I also realise Robert’s car is missing from the drive.
Inside, it’s clear no one is home. They must still be at the theatre. But I wonder where Robert is? I switch on the hall light and walk through to the kitchen. There’s a note propped up on the kitchen table. Must be from Sadie.
Hi Gemma,
Robert decided to come with us!
I suppose it makes sense that he went. There was a spare ticket after all. And it’s perfectly reasonable that he would have wanted to go to the play with his children. I didn’t ask him to come because I thought it might be odd for the five of us to go together. I thought it might make Sadie feel a little gooseberryish. Anyway, it’s fine. They’ll be home soon.
I make myself a cup of herbal tea and sit at the kitchen table, waiting. I haven’t seen the girls since breakfast. Seems like days ago.
It’s almost ten thirty when I finally hear the sound of Robert’s car come up the driveway, his headlights sweeping through the stained-glass porch windows. A beat of silence as the engine turns off, then the thunk of the car doors and my noisy girls laughing and chattering. I smile at the sound and get to my feet.
