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With a wicked twist to her lips, she slams the door leaving me to catch up and as I step outside the car, I must have grown two heads on the journey because it’s as if every woman here turns to stare in my direction.
CHAPTER19
JESSICA
We head into the playground, and we may as well be wearing fancy dress because it’s obvious we are the focus of rather a lot of attention. I say ‘we’ but it’s obviously Robert and I’m guessing they don’t see many successful men in suits around here, driving a brand-new range rover. I would stare too if I was one of them and I feel rather smug as we stride to the front of the pack.
For a moment I wonder if I should make myself known to one of the teachers inside because I’m sure there are rules about strangers collecting children and I can only hope to Santa that Sally did the right thing and put me down as a guardian or something.
As the school bell rings, I observe with interest as the doors open and screaming children hurtle towards us, causing me a moment’s panic because why are they not trained yet?
Robert also appears a little afraid for his life right now and I can only imagine this sort of unruly behaviour is down to the fact it’s a state school. Surely, the pupils in private one’s walk out in a crocodile line or something, with decorum and good manners. Breeding certainly helps and I vow that if I ever have children, I will sell my body to make sure they get the best start in life if this is the example they have.
I scan the fresh-faced exuberance of youth for familiar ones because now I think of it, I can’t remember what they look like. I’m ashamed to admit that I’m hardly auntie of the year and it’s unlikely they will even remember me.
However, I notice a smiling teacher leading two children by the hand who seem vaguely familiar towards us, and Robert says in a low voice, “Is that them?”
“Oh, yes, it is.” I lie through my teeth because he doesn’t need to know that I couldn’t formally identify them in an identity parade if my life depended on it.
“Miss Taylor.” The teacher smiles and I don’t miss her eyes dragging the length of Robert, causing her cheeks to blush a little as she gives him a very different smile from the one she offered me. I’m astounded that teachers are allowed to flirt with the parents, but this one obviously tossed the rule book in the wastepaper basket because she is staring at him coyly and fluttering her lashes.
“Where’s mummy?” The little girl, who must be Angelina, whines and the teacher smiles with embarrassment. “I told you darling, she called to say she was held up and your auntie Jessie was going to come in her place.”
Angelina looks at me with curiosity and luckily Brad saves the day and throws his bag down to the ground with a groan, “I’m hungry.”
The teacher makes to speak, but I say sternly, “You must carry your own bag, Brad and if you’re good, we can stop for food on the way home.”
“Can we?” Two pairs of surprised eyes stare at me with interest and Brad shouts “Cool. There’s a MacDonalds on the way.”
Angelina jumps up and down. “I want a happy meal. They have a fairy in it this month, and Sindy has one.”
I stare at Robert in horror, who merely shrugs and offers a blinding smile to the teacher, who appears to be hyperventilating at his attention.
“I’m sure that can be arranged.” He winks at Brad and even Angelina turns to him with a smile, and I wonder how he does this. Command attention just by being here and I may well not be for all the attention the teacher is giving me as she gazes at Robert in wonder, causing me to snap, “Yes, well, thank you, um, is there anything we should know before we leave?”
“I’m cold.”
“I’m bored.”
The children whine and I roll my eyes. “I meant regarding your schoolwork.”
The teacher nods. “Well, tomorrow is obviously the nativity play, so please may I ask you to remind Mrs Stevens that Brad is a shepherd and Angelina a fairy.”
“Wait what.” I stare at her in horror, and she shrugs. “Mrs Stevens knows all about it. We have been preparing for it for several weeks and I’m sure she will have the costumes ready. Hopefully she can spare the time to attend, despite the Christmas rush.”
I’m not sure if it’s my own paranoia, but it’s as if she already knows given the disapproval in her voice and I say defensively, “One of us will be there. You can rely on that.”
Hoping like hell it won’t be me, I fix my attention on the two bored looking children and flash them what I hope is my most nurturing smile.
“Come on, let’s go and eat.”
Their cheers are my triumph and as Robert bends down and retrieves their bags, a little of the ice melts in my heart as Angelina smiles at him and Brad appears to be hero worshipping him almost as much as the teacher.
He grins and ruffles Brad’s hair and reaches for Angelina’s hand and I swear I couldn’t look away if I tried. A soft sigh distracts me, and I can tell I am on the same line of thought as the teacher and so, rather smugly, I say, “Thank you. Have a good night, Mrs…”
“It’s Miss, actually.” She stares longingly at Robert as she whispers, “Miss Travers.”
He flashes her a blinding smile which astonishes me because who on earth is this man who usually scowls at anyone watching and has the personality of a troll? Here in the fresh air of the playground, he has undergone a character transplant and become every woman’s dream, including mine. It’s a little disconcerting and I drag myself back to the job at hand and say briskly, “Ok, we should, um, go.”
