Page 74 of The Perfect Teacher

‘Where’s my mum?’

He looks over at Eakin.

Eakin gives me that smile again. ‘Georgia, I’m sorry to have to tell you that your mother is in hospital, in critical condition. The doctors aren’t sure that she’ll make it.’

I don’t know if it’s what he’s said or my ankle but my leg gives way and I fall, jarring the bones of my palm, knocking the door so it bangs against the wall.

Johnson kneels and scoops me into the armchair facing my dad, who still isn’t looking at me.

‘And I’m afraid she’s also under arrest,’ says Eakin, ‘for the sexual assault of your schoolmate, Tristan Beaufort-Bradley.’

Something inside of me cracks.

He eases off the sofa and comes to sit on the floor in front of me. ‘I understand you attend PES, where your mother teaches?’

I don’t nod. I just sit staring at him, the world shattering around me.

51

NOW

I’m still staring at the door my brother shut behind him when my phone rings. ‘Have you found her?’ Lydia sounds out of breath.

I’m still seeing my brother’s smile, as kind as always, right before he left.

But I snap out of it. Lydia has finally called me back. I need to ask her about Jenna and Rose and what the hell has been going on between them.

‘Frances?’ she says.

‘No. Why haven’t you answered my?—’

‘I had to stay late at work and?—’

‘Did you know your daughter was bullying my daughter?’

‘Rose, bullying Jenna?’

‘Yes.’

She’s quiet for a moment.

‘Frances, when will you open your eyes?’

Now I’m quiet.

‘Rose is Jenna’s best friend. It’s your beloved niece and nephew who’ve been bullying poor Jenna, and the rest of their cronies, which as far as I can tell is the whole of Port Emblyn. For God’s sake. But look?—’

‘You knew?’ My heart is thudding and thudding. Did everyone know?

‘You didn’t?’

I remember this morning, Ava calling, ‘Jen! Jen! Jennaaaaa!’ and screw up my face. ‘Tristan thinks Jenna’s at Glastonbury – she didn’t say?—’

‘Glastonbury? I hardly think?—’

‘Lydia, I feel like Tristan is… I don’t know. He would never… But he… There’s something I have to tell you.’

‘You feel like he’s what?’

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