LITMIR.BIZ

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one side. All of them so far were of Beth and her father, and I could now put a face to Derek. I already knew he was nearly fifty, and I now saw that he was of average height and build, with grey hair and blue-grey eyes. I wondered if I’d find a photograph of Beth’s mother, but they were all of Beth and her father.

      Having emptied the case, I took it through to my room where I heaved it up and on top of my wardrobe, out of the way. I returned to Beth’s room and set about arranging the photographs on the bookshelves. There were fifteen photographs in all, of various sizes, some portrait shape and some landscape. Beth and her father were posing for the camera and smiling in all of them, and they had clearly enjoyed many days out. The photographs included shots of them on the beach, at the zoo, the funfair, the castle and a museum, as well as at home. The last one was taken at Disneyland. Lucky girl, I thought. Beth was dressed up as a fairy-tale princess and her father was dressed as the handsome prince. I arranged the photographs over three shelves and stepped back to admire my handiwork. I thought Beth would be pleased when she saw the display.

      Yet as I stood there gazing at their photographs, I began to feel slightly uncomfortable. I couldn’t say why, but all those pictures of Beth and her father with their arms around each other, and smiling at each other or into the camera, unsettled me. Then Paula woke from her nap and, shaking off my feeling of disquiet, I went into her room to get her up.

      That afternoon Jessie telephoned. She said she’d spoken to a nurse on Derek’s ward and he’d had a comfortable night. She asked me to tell Beth. Jessie also said it was too early to say how long Derek would be in hospital or when Beth could see him, but asked me to telephone the hospital over the weekend so that Beth could talk to her father.

      ‘Yes, of course,’ I said, and I wrote down the telephone number of the hospital, which Jessie now gave to me.

      ‘Derek’s on Ward 3,’ Jessie added. ‘He’s very anxious about Beth, so hearing from her should help. Could you telephone Saturday and Sunday, please?’

      ‘Yes. It will help reassure Beth too,’ I said. ‘They’re very close and she’s naturally worried about him, although I’ve reassured her he’s being well looked after.’

      ‘Thank you. Does Beth have everything she needs with her?’

      ‘I think so. I unpacked her case this morning. She seems to have everything with her.’

      ‘Tell me about it!’ Jessie said. ‘I had to stop her from bringing more. What have you done with all those photographs?’

      ‘I’ve put them on the shelves in her bedroom. Which reminds me, Beth was worried that her daddy didn’t have his pyjamas and wash things with him in hospital. I said I’d ask you.’

      ‘Reassure her he has everything he needs,’ Jessie said. ‘Marianne took them in, but best not tell Beth that.’

      ‘Marianne?’ I queried.

      ‘She was Derek’s long-term girlfriend,’ Jessie said. ‘Ex now – their relationship has finished. But he still phones her if he needs help. She has a key to his flat.’

      ‘Oh, I see,’ I said. ‘That’s kind of her.’

      ‘Yes, it is. I take it Beth hasn’t mentioned Marianne?’

      ‘No. I got the impression that Beth and her father were very alone in the world.’

      ‘Yes, they are now,’ Jessie said pointedly, but didn’t say any more.

Chapter Four

       Inappropriate

      That afternoon, I was wondering when I should go in to school to see Miss Willow, when Adrian came into the playground, where I was waiting, with a message. ‘Miss Willow says to tell you that she and Beth are in her classroom, and I’m to take you up.’ He seemed a little proud of the responsibility.

      ‘Thank you, love,’ I said.

      The other children were now coming out of school so I folded the pushchair and then left it out of the way in the porch of the main entrance.

      ‘Am I going to school now?’ Paula asked as Adrian took her hand.

      ‘No, sis, you’re too small,’ he laughed.

      ‘We’re going into school for a little while,’ I explained to Paula. ‘So I can see Beth’s teacher.’

      ‘I’m going to big school now!’ Paula declared.

      Beth’s classroom was on the first floor and Adrian and I took Paula by the hand and we went up the stairs together, with Paula counting the steps – as far as she could – as she did at home. We arrived on the landing and Miss Willow and Beth came out of their classroom.

      ‘Hello,’ Miss Willow said, coming forward to greet us. ‘Thank you for coming in.’

      ‘How’s my daddy?’ Beth immediately asked me.

      ‘He’s doing well,’ I said. ‘Your social worker telephoned. I’ll explain later.’ For I didn’t want to delay Miss Willow.

      ‘I thought Beth and Adrian could wait in the library,’ Miss Willow said.

      ‘Yes. I’ll bring Paula in with me,’ I said.

      ‘We’ll come down when we’ve finished,’ Miss Willow said to Adrian and Beth.

      ‘Yes, Miss,’ they chimed respectfully. Adrian and Beth went downstairs where the library was situated.

      Taking Paula’s hand, I followed Miss Willow into her classroom.

      ‘Thank you for coming,’ she said again. ‘Do sit down.’ Then to Paula: ‘Would you like to do some crayoning?’

      Paula gave a shy nod. ‘I am sure she would,’ I said.

      Miss Willow took some paper and crayons from one of the cupboards and set them on the table, then she drew up two extra chairs for Paula and me. Beth liked Miss Willow, and I could see why. She was a warm, friendly person. I guessed she was in her late twenties; she was fashionably but smartly dressed and had long brown hair. I knew she’d joined the school the year before, and playground gossip said she was an excellent teacher. I was quietly hoping that Adrian would be in her class when he went up a year in September.

      ‘I won’t keep you long,’ she said apologetically. ‘But I thought it would be a good idea if we had a chat, as Beth is living with you. I take it you don’t know yet how long Derek will be in hospital?’

      ‘No. When Jessie, their social worker, phoned she said he’d had a comfortable night, but that was all.’

      ‘And you don’t know Derek personally?’ Miss Willow now asked.

      ‘No. I’ve never met him, although I’ve probably seen him from a distance in the playground at the start and end of school.’

      Miss Willow gave a small, thoughtful nod. ‘It’s no secret he’s a single parent. Beth has never known her mother.’

      ‘So I understand,’ I said.

      She paused again. ‘Has Beth said much to you about her father? I know she’s only just arrived, but I wondered if she’d talked about him?’

      ‘She talks about him non-stop,’ I said, smiling. ‘They’re obviously very close and she misses him a lot.’

      ‘Yes,’ Miss Willow said, and paused again as though collecting her thoughts.

      I glanced at Paula, who was concentrating on her drawing. ‘That’s nice. Good girl,’ I said encouragingly.

      ‘I’d be grateful if you would keep what I’m going to say to yourself,’ Miss Willow continued, her expression now serious.

      ‘Yes, of course.’ I met her gaze.

      ‘The

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