Page 23 of Dear Daisy

‘You and Lucy?’ I asked, carefully.

A sideways inclination of the head. ‘On-once. But l-like I s-said, Scarl m-makes it h-hard to b-be n-normal. Ev-everything has to r-revolve around h-her.’ And then, with a shrug that said more than the words, ‘They c-could still t-take her away f-from me. I-if I don’t c-come up to s-scratch.’

We cleared our plates, chatting quietly. I didn’t know about Alex, but I was very, very conscious that at any time Scarlet could come sliding back through, and it put a bit of a crimp in my conversation. Oh, I wasn’t about to ask what he thought of frottage or whether he considered handcuffs an interesting addition to a bedroom repertoire, but I did have to stop and think before I swore or mentioned anything that an eight-year-old girl shouldn’t overhear, even accidentally.

Alex’s attention was very flattering, I had to admit. He was very pleasant to look at, this nicely abstract lighting making the contrast between his hair and skin and eyes look multi-toned and artistic. He didn’t stammer nearly as much now, and we talked softly over things like hobbies and what had been in the news recently — nothing controversial or too involved, just pleasant dinner-table chat while we ate and I drank and, at last, the plates were empty and it was approaching that time when a peck on the cheek could accelerate into a pleasant waste of time for a few hours.

‘This has been lovely. Thanks for inviting me over.’ I pushed my chair away from the table. ‘Now I really ought to weave my way home.’

Both of us had an eye on the door through which Scarlet had come earlier. Although I was almost positive that she’d gone back to her room, for all I knew she made a habit of crouching down in the hallway and bursting into the room suddenly at this time every night. Alex was almost as twitchy. ‘Thank you for c-coming. And for everything y-you’ve done for Scarl.’

You could kiss him. Just lean over across the table and give him a nice, friendly cheek kiss. He’s sexy, he’s cute, he’s . . .

What is he? Why are you hesitating? A couple of years ago you would have had him over the back of that sofa pleading for mercy by now, with a chair against the door to hold back young girls and another bottle of wine in the fridge for afterwards. Okay, you don’t have to do that, but you could give him some signal that you’re interested, couldn’t you?

I picked up my coat from the back of the chair but Alex took it from me and held it so that I could put it on. Maybe that’s why you don’t want to make any sudden moves. He’s a gentleman. As I slid my arms down the sleeves, I suddenly noticed Light Bulb, tucked into a corner behind the sofa. ‘Not in his stable?’ I nodded towards the hobby horse.

Alex settled the coat across my shoulders. ‘He was too w-warm. He’s cooling down out h-here and I’ll put him away l-later.’

I gave a little laugh. ‘You’re as bonkers as Scarlet.’

‘Maybe.’

Light Bulb had a slightly lopsided look about him tonight, his head seemed to be slightly askew on his stick, and I suddenly remembered Scarlet, with a mark across her face like a smack, and Lucy’s words. ‘Lucy said the school wanted to talk to you tomorrow about Scarlet. I think she might be being bullied, you know.’

He froze. Moved away from me, his hands falling to his sides as though weighted. ‘J-j—’ he started, blinking rapidly, his face almost bending in his effort to get the words out. ‘J-j . . .’ A sudden, vicious shake of his head and his fisted hands beat against his legs. ‘J-just don’t worry about it, Winter.’ The words came in a rush.

‘But she—’

He hustled me to the door, moving me with his body, so I either left the flat or he climbed up me. ‘Goodnight, W-Winter,’ he said, and closed the door, leaving me standing at the top of the coiled staircase from the big hallway like Ginger Rogers with stage fright.

‘Goodnight,’ I said to the door, for manners’ sake, then went down and outside into the newly chilly air.

Chapter Ten

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Comments:

Matt Simons: Well, how did the date go? Did you poison her?

Alex Hill: No, but I was a dick. Why do I always think that any time anyone says something about Scarlet, that they’re calling my parenting skills into question? Why can I not just smile and nod and take it on board? I am, sorry to say it, a shit.

Matt Simons: Nah, you’re just oversensitive, mate. You gotta learn to shake it off. Unless they really are insulting your parenting skills, then you can smack ’em.

Alex Hill: Thanks. I think.

Lucy Charlton: Next time I see you I’ll teach you how to make a soufflé!

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Advice

It’s not a soufflé I need. Winter picked up that Scarl is having problems at school and I bloody nearly bit her head off. What can I do about the whole bullying thing? Am I letting Scarl down?

Al x

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