Page 43 of Don't Fall in Love (and how to break the rules)

Rule 3 – give back.She’d abandoned that the moment she had thought of herself above her colleagues – her friends – and disappeared into the reverie of the bookshop. Hardev might never have gone missing if she hadn’t gone for so long. She had been stupid and selfish. She berated herself internally.

Chrissie finished the last crumbs of her pain au chocolat, packed away her notebook and climbed back upstairs. She went straight to the dormitories and knocked loudly, shouting “wakey wakey” to the children, most of who were very much awake already.

She opened the door to one of the dorms. “Come on, Francis, I know you’re tired, but you’ll perk up no end once you’ve had one of those giant pancakes. I think there’s still some Nutella left after you and Dottie attacked it yesterday morning,” Chrissie said with a laugh. Francis hopped out of bed. “Ok, everyone, get yourselves dressed and washed. And Hardev, please brush your teeth this time.” She closed the door on a hubbub of activity, and turned to see Nisha in the hallway, having just done the same job with one of the other rooms.

“Morning,” said Nisha levelly. “Dan and Philippa have done the other rooms, so all the kids should be ready to eat soon.” She smoothed down her freshly showered hair. “I missed you this morning.”

“Oh, I couldn’t sleep past six, so I went down and had a sneaky quiet breakfast to myself.” Chrissie kept her voice light, relieved Nisha seemed less annoyed this morning.

“Look,” said Nisha, her eyes screwed up, “I think I was a bit harsh yesterday.”

“I can understand why,” said Chrissie, her voice low, not wanting any wagging ears to hear their conversation.

“I know. I just think that perhaps I took it all a bit too personally. I mean, given what I did to you all those years ago, just disappearing,” Nisha trailed off. “I just think I need to keep this in proportion.”

“For what it’s worth,” Chrissie told her, leaning back against the hallway wall, “I think you were right. I got wrapped up in myself, and I shouldn’t have done that.”

“But don’t we all, sometimes?” said Nisha. Chrissie felt some of the weight that had been on her chest begin to lift.

“Maybe,” said Chrissie. She was desperate to continue the conversation, but at that moment Philippa joined them in the hallway, followed closely by Dan.

“Now all we have to do is wait for that horrible lot to put their clothes on,” said Dan with a sleepy smile. Chrissie smiled back in his direction. He was so unrelentingly positive and kind. She was grateful for his presence on this trip. He seemed to take everything in his stride. She wished she could be more like that.

“Well if any of you see Dottie wearing that Taylor Swift T-shirt on again, I’d appreciate it if someone could let her know it’s rank and she needs a clean top today,” said Philippa. “I’m trying not to helicopter parent her while we’re here, as she needs to experience the trip like all the other children, but my goodness, if I have to look at that chocolate stain down the front one more time, I may well lose my mind.”

“On it,” said Nisha with a chuckle. “And you know what, good for you for taking a step back. I don’t think a lot of parents would manage it.”

“It’s good for her,” said Philippa. “Her dad’s away so much, we live in each other’s pockets. It can be a bit like being a single parent at times.” She adjusted her hair. “Don’t get me wrong, most of the time it’s absolutely fine. But sometimes…”

“I get you,” said Chrissie, “I get like that towards the end of term.”

“I get like that one week into term,” added Nisha, and they all laughed. A door opened. “Go and change your top, Dottie,” said Nisha, as the children started filing out into the corridor.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

“Francis,” said Dan, “I think you need to eat your ice-cream a little quicker than that. It might be November but you’ve taken so long it’s melting all over your fingers.”

The children were in the Jardins de l’Avenue Foch beside the Arc de Triomphe, where those with smartphones had flattened their batteries by taking hundreds of pictures of the giant monument and the Champs-Elysees.

It was an unseasonably warm day in Paris, and a delegation of the class had presented themselves to Dan – by far the softest touch – and requested ice-creams. Chrissie suspected Dottie had been behind it, as she had piped up with the fact that she knew how to order ice-cream in French, and wouldn’t it be a good way for them to practice their language skills?

Nisha and Chrissie sat with Philippa on a bench, soaking up the sun. They had opted for coffees to pep them up after another long day of walking around Paris with a class full of children.

The sun felt warm on Chrissie’s face in spite of the chilly wind, and it gave her hope. Perhaps things would be ok.

“Thanks, Philippa,” said Chrissie. “We would never have been able to do this without you.”

“Oh, don’t thank me,” replied the woman, as immaculately dressed as always. “It was the company. It was just a bonus I could get involved. Well, a bonus for me, at least.”

“And for us,” said Nisha, flashing her best smile at the woman, piquing Chrissie’s jealousy at the same time.

“Well thank you,” said Philippa. “I’ve actually really enjoyed it. It’s been hard work, of course it has. But being around you two and Daniel has been really lovely. You’re all so friendly.” She sipped from her macchiato. “I’m not really close to anyone I work with, and most of the rest of the time I’m with Dottie, so I don’t have loads of friends.”

“Well,” said Nisha, throwing an arm loosely around Philippa’s shoulder, “you have us now.” She put her other arm around Chrissie. “Doesn’t she, Chris?”

“You do,” Chrissie beamed, feeling her heart quicken at Nisha’s touch, which was somehow enjoyable at the same time as it was confusing.

“But I’m not going to lie, I could do with a night in my own bed,” added Philippa with a laugh. “Those hostel beds aren’t the best, are they?”

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