Page 23 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
‘This is just like old times,’ she said. ‘You know, Liam, Grandma was always keen on these meetings with us all around the table to discuss things. She was a manager at work, and a manager at home.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with that,’ said Kate briskly. ‘Sometimes things need to be discussed. Like now. Right,’ she said, peering over her glasses first at Jen, then Liam. ‘I call this meeting to order.’
Jen’s lips quirked in amusement. She winked at Liam’s pensive expression, and he gave a brief smile before returning his gaze to his grandmother. Jen reckoned Kate could do anything, and Liam would go along with it.
‘I have four items on my agenda for discussion. The first one is Liam.’
Liam opened his eyes wider but didn’t shift his gaze from Kate.
‘I think we’re all agreed,’ continued Kate in a mock formal fashion, ‘that Liam is our priority, and we need him to be happy, healthy and… educated. Sound all right so far, Liam?’
He nodded.
‘So, Liam, over to you. What do you think we can do to secure these priorities?’
Part of Jen wanted to intervene. Her mum was going too far. She sincerely doubted that Liam would understand what her mother was talking about. But another part told her to wait. Jen hadn’t done a brilliant job of these things so far, so she’d see what her mother could come up with. She nodded encouragingly to Liam, who stared at his grandmother blankly.
‘OK,’ said Kate, ‘let’s take them one at a time. What makes you happy?’
Jen watched Liam fist his little hands as he summoned up his courage to respond. ‘Um, being here?’
Jen released a tense breath.
‘Good,’ said Kate. ‘Then here is where you’ll stay.’ She looked at Jen. ‘All in agreement say “aye”.’
‘Aye,’ they said in unison.
‘Anything else on the happiness front?’
Liam shook his head and visibly relaxed.
‘Right.’ Kate wrote a tick with a big flourish. ‘Let’s move on to health. Did you know, Liam, that up the coast from here there used to be a health camp for young children from the city?’
Liam shook his head. ‘A camp? With tents?’
‘It’s not the kind of place where you go and sleep in a tent with your family. It’s a place where children could get lots of fresh air, sunshine and good food. So how about we make sure you spend plenty of time on the beach, and in the garden, and eat lots of homemade food?’
He nodded enthusiastically this time and wriggled forward in his seat, placing his folded arms on the table, as if he’d decided to actively take a part in this meeting, now he understood he’d like the results.
A second tick was recorded.
‘Now, education.’ Kate took off her glasses, and Jen realised it had all been building up to this. ‘Your mother tells me she’s been homeschooling you for a while.’
‘Yes,’ he said with a frown.
‘And I’m sure that was the correct thing to do, and you’re a bright boy and you’re doing well. But?—’
‘No school!’ He blinked, and it was all Jen could do not to put her arm around him and tell him he never had to go to school again. But she and her mother had talked about it, and in the end Jen had reluctantly agreed. Intellectually, she knew it was the right thing to do. And sooner rather than later.
‘And why is that?’ asked Kate patiently.
‘Because the big boys are mean and make me cry.’
Jen looked anxiously at Kate, and she could see by the pressed lips she was also trying to rein in her emotions.
‘How many pupils went to your old school, Liam?’
He shrugged and looked at Jen.
