Page 26 of Come Back To Me

“Please,” I reply with a smile.

As I take out my work things, I watch Eva go around asking who else want’s a brew. It’s not her job, but it’s something she’s done since she started a few months ago.

Twenty emails sit in my inbox since I last logged on. Trolling through the usual jargon of staffing updates and the minutes from Friday’s meeting, I stop at an email with a subject field which makes my heart nearly stop.

Subject: Pupil update – Lauren Gibson

PUPIL UPDATE

Further to our last email, Under Section 444(1A) Education Act 1996, we believe an aggravated offence has been committed with relation to Lauren Gibson not attending her final year at school. At this time, due to lack of communication, the Local Authority will apply for an Education Supervision Order. A supervisor will be appointed for the child who will advise, assist, befriend, and give directions as to how the child and the parents can ensure the child is properly educated.

Please take into consideration additional measures that mayneed to be put in place to co-ordinate with facilitation of this.

A meeting has been scheduled for 0900 at the school. We have extended an invite to all parties involved.

You will receive an update with an action plan going forward.

Regards

What? What previous email? Heat rushes to my cheeks and my heart beats faster. I quickly scan through my inbox, not seeing an email from the same sender regarding Lauren.

Jumping from my seat, I hot-foot it to Vivian’s new office that’s based with all of us at the school. What’s going on? I haven’t heard anything for months, now all of a sudden, I’m invited to a meeting presumably with her there…tomorrow?

Pushing the door handle, Vivian’s office is locked. I peer through the glass to check she isn’t sat at her PC. She isn’t.

My shoulders slump as I let go of the door and walk back to my desk.

A meeting withall parties.Is Lauren coming to the school? If she is, I can’t deny it hurts that she hasn’t messaged me prior to let me know. I mean, she isn’tmychild, but she wasmyresponsibility.

Scanning the email again, I read the part about an Education Supervisor. Someone who can ‘befriend her and assist her in her education’. Was that not what I already did? It may be a different title, but ultimately, that was my job. I don’t like the idea of someone else doing what I should be doing.

I’d promised Dean I wouldn’t bombard her, and I kept that promise once I took the hint that she didn’t want to talk to me. But before I can tell myself not to worry or overthink this, I pick up my mobile and hit call.

My hand’s shaking as it rings. And rings. And cuts off. Looking up at the clock on my screen, it’s only just after nine.Maybe she’s still asleep?

Don’t overthink.

I text Vivian asking her what time she’ll be in and wait for her reply, running my eyes once again through my emails. There definitely isn’t another email about Lauren.

“One cup of tea, two sugars and oat milk, not cow’s milk.”

I take the cup from Eva’s hand without saying anything.

“Everything alright?” she asks as she stands over me.

I quickly register how rude I’m being. “Everything’s fine. Sorry. Thank you for the tea.”

She shrugs with a smile. “No need to thank me.” She turns to walk away to her desk.

“Hey, have you seen Vivian this morning?”

Eva sits behind her desk and places her mug on the coaster. “No, not yet. She did mention Friday about maybe being in later. Something to do with a staffing restructure.”

Staffing restructure?

We’re all relatively new, only Alex and Vivian were the original members of our team. I look around the office wondering what needs to be changed already. There are four desks. Mine, Eva’s—formerly Alex’s, Greg’s, and Orla’s. Work used to be more sporadic. Now, we share a base. It’s much more practical and actually means I’ve made some new friends since Alex died.

Correction, since Dean killed him.

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