‘You’re a good girl. I always said so. Now, would you mind going and hurrying Jane up. We’ll be late. She’s lost her gloves.’
Chloe felt daunted at this small task. Hurry Jane up? Why, the woman disliked Sarah intensely. Chloe was a very bright girl and she quickly decided there was jealousy there. Jane was jealous of the children, probably because they had a past history with George – their father – and she was new on the scene. Chloe didn’t think Jane was naturally aggressive. She was terrified of having to fight for her place in an established household. Realising this she went into the bedroom where Jane was still searching for her gloves.
‘Can I help?’ she said. ‘Where did you last see them?’
Jane looked up quickly, a suspicious expression on her face.
‘What are you smiling at? Have you hidden them?’
‘No,’ replied Chloe, ‘I wouldn’t do such a thing. I don’t dislike you, you know. Look,’ she faced Jane full on, ‘this is difficult for all of us. We – us children – are worried about you, whether you’ll like us or not. That’s why we’ve been a bit awkward with you, I suppose. I’m sorry for that. We could start again. We could easily be friends. It would be nicer for – for Dad – for George – if we were. Would you be my friend, please, Jane?’
Jane stared at her for a long time.
‘I can be nice,’ she said at last. ‘If people are nice to me.’
‘Well,’ Chloe laughed, ‘you know what my baby brother is like – he’s a rotten little ruffian and we won’t get much niceness out of him, but he’d be the same in any family. As for Chantelle, well, she’s been spoiled by Dad a bit, but if we’re firm with her, she’ll be all right once she goes to school. It’s you and me who have to make the running in this.’
Chloe paused, wondering how far to take this, but finally put out her hand.
‘Would you shake on it?’
Jane looked down, seemingly uncertain. ‘This is very silly.’
‘I know, but I want to try to help us all get on better together. A handshake – well, it’s symbolic, isn’t it?’
Again Jane looked at her for a long while, before saying, ‘If you’re playing a game with me …’
‘I’m not, I promise,’ replied Chloe, hoping that the real Sarah would prove to be as receptive to tenderness as she would be. ‘I’m just fed up with all this sniping. I get enough of that at school with other girls and I’m sick and tired of it.’
Jane’s eyes went a little moist. ‘So am I,’ she said. ‘Weary to the bone with it.’
Suddenly, they were shaking hands and Chloe was flushed with triumph. Oh, please don’t let me down, Sarah, she thought. This will be so much better for you.
George came into the room, saying, ‘What the heck is happening up here? I said we would be late—’ He stopped in the middle of the room and stared.
‘What are you two up to?’ he said, looking puzzled. ‘Making a pact?’
‘You could say that,’ murmured Jane.
She went forward and straightened his tie possessively, then realised how this looked and turned back nervously towards Chloe.
But Chloe knew the move had been instinctive. Jane had been using these tricks for some time now and they were hard to throw off. Both females knew what had happened and Chloe was determined it would not interfere with this new relationship she had set up.
‘You two have a good time tonight,’ she said, smiling broadly. ‘Off you go. Don’t worry about the kids.’
Jane looked relieved and smiled.
‘Didn’t I tell you she was a good girl?’ George cried.
‘You did,’ agreed Jane, a smile almost reaching her eyes.
‘My two best girls,’ he said with genuine affection. Then a look at his watch and, ‘Come on, Jane. We must go.’
They all bounded down the stairs together and George opened the front door. It had a frosted stained-glass panel depicting a robin on a bough. He took one more look at the snow, then stepped outside.
Once the door had slammed, Chloe turned to the boy.
He said aggressively, ‘I ain’t going to bed yet.’
‘No one’s asked you to.’
Chantelle, still at the table, was hammering her cabbage with her spoon, sending green bits flying all over the tablecloth. Chloe was at a loss for a moment, then went in and gathered her