Josh and Leo, the terrible twins. Or I concentrate on a maths test or the prep I’ve got to get through later.’ She straightened in her seat. ‘Mummy wouldn’t want me to be crying all the time.’
Listening in awe, Kate had to remind herself that Jo was only thirteen. ‘You’re absolutely right, darling. So what social events are delighting you this term?’
‘There’s a disco next Saturday night. Just girls, though.’
‘I thought you socialised with the boys from King Edward’s occasionally.’
‘Not in the junior school, worse luck,’ said Jo, pulling a face. ‘Was it the same with you?’
‘I went to an ordinary co-ed day school, with boys around all the time. At your age I was more interested in hockey and netball than any of that lot.’
Jo cast a mischievous glance at Kate’s face. ‘How about right now? Have you met anyone since you moved back home?’
‘Yes,’ said Kate with perfect truth. ‘Lots of people. I told you about Anna’s party, but since then I’ve had dinner with an old friend and I’ve been to the theatre with a new one. And here’s some stop press news. Anna’s going to have a baby!’
This information diverted Jo so effectively from Kate’s social life that she talked of nothing else until they reached the hotel. Kate collected her key and asked to have tea sent up as soon as possible, then took Jo upstairs to a pleasant double room overlooking the grounds at the back of the building.
‘Cool,’ said Jo, impressed. ‘Can I watch television?’
‘You can do anything you like—within reason!’
Jo went off to explore the bathroom, exclaiming about the various products provided by the hotel, then came back to prop herself up on the bed and spend a happy few minutes with the remote control before finding a channel with a rerun of Grease.
‘This is brilliant,’ she said with smile of satisfaction. ‘Can we have lunch here tomorrow, too?’
‘If you like. Or would you prefer a scenic drive and a country pub somewhere?’
The smile faded. ‘No, thank you. I’d rather come back here.’
Kate could have kicked herself. No child would fancy driving far after losing her parents in a road accident. ‘Good choice. The receptionist told me they do a very good Sunday lunch here.’
Jo brightened. ‘It’s sure to beat school dinners!’
When a waiter arrived to deposit a laden tray on the small table Kate sent him on his way with a generous tip and pulled up two basket chairs. ‘Right, then. Let’s see what they found for us.’
Jo gazed in delight at the array of sandwiches, crumpets, cakes and scones, and two bowls of fresh fruit salad.
‘Wow!’ she said, and shook out a napkin to protect her grey uniform skirt. ‘May I start?’
Using dinner later as her excuse, Kate ate very little, content just to drink tea and enjoy Jo’s account of tests she’d done well in and others she hadn’t, of goals she’d scored in netball, the dance session with her friends in front of Top of the Pops on television on Friday nights, and the wild, but much admired, exploits of Giles, the brother of her friend, Emma.
‘How old is he?’
‘Oh, quite old. He’s in his first year at university.’
‘That old!’
Jo grinned as she spread cream and jam on a scone. ‘Jane’s got a brother, too, but he’s only fifteen.’ She sighed. ‘I would have liked a brother—or a sister.’
Kate’s heart contracted. She put out a hand to touch a rather sticky little paw. ‘I’m sure Anna will let you have a share in the baby.’
Jo’s eyes lit up at the thought. ‘I wonder what she’ll have. Will Anna have a scan to find out?’
‘I’ll ask when I get home.’
After driving Jo back to school Kate felt at rather a loose end when she returned to the hotel. To pass the time until dinner she had a shower, fiddled a lot with her hair afterwards, and then rang Anna for a chat.
‘Hi, Mumsie. How are you?’
‘At this time of day fine. You do not, however, want anything to do with me in the mornings. How’s Jo?’
‘Doing well, thank God. She assures me she’s coping and her headmistress confirmed it.’
‘She’s got grit, that niece of yours. Did you tell her about the baby?’
‘Of course I did. She was thrilled to bits. She asked if you’re going to find out what sex it is.’
‘Good heavens no! Give her my love tomorrow, but say we’d rather wait until the baby’s born. Oh, by the way—breaking news. Jack Logan has invited the Maitlands