smiles and then turns to take the owl model from Miss Perkins without looking back at me.
I sigh with relief and close the classroom door quietly behind me.
31
I walk back up the corridor towards reception when someone calls my name. I look to the left, into an open office, and see Mrs Grant and Audrey in there. Audrey waves me in.
‘How is the little one?’ she asks in her deep voice.
‘Fine,’ I say, glancing at Mrs Grant. ‘She’s absolutely fine. I didn’t expect to leave her today, I thought we were here just to look around and complete some paperwork.’
‘There’s not a problem with her staying, I trust?’ Mrs Grant asks.
‘Oh no, it’s very kind of you to arrange it at such short notice, and Miss Perkins has completely put Skye at ease.’
‘We aim to please.’ Mrs Grant nods. ‘And as our esteemed chair of governors requested it, well . . . we had little choice in the matter.’
Both women laugh, but I’m sure I catch a thread of tension under the surface.
Audrey twists in her chair to look at me. ‘I didn’t want to mention in front of Skye that she’d be staying today as I could see she was a little anxious. But it’s best to get these things done and dusted as soon as possible, I find.’
‘Yes,’ I say, pressing my lips together. Audrey has gone too far in her willingness to help, she should have at least mentioned it to me. Thankfully it has turned out for the best.
‘Push the door to a moment and take a seat, Freya,’ Mrs Grant says quietly.
I do as she asks, pulling out a chair next to Audrey. I feel slightly uncomfortable under their intense stares.
‘Audrey has explained your recent personal problems, the death of your husband and the challenges you face as a single parent with meagre financial resources.’
I open my mouth and close it again, unable to respond. I’m literally flabbergasted.
How dare Audrey presume she can repeat such personal information? It’s not down to her to discuss such matters with Skye’s school.
I jut out my bottom lip and blow air up on to my hot cheeks.
‘Hope you don’t mind me mentioning it, far better out in the open from the off,’ Audrey says briskly. ‘Iris can offer you a lot of support, Freya, so I do hope you’ll take it.’
‘Actually, I do mind.’ I’m struggling to keep my voice level. ‘I would have preferred you to at least check with me, Audrey, before openly discussing my personal circumstances.’
The two women look at each other and I notice Mrs Grant looks mildly impressed with my obvious dig at Audrey.
‘Oh! Well I – I only meant to help,’ she blusters before setting her lips in a tight line. ‘I’m sorry if you think I’ve overstepped the mark.’
I’m beginning to realise Audrey rarely utters the word ‘sorry’.
‘We can arrange for Skye to see the school counsellor, and we can also offer subsidised trips to support you.’ Mrs Grant warily eyes my darkening expression. ‘If, of course, you are open to such measures. I don’t want to force anything on you.’
‘Thank you,’ I say carefully. ‘I’m very happy to chat about it, but it’s taken me by surprise on Skye’s first day in school. Perhaps you and I can discuss it in a day or two?’
I feel Audrey bristle slightly beside me but I don’t care. I can’t shrug off my annoyance that she’s overstepped the mark so casually.
Mrs Grant glances at Audrey and clears her throat.
‘Of course, that’s no problem at all.’ She stands up. ‘Now, I won’t keep you any longer. Why don’t you leave Skye for a couple of hours and then pop back to sign the admission forms and pick her up? We don’t want to overwhelm her on her first day.’
I feel my shoulders relax a little. It’s the perfect arrangement and it shows Audrey I have boundaries.
‘Thank you,’ I say, and look at the two women in turn. ‘I appreciate both your help in sorting this out.’
‘No problem.’ Audrey stands up and brushes invisible creases out of her black trousers and sniffs. ‘I thought we might take a little walk up the high street and have a spot of lunch . . . but far be it from me to impinge on your arrangements.’
Her tone is cool and there’s no doubt I’ve offended her, but I think about catching her canoodling with that mystery man and wonder how she’d take to me spilling her embarrassing circumstances