Closing In. Sue Fortin

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СКАЧАТЬ card. When was the appointment? Maybe he could wait outside the dentist, just in case she attended. Putting his cup down, his attention firmly fixed on the card, he walked over and unpinned it, ignoring the picture of Paul Newman, which fell to the floor.

      He turned the appointment card over and was disappointed to see that the routine check-up had been and gone. He wondered if they would give him any information as to a new address for her. It was too late to ring them now; he’d contact them in the morning. He placed the card in his wallet. As he went to finish making his coffee, his foot kicked the postcard, which had landed face down on the floor. Toby bent to retrieve the card. Absently he glanced at the message on the back, written to Helen from Kate.

       I know you said you fancied a new man but this is the best I could come up with.

       Lol.

       Kate xxx

      Toby reread the message. Turned the card over and then back again. New man. Paul Newman. Newman.

      He pulled his iPhone from his pocket and hastily located the picture he had taken of the envelope at Kate’s flat. Ellen Newman.

      A warm feeling of victory ebbed over him.

      ‘Clever, sweetheart,’ he muttered, ‘but not that clever.’

      Ellen woke early the next morning after a night of restless sleep. She showered and dressed before making her way downstairs to Izzy’s room. Poking her head around the corner of the door, she expected to see the little girl fast asleep, it was so quiet in there. Instead, Izzy was sitting up in her bed looking at a book.

      ‘Good morning, Izzy,’ said Ellen. ‘You’re up early. You should have come and woken me.’

      ‘But I’m not allowed. Carla says I must stay in bed until someone comes to get me for breakfast. Is it breakfast time?’

      ‘Not yet but we can get you dressed and go downstairs, if you want.’

      ‘We’re not allowed to until breakfast time,’ said Izzy, looking up at Ellen. ‘It’s the rules.’

      ‘The rules? Whose rules are those?’ Ellen felt her hackles go up. Carla and her rules. Whose house was this? Then, noticing the anxious look on Izzy’s face, she felt bad about asking the child. ‘Hey, don’t worry. We can have some of our own rules. In fact, my first new rule is … we can get up early and go exploring. How does that sound? You can show me the garden. I haven’t been out there yet.’

      Izzy looked delighted at the suggestion. ‘The garden? Really?’ Discarding her book with abandonment, she threw back her duvet and jumped onto the floor. ‘I can show you my trampoline.’

      ‘Excellent! Let’s get you washed and dressed then.’

      The grass was still a little damp from the morning dew. Trees shielded the garden from the sight of neighbouring properties, their long shadows cast across the lawn.

      The trampoline was at the far end of the garden, next to a wooden climbing frame and swing.

      ‘Race you to the trampoline,’ said Ellen. ‘Ready, steady … hey! You’re supposed to wait for me to say go!’ She laughed as Izzy sped off down the neatly kept lawn. Ellen ran after her but made sure she didn’t catch up.

      ‘I win! I win!’ sang out Izzy as she scampered up the steps of the trampoline and through the opening of the safety net. ‘Look at me. I can bounce really high, just like Tigger. Bounce! Bounce! Bounce!’

      Ellen wriggled in through the opening, zipping up the net behind her. Wobbling against the spring of the mat, she laughed as she staggered towards Izzy. Holding hands, they bounced up and down, laughing and shrieking as they jumped higher, before Ellen lost her footing and landed in a heap, bringing Izzy down on top of her. Ellen wasn’t quite sure if she was laughing at herself or whether Izzy’s infectious giggling was making her just as bad. Getting to her feet again, she hauled Izzy up.

      ‘Come on, Tigger,’ she said. ‘Let’s try again. See if we can bounce higher this time.

      Ellen didn’t hear Carla at first, but noticing the sudden look of concern on Izzy’s face, she stopped jumping and turned to look back at the house. Carla was marching down the garden towards them.

      ‘Oh dear,’ said Ellen, looking back at Izzy and pulling an eek sort of face. ‘Carla doesn’t look too happy.’

      ‘What are you doing out here this time of the morning, making all this noise?’ demanded Carla, as she reached the trampoline. ‘You will have the whole street awake at this rate. Come inside at once.’

      ‘We were only having a bit of fun, seeing as we were up early,’ replied Ellen, attempting a graceful exit from the trampoline. She lifted Izzy down onto the grass and sensing the child’s unease, picked her up again and began carrying her back towards the house.

      ‘That’s not how we do things here.’ Carla turned to Izzy. ‘You should have told Miss Newman that you’re not allowed out here until after breakfast.’

      ‘Ellen. Izzy doesn’t have to call me Miss Newman.’ Ellen couldn’t hide the annoyance in her voice. All these rules for an eight-year-old. What sort of place was this, for goodness sake? She felt Izzy bury her head into her shoulder. Probably frightened of what could potentially turn into an argument. Ellen purposefully put a spring in her stride and started singing a nursery rhyme. She felt Izzy relax against her and was pleased when she joined in with the song.

      As they reached the patio, something made Ellen glance up to the first-floor window. Donovan was standing there looking down at them. ‘Oh, Izzy, there’s Daddy. Wave. Hello, Daddy!’ They both waved up at Donovan, who smiled broadly at his daughter and waved furiously back. Then, for a second, his gaze switched to Ellen and he smiled directly at her. Why it made her tummy give a little flutter, Ellen wasn’t sure. She distracted herself by putting Izzy down and, taking her hand, led her indoors.

      Sitting at the breakfast table with Izzy, Ellen was disappointed when Carla sat down opposite them.

      ‘I’d appreciate it if you stick to how things are done here, please,’ said Carla, fixing her gaze on Ellen. ‘It’s important Izzy keeps to a routine; that way when you leave there is minimum disruption for her. Your replacement can fit in easily.’

      ‘My replacement? When I leave?’ Ellen met Carla’s gaze with equal intensity. She wouldn’t let herself be bullied. Those days were long gone. She’d let that happen with Toby and had sworn never again. ‘I’m not planning on going anywhere soon.’

      ‘I’m sure Carla was thinking longterm.’ Donovan entered the kitchen. ‘Morning, ladies, and good morning, my beautiful princess.’ Izzy slipped down from her seat and ran to her father, who scooped her up into a big hug, kissing her on the nose.

      ‘Good morning, Donovan.’ Carla smiled warmly. Ellen couldn’t help but notice the change in demeanour of the PA. ‘I was merely pointing out to Miss Newman that nannies come and go, but it must always be Izzy’s best interest kept at heart, hence the routine we like to stick to.’

      ‘We were just having a bit of fun. It’s such a nice morning for this time of year, we thought we’d take advantage of it.’ Ellen defended herself.

      ‘Quite right СКАЧАТЬ