Daddy’s Little Princess and Will You Love Me 2-in-1 Collection. Cathy Glass

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СКАЧАТЬ Definitely not. It was part of his illness.’

      ‘He used to get very tired too,’ Beth said. ‘And sometimes he got angry and shouted at me for no reason. He never shouted before. Is that part of his illness?’

      ‘Yes, love, it would have been.’

      ‘And not sleeping?’ Beth now asked, clearly relieved at finally being able to discuss this. ‘Daddy used to come to bed with me and then get up when he thought I was asleep. I’d wait for him to come back to bed, but sometimes he didn’t so I’d go and look for him. He was sitting in a chair with his head in his hands, or sometimes he was just walking up and down. If I asked him what was the matter, he’d start crying again.’

      I nodded and soothed her hand. The poor child had coped with so much, watching her father’s breakdown. Thank goodness, I thought, that Derek had sought help when he had and not left it any longer – for both their sakes.

      ‘Crying easily was part of your daddy’s illness,’ I said gently. ‘But the doctors are making him better. When you saw him last Friday he wasn’t crying, was he?’

      ‘No,’ Beth said, brightening a little. ‘He was laughing and joking and cuddling me like he used to.’

      ‘There you are!’ I said.

      ‘But why did Jenni say those horrible things if they aren’t true?’ Beth asked.

      ‘She didn’t understand what she was saying,’ I said. ‘I’m sure she didn’t mean to hurt you. Tomorrow I’ll come into school and see your teacher and ask her to explain to Jenni that what she said was upsetting.’ While I didn’t think Jenni was being intentionally malicious, the matter needed to be dealt with.

      ‘Oh no, please don’t do that!’ Beth cried, her eyes widening in alarm. ‘I don’t want you going into school and getting Jenni into trouble. I want us to be friends again.’

      ‘She won’t get into trouble,’ I said. I knew Miss Willow would handle the matter sensitively and tactfully. ‘Suppose Jenni says something else horrible? I don’t want you being upset and hurting.’

      ‘I’ll tell her not to be horrid,’ Beth persisted. ‘I can stand up for myself, but I don’t want you to go into school.’

      I hesitated; my instinct was to go in, but I was swayed by the forcefulness of Beth’s request not to. ‘If you really don’t want me to, I won’t,’ I said. ‘But I want you to promise me that if Jenni says anything else that upsets you, you’ll tell me. I don’t want you worrying. I’m here to help you.’

      Beth look relieved and finally smiled. ‘I promise I’ll tell you,’ she said. ‘But I’m sure it will be OK. Thank you for helping me. I wish I had a mummy like you.’

      It’s the little comments that are totally unexpected that often take my breath away and make me well up. Beth’s comment about having a mummy like me did just that. I felt my eyes mist and a lump rise to my throat.

      ‘That was a lovely thing to say,’ I said.

      ‘It’s true,’ Beth said. ‘If I had you for a mummy I’d be so happy.’

      And not for the first time I wondered why Beth hadn’t let Marianne be her mummy. From what I’d seen of Marianne I was sure she’d have made a very loving and caring stepmother. It was such a pity.

      True to my word, I didn’t go into school to see Miss Willow on Tuesday morning, despite still feeling it was the proper course of action. However, on Tuesday evening I had reason to reverse my decision. I’d said goodnight to Beth, Paula was asleep and I went into Adrian’s room to say goodnight to him. He was sitting up in bed reading a book, as he often did last thing at night.

      ‘Time to switch off your light and go to sleep,’ I said.

      He closed his book and looked at me seriously. ‘OK,’ he said. ‘But first I need to tell you something.’ Adrian didn’t share his worries easily and often internalized them, so I knew whatever he wanted to say must be important and worrying him considerably.

      I sat on the edge of his bed and looked at him. ‘Yes, love? What is it?’ I was thinking it was probably about missing his father, but what he said gave me even greater cause for concern.

      ‘Mum, I think you need to know that some of the kids at school are saying things about Beth’s father.’

      My heart sank. ‘What sort of things?’

      ‘They’re saying her dad is a head case and calling him a nutter. That he’s barmy and has been locked up.’

      ‘Who said this?’

      ‘I don’t know which kids, but you know Oliver in my class?’ I nodded. ‘His sister is in Beth’s class and she told him that some of the kids in her class are saying these things and calling Beth’s dad names.’

      I felt a mixture of anger and deep sadness and regretted not going into school that morning. ‘Thank you for telling me, love,’ I said. ‘I’ll go in and see Miss Willow first thing in the morning. She’ll know how to deal with it. Did Oliver tell you anything else?’

      Adrian shook his head. ‘Not really. Only that they were saying these things behind Beth’s back.’

      ‘What did you say to Oliver?’

      ‘I told him Beth was staying with us while her dad was in hospital.’

      ‘Good. That was a sensible reply.’

      ‘I feel sorry for Beth,’ Adrian added, looking sad. ‘I wouldn’t like it if kids said things about my dad behind my back.’

      ‘No,’ I agreed. ‘And the things they were saying were very hurtful, but please don’t worry. You did the right thing in telling me and I’ll deal with it tomorrow.’

      Reassured, Adrian turned off his light, ready to sleep.

      The following morning when I woke Beth I told her I’d decided I would go into school and have a quick chat with her teacher before school started. I thought it was better she knew.

      ‘But Jenni hasn’t said any more nasty things,’ Beth protested, immediately guessing why I wanted to speak to Miss Willow.

      ‘I know, but I feel I should speak to your teacher anyway. I won’t mention Jenni by name. I’ll just say a child in the class.’ I thought that Beth was probably unaware that other children, apart from Jenni, were calling her father names, as Adrian had said it was going on behind Beth’s back. I wasn’t about to tell her and upset her further.

      Beth pouted as though she was going to cry. ‘Beth, love,’ I said. ‘Sometimes adults know what is best for children and have to make decisions for them that they don’t fully understand. I’m sure your daddy would want me to go into school and speak to your teacher if I was worried about you.’

      At the mention of her father being in agreement, Beth looked at me thoughtfully and then gave a small, reluctant nod. ‘All right, but please don’t tell on Jenni.’

      ‘I won’t,’ I said.

      Once СКАЧАТЬ