A Family Holiday (9 page)

‘It’s parents’ evening next week,’ she said in a hushed voice.

Fleur moaned gently as she felt his fingers tease the inside of her thigh. She was hot and she wanted him badly. She reached out to cup his face and pull him to her. His hair was different, she noticed; it wasn’t as neat as it had been, it was all roughed up and she liked it much better. His body was surprisingly muscular and she could feel the weight of it on top of her. She heard a voice whisper in her ear… but it was a female voice. Fleur screwed her face up and tried to listen.

‘What are you dreaming about?’ asked Poppy, who was sitting on the bed, though technically she was half on the bed and half on Fleur.

‘Urgh, you could knock, you know,’ grumbled Fleur, feeling slightly violated.

‘I did, but as you didn’t reply I thought I had better check that the Rozzers hadn’t been here in the night and carted you off to the nick.’

‘You sound so authentic, you could be in
EastEnders
,’ said Fleur, briefly checking that the other side of her bed was empty, though she knew it was.

‘Is this still your winter quilt? You look a bit red in the cheeks. Anyway, I got the late train last night but by the time I’d arrived, you’d all gone to bed, you wild lot,’ said Poppy, giving Fleur an affectionate nudge.

‘Poppy, there’s something on my mind that I can’t talk to Ma and Pa about.’

‘You’re not pregnant, are you?’

‘No! Thank goodness. Don’t get cross when I tell you but it’s about me being adopted.’

‘I won’t get cross, Fleur, come on, what is it?’

‘Ma and Pa have been the best and everything but I feel like there’s a piece of me missing.’ She paused and watched Poppy closely, waiting for the dismissive eye roll that didn’t come. Fleur continued. ‘They’ve told me all they know, or at least everything they are comfortable to share, but I get the feeling there is something else. Something they’re not telling me.’

‘Like?’ prompted Poppy her tone gentle.

Fleur shrugged her delicate shoulders. ‘I don’t know – that’s kind of my point.’ She pulled a resigned face. ‘Maybe the family that didn’t want me were criminals or something.’

Poppy smiled. ‘If you’re looking for something exciting you’re looking in the wrong place. The point is whoever those people were, they don’t make you who you are. You have to do that.’

‘It’s all those missing months of my life with just a couple of random photos of places I can no longer remember. Maybe if I knew more about that I’d be able to work out who I am now and who I want to be?’

Poppy puffed out her cheeks and let the air escape slowly, as if taking her time before responding. ‘Ma and Pa took hundreds of photos from the moment they brought you home. But if there were any more photos from before that I’m sure they would have been kept on file. You could ask Social Services.’

Fleur shook her head. ‘I couldn’t bear to upset Ma and Pa and I’m not looking for another family, just the bit of my past that’s missing.’

‘You were a beautiful toddler,’ said Poppy, her voice soft as she studied Fleur’s face.

‘Really?’

Poppy nodded, a hint of a tear in her eye. ‘You used to chatter to yourself and giggle as if you’d told a joke.’ Poppy chuckled at the memory. ‘You were happy. You’ve always been happy, Fleur, as far back as I can remember. No child can recall those early months that you’re searching for. You’re looking for answers because you’re trying to figure out who you are and you’re looking here because you were adopted, but I think that could be the wrong place to look.’

‘But that’s the missing piece of the puzzle.’

‘I can see why you think that, and if you want to try to find out more you know I’ll help you. But I’m not sure that’s the answer ‘

‘So what is?’ said Fleur, tilting her head to one side.

‘I think it’s getting on and living your life and discovering the person you want to be, and there’s no magic way of discovering it. I have bad news for you, Fleur – you’re normal!’

‘Normal?’ Fleur was frowning hard.

‘I’m afraid so. Come on, let’s get breakfast before I steal your horse and go for a ride.’

‘Charming,’ said Fleur, rolling her eyes, and Poppy sprang from the bed and headed for the door. ‘Sis?’

‘Yep,’ said Poppy, almost jogging on the spot she was so full of energy.

‘It’s nice to have you home.’

Charlie re-read the text message and was quick to craft a reply. She couldn’t help feeling a little excited that Felix was back in touch. It was purely for the children, of course, a small spark of hope. Charlie opted for neutral territory so they were meeting at the park. If they were now back to two options for guardian she much preferred the prospect of it being Felix rather than Ruth. At least with Felix she stood a chance of keeping her job and he was much easier on the eye.

The children seemed to be coping well with being back at school. The teachers were keeping a watchful eye on them and their friends appeared to be sympathetic. Eleanor was excited that Charlie had agreed she could order a birthday present for her best friend, Victoria, and Charlie was pleased to see Eleanor getting excited about going to birthday parties again.

Charlie managed to get the children out of school clothes and to the park earlier than planned, which was a miracle in itself, but now they had hoovered up the snacks she’d brought along they were getting bored.

‘Play football or Frisbee?’ she suggested to Ted and George, who were arm-wrestling. George was the colour of an overripe tomato and looked as if he was about to rupture something. Please show Felix what great kids you are, she pleaded in her head.

‘Bored! Bored! Bored!’ yelled Millie as she started spinning in circles.

‘Charlie! Wriggly’s done a poo! Have you got a poo bag?’ called Eleanor from nearby.

‘Hi,’ said a voice from behind them as Felix appeared. Perfect timing, thought Charlie.

As Charlie had forgotten the poo bag she had to use an empty crisp packet. When she returned from the bin Eleanor and Millie were playing patter-cake and Felix was watching them.

‘Where are the boys?’ she asked, spinning around, not unlike Millie had been doing earlier.

‘Gone to play Frisbee,’ said Felix.

‘Where exactly?’ Charlie was scanning the park and could feel a twinge of fear making itself known in the pit of her stomach.

‘Umm…’ Felix stayed where he was relaxing on the grass.

‘You must have seen which way they went.’

‘No, not really. I wasn’t really paying attention.’

‘For Christ sake, Felix! This is London. You don’t take your eyes off them for a second!’ Charlie spun around frantically. ‘You irresponsible id…’

‘Hey, it’s only a joke.’ Felix looked alarmed by Charlie’s outburst. ‘They’re hiding behind that tree.’ Felix pointed to a large horse chestnut, where behind the huge trunk a slice of George’s blue t-shirt was barely visible. ‘Boys! She sussed you, out you come!’

George high-fived Felix when he reached him and Felix looked pleased. Even Ted looked less hostile. Felix snatched the Frisbee from Ted and ran off as the others gave chase. Charlie’s heart was starting to return to its normal rhythm. She sat on the picnic rug and tried to relax. She watched Felix and the boys as they played with the Frisbee, thinking that this was a huge improvement. She started to let herself wonder if this could actually work.

A happy half hour passed until Millie demanded the toilet urgently. Why did they always leave it until the last moment? Charlie called and waved to Felix and the boys and Felix jogged over. He was still wearing a jacket even on a warm day like this one.

‘Could you move your Frisbee game nearer to Eleanor so you can keep an eye on her too please?’

‘Why? Where are you going?’

‘I need a hooooooge wee wee,’ explained Millie, elaborating with her arms.

‘Yep, no problem,’ he said, beckoning the boys nearer to the horse-chestnut tree.

A few minutes later Charlie and Millie were skipping back towards the others, when the sound of raised voices put Charlie on high alert.

‘Get the hell down here right now!’ shouted Felix, pulling roughly at his own hair.

George was barely visible as he was engulfed in the foliage of the horse chestnut, edging closer to the marooned Frisbee, stuck on an outer bough.

‘I’m all right,’ called back George.

Ted was standing underneath the tree, looking as if he was ready to attempt to catch George if he fell.

‘Bloody hell, do you kids ever do as you’re told?’ Felix’s voice was growing louder and more frantic. ‘Get down before you fall and break your sodding neck!’

George inched forward and the branch took a dip, making him wobble precariously.

‘You idiot, you’ll kill yourself!’ screamed Felix as he made a grab for George’s ankle and missed.

Felix got a foothold on the ageing trunk and made another lunge for George – this time he managed to catch hold of his jeans. Why was he tugging at George like that? Was he trying to pull him out of the tree, thought Charlie as she quickened her pace, but kept hold of Millie’s hand? Whatever Felix thought he was doing he was definitely making the situation worse.

George was at full stretch, his fingers almost touching the Frisbee until the sudden attack unbalanced him and made him cling to the branch. ‘Get off me, you nutter!’ shouted George.

‘No, you let go, you little bugger!’ Felix pulled at the jeans and George’s leg dislodged from the branch.

‘Bugger! Bug…’ started Millie.

‘No!’ said Charlie forcefully to Millie as she popped her on the picnic rug next to a terrified-looking Eleanor. Felix yanked on the now-hanging leg and George lost his grip. ‘No!’ she repeated as she approached Felix.

‘Argh!’ yelled George as he tumbled from the tree. Ted stepped forward to break his fall. George landed clumsily on the ground with a thump and a yell.

Felix clutched at George’s shirt and hauled him to his feet. ‘What were you thinking?’ he snapped, clutching the boy’s arms.

‘Let me go, you psycho!’ said George, trying to pull himself free.

Charlie grabbed Felix’s shoulder and pulled him off. ‘What the f… heck are you doing?’ she said, pushing him away, before turning to George. ‘Are you okay? What hurts?’ she asked, almost frisking him down for injuries.

‘Everything,’ said George glumly, his lip starting to wobble. He sniffed back a tear.

‘Anything broken?’ Charlie inspected the graze on his arm. She did not want to have to explain a broken bone to Ruth. George shook his head.

Felix stood back, took out his yo-yo and started rhythmically spinning it up and down. Satisfied that George’s injuries were all superficial, she turned her angst on Felix. ‘What is wrong with you?’ she said, striding up to him.

He let the yo-yo hang and shook his head. ‘I’m sorry. I panicked. I was trying to…’

‘What? Kill him?’

Felix’s eyes widened. ‘God no.’ His voice was diminished.

Ted marched over and stood at Charlie’s shoulder. ‘You need to go now,’ he said calmly.

Felix rubbed his chin and Charlie noticed a small scar. He looked as if he was about to say something but instead he nodded and turned to leave.

‘Yeah, that’s it, run away again!’ yelled George. ‘Nutter,’ he added quietly.

‘Can we go home now?’ asked Eleanor from the relative safety of the picnic blanket, her skin looking a shade paler than before.

On the school run, Charlie sent Eleanor off with a letter asking if they could be excused from parents’ evening this time as, given the situation at home, it was another can of worms that didn’t need unleashing right now. Millie was having her morning at nursery and had barely given Charlie a wave as she skipped inside. George already had his sleeve rolled up, ready to show off his impressive scab from the tree fall even before he was dropped off. Ted was last. He got out of the car and paused.

‘Are you seeing that social worker today?’ asked Ted, flicking his hair out of his eyes. I still haven’t sorted out the hairdresser, thought Charlie.

‘Yeah, and Auntie Ruth. Lucky me.’

‘So who do you think will be our guardian?’

‘I don’t know, Ted,’ said Charlie honestly.

‘But you’d still be our nanny, right?’

‘I don’t know, but I promise to let you know whatever I find out when you get in from school, okay?’

‘Thanks, Charlie,’ he said and he walked away.

Charlie’s mobile rang. ‘Hi Charlie, it’s Felix. Can we meet up so I can apologise properly?’

There wasn’t a lot she could say apart from. ‘Okay, same coffee place and you’re definitely paying again.’

Felix was already sitting at a table and he raised a lidded cup to indicate that he’d already got the drinks.

‘Peace offering in a non-spill cup. Americano with hot milk. Right?’

‘Thanks,’ said Charlie, sitting down. ‘Why did you pull George out of the tree?’

Felix held up his hands in surrender. ‘I am truly sorry. I don’t know what happened. I just panicked. Is he okay?’

‘Yes, but no thanks to you.’

‘Charlie, you’ll never know how sorry I am. So no major injuries?’ He looked sincere and Charlie felt the bubble of irritation dissipate.

‘Scratches and bruises only. He’ll live. I don’t think it’s something we should mention to Social Services, though, if you’re still aiming to be guardian,’ she said. He looked uncomfortable as he took a mouthful of coffee. Charlie noticed the delicate pink of his lips.

‘I’m glad he’s all right.’ He held her gaze over his cup and she found herself staring into his eyes. They were so incredibly blue, beyond pretty. In fact, she had to admit that he was a pleasure to behold. He blinked first and she felt a flush of colour to her cheeks.

‘Thanks for the ludicrously expensive coffee,’ she said, with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

‘That’s one of a million things on my ever-growing list of stuff I hate about London.’

‘I’m getting a subtle feeling that London’s not your favourite place, but please tell me if I’m wrong.’ She sipped her coffee.

‘I can’t stay here.’ Felix shook his head and sighed heavily. Charlie felt another straw being wrenched from her clutches.

‘But you’re doing so much better with the children. Well, you were getting on fine with them before… well, you know what I mean.’