Page 60 of A Class Act

‘Must be the first time you have,’ I said tartly, moving over to the kettle and then ditching that idea and reaching for the bottle of wine in the fridge instead. ‘Jesus, I needed that.’ I allowed the first mouthful of the cold, crisp liquid to do its job, following it with another before putting down my glass and turning back to my dad. ‘I reckon I could turn to drink,’ I said. ‘Seems all I have left in the world to rely on.’

‘You’re teaching, then?’ Jayden asked, acknowledging the text I’d sent earlier, while ignoring my self-pitying moaning. ‘You went with that head teacher’s offer?’

‘I didn’t really have a great deal of choice.’

‘So, where is she now?’

‘Sorrel? Your guess is as good as mine. She’s behaved herself the past couple of days. Frightened of being kicked out and put in the PRU, I guess. She’s not daft, you know, Jayden. The history teacher, particularly, was full of praise for her. I need you to sit down with her… Are you staying? Because if you are, you’re in the single bed in the box room… and try to get to the bottom of where she keeps going to. There was a bloke in a BMW – well, I assume it was a bloke – giving her a lift home the other night?—’

‘She’sfifteen, Robyn,’ Jayden snapped. ‘What’s a fifteen-year-old doing out at night with a man in a BMW? Why didn’t you stop her?’

‘Me? Why don’tyoustop her? Why aren’tyouhere for her? And don’t start coming the heavy father at this late stage in the day.’ When Jayden didn’t say anything, but simply glared in my direction, I went on, ‘Is it any wonder Sorrel’s going off the rails withyoufor a father?AndMum believes she’s failed as a mother because Sorrel is running wild.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Too late to be sorry, Jayden.’

‘I’ve tried to support you girls, tried my best to work and send Lisa money…’

‘It was love and affection she wanted, not your money. You should have left her alone, Jayden; given Mum the chance to meet someone else. Heaven knows she’s gorgeous enough to have the pick of any man around.’

‘I’m not proud of my behaviour, Robyn. I didn’t want to… didn’t want to lose you three girls. You’re my daughters, my family…’

‘Oh, spare me the sentimentality,’ I snapped. ‘You know Mum had a dire childhood with those parents of hers.’

‘As did I,withoutparents,’ Jayden put in mulishly.

‘More reason for you to make an effort with your own family, then.’ I glared at him. ‘With Mum. And withus, Jayden.’

I held up the bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in Jess’s direction as she came through the kitchen door. ‘Come on, we need to work out how we’re going to sort Sorrel out. Mum can’t come out of hospital to find her in more trouble – that would probably finish her off.’

21

‘What areyoudoing back here again so soon?’ Jess pulled a face in Jayden’s direction. ‘Saw your car parked up.’ She nodded towards the bottle and, ignoring Jayden, addressed me. ‘How’d it go? You know, after you rang me this morning? Was it OK?’ She glanced around the kitchen. ‘Sorrel not back?’

I poured wine for Jess and Jayden – no point in pretending he wasn’t there. ‘Yes, I survived, with the help of one of the older kids.’

‘One of the older kids? Really?’ Jess pulled another of her faces, sipping at her wine.

‘And I don’t know where Sorrel is.’

‘Why didn’t you bring her back with you?’ Jess was indignant. ‘Isn’t that one of the reasons you took the job? You know, to keep an eye on her and bring her home after school? Food’s ready in half an hour. You staying?’ she added, turning to our father.

‘I can’t be her minder.’ I closed my eyes briefly. ‘By the time I’d done my marking, cleared up and had a debrief with Mason, she’d gone.’

‘Where?’ Jayden and Jess spoke as one.

‘Idon’t know!’ I sat down, heavily. ‘She’s almost sixteen. She has a right to meet up with her friends after school.’

‘What friends?’ Jess tutted. ‘Sorrel’s never been a girly girl – you know, off with her “bestie”.’ Jess air quoted the word, obviously irritated with the world and his wife. ‘God, I hate that word: Bloodybestie, for heaven’s sake. I really don’t know who her mates are any more. She’s not brought anyone round since she was fourteen. Mum and I were always asking her if she wanted a friend over for a sleepover but she never did. There was a big bust-up and falling-out with her gang of girls when they got to the end of Year 9 – Mum had to go into Beddingfield High to try to sort out what was going on. I don’t think we ever got to the bottom of it, and then Sorrel seemed to close in on herself. The happy little girl she’d been – you know, always doing cartwheels on the lawn or dancing and putting on shows for us – disappeared overnight. We just put it down to hormones and adolescence and’ – she glared in Jayden’s direction – ‘not having a supportive father who was here for her.’

‘He’s never been here, Jess,’ I protested, ‘so you can’t really blame Jayden for Sorrel suddenly going off the rails.’

‘Oh, I think I can.’

‘More likely her seeing Mum go downhill: worried she’d be left alone if Mum had to go back into hospital?’

‘I’vealways been here for her, Robyn,’ Jess protested hotly. ‘I’ve had to take on the role of both father and mother for Sorrel. You know, when Mum couldn’t cope or was back in hospital, she came round to me… and I was more than happy to have her with us.’

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