Page 20 of The Mistake

‘On several occasions Zadie has had to be removed from class for being disruptive, and there have been some reports of bullying.’

‘Bullying?’ Natalie feels sick. Zadie is so sweet and kind, she can’t bear the thought of someone bullying her. ‘Who was it? Who’s been picking on Zadie?’

‘Mrs Maxwell.’ The headteacher leans in, her voice softening. ‘It’s not Zadie being bullied. Zadie is the one doing the bullying.’

It’s as though Natalie has been slapped in the face – a swift, sharp smack she didn’t see coming. ‘No. Not Zadie. I know my daughter and she isn’t a bully. I want to know who’s saying these things.’

‘I’m sorry, I know this is very upsetting, but you understand why I need to talk to you? The incident today involved Zadie biting a child, and I will be speaking to their parents, too, so we can get to the bottom of all this.’ Mrs Hendry’s tone leaves no room for doubt that she is taking this seriously. ‘How has Zadie been at home? She’s sleeping OK, seems like herself?’

‘Yes. She’s just … Zadie. She’s fine.’

‘Sometimes, when something like this happens, it can be down to frustration. And lashing out is a way of expressing this frustration. Sometimes we just need to encourage the child to talk about anything they might be worried about—’

‘Zadie doesn’t have anything to worry about.’ Natalie can hear the heat in her own voice, and she takes a moment to rein it in. ‘Everything is fine at home. It sounds to me as though Zadie is unhappy at school, not at home.’

‘Mrs Maxwell, I wasn’t insinuating anything was wrong at home, but I do think Zadie is a brilliant, bright girl and you should perhaps encourage her to talk to you about how she’s feeling, or if there is anything thatmightbe worrying her,’ Mrs Hendry says, gently. ‘In light of what’s happened today, I think the best course of action is for Zadie to stay home with you fora few days. We only have a week left until the school holidays start, and I think perhaps she might benefit from some time to reflect on her actions, if you could perhaps have a talk with her.’

Natalie gets to her feet, fury strangling her voice, her words coming out thin and reedy. ‘I can tell you now, there is nothing wrong with Zadie. If she’s acting up, then it’s just a phase, that’s all. I’ll speak to her, of course I will, but I’m confident things aren’t as you say they are.’ Without saying goodbye, she sweeps out of the office and back to reception, where she waits for Zadie’s teacher to bring her out.Bullying. Natalie still can’t quite believe it, and it takes every fibre of her being to paste on a smile as Zadie skips towards her, thrilled to be starting her school holidays early. Natalie, on the other hand, feels as though she’s failed. Again.

‘How was it?’ Eve is bouncing a dozy Erin in her arms as Natalie arrives home, packing Zadie upstairs with the threat of talking to her when Pete gets home.

‘Oh, God, Eve.’ Natalie’s voice breaks and the tears she’s held back since the row with Emily erupt, like a dam bursting. ‘They’re saying Zadie’s a bully. That shebitsomeone. I mean, what the fuck? That’s not Zadie, you know that.’

‘Oh, love.’ Eve lays Erin down in her bouncy chair, pulling Natalie in for a hug. ‘It can all be sorted, don’t worry. All kids go through things like this.’

‘I just feel so …shit. Like I can’t get anything right.’ Natalie tells Eve about the argument earlier – about Emily missing out on a girls’ holiday because of her. ‘And the thing is, she’s right,’ she says. ‘If Em had been home earlier, I would have asked her to sit with Erin instead of calling you. Pete never answered his phone, as usual. He’s not working late as much any more, but it’s still like he’s not really here. Like he can’t stand to be around us.’

‘Pete’s always been selfish, you know that. It seems like he’s forgotten he’s a husband and a father lately. Acting like he doesn’t have responsibilities to come home to. Almost like he’s single.’Eve has never been Pete’s biggest fan, but now there is something bitter and spiteful in her tone. She’s always thought he could do more for Natalie, to support her with the kids, but Natalie usually brushes her comments aside.

‘It feels that way at the moment,’ Natalie says, a spark of shame igniting at having slagged Pete off. Erin murmurs, stirring in her bouncy chair, and Natalie sees that Eve has swapped the outfit Natalie dressed her in for a sleepsuit Eve bought. ‘Listen, I should let you go, you have a client at four. But thank you for today. Again. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

‘No problem. I’ve fed Erin and burped her, and she played for a bit on the play mat until she got tired again. She’s such a little love.’ Eve gives Natalie another hug goodbye, and it’s only moments after she’s left that the doorbell rings again. Thinking it’s Eve, Natalie opens the door with a smile.

‘What did you forget—? Oh. Hello.’

‘Hi.’ A woman Natalie doesn’t know stands on the doorstep, a big Hermès bag over one arm, a slim paper file in the other. ‘Sorry to bother you, but is Pete in?’

‘Errrmmm … no. Sorry, he’s not. He’s at work.’ Natalie feels her brows draw together in confusion. The woman seems familiar somehow, but Natalie can’t place her.

‘Oh. Oh, God. That’s a bit of a nightmare.’ The woman waves the slim file in her hand, the expensive bangles on her wrist jangling. ‘I really need to hand these papers over.’

‘I can pass them on to him, no problem.’ Feeling uneasy, Natalie is horribly aware of her own appearance beside the glamorous woman on her doorstep – aware of her unwashed hair and bare face, next to this woman’s sleek dark hair and bright red lipstick.

The woman pulls a face. ‘I wish I could just hand them over, but I need to give them to him personally, I’m afraid.’

Natalie pauses to think. ‘I could give him a call? See if he can pop home? He’s only working on the other side of the village onthat new housing development.’And that way, I can grab his ear for five minutes to talk to him about Zadie.

‘Would you? That would be fantastic.’

‘No problem.’ Natalie pulls her phone from her cardigan pocket and dials Pete’s number. ‘Who shall I tell him is here?’

‘Just tell him it’s Vanessa.’

Pete

Pete’s phone vibrates in his back pocket for the third time, and he pulls it out to see Natalie’s name on the screen. It rings off before he can answer, and he sees notifications for multiple missed calls, all from Natalie.

‘Excuse me,’ he says to the water board representative. ‘I’m really sorry, I’m going to have to return this call. I’ll be five minutes.’ The water guy nods and Pete steps away, pressing his phone to his ear.

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