Page 19 of Good Sisters

‘What’s going on?’ Jack put down his laptop bag and took off his jacket. He turned around and there was Robert behind him, in his school uniform, his bag dangling from his hand, looking like he’d been crying. ‘In you come, Robert,’ Jack said, taking his bag.

‘Oh, hi, Robert,’ I said, shooting Jack a look. ‘I wasn’t expecting you. It’s lovely to see you.’ I reached down to hug him as Jack mouthed, ‘Sorry,’ at me.

I really didn’t need Robert here right now. I wanted Jack to talk to Jess with me about studying and knuckling down.

I pulled out of my hug and said, ‘Sweetie, I need to talk to your dad and Jess. Would you go inside and put on the TV? We’ll be with you in five minutes. Would that be okay?’

Robert nodded and went off without saying anything. As soon as the door shut behind him, I looked at Jack. ‘Why is he here? We have him this weekend, not for the weekdays.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Jack said, loosening his tie and making hisway into the kitchen. ‘Pippa showed up at the office and dumped him with the receptionist. I was in a meeting. The poor child had to sit waiting for two hours before I came and got him. Now his bloody mother isn’t answering her phone, so I guess that means he’s staying with us.’

I stared at the ceiling and took a very deep breath. ‘This is not a good week for the extra pick-ups and minding. I’ve so much on.’

‘I’m up to my neck too,’ he said. ‘We’ll have to text his friend Max’s mum and see if we can sort some lifts out.’

‘Fine,’ I said, wishing Pippa would walk through the door so I could wring her skinny neck. She seriously needed to reset her life and step up as a mother.

‘So what is going on here?’ Jack said. ‘What are you two arguing about now?’

I filled him in on Jess’s poor results.

‘It was the teachers, Dad. They made the tests super-hard to freak us out.’ Jess leaned even closer to her protector.

‘Don’t worry, princess, they’re only Mickey Mouse weekly tests. Let’s just have a family dinner and relax. It’s been a long day for everyone.’

‘Jack.’ My voice was sharp. ‘Jess’s results have been getting worse for the last month. It isnotokay.’

Jack looked over his daughter’s shoulder at me. ‘Come on, Sophie, it’s not that big of a deal. Don’t overreact.’

I clenched my fists. ‘It is a big deal. I am not overreacting, I’m pointing out the fact that our daughter’s results are getting worse. I think we need to curb her phone use.’

‘No way!’ Jess’s plaintive little Daddy-save-me-from-psycho-Mum voice was gone and her growl was back. She glared at me.

As usual, Jack took her side. ‘Kids need their phones, Sophie. It’s how they communicate with each other and keep up with what’s going on.’

‘I am well aware of that, Jack, but she doesn’t need it beside her at every hour of every day. She needs to leave it downstairs from seven to ten every evening and then have it for half an hour before she goes to bed.

‘WHAT? Have you lost your mind?’ Jess exploded. ‘My homework usually takes an hour max. What am I supposed to do for the other two hours?’

‘I dunno, Jess – study, read, talk to me and your dad, play with Robert.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Seriously? Dad? Come on.’

Jack clicked on the kettle. ‘I don’t think depriving Jess of her phone is fair. Why don’t we just see how she does in next week’s tests?’

Typical Jack. Kick everything down the line and deal with it later.

‘No, Jack. We are not going to stick our heads in the sand on this. Jess has to do well in school. She needs to get a good degree and be self-sufficient in life.’

‘Oh, God, not the never-rely-on-anyone-else-to-support-you speech.’ Jess groaned as Jack stifled a smile.

I felt anger simmering. ‘Well, Jess, when I found myself homeless and penniless, I realized that I’d been a complete idiot not to keep working and earning my own money. It was a complete nightmare and I do not want that to happen to you.’

‘I’ve heard this a zillion times. I know. I get it.’

‘Well, if you get it, Jess, go up to your room and start studying.’ I held out my hand for her phone.

‘Dad?’ She looked to Jack.

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