Page 63 of Autumn in Sycamore Park
‘Oh, Greg,’ Angela said, shaking her head as she loaded uneaten food back into her picnic basket. ‘Don’t be such a drama queen. It was probably just an ant.’
27
Wins and Losses
While the weekendforecast was for pleasant weather, on the Monday before the harvest festival, the wind was up as Jennifer made her way through Sycamore Park on the way to work, showers of leaves billowing around her as she clung on to her bag for dear life.
To her surprise, as she reached the southern end of the park, she found Angela standing beside a beaming Pete Markham on the edge of Big Gerry’s courtyard while a group of council workers wandered around with tape measures and shovels.
‘Good morning!’ she called, although she was sure her voice was lost over the wind. She waved her hand instead, and Angela, wrapped in a thick duffel jacket, looked up and waved.
‘Isn’t it exciting?’ she said, as Jennifer reached them.
‘It’s Monday morning,’ Jennifer said. ‘Neither of you are supposed to be working today, so why aren’t you still at home in bed? It’s freezing!’ She turned to look at the council workers. ‘What are they doing?’
‘They’re starting to re-lay the courtyard stones,’ Pete said, a wide grin on his face. ‘They want to get it done in time for your school’s harvest festival this weekend.’ He held out a clipboard to reveal a complicated design of a tree with its branches spread. ‘This is what it’ll look like in the end. All natural stones and colours.’
‘Oh, wow, it’s beautiful. They’re going to do that by this weekend?’
Pete shook his head. ‘Unfortunately not. They’re just flattening it for now. The full design will take a couple of months, but it should be done by Christmas. Big Gerry’s getting the full light-up treatment this year, according to the revised plans.’
Angela was shaking her head. ‘Who’d have thought Regina Clover would turn out to have such a kind heart? It defies all sense.’
Jennifer grinned. ‘Well, it’s fantastic news for both of you. As long as no one gets poisoned by my class’s cakes, it’ll all be good.’
Angela lifted an eyebrow. ‘How could that possibly happen with a teacher as good as me?’
Jennifer smiled. ‘My little zombie wolves are looking forward to it,’ she said. ‘Anyway, I’d better get to work. Both of you have a lovely day.’
She hurried off with a spring in her step, but as she reached the school gates, her feet began to feel a little more leaden. Greg Downton was standing on the steps outside the main entrance, and as their eyes met, he waved her over. Unsmiling, he requested for her to join him in his office.
‘There’s good and bad news, I’m afraid,’ he said, sitting down behind his desk, unsmiling, leaving Jennifer standing, her heart thundering in her chest.
‘Matthew’s mum—?’
Downton gave a grim smile. ‘She’ll be absolutely fine. I just had a call from the hospital. She’s awake and aware and out of danger. She’ll be kept in for a couple of weeks so unfortunately she’s going to miss the harvest festival, but she’ll be fine. Perhaps you could ask those demons of yours to make a doggy bag or something? And you can go ahead and tell that future criminal you put in charge that he can collect signatures for his sorry excuse for a card.’ His smile widened just a fraction. ‘And don’t forget to have him bring it to me so I can add my own paw print to the mix. She’s going to be fine, Jennifer. Just fine.’
Jennifer couldn’t resist a little clench of her fist. If Downton had been standing, she might have hugged him, but instead she just bounced up and down a couple of times.
‘That’s fantastic,’ she said at last. ‘I’m so happy for Matthew. Um … you said there was bad news?’
Downton sighed and rubbed his head. ‘I feel like death warmed up. How many times did you top up my damn wine, Stevens? I only remember having a couple of glasses.’
‘Perhaps you’re getting old, sir?’
Downton groaned. ‘I’m only fifty-nine,’ he muttered. ‘Go on, get out of here, Stevens. You’re on bus monitor duty, and those demon transports are due any minute.’
Rick was standingout by the edge of the car park, hands in his pockets, a beanie hat pulled over his head. As Jennifer reached him, he puffed his cheeks out against the cold.
‘Why are you smiling? Pleased to see me?’
Jennifer laughed. ‘Of course not. I just had some good news.’
‘Well, it’s lucky for some. I somehow failed to pull this weekend.’
‘How tragic. The eligible young ladies of Brentwell had a lucky escape again?’
Rick shook his head. ‘Nah. Mate and me we went clubbing in London. Honestly, like shooting fish in a barrel. I had five or six lined up, but my mate wanted to go home.’
