Page 20 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
‘Of course I will. Now, listen, how about an ice-cream?’
‘Can I go in the park first?’ Jodie begs. ‘Please, Mummy.’
‘Go on, then.’ Bee watches her run across the grass to wheresome older children are gathered by the swings. ‘She’ll make a beeline for theteapot lid,’ she murmurs anxiously, before calling, ‘Be careful, love!’
But Jodie is already trying to push on one of the handles,using all her strength to get it going. Being so little, she doesn’t make muchheadway, though, and it’s moving only very slowly when she eventually clamberson.
‘Way to go, Jodie!’ I wave at her as Bee and I walk over tohelp.
She smiles and waves back at me, then she jumps off as itgrinds to a halt, and starts pushing again.
Bee groans. ‘She never gives up. She just keeps on trying. Butsometimes I just wish...’
I look at her. ‘What do you wish?’ As we start hurrying overthe grass to help, I glimpse a flash of pain in her eyes.
She sighs. ‘I suppose I’d like her to realise when she’sbeaten, instead of carrying on blindly and ending up hurting herself.’ And Iglance at her, wondering if it’s a case of like-mother-like-daughter, this notwanting to be beaten and suffering because of it. There’s so much sadness in Bee’sexpression. But then Jodie waves at her and she brightens and waves backcheerfully, her body language changing in an instant.
Before we get there, one of the teenagers walks over,beating us to it. Jodie gets on the teapot lid and the girl gives it a hugepush so that it spins around, and Jodie – clinging on – beams with delight.
‘I hope you weren’t crying over the broken mug,’ I ventureanxiously.
‘Sorry?’ She looks at me, bemused for a moment. ‘Oh. No. Imean, I felt really bad about it. Obviously.’
I nod, not wanting to probe further. She looks at me, and Ican see that she’s debating whether to tell me what’s wrong, but I don’t wanther to think I’m being nosey.
She sighs. ‘I try not to let things get me down, but theother night... I don’t know... I wasexhausted, my defences were weakened and I just gave in to it.’
‘What happened?’
She swallows. ‘Someone’s been pushing letters through thedoor.’
I stare at her. ‘Anonymousletters?’
Bee nods.
‘That’s awful. What do they say? Are they nasty letters?’
She sighs, looking uncomfortable. ‘They’re not nastyexactly. But they’re really creeping me out. It’s as if the person wants toscare me.’
‘And you have no idea who they’re from?’
She hesitates, looking down. ‘I think Imightknow,but I’m not sure. It actually doesn’t seem like his style.’
‘Who...?’
‘My ex.’
‘Jodie’s dad?’
She nods. ‘He walked away as soon as I got pregnant. Hedidn’t want to know. But then he changed his mind last year and wanted to meether. I thought long and hard but eventually, I knew that for Jodie’s sake, Ihad to allow it. He’s her father, after all.’ She drags a hand through herhair. ‘Hey, I’m really sorry. Ruby, isn’t it? I don’t usually unburden myselflike this within five minutes of knowing a person.’
‘You don’t need to apologise. You’re having a really badtime.’
She smiles sadly. ‘It’s Jodie I’m worried about in all ofthis.’
‘So what happened?’
‘He didn’t turn up. Stupidly, I’d told Jodie what washappening... to prepare her, you know. And she was reallyexcited to meet her real dad at last.’
