Chapter 15: Cora - The Foster Child

When I arrive at school the next day, the mothers are huddled in groups, looking over at me then swiftly turning away. I’m sure that they’re all talking about the incident with Tilly. I hate being the subject of gossip and feel so bad that Tilly was hurt and is so upset that she doesn’t want to come back to school. I’ve apologised, there is nothing else I can do except hope it all settles down. I force myself to hold my head high and smile hello as I walk past the parents at the gate, but no one meets my eyes or returns my greeting.

I wonder what story is going around, I know what school gate gossip is like, I ought to I’ve worked in enough schools over the years, but I’ve never been the subject of it before. Not to my knowledge, anyway. I can understand how it looks, I’m a newcomer and now a little girl in my care has hurt her ankle but I honestly don’t know how I could have prevented this. Or why Tilly acted up when she’s normally so well-behaved.

Mrs Stirling is waiting for me in the office.

‘Morning. How’s Tilly?’ I ask.

‘She’s still off school and her parents are still fuming. I’ve asked for any children who have to wait for their parents to be sent to my office for the next couple of days, Mrs Hamilton. We don’t want a repeat incident.’

‘I’m really sorry,’ I tell her.

She gives me a steely look. ‘I should hope you are.’

Gabby sends me a text to ask how I am and waits for me after school even though she doesn’t have to pick up her grandchildren today. I’m so grateful for her company and support as I walk past the stony stares and whispers from the mums at the gate.

‘How’s it been?’ Gabby asks as we walk up the hill together.

‘Awkward. And Tilly is still off school.’

‘It will blow over, Cora. I’m sure Tilly will be back in a couple of days and everything will be back to normal.’

I hope she’s right.

To my relief Tilly’s back in school on Thursday. Mrs Stirling tells me that Tilly isn’t allowed to go to the office, her mother has arranged for her to wait with her teacher if she’s ever sent home again. She’s not trusting me with her.

The other mothers start talking to me again, and I’m sure that’s down to Gabby, she’s been a rock. I’m so pleased that I met her.

‘What are you doing this weekend?’ she asks on Thursday evening, zipping up Tom’s jacket and trying to coax Daisy into putting her gloves on.

‘I’m not sure, probably housework, Christmas shopping, bit of gardening. And hopefully visit my folks. How about you?’

‘Same with housework. I’m not much of a gardener myself, neither is Scott,’ Gabby says. ‘That’s why ours is mostly lawn and crazy paving. We’re going for a meal at The Wandering Sheep tomorrow night, why don’t you both join us?’

‘That sounds good. I’ll mention it to Elliot.’ It would be nice to socialise, and to get to know Gabby and Scott more.

A lad in secondary school uniform saunters down the hill, as he gets nearer I see that it’s Caleb. He turns his head to stare at me then carries on walking.

‘He gives me the creeps,’ I whisper.

‘Take no notice of him,’ she tells me. ‘You know what teenage lads are like.’

We’re at her house now and she stops at the gate. ‘Do you want to come in for a coffee?’ she asks but I shake my head.

‘Thanks but I’ve got to get back, I’ve got a cake to make for someone’s birthday on Sunday so I need to start it tonight.’

‘You make birthday cakes? Do you sell them?’ she asks.

‘Yes, it’s my hobby. Not just birthday cakes, engagement, wedding, celebration cakes too. I’ve been doing it for years.’

‘Do you make Christmas cakes too?’ she asks.

‘I make one for us but not to sell. They’re quite time consuming, I stick to sponge cakes,’ I tell her.

‘Well that’s handy to know. You should mention it on the village Facebook group, I’m sure lots of people would be interested.’

‘I’m not sure. It sounds a bit pushy. I’m still a newbie here.’

‘I’ll mention it for you if you like, send me a photo of the cake you’ve made and I’ll put that up with your details.’

‘Thank you, that’s so kind of you. Maybe after Christmas.’ When things settle down a bit. ‘Anyway, I must go now. See you tomorrow.’

‘Have a good evening then. Hang on, you two!’ Tom and Daisy have already opened the gate and are racing each other to the front door. ‘They’re full of beans today,’ she says with a mock-groan as she goes after them.

I watch them, thinking what a close bond they all have, and how lucky her daughter, Rea, is to have her mother living nearby. I hope that I can be a hands-on grandmother when Lori settles down and has children. Not that I want her to do that yet, she has her studies to finish and has always said that she wants to see a bit of the world first, and I don’t blame her. I was the same.

Then I met Dale when I was twenty-one, became pregnant with Lori and all my plans were forgotten. I hope Lori doesn’t do the same now she’s met Jacob, she seems bowled over by him. I still feel uneasy about him and wish that Lori was coming by herself for Christmas. Elliot and Lori get on really well and it would be nice to spend some time together, just the three of us.

* * *

It will be okay, Jacob might be one of those people you have to get used to, I think as I head towards Virginia Cottage. I open the gate and make my way up the path. Once inside, I take off my coat, flick on the kettle and pop a tea bag in a mug. I must get cracking on the birthday cake I’ve been asked to do for a little girl called Emily. She’s mad on unicorns so her mum wants me to make a pink and white layered cake with a unicorn-themed topper. I’m going to decorate it with pink whirls of icing along the side and scatter candy sprinkles on it. It means making one pink sponge cake and one white one then sandwiching them together with buttercream. I love baking, it relaxes me.

Both cakes are cooling on the cake rack when Elliot returns home from work.

‘That smells delicious.’ He winds his arms around me and kisses my neck. ‘Is this the unicorn one for the birthday party on Sunday?’

‘Yes, I’ll ice it tomorrow. That will give it time to set properly,’ I reply.

‘How’s it been at school today?’ He moves away to switch the coffee machine on.

‘Good. Tilly’s back at school. Her ankle is okay now thank goodness.’

‘That’s great.’ He takes a mug out of the cupboard and turns to me questioningly to ask if I want a coffee. I shake my head. So he makes one for himself then turns back to me.

‘What would you like to do at the weekend? Once you’ve delivered the cake, that is,’ he asks.

‘I’d like to pop over to my parents.’ I try to see Mum and Dad at least every couple of weeks. ‘Oh and Gabby and Scott are going for a drink and a meal in the pub tomorrow night and Gabby asked if we wanted to join them.’

I’m delighted when he agrees. ‘It’ll do us good to get out a bit,’ he says. I think he’s referring to me rather than himself. He knows that I’m still upset about the business with Tilly and that Gabby has been a good friend to me.

‘And why don’t we go and get a Christmas tree on Saturday?’ he suggests. ‘Maybe we can even put it up this weekend?’

I could hug him. There’s nothing like putting up the Christmas tree and doing some Christmas shopping to cheer you up! ‘That’s a wonderful idea. We can buy some baubles and a wreath to put on the front door. I could get some Christmas cards and a present for my parents, too, and take it over on Sunday.’

Elliot kisses me and wraps me in a long, glorious hug, then he gently eases away. ‘I’ll go and have a quick freshen up then we can get started on dinner.’

Suddenly a text pings in. I grab my phone and see that it’s from Violet.

I hope you’re okay, Aunty Cora. I saw Anita yesterday and told her that you’re really kind and caring and it was all an accident, that’s why she’s sent Tilly back to school. Hope to see you soon. Xxx

It was nice of her to put in a word for me, Elliot had suggested that she might. I must thank her for that. It’s such a relief that it’s all been sorted out. I’ve been working at the school for a few weeks now and there’s never been any trouble before. I’ve always got on with Tilly. Something must have triggered her off on Monday, maybe an incident at home, kids often act up when they’re upset. I think about asking Violet then decide that it’s best to leave it. Things have settled down and I’m grateful for that.

‘Are you still joining us for a drink tonight?’ Gabby asks as we walk home together after school the next day.

‘Definitely,’ I reply. I’d like to ask her in for a coffee but I have the cake to buttercream together before we go out and also I need to insert more brandy in the Christmas cake that I made last week. Besides we’ll be seeing each other again in a couple of hours.

‘Great. About eight okay? Whoever gets there first grabs a table?’

‘Sounds good to me. I’ll see you later.’ I wave goodbye to her and hurry up the hill. Elliot won’t be home for a while so I have time to see to the cakes then have a shower.

* * *

Something feels strange as I walk into the kitchen. I can’t place my finger on it. I look around, puzzled, then I notice that the big white orchid that I keep on the windowsill has gone.

Puzzled, I walk over to the sink and seeing it lying in the bowl – which is empty, thank goodness. The stem is broken and the flowers crushed. It must have toppled off the windowsill. I took it off to spray the leaves with water this morning, but I’m sure I put it back correctly.

I pick the destroyed orchid out of the bowl and look at in dismay. I’ve had this for years and now look at it. I can’t understand how it’s fallen off the windowsill. Then my eyes rest on the kitchen window and I see that the catch isn’t quite closed.

Almost as if someone has shut it in a hurry. Unease settles in the pit of my stomach.

I didn’t open it this morning, and I’m sure Elliot didn’t either.