Finn seemed to have gone into a panic state, which didn’t allow for problem-solving.
‘Anything but that.’
‘OK, you have to turn in for work. You can stay here until .?.?. when?’
‘They’re due here at six thirty .?.?. I’ll have to leave ten minutes later.’
‘OK, so why can’t I be called in as an emergency babysitter? No need to say who I am or how you know me. I can stay with the kids, and then you’ll be home and everyone will be safe.’
‘I can’t ask you to do that.’
‘For heaven’s sake, I suggested it. I love kids, it’ll be fine.’
She wasn’t nearly as confident as she sounded but, come on, they weren’t babies, how hard could it be?
‘Would you really do that for me, for us? It’s only the two little ones, and maybe Samantha. She’s supposed to have a sleepover with a friend, but the last I heard they’d had a row – don’t ask me, this happens all the time .?.?. but don’t be surprised if she turns up at the last minute, that’s Sam.’
Oh hell. A fourteen-year-old could be a great deal harder to convince than a six-year-old. What, oh what, had possessed her to allow Ramona to dress her up as a stripper for a weekday night at home? Still, nothing for it but to plough ahead.
‘So, I go and make myself scarce, sit in the car for half an hour then come back just before quarter to seven, when you introduce me to Cici and Conn as “the babysitter”.’
‘I hate to think of you sitting in the car, it’s just—’
‘So it doesn’t look like a set-up, I get it.’
Finn smiled. ‘They know how to get themselves ready for bed. Cici needs a story, but apart from that, you don’t have to worry.’
‘Not a problem.’
Finn was beginning to come down from his panic by this stage. He looked at her closely. ‘Do you think you could just rub off a bit of that red .?.?. stuff. You know, babysitters are usually .?.?.’ Realisation dawned on his face. ‘Oh God, I’m really sorry. It looks great, it really does, it’s just—’
‘Oh God, this is so embarrassing. To be honest, Ramona did me up. It was all her idea – I was planning to come in jeans and a jumper. I mean, I don’t normally veer towards the Vegas showgirl style of makeup. Look, it was supposed to be a fun surprise for our date, OK? Rubbish timing, I’m afraid.’
She was starting to feel like a lilo that’d been punctured and was gradually losing its bounce. On the other hand, here was an opportunity to be supportive in her new relationship because, after all, everyone knew that messy break-ups were a nightmare, and rather than being marginalised she could help out and perhaps even get to know the kids in an informal way. Not her choice, exactly, but that was life – you just had to be ready to bat whatever ball came at you.
* * *
Cassie spent nearly forty minutes lurking in a darkening car park outside the local Tesco with a stewed cup of coffee and soggy egg-mayonnaise sandwich, regretting that she’d saved herself earlier. When she finally pulled into a space in front of Finn’s apartment block and switched off the engine, she realised her hands felt sweaty and were shaking slightly against the steering wheel. She had a flash of panic. What if the kids kicked up and wouldn’t settle? Was this actually immoral, and would Marisha be within her rights to phone the Gardaí about her children being minded by a stranger without her permission? She batted the thoughts away. It was too late for any of that. All she could do was show up, be nice and go ahead with the plan.
* * *
‘This is Cici and she has to be in bed by eight.’
‘Eight thirty.’ Cici’s hazel eyes were round like a marmalade kitten’s. Her voice was insistent and Cassie could see exactly how, under other circumstances, she could be highly persuasive.
‘Eight,’ said Finn firmly, clearly not in the mood for being cajoled. ‘And this is Con, his bedtime is quarter to nine because it’s Thursday.’
Con was clearly going to grow up to have the same build as his dad; he stayed motionless, his eyes fixed on the PlayStation controller in his hand. ‘We don’t normally see you on Thursdays anymore, Daddy,’ he replied in a flat voice.
Finn flashed her a glance. ‘Con likes things to stay the same, but I’ve explained to him it’s an emergency and Cassie is going to look after you tonight.’
Con looked up at her.I totally get this child, flashed through her mind.
‘You know, I don’t like change much either. I prefer it when things stay the same too.’ She smiled at him.
‘If it’s an emergency, then does that make you a superhero?’
‘Interesting question, Con. What do you think?’
