‘I could have stayed with Erin, and you could have run me home later,’ Tasha persisted.
Jules’s heart felt as if it was sinking into her boots. She didn’t blame the girl at all. She didn’t want to spend time with a complete stranger either at the moment.
‘You could, but this lady here…’
His eyes met hers.
‘Jules,’ she whispered.
‘That’s right. Sorry, brain’s a bit frazzled at this time of the day.’
Jules noticed his finger pressure increase very slightly on Tasha’s baby blue sweatshirt.
‘Jules has kindly offered to do your granny a favour because you don’t want to be too late back, do you?’
Tasha’s eyelashes fluttered.
‘Suppose not.’
Lance’s hand moved and he rubbed Tasha’s back briefly.
‘We’ll see you tomorrow,’ said an elfin-faced girl of about the same age who had wandered over to stand next to Tasha. ‘And you can stay for supper another time.’
‘If I’m allowed.’
‘More chance of that if you get home when you’re supposed to,’ Lance persisted.
‘Mum says I’m a nuisance.’
‘You’re not. I promise you,’ Lance reassured her.
‘Here’s a nuisance,’ Jo said, obviously trying to lighten the mood.
A boy with an impish face bounded towards them.
‘Jules, meet Daniel. What have you made today, monkey?’
‘A spaceship sugar bowl,’ Daniel said with a grin.
‘Cool,’ she said. ‘For me to take with me on my journey to another planet.’
‘So you don’t forget me,’ Daniel said as he high-fived his mother.
‘As if!’
‘And what did you make, Tasha?’ Jules asked.
‘A jug.’
‘And very beautiful it is, too,’ Lance said.
‘Come on, Tash,’ Erin said, ‘let’s go and get your bag.’
‘No dawdling,’ Lance said, as both girls disappeared through a clematis-clad gate with a private notice on the front.
‘It’s where we live,’ Lance explained.
Jules glanced over to where Jo had gravitated towards other parents, and wished she’d come back over and keep her company.
