And that off to the side, thrown into a hedge, was Dean’s very distinctive pushbike, the DB initials, he’d so lovingly had monogrammed onto the black mudguard in luminous yellow, a total giveaway as to its owner. As well as to the sixteen-year-old entrusted into my care who’d been given permission, by me, to ride it.
31
‘Mum?’
‘I’m here, sweetie.’ I crossed from my bedroom window – where I’d been staring down at the garden trying to make sense of it all – and over to where I’d tucked Lola up in my bed.
‘I’m frightened,’ she said as I got under the duvet with her, scooping her up into a big hug and stroking her hair. Should I confess –me too, Lola,and I’m a grownup –or reassure her that the events of the evening had been just a bit of a mistake; something that sometimes happened in this world of adults that she was on the point of joining? I longed to keep her as my little girl. Keep her from the big, bad, rotten world that, between us, Dean and I had had a hand in introducing her to.
‘Well,’ I said, trying to keep my voice light, ‘it was certainly an evening to remember. But, to be honest, I would try to forget it all; put it behind us. Hmm?’
‘Now you’re being daft, Mum,’ Lola said, shaking her head and sitting up on the pillows. ‘There’s two police officers downstairs and a police car on the drive.’ She pulled a concerned face. ‘What will the neighbours think?’ she added, sounding like Patricia Butterworth. ‘And when Dad gets back and sees it, he’ll think we’ve been murdered or something! They’re not going to take you away, are they?’
‘Who?’ I asked, trying to jolly her along.
‘Mum! The police! Are they just waiting until I’m asleep, or until Dad or Granny get back and come round, before taking you off for questioning?’
‘You’ve been watching too much TV,’ I said, but I wasn’t convinced that wasn’t whatwasgoing to happen. No point getting undressed and joining Lola in bed if Iwasgoing to be whisked off in the Panda. ‘Try to get some sleep, Lola,’ I said, encouraging her to lie down. ‘Good job there’s no school tomorrow.’
‘So,’ she said, just as determined to remain upright, ‘is Ruby’s dad a baddie then? You know, acriminal?’
‘Looks that way,’ I said. ‘But maybe it’s all a mistake. Let’s hope it is,’ I added reassuringly.
‘Mum, what’s going to happen to Ruby?’
‘Well, tonight she’ll be being looked after by foster parents, I guess, unless there’s a granny or an aunt or some other relative to look after her.’
Ruby visibly paled. ‘That’s awful. Having to go and sleep at someone’s house you don’t know. They might make you eat something you don’t like… Like… like sloppy fish pie or something.’
‘You know, Lola, when Aunty Robyn and I were little girls and Grandpa Jayden was off around the world, touring with his band, there were a couple of occasions when Granny was so poorly, she had to be taken into hospital. And then Aunty Robyn and I had to be taken to stay with peoplewedidn’t know.’
‘You’ve never told me that!’ Lola’s eyes were huge. ‘Was it awful?’
‘Not the best of times,’ I admitted, remembering.
‘Is that why you foster children sometimes? Like you’re looking after Joel now? And you did with Blane for a couple of nights before Christmas?’
‘S’pose so.’ I nodded. ‘The thing is, Lola, it did occur to me to try and bring Ruby back here with us.’
Lola didn’t speak for a good few seconds. Eventually she said, so that I could hardly hear her, ‘I’m glad you didn’t, Mum.’
I leaned back from where I’d been holding her, so I could see her face properly. ‘Why’s that, Lola?’
‘She’s mean,’ she muttered. ‘She says horrible things about people.’
‘About you?’
Lola nodded. ‘And you.’
‘Me?’ I stared.
‘She said there was no way her dad would ever fancy you because you were black and fat.’
‘Woah!’ The insults were so horrendous, I actually laughed out loud. ‘Little bitch,’ I added.
‘Mum!’
‘What didyousay?’
