We both liked to run; he played football which I knew because parent gossip at the school gates had informed me that he had footballer’s legs. I liked to watch football and I’d taken Heidi to watch some of the local team’s games last season, and we were both a fan of tennis, although neither of us claimed to be any good, although I figured he was being modest.
“What are your plans for the schoolhouse?” I asked when we were sat down, Mia and Heidi having their own picnic on the lawn. “I suppose it depends on how long you want to stay there.”
He started on a rib and thought as he chewed. “There’s a limit to how long I can stay there, because the board of governors want to sell it in the next three years. My agreement was that I could reside there for two years for a peppercorn rent, but after that I would have a three month notice period. Not many houses come up for sale round here, so they wanted to make it easyfor someone to take the job, but they were transparent with the plans.”
“Are you having to pay for the renovation though?” What he’d just told me wasn’t common knowledge, and I wasn’t sure how the sale would go down with the local community. The schoolhouse had a decent amount of land, and if the house was demolished, I suspected a developer could put three or four new houses there.
“No, there’s a budget to modernise it, which also gets it ready for sale. There’s a covenant on the land which restricts what it can be used for, so I think it would have to be sold as a house as it is. My predecessor didn't keep it up, though there was money then too. That means the budget’s quite healthy as the board will want a decent price for it.” He sat back, wiping his hands on a napkin, one from a pack I’d found in the cupboard.
They had fairies and unicorns on them, but Cas hadn’t mentioned it.
“Would you consider buying it?” I supposed this was a way of finding out whether he was planning to stick around, although it didn’t really matter.
I was going to just enjoy having a harmless crush, knowing it wasn’t going to end in disaster.
“Maybe. It’s a big house for one person though, but I’ve no idea what my circumstances will be then. There’s time to decide though.” He picked up another rib. “These are really good.”
“Thank you. It was a marinade Joel invented, or he said he invented. I think he secretly followed a recipe and tried to impress me.” This was something I needed to work on – not talking about Joel.
“Cheers to Joel then. He sounds like he was a good bloke.”
Smoothly handled.
“He was. I wish a lot of things, but I wish most that Heidi could’ve known him. He’ll always be a hero to her, but hewas so much more than that.” Not learning from my previous realisation here.
“I guess what’s important is what she does know of him. She’s a really good kid.” He turned around and watched her and Mia. “She’s looked after Mia at school this week, her teacher told me. I know they’re friends anyway, but Leonie said Heidi was really aware of where Mia was and if she was okay.”
“I’m proud of her and I do make sure she knows that.” I watched my daughter smear tomato ketchup all over her face. Being a parent meant a tidal wave of different feeling. Pride was one. Irritation another. “So what are your plans for the schoolhouse?”
He laughed. “Back to the original question. New kitchen and new bathrooms. There’s a room that can be kitted out as a utility room as well. The whole place needs new flooring and decorating – I’m going to do the decorating over summer.” He pinched another rib. “Don’t ask me about colours; I’ve no idea. I’m aware there’re multiple shades of white but I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.” He glanced down at his polo shirt. “I don’t know if this is red or green.”
“You’re colourblind?” I didn’t think I’d ever met anyone who was colourblind before.
“I am. I think I was about nine when my mum figured it out. Most of what I wear’s blue, because I know what blue is so it’s a safe choice.”
We carried on chatting about inane things, nothing to do with Mia which gave my brain a break, mainly about music and films and football.
By the time we’d cleared most of the food, with just a few sausages left that would be good for morning, my pulse had found a beat that probably wasn’t going to see me in the emergency department but still had me hyper aware of pretty much everything about Cas.
The novelty of having their head teacher in their garden wore off the girls fairly quickly. By the time I was finishing my second beer, she and Mia were gathering the toys they’d brought outside and saying good night to the fairies Heidi was certain lived in the garden.
“Are you going to bed?” I frowned at my daughter. This was earlier than I’d expected for a Friday night. Especially with a visitor.
She nodded seriously. “Can we take a torch and read under the covers? I have a new book.”
I frowned, wondering what book this was. “Wash your feet and face first. I’ll come up and check on you in half an hour.” She was a good kid the vast majority of the time and we’d made a good team.
“Can we take some milkshake up too?”
I gave her another nod. “Try not to spill it.” I got up to go inside and pour it for them.
“Thank you. Night-night, Mr Caddick.” She gave him another fist bump, this one without the same levels of enthusiasm, looking a little more than tired. Maybe the book wasn’t the real reason. Mia was more alert, doing a hand clap with Cas, where she snatched her hand away and found it the funniest thing ever.
I wasn’t worried about Heidi. She burned bright and fast; when she got tired, it was like a candle being extinguished rapidly. Without a doubt, when I went upstairs to check on her, she’d be asleep with the torch on the floor alongside a pile of books, the will there, but the energy not. I suspected Mia would stay awake reading, fighting sleep.
“Sleep tight, Heidi and Mia.” He gave them a smile that was half headteacher, half friendly, one that made me curious.
“So why is a Friday night here more enticing that a pool tournament at the Puffin Inn?” I sat back, enjoying the remnantsof the evening sunshine, the beer having definitely had a relaxing effect.
