‘He is. I’m very happy working alongside him.’ Pippa gave her a firm smile and Kam stood watching her as her personality shone from her eyes. His sunshine girl. Then he realised if his mother caught him watching Pippa and grinning, he was going to be in for nine zillion questions later. And Kam was not a fan of being questioned by his mother. It had taken up the majority of his childhood.
He remembered the boy who used to stand in front of the cooker, hands in his pockets, shifting from foot to foot, as she fired a million and one questions at him: Why are you late home from school? Why aren’t you prioritising your studies? So, I hear Ben got an A in maths this week. What is wrong with you?
Questions about Pippa he was not prepared to answer. He really didn’t need his mother piling the pressure on with a million suggestions as to how he ran his personal life. It was time to get his mother out of the classroom for a minute, He recognised that beady look in her eye.
‘Right well, let me show you the staffroom and introduce you to the other members of staff.’
‘That’s very kind, darling, but I think I’ll stay here.’
‘Don’t you want to meet everyone?’
‘Yes, but I think I’d like to get to know Miss Parkin first.’
‘Pippa, please. Miss Parkin sounds far too formal, and I hope we’re going to become friends.’
Mrs Choudhury’s face lit up as Kam heard himself let out an involuntary sigh. Quite a loud one.
‘Perhaps Pippa could take me if you’re determined to have me out of your classroom.’
‘I’m not trying to get you out of my—’
‘It’s fine. I did most of the prep yesterday, I knew today would be manic. Come on, Mrs Choudhury, let me give you the whistle-stop tour. Today is going to be fun. I love the May Fayre, one of my favourite times of the year, so I’m so glad you’re here to see it. I hope you’re a fan of bunting. And I understand that you’re helping out on the cake stall this afternoon…’ Kam watched Pippa lead his mum out of the classroom, chatting nineteen to the dozen and weaving her magic. He really hoped this didn’t go horribly wrong.
He seemed to wait with his breath held until both women reappeared in the classroom, Pippa offering Kam a mug of peppermint tea. ‘Here you go, your mum says this was what you like to drink.’ She managed not to give away anything in her face as she said it. What a trooper. ‘She’s been telling me all about your family. I can’t wait to meet your sisters later. They sound hilarious. And she told me that your friend Ben in Newquay has been your best friend since you were four. That’s really cute. She says he’s very good at maths.’ She couldn’t help a little smirk then, and he watched her scarlet lip curve up with mischief. ‘You never told me you had known him since you were babies. Why didn’t you mention that?’
Before he had a chance to answer his mother, never short of words, jumped in. ‘He never tells anyone anything. Plays all his cards close to his chest, don’t you, Kam darling?’
‘Not really.’
‘Oh, he does, I’ve lost count of the times he just kisses me on the head, right here,’ – she tapped the top of her head, bang in the centre – ‘and then walks away, never answering my questions. Likewhyis he still single after all these years? Hmmm? Hmmm?’
‘I can’t answer that, Mrs Choudhury.’ Pippa shot Kam the most mischievous look. She was clearly enjoying this far too much.
‘Oh, if only therewereanswers. I ask nearly every week, I say, “Kam darling why can’t you just find—”’
‘Mum.’
‘Let me talk. I say, “why can’t you just find a nice—”’
‘Mum!’ Kam shouted so loud that the heads of parents who were waiting in the playground to drop their children off, spun around.
Pippa was fighting the laughter and beautifully too. She was managing to maintain her most professional face. He did not doubt for a minute that her interest was sincere, but he knew Pippa well enough now to know the crinkle between her eyes was not due to age or stress but to laughter fighting to break out. He was mortified.
He loved his mum and knew that, despite her disappointment that he had walked away from the family business, she – unlike his father – was secretly proud that he had finally used his degree and become a teacher. He knew that she was proud of what he was now doing for a living; she just wished he’d do it in Middlesbrough, get married and pop out several grandchildren for her. If he could let his mum and dad chose his bride for him at the same time, well, that would just make all her dreams come true.
He knew she had been eying up potentials for at least a decade, if not longer. One of the advantages in living in Cornwall was that he was no longer subjected to surprise dinners as he had been when living at home. He’d return home after working all hours with his dad, hands in loos or manky-smelling standing water, only to find his mother cooking up a storm having invited some girl she fancied having as a daughter-in-law over to eat. Just before he had left to move down south, she had been steadily working through his sisters’ friends as potential candidates. He supposed he should be grateful she hadn’t made a minibus of possible wives drive down the motorway. Although there was always time.
‘Mum, I need to let the kids in. Please, can you leave any of your personal comments on my life until the classroom is empty at the end of the day? None of the children need to know what a bitter disappointment Mr Choudhury is in the marital stakes.’
Pippa sputtered into her now cold coffee. She was clearly determined to finish both cups.
‘Oh, before you let them in, Kam. Remember we need to look after Marion today. You still up for it?’
‘Of course.’ Kam smiled back at her, trying to block out his mother who was watching their interaction keenly. Because becoming best friends with Marion Marksharp today was exactly what he needed.
Chapter Twenty-three
Pippa had had a great morning. She had really enjoyed spending the day with Kam’s mum, who wasn’t shy of sharing stories about her son and his mischiefs. Pippa’s favourite was that as a boy he was so dedicated to his swimming that he used to spray that skin replacement stuff, the spray plaster, in between his fingers to see if he could make them webbed like the sea birds that dotted the shores. How cute was that?
