“Yeah Mum, we sound excellent.”
Frankie giggled as Sam held up a hand to high five him and after what had happened the night before, that was one sound that I didn’t mind listening to.
With Sam and Frankie singing along to each song that played, we carried on to the school and as we got closer, I began to feel more and more emotional. It was stupid, but the thought of being at the place from where Josh had taken my son was making my stomach churn.
“Stop worrying.” A large hand landed on my thigh. “He’s locked up and the school won’t cock up again.”
My eyes were pinned to his profile as he carried on driving; trying to soak up his confidence and composure. I couldn’t afford to crack up and needed to stay calm for Frankie’s sake – to see me losing control would only serve to upset him.
“I was so scared,” I whispered, failing at holding the words and emotions in.
Sam briefly took his eyes from the road to flash me a sympathetic smile. “I know, we all were, but he was safe and he’s home now.”
His hand on my leg squeezed gently and I felt my heart beat faster. My eyes widened with surprise as a whole host of feelings rushed through me, while pictures of the night before danced before my eyes causing my skin to heat up.
“Are you okay, Mummy?” Frankie’s voice sounded small and scared and I felt guilty for worrying him.
“I’m fine sweetheart,” I said brightly, looking between the seats. “Just being silly.”
“I promise I won’t ever go with Josh again,” he replied, his chin lowering to his chest. “It was because he said Nanna wasn’t coming.”
“I know,” I soothed, reaching to rub a reassuring hand up and down his leg. “It was not your fault, so don’t ever think it was. Josh did a bad thing lying to your teacher and he only did it because he was mad at me. So, don’t you worry, okay?”
His long lashes swept against his cheeks as he closed his eyes and nodded slowly.
“Good, now let me hear you singing again, it was actually pretty good.”
Frankie’s cute little face broke into a smile, his freckled nose screwing up and his teeth showing.
“I told you we were good.”
With that, he and Sam continued singing until we reached the school.
* * *
“I can’t apologise enough, Miss West,” Mrs. Rowntree, the headmistress said. “But Mr. Brent was still on the authorised list.”
“I understand,” I sighed. “I should have let you know, it’s just all happened so quickly, I forgot to call and tell you.”
Sam sat silently, listening to our exchange and with every word of apology from Mrs. Rowntree and Miss Carmichael, the teacher who had let Josh take Frankie, his jaw had tightened along with the grip he had on the coffee mug in his hand.
We had been in the office for over half an hour and he’d barely uttered two words and I was beginning to wonder if he’d changed his mind about the whole parenting thing. I got that talking to teachers wasn’t something he was used to, it was out of his comfort zone, but he’d been the one who had insisted that he came with me.
“He’s been removed now,” Miss Carmichael replied, twisting her fingers together. “And I can assure you Frankie will not be put in the care of anyone other than yourself, your parents, or your sister.” She glanced down at the list in front of her, obviously checking her facts.
“You need to add me to that.” Sam’s deep voice boomed.
Mrs. Rowntree looked at him quizzically, glanced at the list in Miss Carmichael’s hand and then looked back up to me.
“This is…” I cleared my throat. “Mr. Cooper is Frankie’s father, but we’d prefer if you didn’t broadcast that,” I said, glancing at Sam. “Especially to Frankie.”
Initially I’d only introduced Sam as Mr. Cooper and not explained who he was, so it was no surprise when the headmistress tried to hide her shock, but I heard the slight gasp and saw how she reared back slightly, seeing as Sam had never been in the picture before.
“It’s complicated,” I explained as Mrs. Rowntree looked between me and Sam.
“Could you provide a photograph for the records, Mr. Cooper?” Miss Carmichael started to scribble on the list and then looked up at Sam.
Sam nodded curtly and reached around to the back pocket of his charcoal grey suit trousers and pulled out his wallet.
