Be Careful What You Wish For: Three women, three men, three deaths (Kitty Thomas) by Sue Nicholls

Author:Sue Nicholls [Nicholls, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Susan Nicholls Publishing
Published: 2017-05-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 40

The fine weather that began on Millie’s last day, has continued for two weeks, now.

Mick sits, sandwiched once again between Paul and Mo on a playground bench. A phalanx of green railings protects their rear, interrupted by a metal gate that allows grinding access to and from a wide pavement. Beyond the slabs, a noisy road imposes pauses in their conversation as HGVs roar past trailing sooty exhaust fumes that pollute the crisp air.

Lucas and Olivia have been staying with Mick since the funeral. Like iron filings to a magnet, they have clung to him, whether it be squeezed into the kitchen during food preparation, or heaped on the couch with a book, or the television. Lately though, their cluster has loosened, as though the strength of the force has reduced.

‘I need to get back to work.’ Mick presses his lips together and frowns. ‘The children have been asking when they can go home. Home.’ He shakes his head then shrugs. ‘Fee and Twitch seem keen to take them. It’s good of them really.’ He inhales deeply, expanding his chest and forcing his shoulder against Paul’s.

‘How are the nippers now?’ Maurice raises his voice over a passing truck.

‘I think they’ll be OK. Thing is I have no choice really. Work’s been good to me but two weeks off - it’s putting pressure on the rest of the team.’

‘You can still see the kids, nobody’s going to object to that,' observes Paul. 'It’ll be easier for you than me and Maurice now. You can play the sympathy card.’

Mick nods without comment.

The three men fill the long, slatted seat. At their feet, the remains of a take-away and the discarded outer clothing of their young, overflow from rucksacks. Maurice is pushing and pulling a buggy in which Josh, too big for it, lolls with his eyes closed. Their other three children, and a few other families, are dotted around the playground. Nearby, a boy-toddler supervised by his father, climbs a ladder with rungs as high as his shoulders. The dad offers gung-ho encouragement, and the mother warns, ‘Hold his hand; he’s going to fall off.’

The men lapse into quietude, listening to the rumble of the traffic and to childish squeals. Mick looks for his kids and spots Lucas pushed on a swing by Olivia, now even more motherly and grown up.

Kitty and Sam are at the top of the climbing frame, about 7ft from the ground.

‘Look Daddy,’ Kitty cries in the way of children the world over: Mira Mama. Regards Grand-pere. Paul glances up and nods vaguely at her.

‘No, keep looking, I’m going to do something amazing,’ and when his eyes are focussed to her satisfaction, she throws herself from the top of the tower.

Paul leaps to his feet, fright choking his cry, and launches himself towards her.

She bounces to her feet. ‘See, I told you I’m amazing!’ She beams up at him, panting, and triumphant.

With a racing heart Paul grasps Kitty by her sleeve and yanks her to him, then seizing both her shoulders he pushes his face into hers, yelling, ‘That was very silly.

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