Daddy's Little Princess by Cathy Glass

Author:Cathy Glass
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2014-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

After lunch I took Paula to the park to meet up with a friend who had a son of a similar age to Paula and they played together. Although it was chilly, we stayed for over an hour and then I went to school to collect Adrian and Beth. When they came out Adrian reminded me that he would be staying for football practice after school the following day, and Beth reminded me that her social worker was coming that afternoon, neither of which I’d forgotten. It occurred to me that since Beth hadn’t been in contact with her father she didn’t talk about him as much, and her references to being ‘Daddy’s little princess’ and what she would wear when she saw him or spoke to him on the telephone had largely stopped. Now all she asked, as she did that afternoon, was when would Jessie let her see or telephone her daddy again, which was sad.

Once home, I quickly made the children a drink and a snack to see them through to dinner. As this was only Jessie’s second visit (the first being when she’d brought Beth to me), I wasn’t sure what format her visit would take or how long it would last. Different social workers worked differently.

Jessie arrived as arranged at 4 p.m. and I showed her through to the living room, where Beth was already sitting on the sofa, waiting expectantly. I offered Jessie a drink, but she didn’t want one. ‘I’d like to speak to you first,’ she said to me. ‘Then I’ll have a chat with Beth and look at her room.’

Beth looked disappointed.

‘You could play with Adrian and Paula,’ I suggested to her. They were seated at the table in the kitchen with puzzles, paper and crayons, which I’d set out to keep them amused during Jessie’s visit.

‘When will you tell me about my daddy?’ Beth asked Jessie.

‘As soon as I’ve spoken to Cathy,’ Jessie replied.

Beth accepted this and left the room to join Adrian and Paula. I pushed the door to so we couldn’t be overheard and sat on the sofa, while Jessie took the armchair.

‘I thought I’d get an update from you first,’ Jessie said. ‘How has Beth been?’

‘Not too bad,’ I said. ‘She’s missing her father. I’ve reassured her as best I could.’

‘Has Beth said any more about their relationship?’ Jessie asked.

‘Not really. Nothing new. Only what I’ve told you already.’

Jessie nodded. ‘It’s possible this may become a police investigation, in which case Beth will be interviewed and you may be asked questions too.’

‘I’ll obviously do what I can to help,’ I said.

‘I’m still looking into all of this,’ Jessie said. ‘I’m trying to arrange to see Derek’s psychologist again. After that, my manager and I will be in a better position to make a decision on how to proceed. There is one thing I need to ask you.’

‘Yes?’

‘The make-up Beth was wearing when I took her to the hospital … She told me her father bought it for her.

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