Magpie by Eve Ainsworth
Author:Eve Ainsworth [Ainsworth, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Children’s Books
Published: 2020-05-15T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter Ten
One time, Ross took me and Henry out together. He didnât do that often. He was always so busy with work or off down the gym, but he said he wanted to spend some time alone with the two of us.
Mum was by then heavily pregnant with Amy. Her stomach was like a huge distended ball that seemed to be weighing her down more and more each day.
One morning, Ross had taken her hand and looked at her sadly.
âYou look a mess,â he said. He was speaking so softly I could hardly hear. âItâs sad to see. You used to look so beautiful.â
Mum flushed and shifted on the spot.
âIâm just tired, thatâs all â this pregnancy. . .â she started to say, but Ross put his hand up to stop her.
âDonât! I donât want to hear it,â he said gently. He reached into his wallet and drew out some notes. All folded neatly as always. He pressed them into her hand. âTake this. Go to the hairdresser. Get yourself sorted out. Get your hair done how I like it.â
âI â I donât know, Ross. Iâm so tired â and the kidsââ
âI insist.â His voice was firmer. âIâll sort the kids out. Itâs important that you look after yourself, you know. I like you to take care of yourself.â
She nodded. âThank you,â she said quietly. âI donât know what Iâd do without you.â
Ross took me and Henry to a nearby burger bar. It was fun. He treated us to giant milkshakes with cream and all the toppings. The young girl behind the till seemed to like Ross. She giggled when he cracked a joke about her bright hair dye and blushed when he winked at her once our food was ready.
âAlways have a smile on your face, Alice,â he said, when he sat back down again. âIt makes people feel good. Itâll make you feel good.â
Ross always seemed to have that way with people. He could be so charming, so nice. To be honest it was totally confusing.
And I tried. I really did try.
âI donât think all this speculation is helping,â says Alfie. âYou wonât know anything for sure till you speak to your mum.â
âExactly. She might not even be talking to this Ross guy. . .â Ben points out, waving his pasta-laden fork towards me. âIt could be a friend or family.â
Itâs lunchtime and Iâm getting the full lecture. At least they care, I think. It makes me feel warm inside.
âMum stopped speaking to most of her friends,â I say. âAnd she doesnât have family.â
âWhat, no one at all?â Ben frowns. âEveryone has some family.â
âNo one,â I repeat. âHer mum left when she was a baby. Her dad brought her up and he died when she was in her teens. She lived with foster carers.â I push my lunch aside, suddenly not hungry. âShe doesnât like talking about it much.â
âWhat about your dad?â Alfie asks. âDoes she ever talk to him?â
âNo way,â I say. âShe hasnât seen him since before I was born.
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