Jack of All Trades Box Set: books 1 to 3 by Smith DH

Author:Smith, DH [Smith, DH]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Manuscript Template
Publisher: Earlham Books
Published: 2016-04-18T04:00:00+00:00

Part Two:

The First Killing

Chapter 25

Mia was a bundle in the doorway, pathetic and cold, like a homeless waif. By her side a small suitcase with the few precious items she’d chosen to run away with. He helped her get up, kissed her on the forehead and took her suitcase. Jack opened the door and ushered her into the hallway.

They went upstairs to the flat. And immediately Jack turned on the gas fire. He sat Mia in an armchair, put a blanket over her knees, and went into the kitchen to make hot chocolate. There, he phoned Alison. And told her Mia was here. Alison said she’d be over right away.

He kept up an inane commentary from the kitchen to show he was there and doing things: ‘Kettle on, chocolate going in the cups, adding milk, milk back in the fridge, adding sugar, although it’s not good for you…’

‘I know how to make hot chocolate, Dad,’ she called back.

‘Tell me soon as I go wrong then. Kettle off, pour water on the floor…’

‘Wrong.’

‘Just testing. I’m sure it’s a lot better in the cup. Stir, stir more. Spoon in the sink.’

He took the two hot chocolates into the sitting room, not really wanting one himself, but thought it more companionable to have one. He handed her a cup. And noted that, warm again, she was coming back to life.

‘Your mum’s coming over,’ he said. ‘You’d better fill me in.’

She screwed up her nose. ‘I don’t want to go to Brighton.’

‘Your mum’s not going to take you to Brighton tomorrow. It’s not for…’ he calculated, ‘two and a half months.’

‘I want to go to Atwoods with my friends.’

‘You haven’t been accepted at Atwoods yet. Neither have your friends.’

She shrugged. ‘We will be.’

‘Maybe you will, maybe you won’t.’

She ignored the uncertainty and said, ‘She just sprung it on me. We’re going to Brighton, she said. ‘We’ – like I’m a dog on a lead.’

‘It’s promotion for your mum,’ he said, trying hard. ‘Deputy head, you know. Extra pay. You’ll find somewhere better to live, not far from the sea. Brighton’s got a lot of life.’

‘Can’t I stay with you in London?’

He blew out his cheeks. ‘And how would that work, you over here in Forest Gate? You’d have an hour’s journey every day to Atwoods in Hackney. If they accept you. This place is alright if you stay the odd weekend. But you haven’t even got your own room. Alright if you’ve not much here, but you would if you lived here as your main home. Besides, your mum will be earning nearly twice what I make.’

‘Money isn’t everything.’

He couldn’t help a laugh. Wisdom from the ten year old perspective.

‘It’s not everything, I admit,’ he said, ‘but a decent, regular income doesn’t half make life easier.’

There was a ring on the bell.

‘Your mum. I’d best let her in.’

He left the flat, went down the stairs and opened the front door. There was Alison, flustered with speed and worry.

‘How is she?’

‘Fine.’

‘What have you been saying to her?’

‘That Brighton is a nice place and you earn nearly twice what I do.

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