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 didn’t 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.

“You look a mess,” he said. He was speaking so softly I could hardly hear. “It’s sad to see. You used to look so beautiful.”

Mum flushed and shifted on the spot.

“I’m just tired, that’s all – this pregnancy. . .” she started to say, but Ross put his hand up to stop her.

“Don’t! I don’t want to hear it,” he said gently. He reached into his wallet and drew out some notes. All folded neatly as always. He pressed them into her hand. “Take this. Go to the hairdresser. Get yourself sorted out. Get your hair done how I like it.”

“I – I don’t know, Ross. I’m so tired – and the kids—”

“I insist.” His voice was firmer. “I’ll sort the kids out. It’s important that you look after yourself, you know. I like you to take care of yourself.”

She nodded. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

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.

“Always have a smile on your face, Alice,” he said, when he sat back down again. “It makes people feel good. It’ll make you feel good.”

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.

“I don’t think all this speculation is helping,” says Alfie. “You won’t know anything for sure till you speak to your mum.”

“Exactly. She might not even be talking to this Ross guy. . .” Ben points out, waving his pasta-laden fork towards me. “It could be a friend or family.”

It’s lunchtime and I’m getting the full lecture. At least they care, I think. It makes me feel warm inside.

“Mum stopped speaking to most of her friends,” I say. “And she doesn’t have family.”

“What, no one at all?” Ben frowns. “Everyone has some family.”

“No one,” I repeat. “Her 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.” I push my lunch aside, suddenly not hungry. “She doesn’t like talking about it much.”

“What about your dad?” Alfie asks. “Does she ever talk to him?”

“No way,” I say. “She hasn’t seen him since before I was born.

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