The Godchild: a psychological thriller with a shocking twist by Miranda Rijks

Author:Miranda Rijks [Rijks, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Published: 2024-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

15

CARINA – NOW

Ifeel like I’m being torn in a hundred different directions. And homewards, which is where I really should be, is getting the least of my attention. I’m worried about the kids, Tegan in particular. And now we’re having to deal with the fallout from the press. They’re questioning whether I’m able to run the school properly and there are numerous rumours of bullying, even ex-students being quoted as saying bullying has been rife at Wendles for years. It’s not true. I’m not naive enough to think there isn’t bullying, because I have no doubt there is, but we have a zero tolerance policy and I don’t hesitate to enact it. We expelled a girl only last term for hounding another pupil on social media. To compound my stress, we’re due an OFSTED report, and we’ve had a couple of parents pull their children from the school. The fact that poor Jack Eastwood wasn’t murdered on school grounds seems to have got lost in the communications.

I had about four hours’ sleep last night, once again, and it wasn’t helped by an argument with Don.

‘I’ll be heading off tomorrow morning,’ he said as he slipped into bed.

‘Heading off?’ I asked.

‘The writers’ retreat. I told you about it. It’s five days of solid writing in an old monastery in North Wales. Just what I need to break through the writer’s block.’

‘With everything that has happened, I’d forgotten.’ I felt a mounting panic. I remember now that he got Ethan into a nursery but it would mean me collecting him at 4 p.m. every afternoon and looking after all the kids. It seemed doable when we booked it a couple of months ago, but now… And tonight, it’s the candlelit vigil for Jack Eastwood.

‘I’m sorry, Don. But you’re going to have to postpone it. I’m under too much pressure at school and can’t possibly finish my days at 4 p.m.’

‘What? No! Carina, everything is around your job and this is the one chance I have to do something for myself.’

‘I know, I know. I’m sorry,’ I said, reaching for his hand but he pulled it away. ‘It’s just we’re facing a catastrophe at school and I’m barely able to keep my head above water. And I was hoping you’d come with me to the candlelit vigil so we can both support the kids. Please, Don.’

He turned over in bed then, his back to me. I tried to reach for him but he shoved me away.

‘I’ll make it up to you, I promise.’ I got no response.

I’m up at 5.30 a.m., in the kitchen making myself a strong cup of coffee and forcing down a couple of pieces of toast. I know that I’m living on my nerves, but I have no choice. I’m startled by footsteps and hope that it’s Don with an apology. It’s not.

‘Good morning,’ Alicia says cheerily.

‘You’re up early,’ I say.

‘Old habits die hard. When we were short of electricity we went to sleep when it got dark and awoke at sunrise.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.