Jake fumbled, moved quickly to the bed and dropped the toy gun and holster on top of the Stetson, squashing the hat.
‘I’m an idiot!’ Jake stared at the offending objects. He turned to the door. ‘Let me explain, Faye.’
Faye thundered down the stairs as he emerged from the bedroom. He called out, ‘I had this bright idea; rather than Natty bringing her toys with her every time she stayed over, I thought why not buy her some toys that remained here?’ He looked over the banister. Faye looked up at him. He continued, ‘The only thing is, these little shopping trips with Natty become a bit tooregular, and before I know it, she’s ordering stuff online too. But hey, I’m a guy. We’re weak. What can I say?’
Faye stood, her face tilted upwards, frowning at him.
‘So, this one time Natty sees this little cowgirl outfit and she’s just like got to have it – you know how it is. So, I buy her the outfit, which comes complete with hat, gun and holster, without thinking. If I had a shred of common sense, I’d have realised I should have consulted you first.’
‘Yes – you should have!’ Faye turned on her heel and stalked to the front door, slamming it shut behind her.
Chapter 13
Jake sat at the table in the hall. ‘Now what?’ He knew Faye was heading back to school. He’d heard a car engine start after she’d stalked out of the house. He’d rushed down the stairs, taking them two at a time, hoping to catch her, but he’d heard the car moving off before he reached the front door. He looked at his hands. He couldn’t really drive until they stopped throbbing so much. He’d have to call a taxi.
He spent thirty minutes staring forlornly at the clock in the hall and listening intently to each passing car in the hope that Faye had changed her mind and come back. Then he began to debate whether or not to return to school, but he didn’t want to explain to the head why his hands were in bandages. He hoped Faye would explain away why he hadn’t returned to work.
Jake resigned himself to the fact that he would not be going to work that day. He went upstairs to get his bloodstained clothes and put them in the wash.
He’d just stepped into his bedroom when his mobile phone rang. He’d left it on the bedside table when he’d changed his clothes.
Jake dived onto the bed, landing on his stomach, and gingerly picked up his phone, careful not to drop it. Racking his brain fora suitable apology, Jake said, ‘Yes?’ down the phone, expecting to hear Faye’s voice. It wasn’t Faye. Instead, it was the head, calling about his absence. Faye had told the head that he’d had an emergency at home. The head didn’t elaborate, making Jake wonder whether Faye had given any details – Jake hoped not. He didn’t want to ask. However, the head was understanding – Jake had proved an exemplary student teacher.
Jake rolled over onto his back. She’d covered for him. Did this mean all was forgiven? Somehow, he doubted it.
‘So I heard how it went with your bike.’
‘Pardon me?’
‘The bike theft?’
Jake looked at his hands, and thought of Marcus. That had been the least of his concerns after he’d got that call from Lydia.
The head added, ‘Faye told me she reported it, and the police will be in touch.’
Jake breathed a sigh of relief. So, shewascovering for him. ‘Thanks.’
‘Sorry to hear that someone broke into your home.’
Jake raised his eyebrows.
‘Faye told me that she’d taken you home to get your car, and that was when you’d discovered you’d had a break-in.’
‘Uh, yeah.’ Jake winced. So that was what Faye had told him. He hoped she hadn’t mentioned Marcus.
‘What bad luck to have your bike stolen and your house broken into, both on the same day.’
Jake agreed.
‘Bad luck slipping on the glass like that; how’re those hands?’
‘They’re not bad at all – fine, really.’ Jake sat up and was having trouble keeping the phone held to his ear.
‘Is that a fact? Faye says they’re in pretty bad shape.’
He knew what was coming; the head was going to tell him to take some time off. ‘I’m sure in a day or so …’
‘It sounds to me as though it’s going to take time to heal.’
