However, there was only a week left, as school would break up for Christmas on Friday. This coming week would be an exciting one, what with the school play and all the other activities that the teachers had planned, so Beatrice would see what Sadie was like in January. But for now, she wanted to enjoy the day, and that meant having fun in the snow.
Beatrice was in the middle of a snowball fight and losing badly (two against one wasn’t fair), when she heard her phone ringing.
Using it as an excuse not to be pummelled any more (Taya had a terrifyingly good aim), Beatrice retreated to the kitchen to see who was calling.
It was Lisa. ‘Beatrice, lovely girl, how good are you with a shovel?’
Beatrice unwound her wet scarf from her neck with a grimace and glanced out of the window. The children were now heaping snow together to make a snowman. ‘You can’t be snowed in. It’s not that deep.’
‘Don’t be silly, of course we aren’t. But it’s set to freeze tonight.’
‘So?’
‘If it does, and the paths aren’t cleared, they’ll be treacherous,’
‘The gritters will be out. It’ll be fine,’ Beatrice said, as she noticed more fat flakes begin to fall.
‘For the roads, yes, but I’m talking about the paths around the school. Do you remember the last time it snowed? The school was closed for two days because the paths were so treacherous. Nikki reckons the same thing could happen tomorrow. But if we clear them, the caretaker can put salt down so they won’t freeze overnight. The school car park also needs to be cleared. Nikki’s fine as she lives in the village and can walk to work, but none of the other teachers do.’ Lisa lowered her voice and Beatrice guessed that one or more of her kids were in earshot. ‘It’s either that, or the kids stay home from school. I know which I’d prefer.’
‘Give me half an hour. Mine are outside.’ She winced as a blob of melting snow trickled down the back of her neck. ‘I’ll get them changed into dry clothes and meet you there.’
‘Bring them round to mine. Robin can look after them.’
‘Will do. See you in a bit.’ Picking up her sodden scarf, Beatrice pulled a face. She’d better take a change of clothes for the girls, because no doubt they’d get wet again.
She was about to ask them to come inside, when she saw she had a message from Mark, and her tummy did a somersault.
Snow! Are you out in it?
Have been. Going 2 school 2 clear paths
Want any help?
Meet you there. 30 mins?
He responded with a happy smiley face and a snowman emoji.
Beatrice stared at her phone for a couple of seconds, her heart thudding, anticipation swooping through her as she remembered him turning up announced but oh-so welcome, late Friday evening. How she’d managed to stop before things went too far, she didn’t know. Thinking about it made her feel weak and breathless. She would have given anything for an hour alone with him…
She hadn’t seen him yesterday, and she felt giddy at the thought of seeing him now. As she got the children ready, she told herself she couldn’t let her feelings show, not in front of so many people. And especially not in front of the other mums, who would be watching any and all interactions she had with him as intently as a flock of beady-eyed hawks.
Although it had been common knowledge at the time that Beatrice and Mark had been dating, only Lisa knew how Beatrice had felt about him, and Beatrice wanted to keep it that way.The problem was, Picklewick was small, and she didn’t doubt that everyone in it knew that she and Mark had been out for a meal together –twice. She suspected that rumours were already rife, but she was determined she wasn’t going to fan the gossipy flames any further today.
Bundling the children out of the door, Beatrice hurried them down the street. Her children loved going to Lisa’s house and she knew they’d have a great time. They wouldn’t miss her in the slightest, not with Lisa’s kids to play with and a continual supply of snow to keep them entertained.
Flakes were still falling when she tried to kiss them goodbye at the front door, but both girls brushed her off, eager to get inside, and Beatrice sighed.
‘Typical,’ she grumbled. ‘They don’t want anything to do with me when there’s something more exciting on offer.’
‘Here.’ Lisa handed her a shovel. ‘Stop moaning. You’d complain if they were hanging onto your apron strings.’
‘So I would,’ she agreed, hoisting the shovel so it sat on her shoulder. ‘Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to work we go,’ she warbled.
‘Blimey, you’re in good spirits considering we’re about to get backache and blisters. I’ll be bloody annoyed if no one else turns up,’ Lisa growled. ‘If it’s just me, you, Nikki and the caretaker, we’re not going to get very far.’
Quietly, Beatrice said, ‘And Mark.’
‘What did you say? I didn’t catch that.’
