She didn’t, and she thought she had already made that clear. ‘I’m really busy with work just now. Sorry Alessandro.’ Therewas something about the way he looked at her that gave her the ick. She was grateful for his kindness since she’d arrived, but it felt a bit loaded. She just wished they could be mates. He wasn’t her type. He wasn’tCallum. He was too groomed, excessively smooth and, from what she could gather — from snippets of what Jim had said — he was a complete ladies’ man. Which she knew herself, from when he had slipped his arm around her waist as they’d left the pub that night. She just hoped that nobody, or rather Callum, hadn’t noticed and got the wrong idea.
Just then, the office door swung open, which snapped her out of her thoughts and back to the moment. It was Laura, the postwoman, who — as Jim had said she would — doubled as a bit of an oracle. As she knew everything and everyone, Beth had been trying to work out the best way to ask her about Callum. But there was no way to be subtle, despite having racked her brain for ages, trying to think of a tactful approach. But she knew that if she did ask after him then Laura might wonder what was going on. The last thing she wanted to do was draw any attention to her fact-finding mission. Or imply she was some kind of nosy stalker. She knew people were used to journalists asking lots of questions, which Beth had no problem doing if she was working on a legitimate story. That was the problem. This wasn’t a story. It was all just so she could satisfy her own curiosity, and try and join some dots together. She had done an online trawl for any information she could find, but he didn’t have an online presence, which didn’t surprise her at all. He’d always been very unassuming. Beth had worked out some possible questions to pose, and had been watching the clock all morning as she knew Laura would be due to drop their mail at any moment.
As it was, Laura didn’t have time to stand and blether. She stuck her head in the door on her way past to the terminal. ‘Not much for you today I’m afraid.’
‘Do you fancy a coffee?’ asked Beth.
‘No time just now but thank you. I’m in a bit of a hurry. There’s a big delivery coming in any time that I need to go and sort. It always starts to get crazy this time of year.’ Laura looked at Jim, who had just come out the kitchen with two mugs of coffee.
‘I can’t tempt you?’ he asked with a grin.
‘Sadly no, though I could murder a cup of something hot. It’s bloody freezing out there. See you later.’ She turned and closed the door behind her.
Jim glanced at his watch. ‘Will you remind me that I need to be away sharp for parents’ night? I’m so worried that I’ll forget. Freya would be raging.’
‘You make her out to be some kind of tyrant.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘You have no idea what I have to put up with.’ He grinned at his own joke.
Beth picked up her mug and took a sip. ‘I doubt that very much. You’re forgetting that I’m going along too. There is no chance you’ll be late with me.’
He hit his hand against his forehead. ‘Of course. So you are. You’re giving feedback on the newspaper?’
‘Yes, and I can tell you right now that Murray has been a complete superstar. He and his friend Daisy are great. They listen to everything that I say and ask lots of brilliant questions. Honestly, they will go far. It’s been such a lovely project to work on.’
‘Thanks,’ Jim beamed with pride, ‘that’s great to hear. And I’m grateful you were up for taking this on so quickly. I wouldn’t have had the time or the impact either. Murray would have been mortified.’
‘They’re a fab bunch, I’ve loved it. Highlight of my week.’
‘I mean, obviously I think my kids are great, but I know that I’m biased. And Daisy is brilliant too.’
‘She is a bright cookie. Very creative and curious, with a real maturity about her.’
Jim nodded. ‘She’s had a lot of challenges to overcome. Her—’
Just then the phone rang and he was cut off, leaving Beth intrigued to know what he had been about to say.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘Good luck with the meetings,’ said Beth. They walked into the school’s entrance hall, decorated with streamers and tinsel, where lots of parents and carers were waiting. She spotted Freya, who was waiting with Murray, and gave her a wee wave.
‘You are actually on time.’ Freya was incredulous. ‘That is all down to you, Beth. Thank you. I wish you knew how glad I am that you’ve come into our lives. We are so much happierandon time for things. Isn’t that right Jim?’
Beth gave a gusty laugh. ‘I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me before. You’re making me blush.’ She turned to look at Murray. ‘Hope you get a good report from all your teachers. I’m sure you will. I’ve been telling your dad how much I’ve enjoyed working with you on the newspaper.’
Murray gave her a small smile, then shrugged his shoulders. She watched as he scuffed his feet following Freya, who had started to march along the corridor. What was it about kids and parents’ evenings? They always got so worried and anxious, and she knew Murray had no reason to be. Then she reminded herself that she had been exactly the same at that stage.
‘Right I hope your sessions go well too, Beth. I better keep up.’ Jim was full of mock horror as he gestured after Freya and Murray. ‘I’m sure our paths will cross again.’
‘Most definitely. I’m going up to the English department. See you there.’ Beth followed the signs that took her down a corridor and to the large classroom. Here she was to take up a small corner with examples of the kids’ work they’d produced over the past couple of weeks. It was incredible the amount of progress they had made in such a short space of time. Although she didn’t have to be on hand at the parents’ evening, as she wasn’t a teacher, she had offered in case any of the parents wanted to see and hear about some of the extracurricular worktheir children had been doing. Beth was extremely proud of what they had achieved with their newspaper. She busied herself, laying out printed copies on a table, along with some laminated photographs of the kids in action at meetings, discussing ideas and typing up their stories.
‘Hi Beth,’ said a voice behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
‘Daisy.’ Beth was genuinely delighted as she spun round and moved around the table towards her, reaching over for a hug. ‘It’s so good to see you. I’m glad you came over to say hello. How are you? How’s it going?’ Beth gave a conspiratorial wink. Daisy had told her last week she was worried she would get a bad report — she tended to talk too much in class.
‘Mmm.’ Daisy twirled a lock of hair absent-mindedly. ‘Okay, I suppose.’
‘That sounds a bit ominous.’ Beth looked at her in concern.
