The Child’s Secret

‘You were amazing,’ Laura whispered in her ear. ‘I’m so proud of you.’

‘I was so nervous I was nearly sick! Seriously!’

‘Well, you weren’t. Well done, Jasmine.’

They both became aware that all eyes were on them and Jasmine would have continued clinging to her mum like a limpet if her dad hadn’t spoken up.

‘About time. Can we get going now?’

Laura gave Finn what she hoped was a meaningful look. It had taken all her powers of persuasion to convince him to come in the first place and she didn’t want him to get this moment wrong. Finn didn’t usually take much interest in Jasmine’s schooling but she had told him that the school play could be an important step forward for their daughter. Jasmine had been too quiet of late, making Laura painfully aware that when Finn had lost his job it had been the whole family who had been affected. Even with the temporary job there was still a good measure of insecurity in their lives and Jasmine needed to know that, despite that uncertainty, she had two parents who loved and cared for her.

When his wife’s piercing blue eyes pricked his conscience, Finn quickly added, ‘And well done from me too, Jazz.’

‘Did you work out which one was me, Dad?’

‘Of course I did, honey. You were the star of the show.’

Jasmine did her best to look sceptical but her eyes sparkled.

‘You did really well, Jasmine,’ Anna added. ‘And you should be very proud of yourself today.’ She then looked to Finn as if to say, can we go now?

Finn didn’t hesitate. ‘Me and your mum are going out for a meal now,’ he said to his daughter, ‘and you can stay over with Keira tonight as a special reward.’

Jasmine looked crestfallen and turned to her mum in the vain hope that she would overrule him. That look pulled at Laura’s heart and she wanted to tell Finn that perhaps they should put off the meal for another time. Finn hadn’t even mentioned going out and she had already eaten with Jasmine earlier. But she couldn’t risk Finn deciding to go out without her because, given half a chance, he would turn it into an all-night session and forget the small matter of getting up for work in the morning. Reluctantly, Laura cupped a hand around her daughter’s face. ‘Natalie will take you to school in the morning as usual, but I’ll see if I can leave work early and pick you up,’ she said softly. ‘We can have a special tea to celebrate, I promise.’

Tears stung Jasmine’s eyes and she wouldn’t look at her mum, choosing instead to glance towards the man who had been watching her and her mum intently without saying a word.

‘You remember Mr McIntyre, don’t you?’ Anna said. ‘He took us around Calderstones a few months ago.’

‘Is the tree all right?’ she asked.

Sam cleared his throat. ‘Stronger than ever.’

‘Don’t tell me you’re the park ranger who spun Jasmine that yarn about a tree with magical powers?’ Finn said with a laugh.

‘It’s the Wishing Tree,’ Jasmine corrected.

‘Is that so?’ her father asked. ‘I bet it didn’t grant your secret wish, did it?’

Jasmine gave a small shrug but said nothing.

‘You should know better than to fill your head with that kind of nonsense. It’s time to grow up, Jasmine,’ Finn said and then, realizing he had an audience, added gently, ‘You’re a big girl now.’

Jasmine’s lip trembled but when her dad winked at her she managed a smile and Laura knew she couldn’t put off the inevitable. ‘Go on,’ she said. ‘Natalie’s waiting for you.’

After a final hug goodbye, Jasmine scraped her heels along the floor towards Natalie. To Laura’s relief, she immediately started up an animated conversation with Keira, her disappointment apparently forgotten, and the two friends paid no further heed to their respective parents. When Natalie turned and waved at Laura to go it was all the encouragement that Finn needed.

While her husband was deep in conversation with Anna as they headed towards the car park, Laura trailed behind with Sam. Her daughter wasn’t the only one who could suffer from stage fright and, as they walked, Laura struggled to think of something to say to break the awkward silence. She knew very little about this man who wouldn’t realize how much he had turned her family around and she wanted to know more.

Sam had a powerful frame that could have made him appear intimidating, but looking at his face she didn’t think he was the type who would raise a hand in anger, not at all. A woman would feel protected in his arms and it had been a long time since Laura had felt like that with Finn. Her husband was a good man deep down, but there were times when his moods became so dark that he could see nothing but his own pain, and that was how it had been since he had lost his job at the builders’ merchants. Sam McIntyre might only think he had put in a good word to get Finn a job but he had been a shining light in their lives and Laura wished she could find the courage to tell him.

‘Thank—’ she began but Sam had also started to speak.

‘Did I get Jasmine into trouble—’ he began then stopped. ‘Sorry, what were you saying?’

‘Nothing,’ she said with a shake of the head. ‘I – I just wanted to say thank you for helping Finn get the job.’

‘Ach, it was nothing, honestly.’

There was another pause and Laura could feel herself becoming flustered. It wasn’t so much his deep voice that she was drawn to, but its gentleness, although she had the good sense not to close the distance she was deliberately keeping between them. ‘You asked about getting Jasmine into trouble?’

‘By filling her head with stories about the Wishing Tree.’

‘She has her head in the clouds most of the time and her dad thinks she needs pulling down to earth now and again, but it’s not an easy task,’ Laura said with a smile as a picture of her little Munchkin came to mind.

‘I’m guessing you didn’t know about the meal tonight,’ he said.

‘Oh, don’t worry about it. Finn does it all the time. It’s hard to keep up with him sometimes.’

Hearing his name, Finn turned around. ‘We were trying to decide where to go. How does Italian grab you?’

‘Fine by me,’ Sam said.

‘I don’t mind,’ Laura added, ‘I had something earlier so I’ll probably only pick at my food anyway.’ An expert at spotting the annoyance hidden behind the smile her husband was giving her for Sam’s benefit, she tried to sound a little more enthusiastic. ‘I’m sure I’ll have an appetite once I smell all that garlic, just don’t blame me if I end up like a big Italian Mamma.’

Sam gave her a self-conscious smile as if he wouldn’t want her to read his thoughts. ‘I can’t imagine that happening.’

An arm went around Laura’s waist and Finn pulled her away. ‘We’ll meet you there, shall we?’ he asked as Sam unlocked his Land Rover, and after confirming the restaurant and the route, they all set off.

It was Laura who drove and with the restaurant only a few minutes away Finn was quick with his questions. ‘So what do you think about Sam, then?’

‘I think they make a very nice couple,’ Laura said, choosing her words carefully. Her husband’s insecurities weren’t only restricted to his job prospects and it didn’t take much for Finn to convince himself that someone had designs on her. It made Laura especially cautious about even looking at another man, let alone having an opinion about one.

‘He’s a bit old for Anna, though, don’t you think? She could have the pick of them all but you can’t blame a man for trying and he does seem like a decent bloke.’

‘I’ve hardly said two words to him,’ Laura said, ‘although he must have had a good eye to spot you in the pub and know straight away what a good worker you can be.’

‘Yes, he definitely has a keen eye,’ Finn said, giving her leg a squeeze as Laura parked the car outside the restaurant.

They were the first to arrive and Finn ordered drinks even as the waiter was leading them to their table. Laura didn’t want to spoil Finn’s mood but she needed to say something before the others joined them. She took a deep breath and then, almost casually, said, ‘You need to be on your best behaviour tonight, Finn. Sam might be able to put in another good word with his friend to extend your contract beyond the summer.’

‘Why do you think I’m doing this?’ he said and they both smiled, Laura hiding her anxiety almost as well as Finn his irritation.

When Sam and Anna walked in, the waiter was arriving with the drinks.

‘Sorry, I’m driving,’ Sam told Finn when he saw the beer.

‘You can have one, surely,’ Finn persisted, pushing the pint across the table until it was within touching distance.