Daddy’s Little Princess and Will You Love Me 2-in-1 Collection

‘She’s doing very well,’ I said. ‘She saw her father last Friday and I expect she’ll see him again this Friday. I understand he’s making a good recovery and should be discharged soon.’

‘And Beth will be returning to live with him?’ she now asked.

‘Yes, as far as I know.’

‘Despite the concerns you and I raised with her social worker?’

‘Well, yes,’ I said, a little taken aback. ‘Didn’t Jessie tell you that the concerns were completely unfounded? I felt dreadful because I caused Derek so much distress.’

Miss Willow studied me carefully for a moment and then said something rather odd. ‘I wouldn’t feel too bad. Jessie did tell me the outcome, but the file’s not closed yet.’ The klaxon sounded for the start of school and Miss Willow stood. ‘I’ll walk you downstairs,’ she said. ‘I have to go into the playground to bring my class in.’

The three of us went out of the classroom. ‘Does Beth know why you’ve come to see me?’ Miss Willow asked as we walked.

‘Yes. She wasn’t altogether happy about it, but I felt it was best.’

‘Absolutely. I’m very grateful you told me, and please be reassured I’ll deal with the matter today.’

‘Thank you,’ I said again.

We arrived in reception and went out of the main door. We said goodbye and Miss Willow went over to her class, where Beth was already standing in line. Beth saw us and gave a little wave and Paula and I waved back. Adrian was also lining up in his class, but he was too busy chatting to his friends to see us. As Paula and I left the playground and began towards the car, I felt relieved and vindicated for going in to see Miss Willow. She had taken the matter seriously and would deal with it sensitively, for, as she’d said, name calling was a form of bullying, although I doubted the children involved would have thought of it as such.

I stopped off at the local shop on the way home for a few essentials, and then the rest of the day disappeared in household duties and playing with Paula. Paula would be three in April and would start nursery – mornings only – in September. I thought she was ready for the extra stimulation and socializing that nursery would bring. Once she was settled I was planning on looking for a part-time job that would fit in with school and fostering – possibly administration work, which I’d done before.

Although the day was cold, it was dry and the sun was out, so I decided to walk to school to collect Adrian and Beth, but I took the pushchair just in case Paula tired. As we waited in the playground I chatted to some other mothers. I saw Jenni’s mother and her friend standing some distance from me, but she didn’t look over. The klaxon sounded and when Beth and Adrian came out they were both in good spirits and Beth looked relieved, so I thought that whatever Miss Willow had said must have been exactly right. However, on the way home Beth asked, ‘Why was my social worker in school?’

‘I didn’t know she was,’ I said, surprised. ‘Did she speak to you?’

‘No. I was in class. I saw her through the classroom window.’

‘Perhaps she went into school about another child,’ I suggested, which seemed a reasonable possibility.

Beth gave a small shrug and then began hopscotching the paving stones as we walked. Adrian and Paula joined in, so our progress home was slow but fun. Even I had a quick hopscotch, which made them all laugh.

I thought no more of Beth’s comment about seeing Jessie in school and the rest of the afternoon and evening continued as usual, with dinner, Adrian and Beth doing their homework, a few games and then the bath and bedtime routine. Beth telephoned her father at seven o’clock while I bathed Paula and they talked mainly about what she would wear when she visited him the following day, although I intended to have a say in that. I hadn’t heard from Jessie that week so I’d assumed the arrangements for Beth visiting her father would be the same as the previous week, which from their conversation is what Beth and Derek appeared to assume too. They were naturally looking forward to seeing each other, but it wasn’t to be.

The following morning, when I returned home from taking Adrian and Beth to school, Jessie telephoned, and what she said was not only devastating for Beth, but also made no sense at all.

Chapter Twelve

Very Upset (#u153a148d-b658-5d7d-90bf-6da2e4de43fa)

‘Beth won’t be visiting her father this evening,’ Jessie said evenly. ‘Would you tell her, please?’

‘Yes, but why? What’s the matter? Is Derek unwell? Beth will be so disappointed.’

There was a pause before Jessie replied. ‘Reassure Beth that her father is well, but tell her my manager and I have made the decision to cancel her visit. I’ll explain the reasons why when I see her. That’s all you need to say.’

An uncomfortable tightness settled in my stomach. ‘Is there something wrong?’ I asked, all manner of thoughts flashing through my mind.

‘I’m not in a position to say any more at present,’ Jessie said flatly. ‘I need to make some more enquiries. Did Beth telephone her father yesterday?’

‘Yes. She does every evening.’

‘How long does the call last?’

‘At least thirty minutes. Sometimes longer.’

‘And what do they talk about?’

I was being questioned, but why? I felt my heart starting to race. ‘I can’t hear much of their conversation,’ I said. ‘Beth uses the telephone in my bedroom while I bath Paula. From what I’ve heard they talk a lot about what Beth wears – she always changes into a dress when she arrives home from school. They tell each other that they miss each other and sometimes Beth tells her father about school, but not often.’

There was a pause, as though Jessie might be writing down what I was saying. ‘Can you hear Derek’s replies?’ she asked.

‘Not from the bathroom. No. I used to sit on the bed next to Beth, and I could hear his replies then.’

‘So why did you stop sitting with Beth while she telephoned her father?’

‘After you told me you didn’t have any concerns about their relationship, I didn’t think there was any need to. Also, I have to get Paula ready for bed. Derek and Beth talk for some time and if I waited until they’d finished Paula would go to bed late every evening.’

There was another pause before Jessie asked, ‘Does Derek call Beth his little princess?’

‘Yes. It’s a term they both use quite a lot,’ I said, not understanding why she was asking. ‘Beth often says, “I’m Daddy’s little princess.” I’m sorry, have I done something wrong?’

‘No,’ Jessie said flatly, then added, ‘Beth isn’t to telephone her father until further notice.’

‘What? Not at all?’ I asked, shocked.

‘Not for the time being.’

‘She’ll be so upset,’ I said. ‘She looks forward to the telephone calls, and on top of having her visit cancelled she’ll be devastated.’

‘I appreciate that,’ Jessie said. ‘But I’m afraid it can’t be helped. I’ll let you know if and when telephone contact can resume, but it won’t be for a while, so don’t give her false hopes, please.’

I was struggling to make sense of what I was being told, and so too would Beth. She was being stopped from seeing and speaking to her father for no obvious reason. ‘And you can’t tell me any more?’ I asked.

‘Not at present,’ Jessie said. ‘Is there anything more you can tell me about Beth’s telephone calls to her father? Why does she use the telephone in your bedroom?’

‘Because Adrian is usually watching television in the living room at that time. So it saves him being interrupted, and it also gives Beth some privacy. It’s a routine we’ve got into.’

There was another small pause, then Jessie asked, ‘Is there anything else you can tell me about Beth?’

It would have helped if I’d known in what connection she meant. ‘Not really. She’s been coping well. There was an incident of bullying at school, but I saw Miss Willow and she dealt with it. Beth saw you in school yesterday.’

‘Did she?’ Jessie said without surprise. She didn’t elaborate. ‘I’ll arrange an appointment to see you when I know more. Thank you for your time.’ She wound up the conversation and said goodbye.

I slowly replaced the handset and stayed where I was on the sofa. Whatever was going on? What had happened to end contact so abruptly? What could I tell Beth?

Paula looked over from where she was playing on the living-room floor. ‘Was that about Beth?’ she asked.