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

‘There was a meeting at the hospital earlier this week,’ Marianne continued. ‘Derek had to attend. I’m not sure which day it was – he was unclear. Jessie was there; so too was a nurse from his ward and the psychologist. They talked about Derek and Beth’s home life, and some of the things I told you – about the way Derek and Beth behave towards each other – came up.’

‘Oh,’ I said.

‘I’m not blaming you,’ Marianne said quickly. ‘I agreed you should tell Jessie. But the way it was said made it sound as though I was accusing Derek of child abuse, which I certainly wasn’t. They also talked about the things you’d told Jessie – about some photographs and other stuff. Miss Willow was mentioned too.’

‘But I don’t understand,’ I said as soon as Marianne paused. ‘Why now? I thought all that had been dealt with when I first brought it up. Jessie told me that there were no grounds for concern. Indeed, she made me feel I was being malicious for suggesting anything was wrong. So why has all this come up now?’ John returned to the living room carrying a glass of wine in each hand, which he set on the coffee table within reach, and then sat beside me on the sofa, waiting for me to finish on the telephone.

‘I don’t know,’ Marianne said. ‘Each time Derek started to tell me what Jessie had said he became upset and started crying. It’s possible it had something to do with Beth’s visit last Friday. I believe Jessie took her to the hospital?’

‘Yes, that’s right,’ I said. ‘But Jessie didn’t say anything was wrong when she brought Beth home. Although, come to think of it, I remember she seemed a bit preoccupied. But Beth hasn’t said anything went wrong with her visit; in fact, she said she’d had a good time. Oh dear,’ I said, suddenly remembering something, ‘I hope it hasn’t got anything to do with what Beth was wearing. She got herself ready and chose clothes that weren’t suitable. She also put on a lot of make-up, but there wasn’t time to do anything about it.’

‘I doubt that’s got anything to do with it,’ Marianne said. ‘Beth’s always dressing up, and Derek didn’t mention that. What he did say, though – which sounded odd to me – was that Jessie had stopped Beth from sitting on some of the other male patients’ laps and also from playing kiss chase. I’ve no idea what all that was about, and Derek didn’t seem to know.’

‘I’ve no idea,’ I agreed, puzzled and concerned. ‘Beth didn’t mention that to me.’ John gave a small sigh and picking up the newspaper opened it to the first page.

‘Marianne,’ I said, ‘I’m going to have to go soon. My husband has just returned home from work. Can we speak another time?’

‘Yes, sure, although that’s all, really. I take it Jessie hasn’t telephoned you with any more information?’

‘No.’

‘I’ll telephone her on Monday,’ Marianne said, ‘and see if she’s willing to tell me what’s going on. This is Derek’s worst nightmare. He was paranoid before about losing Beth, and now …’ Marianne left the sentence unfinished. ‘I would never have said anything if I thought this could have happened.’

I chose my reply very carefully. ‘I think we all have a duty to report genuine concerns about children,’ I said. ‘I don’t think you, I or Miss Willow did anything wrong in voicing our worries. It was up to Jessie and the social services to act as they saw fit. You shouldn’t blame yourself.’

‘I suppose you’re right,’ Marianne said. ‘It’s all so confusing. I really don’t understand what’s going on.’

‘It’s very confusing for Beth too,’ I said.

‘Yes. Poor kid. I’ll let you go now. I’ll be visiting Derek again over the weekend and I’ll telephone you if I have any more news.’

‘Thank you.’

We said goodbye and I hung up. John looked at me. ‘Problems?’ he asked, closing the newspaper and putting it to one side.

‘Yes.’

‘So tell me.’ Which I did. And being able to share my worries helped.

We had a good day on Saturday. Adrian and Paula were delighted to have their father home and that he was able to spend time playing with them. Beth put on a brave face and didn’t need much encouragement to join in the games. Indeed, as with the evening before, she took comfort in having John there and constantly sought out his attention. A few times during the day she came to me and quietly made a comment about her father, showing he was never far from her mind. ‘I wonder what my daddy is doing,’ or ‘I hope Daddy is all right.’ I reassured her as best I could. I didn’t tell her that Marianne had telephoned the previous evening, for she hadn’t really said anything positive that might help Beth, and given Beth’s previous animosity towards Marianne I didn’t think it was wise to tell Beth that Marianne had visited her father in hospital when she had been stopped from seeing him. However, I did tell Beth that if Jessie didn’t telephone me on Monday then I would telephone her on Tuesday to see if she had any news, which was all I could say, really, and seemed to reassure her.

At seven o’clock – the time Beth would normally have been telephoning her father – she left John’s side and, snuggling up to me on the sofa, whispered, ‘Can’t we telephone my daddy without Jessie knowing? I won’t tell anyone.’

We were all in the living room watching some television and I replied quietly so as not to disturb the others. ‘No, love. As your foster carer I have to do what your social worker tells me or I’ll get into trouble.’

Beth thought for a moment. ‘What if I phoned my daddy without telling you? You could write the telephone number on a piece of paper and leave it lying around. Then I could find it. I could go upstairs and phone, and you wouldn’t know anything about it.’

I had to smile, but my heart went out to Beth; she was missing her father so much. ‘Then I’d be in trouble for leaving the telephone number lying around and not supervising you properly,’ I said, giving her a hug. ‘I’m afraid we will have to wait until next week when I can talk to Jessie.’

She pulled a face, but accepted what I’d said and returned to John, while I strengthened my resolve to try to find out what was going on. Beth needed to know why she wasn’t in contact with her father, and I shouldn’t have to rely on second-hand information from Marianne.

On Sunday John suggested we go to Moorlands, which was a small zoo about a forty-five-minute drive away. The children loved the idea and by 10.30 a.m. we were all in our winter coats and piling into John’s car. I appreciated that John had taken the initiative and suggested the outing. While he was working away all the initiatives and responsibility fell to me, but now he was home we were a proper two-parent family again, doing things together and sharing the responsibility. I’m sure the children appreciated it too.

Adrian remembered going to the zoo two years before, when Paula had been a baby. Beth hadn’t been before and said more than once that she’d ask her father to bring her when he was well again. I smiled an acknowledgement but didn’t say anything. In the light of recent developments I found that I was being guarded in what I said to Beth about her seeing her father. With so little information and then Marianne’s comments, I’d no idea if or when Beth would see her father again.

John and I walked around the zoo holding hands as the children darted from one animal enclosure to the next. He appeared relaxed and was in a playful mood and I was reminded of our courtship, which can sometimes become lost with all the commitments a family and a responsible job bring. We took plenty of photographs of the children and the animals and I told Beth I’d have an extra set printed for her.

‘I’ll show them to my daddy,’ she said, smiling at John.

We had lunch at the zoo’s café, then saw the remaining animals and left at 3 p.m. Although the zoo was only small, we’d had a nice day, and when we arrived home the children drew pictures of the animals, while I made dinner and John watched the sport on television. Beth had wanted to watch sport with John, but I persuaded her to join Adrian and Paula – it seemed more apt, and I knew John liked to watch his sport in peace. After dinner I began the bath and bedtime routine earlier than I had the previous two days, in preparation for having to be up for school the following morning. When Paula was in bed I went downstairs to tell John she was ready for her goodnight kiss, but as I walked into the living room Adrian and Beth looked sombre.

‘Is everyone all right?’ I asked.

‘I’ve just had to tell them that I’ve got to go soon,’ John said.

‘What, tonight?’ I asked, surprised. ‘I thought you’d be leaving in the morning.’ Which is what he had been doing when he worked away.

‘Unfortunately not,’ John said. ‘I have an early start tomorrow, beginning with an eight o’clock breakfast meeting. I need to get settled in at the hotel tonight.’

I felt as disappointed as Adrian and Beth looked. ‘Oh dear,’ I said. ‘Well, I suppose it can’t be helped.’

‘I’m afraid not,’ John said.

He stood and went upstairs to say goodnight to Paula while I stayed with Adrian and Beth. The room was quiet. I think we were all surprised by the abruptness of his departure, and I wondered why he hadn’t mentioned it before. When John returned downstairs he stayed in the hall and called out, ‘Are you all coming to see me off then?’

I went with Adrian and Beth into the hall where John was putting on his coat, his suitcase on the floor beside him. He must have packed it earlier while I’d been clearing up the dinner dishes.

‘Bye, kids,’ he said, hugging Adrian and then Beth. Beth clung to him and smothered his face in kisses.

I eased her away and John kissed my cheek, gave Adrian a high-five and then opened the front door. The cold night air rushed in. Paula, having heard the door open, called from upstairs, ‘Is Daddy going?’

‘Yes, love. I’ll be up in a minute.’

The three of us watched John go down the path and to his car. He opened the rear door, put his suitcase on the back seat and then climbed into the front. We waved until he was out of sight, and I closed the front door.

‘I wish he didn’t have to work away,’ Adrian said sadly.

‘I know, love. But it won’t be long until next weekend.’

‘Will I see my daddy next Friday?’ Beth asked, also looking sad.

‘I’ll ask Jessie,’ I said. Which was the best I could offer.

Beth and Adrian returned to the living room while I went upstairs to resettle Paula. ‘Has Daddy gone to work?’ she asked.

‘Yes, love, until next weekend.’

‘Will you give me another cuddle?’