The Single Mums’ Picnic Club: A perfectly uplifting beach-read for 2018!

‘I am a star,’ Katie whispered to the little girl, and she giggled again. This was the easiest gig Katie had ever had. If only Elliot and Lizzie were still so easily amused. ‘Shall we go inside? It’s a bit nippy out here, isn’t it?’

Jack popped into the house once he’d delivered the good news to Mrs Hornchurch, so he could drop off the buggy, the nappy changing bag, and a lidded beaker, and to say goodbye to his daughter and thank Katie – repeatedly.

Katie and her temporary charge spent the afternoon colouring (or rather, Katie coloured while trying to prevent the toddler from snacking on the crayons), playing music with impromptu instruments Katie found around the house (a couple of saucepans and a wooden spoon and plastic ladle for beaters), and finishing off with a bit of CBeebies. Soon it was time to get bundled up in hats and coats and head to school, and it was only as they passed the post box halfway there that she remembered the acknowledgement of service, which was still to be signed.

It seemed like a million years ago that she’d walked through the school gates of Southcliff Primary, but the school hadn’t changed much over the past couple of years, apart from a new wooden play area in the early years’ section of the playground and a brightly painted mural at the entrance. Katie made her way to the doors where the reception children would file out, joining the group waiting for their charges. The teacher stepped out of the door, keeping it open with his shoulder as he called out the names of the children whose parent or caregiver were waiting to collect them. Katie held back, waiting until he’d stopped calling out names until she stepped forward.

‘Excuse me? I’m here to pick up Ellie Benson. I’m her next-door neighbour. Her dad was called out on an emergency. A plumbing emergency. Not medical.’ Katie pressed her lips together. She was babbling and had to stop before she rattled off her entire life story.

‘Ellie Benson?’ The teacher looked behind him, back into the classroom. ‘Could you wait there for a second?’

‘Sure,’ Katie said, but he’d already ducked back inside, the door clicking shut behind him. The wind had started to pick up and it was starting to drizzle with rain, so she stooped to make sure her new little friend’s blanket was still tucked in and her hat was pulled down over her ears.

‘Sorry about the wait.’ The door had opened again, and the teacher was back. Unfortunately, he didn’t have Ellie with him. ‘I just had to check we’d been given permission to let Ellie go home with someone not on our list.’ He pulled a face. ‘And I’m afraid we haven’t.’

‘Jack hasn’t called? But I reminded him!’

The teacher pulled the face again. ‘I’ve asked the office to call Ellie’s dad, just to confirm. Would you like to come inside while you wait?’ He looked out at the sky, which had turned an ominous shade of grey. The drizzle was on the verge of upgrading to a downpour.

‘Thank you.’ The teacher held the door open while she pushed the buggy into the classroom.

‘No problem. Sorry about this, but we have to be sure…’

‘It’s okay. I understand.’ Katie would throttle Jack later though.

‘Take a seat.’ The teacher indicated one of the tiny plastic chairs. Was he having a laugh? But, not wanting to appear awkward, she eased herself onto the miniature seat. There were only three children left in the classroom, who were waiting on the carpet area. One of them was Ellie, who waved when she spotted Katie.

See? Katie wanted to say. She does know me. I’m not some nutter who’s come to snatch her and her brother.

Oh, God. Leo!

‘Excuse me, Mr…’ Katie cringed. She had no idea who this teacher was as he hadn’t been on the staff when Lizzie and Elliot were at Southcliff Primary. He probably hadn’t sat his GCSEs by then, Katie mused. He only looked to be in his early twenties. Mid-twenties at a push.

‘Thompson.’ He smiled, and the finest lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. Perhaps he wasn’t as young as he appeared at first glance. ‘Mr Thompson.’

‘I’m supposed to be picking Ellie’s brother up too. Leo. He’s in Year One.’

‘Leo’s in Miss Baxter’s class,’ Ellie said. She was still sitting on the carpet, but she was up on her knees now.

‘That’s fine. We’ll let Miss Baxter know the situation. It won’t be a problem.’

‘Mr Thompson?’ Ellie had her hand up in the air, stretching it up as far as she could, her fingers waggling. ‘Katie lives next door to me.’

See? Not a nutter.

‘Mr Thompson?’ Ellie waved her hand frantically before he could respond to her previous statement. ‘Can Vevie come and sit on the carpet with me, Jenson and Rose?’

‘Not just now, Ellie.’ Mr Thompson headed towards the door leading out into the corridor as it opened. He had a murmured conversation with the woman before he turned to Katie with a bright smile. ‘Good news: we’ve managed to get hold of Ellie’s dad, and he’s confirmed that he asked you to pick up Ellie and Leo. He meant to call, but it slipped his mind.’ He shrugged, while Katie smiled tightly. Her hands would slip around Jack’s throat later… ‘So, Miss Baxter is going to bring Leo here in a moment to save you going over to her classroom at the other end of the playground. Hopefully that rain has stopped by now…’ He peered out of the window and pulled a face. It was still pouring down. ‘Have you got everything ready, Ellie? You’ll need to put your hood up.’

Leo soon arrived in the reception class, so after Katie had ensured all the children were bundled up, they made a dash for it. She managed to keep the little ones entertained until Jack arrived an hour later, apologising profusely for the blunder.

‘I felt like a criminal as I sat on that tiny chair.’ Katie jutted her chin in the air with indignation, but her fingers were no longer itching to circle around her neighbour’s neck. ‘I’m sure that teacher thought I was a child-snatcher.’

‘I’m sure he didn’t but let me make it up to you.’ Jack handed Leo his coat. ‘Let me take you for a drink? To say thank you for watching the kids, and for my screw up.’

‘You don’t have to do that.’ Katie crouched to help Ellie zip up her coat. ‘I’m just returning the favour after the boiler repair. You saved me a fortune and prevented us turning into human ice pops.’

‘I insist. When are you free?’

Katie slipped Ellie’s hat on. They were only going next door, but it was still pouring with rain.

‘The kids are staying with their dad on Friday night…’

‘Great.’ Jack clapped his hands together. ‘My lot will be with their mum, so that’s perfect. I’ll pick you up at seven?’