Blink(56)

‘I will ask at work, but as I said, I’ve only just started the job, so it might be a bit difficult to change my hours at this early stage.’

‘I understand work is important, Mrs Cotter, but—’

‘I will ask,’ I said again. ‘But Evie is completely used to being with my mum, it’s not as if a stranger is picking her up. She loves her Nanny and—’

‘And I’m afraid therein lies the problem, Mrs Cotter.’

‘Call me Toni, please,’ I said. ‘And sorry, what do you mean?’

‘This is difficult.’ Harriet sighed, pressing her hands into the desk and leaning forward.

‘I’d rather you be honest,’ I said, feeling a wave of tension steadily filling the space between my shoulder blades.

‘I get the impression that your mother – sorry, remind me of her name?’

‘Anita.’

‘Of course. I get the impression that Anita rather thinks she knows best when it comes to Evie. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

I nodded slowly. I couldn’t argue with her assumption.

‘It strikes me that, although Anita obviously loves Evie with all her heart, she thinks she knows better than you, her mother, or indeed myself, an educational professional with decades of experience.’

But not a teacher. The thought flitted through my mind, but I had to admit, qualified teacher or not, she was talking sense.

She looked at me. ‘Mrs Cotter – Toni – the last thing I wish to do is offend you but—’

‘Not at all,’ I interrupted. ‘I’m not offended, honestly. You seemed to have worked Mum out. I’m impressed.’

‘Really? Oh, well, that’s somewhat of a relief.’

‘I’m afraid me and Mum often clash over what we think is best for Evie.’ I held back saying any more because it felt a bit disloyal to Mum. She’d be so upset if she heard us talking like this.

‘I’ll be frank, I’m afraid I got the distinct impression that Anita wasn’t a fan of Evie staying for our one-to-one sessions.’

I bit my lip and stayed quiet, but inside I cringed. I hoped Mum hadn’t said anything inappropriate to Harriet.

‘And of course, we all know that children are like little sponges, soaking up the opinions and unspoken disapproval of the adults around them.’ Harriet pressed her lips together. ‘Toni, I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, but I think your mother is unknowingly sabotaging the work we are trying to do with Evie.’

‘Oh.’ A thickness collected in the middle of my throat, cracking my voice a little. ‘I’m sure Mum would never—’

‘Don’t get me wrong,’ Harriet said hurriedly. ‘There’s no doubt in my mind that your mother wants the very best for Evie – but that’s the crux of the matter, isn’t it? She doesn’t really know what’s best.’

I thought about how Mum said Evie was better at home than in Harriet’s sessions, how she said the school staff were to blame for Evie not settling in as well as we’d expected.

‘Toni,’ Harriet said gently, ‘what I’m saying is this: I think, to give Evie the best chance, you need to limit the time she spends alone with your mum.’





48





Three Years Earlier





Toni





Harriet Watson made it sound a lot easier than it was. Limiting the time Evie spent alone with Mum wasn’t something I could just do overnight.

‘I’m relying on Mum with my new job,’ I explained. ‘I could have a talk with her, try to make her see that we all have to work together.’

Harriet gave a sardonic little smile.

‘She listens to you, does she, your mum? Takes on board what you say?’

I sighed. She had a point there.

‘I know things have been very difficult for you over the last few years, Toni,’ Harriet said quietly. ‘You’ve had to manage alone under an enormous amount of stress and strain.’

To my horror, a prickling sensation started up in my eyes and nose.

‘I know your mother has been a great help to you in the past, but now Evie is at school, the welfare of your daughter must become your priority.’

I nodded, although Evie had always been my priority.

‘Our next session is on Wednesday, so I urge you to speak to your manager today, if you can. We must work together to give Evie the best start at St Saviour’s.’ Harriet placed a hand on mine. ‘Other children can be so unkind and are quick to shun. We don’t want her becoming an outsider, now, do we?



* * *



I’d got myself looking fairly presentable for my appointment with Harriet Watson, styling my hair and putting on a little make-up, so when I got home, I changed into smart trousers and a blouse and left early for work.

I had one or two bits I needed to do in town and it wouldn’t do any harm to get into the office a bit earlier. It might even get me into Bryony’s good books, paving the way for me to broach the subject of tweaking my hours on certain days.

I parked the car and walked onto the High Street. On the spur of the moment, as I was passing, I decided to drop by the office and say hi to Jo.