The Babysitter(13)

‘Talk of the devil,’ Melissa said, worry creasing her brow as she checked the number on her ringing mobile.

Mark calling, Jade gathered. And what was Melissa’s reaction? Delight that he was calling? Excitement? No. She was worried, plainly only for herself. Mark didn’t need a vulnerable woman in his life. He needed someone who understood him. Someone to protect him from women like this one, who was clearly taking advantage of him.

‘Oh, Mark…’ Melissa sighed disappointedly into her phone. ‘I was just waiting for you to come…’ Trailing off, she glanced at Jade, her expression changing to one of concern as she went on, ‘No, no, it’s fine. Of course I understand.’

Of course I understand, Jade mimicked silently. The woman wasn’t capable of understanding anything but her own needs, as far as Jade could see. Presumably Mark’s workload wasn’t going to allow him to come home and babysit her children, after all. Good. That could work nicely to Jade’s advantage.

‘It’s not the end of the world,’ Melissa assured him. ‘I can always reschedule. Just concentrate on what you have to do. Those poor parents. They must be going out of their minds…’ Smiling in Jade’s direction, she turned to walk down the path a little, in search of privacy.

As if Jade wanted to listen to her false sentiment anyway. Sighing contemptuously, she turned to close the workshop door. She was about to pull it to, when the cat that Mark had rescued slinked past her into the workshop. Jade glanced behind her to see Hercules, panting and prancing on the lawn. Obviously, the dumb animal had been chasing the cat, as if it could ever catch it.

‘Scat,’ she hissed in the dog’s direction, glancing quickly over her shoulder, lest Melissa hear her. Hercules might just ruin things for her, Jade had realised. Were it not for the fact that Mark clearly doted on the dog, even talking to the flea-ridden thing when he was out walking it, Jade would have rid herself of that particular problem. She was beginning to wish she had. Rat poison would soon put a stop to it growling at her.

Stepping back into the workshop after the cat, Jade was about to call it – though she wasn’t sure by what name, as it was actually a stray – when, in one swift feral leap, it sprang from the floor up to the workbench. Whoops. Jade winced as the sculpture teetered. And then surveyed the cat thoughtfully as it padded to the end of the bench and back again to weave itself around the sculpture, which really was rather close to the edge.

Damn. Jade’s plan to close the door and let the cat do its worst was foiled as she realised that Melissa had finished her call. She couldn’t afford for her to peer back and see that she’d shut the bloody cat in with her precious works of art. However…

‘Shit!’ she said out loud, hearing Melissa coming towards her, and then moved – with the agility of the cat – across to the bench. ‘I’ve got it. Don’t panic,’ Jade said, her best relieved expression in place as Melissa followed her in. ‘I saw it teetering.’ She nodded towards the sculpture, which was now on its side, resting on her hand. ‘Hercules chased Felix in.’ She hurriedly christened the cat. ‘I’m really sorry. I moved as quickly as I—’

‘Oh God, don’t be,’ Melissa cut in, her concern only for her sculpture as she stepped across to unburden Jade of it. ‘It was Hercules’s fault. She’s always up to mischief. It’s like having another child sometimes, I swear.’

Righting the sculpture on the bench, she turned to look at Jade. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Thank God you were here.’

Jade saw the woman close her eyes, clearly immensely relieved, and considered that she’d earned herself another brownie point. ‘But preferably catless?’ she asked, turning to pluck the newly christened cat up.

‘It wasn’t Felix’s fault, was it Felix?’ Melissa drew a hand down the cat’s back as Jade cuddled it. ‘It was that naughty Hercules, wasn’t it, sweetie?’

Oh no. Jade wasn’t sure she could handle this woman baby-talking to animals, but she smiled brightly anyway.

‘Bad Hercules,’ Melissa said, leading the way out again and making sure to lock the door once Jade had exited behind her. ‘Behave.’ She scowled in the dog’s direction. ‘Or you’ll be tied up.’

Jade mentally shook her head. She would swear to God the woman was waiting for the dog to acknowledge her as she wagged a finger at it.

‘Problem?’ she asked, as they headed back towards the house. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I gathered it was Mark calling.’

‘He’s been detained.’ Melissa sighed resignedly. ‘It can’t be helped,’ she added quickly. ‘It looks as if it might be a child abduction case.’

‘Oh no. How heartbreaking.’ Jade’s step slowed. She glanced at Melissa, suitably stricken, though she imagined the only people the abusive, alcoholic parents would be heartbroken for were themselves.

‘Dreadful.’ Melissa shuddered. ‘Having little ones, Mark always takes these cases to heart.’

‘You’re disappointed though, I bet,’ Jade ventured sympathetically. ‘I don’t blame you. I would be. It can’t be easy being cooped up with two little ones all day.’

‘I am a bit,’ Melissa admitted. ‘But then, I should really be counting my blessings. I can’t begin to imagine what the parents of that little girl must be going through. What the poor child might be going through.’