The Babysitter(17)
‘Have you checked out her references?’
‘Of course.’ Actually, she hadn’t, but she could have hardly done that this evening. She’d do it first thing tomorrow. ‘Mark Cain, you’re not questioning my judgement, are you?’ Melissa cocked her head to one side, eyeing him pseudo-disparagingly.
‘Never. Wouldn’t dare.’
Melissa laughed as Mark cringed in mock-terror and hurriedly closed his door. Watching him drive away, she turned to let herself in, trying not to mind that he was dashing off again. Policing was what he did, and she loved him for it, loved that he cared enough to want to try to make the world a safer place – but she missed him. And she worried incessantly for him, more so when he was dealing with cases involving children. With his own abysmal childhood, he seemed to feel their every hurt. But she wished he wouldn’t blame himself when he couldn’t fix that hurt. When he couldn’t make their world a safer place.
He would slip out at night, sometimes, when sleep eluded him. Walking the streets, Melissa guessed, trying to get into the mind of a young child who might be a runaway, understanding why they might have run. He’d been reluctant to share his past secrets with her at first, imagining himself less of a man for admitting that his childhood ghosts haunted him still. He really was an enigma: strong and macho on the outside, yet deeply caring on the inside.
It had taken them a while to find each other again after Jacob. For her to come back to him. Mark had been patient – there to hold her when she’d needed holding, to catch her if she fell. And instinctively, no words necessary, he’d known when she’d needed him to move beyond holding. His lovemaking had been so gentle, so perceptive of her needs. And when she’d finally allowed herself to reach that sweet climax, he’d held her again while she sobbed in his arms. Held her like he might never let go.
She’d loved him more than she’d thought possible that night.
She hoped he was charging his phone. Dumping her sketch pad on the hall table and hanging her bag over the rail, she reached for her phone to text him again as she climbed the stairs to check on the children. She needed to remind him how much she still loved him.
Pausing at Poppy’s door, she was about to go in when she noticed Jade emerging from the main bedroom. ‘Jade?’ she said, surprised to see she was dressed in no more than a short towel.
‘Ooh, hell,’ Jade whirled around. ‘Sorry. I didn’t hear you come in. I was just about to take a shower but I couldn’t find any shampoo in the main bathroom. I really need to wash the smell of smoke from my hair.’
‘Ah.’ Melissa nodded, relieved. For a second, she’d thought… She’d no idea what she’d thought, actually. ‘I’ll fetch some from the en suite,’ she said, making a mental note to stock up on bathroom essentials other than baby products. And to leave more than a hand towel out.
Ten
MELISSA
‘Morning,’ Jade said brightly, as Melissa came into the kitchen.
Melissa blinked, surprised to see everyone up and at it. ‘Good morning,’ she said, turning her gaze to Poppy, who, amazingly undistracted by early morning TV, was seated at the table, happily munching away on cereal – made with oat milk, of course.
‘Morning, Mummy,’ Poppy said, equally brightly.
Bleary-eyed, Melissa wandered across to plant a kiss on the top of her head, peering into her bowl as she did. ‘I thought you didn’t like cornflakes,’ she said, noting the distinct absence of morning must-have Coco Pops.
‘I do now.’ Poppy shovelled in another spoonful. ‘Jade said it will make my hair grow like hers.’
Melissa followed her daughter’s wishful gaze to Jade’s luxuriant blonde locks. It would certainly be some achievement, given that Poppy took after her father with her dark colouring and chocolate-brown eyes, but Melissa was happy to play along if it meant the battle of breakfast was no more.
Smiling, Melissa accepted the glass of fresh orange juice Jade handed to her, and headed towards the back door, where daughter number two also appeared to be content.
‘She’s had her early morning feed,’ Jade said, as Melissa peered into the pushchair. ‘You were fast asleep, so I thought I’d bring her down. I wasn’t sure whether you liked her to have a bit of fresh air, but it’s such a beautiful day. I hope it’s okay?’
‘Perfect. Wonderful, in fact.’ Resisting the urge to plant a kiss on Evie’s perfect cupid lips, Melissa tucked her shawl up and moved quietly away. She wasn’t directly in the sun, but warm enough. Jade was right – it really was a gorgeous day.
Melissa looked her competent house guest over. Jade looked like a ray of sunshine, exuding vitality and health. She even made Melissa’s clothes look good – a pre-baby striped yellow T-shirt, which Melissa didn’t think suited her new, fuller breasted look, teamed with a pair of blue leggings.
‘What do you fancy for breakfast?’ Jade asked, heading to the toaster, where two hot slices popped on cue.
I’ll have whatever you’re having. Feeling the slightest bit wish-washy, and definitely mumsy, Melissa sighed inwardly. With her pale complexion and uninspiring ginger locks, which Mark kindly termed copper and which would be scarily frizzy at this time in the morning, she probably looked like one of the living dead by comparison. She couldn’t believe she’d slept so long. The hot chocolate Jade had kindly made her last night appeared to have done its job. Obviously, she’d needed the sleep, but she didn’t feel a lot better for it.