The Nanny (30 page)

Josh woke early the next morning and found the kids watching television in their pajamas. Soft sounds of adults abluting upstairs filled in the gaps left by the Teletubbies.

“Right! Kids,” he began—

“Shh!” said Tallulah.

“This is boring,” said Zak. “It's for babies.”

“So you should enjoy it then,” said Cassandra.

“Right, kids,” repeated Josh. “I'm going to bring Jo back.”

The children tore their eyes away from footage of a little girl finding a slug under a tree for the third time.

“I know,” said Josh. “It was a bit of a surprise to me too, but, well. There it is.”

And when they all leaped on him, he knew he'd made the right decision. He explained that they had to keep it a secret from the adults, and did they think they could manage that, and they said yes, and then they hugged him again, and that morning, he went to work with a spring in his step and a great big dollop of happiness in his heart.

 

On Saturday morning, the children, including Toby, woke early. Vanessa and Dick were delighted that they all wanted to help Josh wash Jo's car—even Toby—and when Josh offered to take it for a spin to keep the battery charged, they said he could use it until Jo came back.

After an hour, Toby and Josh were finishing off cleaning the car and Cassie, Zak, and Tallulah were inside finishing off chocolate biscuits and diluted orange juice.

“So how do you know she's going to come back?” Toby asked Josh while polishing the bonnet.

“I don't,” said Josh, giving the roof a final rub. “But it's worth a try. The kids are a mess without her. And the other day I heard Dad and Vanessa having an awful row.”

Toby seemed unmoved.

“Tobe, Dad was crying.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah. We need Jo back.”

Toby nodded.

“How's Anastasia?” Josh winked.

“Wicked.” Toby grinned.

“And how's the terrifying Todd Carter?”

“Very nice. Offered to do my math homework for me the other day.”

“What did you say?”

“I said ‘Piss off, I want to pass.'”

“Shit,” whispered Josh. “Be careful, Tobe.”

“I was joking. I said thanks, but no thanks.”

“Good.”

Toby opened the car door to clean the inside.

“Oh, lame!” He emited an abrupt laugh.

“What?”

“Look!”

Toby leaned across and took out Jo's dashboard cuddly toys.

“Put those back, Tobe.”

Toby made a sound like a cow dying.

“Stop laughing,” said Josh. “You really can be a prat sometimes. This is the woman who's got two CID policemen as mates, and you're taking the piss out of her cuddly toys.”

Toby studied them in his hands. “Actually,” he said. “They're quite cute.”

“Put them back and help me finish.”

Toby put them back. “So why aren't you telling Dad and Vanessa about going to get Jo?” he asked.

“'Cos they might not understand,” said Josh.

“What's not to understand? You miss Jo, so you're—”

“The
kids
miss her,” interrupted Josh. “Two nightmares in one night. And Tallulah keeps getting them. And Dad and Vanessa have been rowing really badly. I'm doing it for the family.”

“Why?” asked Toby.

“'Cos I'm nice, that's why.”

“What's this family ever done for you?”

Josh and Toby faced each other over the roof of the car.

“Tobe?”

“Mm?”

“Let's go for a quick ride. Might let you drive if we find an empty parking lot.”

Toby jumped into the passenger seat.

Josh did let Toby drive. And he also told him about the conversation he'd had with their mum. And he explained that whether he liked it or not, Cassie, Tallulah, and Zak had nothing to do with Dad leaving Mum, and just as he'd had to grow up sharing his dad with them, they'd had to grow up knowing they had to share their dad with a boy who hated them. And they were going to be his brother and sisters all his life, and they would never forget how he treated them now.

Toby was quiet on the way home. When they stopped at a petrol station, Josh bought him some chocolates to cheer him up.

When they got home, Toby raced in.

“Oy! Lula!” he shouted at Tallulah, who was drawing at the kitchen table.

“It's Tallulah!”
yelled Tallulah.

“What have I got in my hand,
Tallulah
?” Toby held up a closed fist. Tallulah flinched, got up from the table, and walked quickly into the garden.

“What did I tell you?” shouted Josh.

Toby opened his fist. Inside was a squashed chocolate.

“I was going to give it to her,” he said in a strangled voice, before rushing upstairs.

Josh would have gone up after him, but he had to get to Niblet-upon-Avon.

 

Later that afternoon, the children had a meeting in Tallulah's room. Zak was only too pleased, as Toby had shut him out of their room all afternoon.

“I think we can say the plan went well,” began Cassie. She looked at her watch. “Josh should be arriving at Jo's within half an hour.”

They all giggled.

“And Zak,” continued Cassie, “your timing was superb. I think Josh was moved by Tallulah's act, but it took yours to clinch the deal.”

Zak frowned. “What act?” he asked.

Cassie looked at her little brother.

“Never mind,” she said. “We did it. That's what's important.”

 

When the doorbell rang at Jo's parents' front door, Jo was vacuuming the lounge while her father helped her mother walk upstairs.

“Get that, will you?” he shouted.

Jo made her way to the door and glanced absentmindedly at the hall mirror on her way.
Amazing what a bit of difference good country air can do for you
, she thought. Her skin was glowing.

She opened the door and found Sheila standing there with a self-consciously sad smile and an enormous bunch of red carnations.

“Shee!” cried Jo. “How nice! I didn't expect you, come in—”

“I can't stay for long,” said Sheila quietly.

“Is something wrong?”

Sheila shook her head, then looked at the floor. Nonplussed, Jo stepped back and opened the door.

“You'd better come in,” she said.

Very contritely, Sheila stepped over the Green family threshold, as if she hadn't spent every weekend there during her teens, and handed Jo the flowers.

“Wow. Thank you, Shee. They're gorgeous.”

Sheila stood coyly in the hall, eyes still down.

“Come into the kitchen,” said Jo.

“Thank you.”

Jo led her friend to the kitchen table.

“Tea? Coffee?” she asked.

“I'm fine thanks,” said Sheila.

“Didn't ask how you were,” said Jo automatically. Sheila didn't laugh. She didn't even smile. Jo clicked the kettle off, left the flowers in the sink, and sat down at the kitchen table with Sheila.

“I've got some news,” said Sheila eventually.

“What's happened?”

“I'm engaged.”

Jo's eyes widened with surprised relief.

“That's wonderful!” she cried.

“It's going to be a June wedding,” said Sheila.

“Wow! That was quick.”

“Not really,” said Sheila. “When you know he's the one, you know.”

“Do you?” sighed Jo. “You lucky thing.”

“Anyway,” said Sheila. “We've known each other for ages. Only as friends for years but…” she took a deep breath…“we had a couple
of flings, but nothing serious. We were both with other people at the time.”

Jo nodded.

“But it became serious last month.”

“Great.”

“When you left.”

“Oh.”

“
Because
you left.”

Jo frowned at Sheila. “Oh dear,” she said. “Was I stopping you from something…?” And then ran out of things to say.

Sheila finally lifted her eyes and Jo was looking at the personification of pity.

“Don't be upset, Jo,” whispered Sheila.

“Why would I be upset? I'm delighted for you.”

“We didn't mean to hurt you.”

“You haven't! I don't know what the hell you're talking about.”

Sheila sighed and tossed her hair back.

“Shaun…Casey…and I are getting married in June,” she said very slowly and clearly. “Shaun. Your Shaun. Well. Actually, my Shaun. Shaunie. He asked me as soon as he'd finished with you.”

Jo went cold.

“He didn't finish with me,” she monotoned.

“Yes, he did, Jo,” said Sheila, her voice softening and her head tilting on every word. “You just didn't notice.”

“He proposed to me again, Shee,” Jo said.

“Because he knew you'd say no.” Sheila's apologetic tone was getting firmer. “I helped him make up his speech:
‘I'm not going to propose again. Except this one last time, blah blah blah
.' Sound familiar?”

Jo lost feeling in her face.

“I was the one who decided which restaurant he should take you to,” continued Sheila softly.

“But that was where we had our first date,” whispered Jo.

Sheila nodded. “I know,” she said. “I thought that might be more romantic.”

Jo could hear blood pumping through her ears. “What do you mean you had a couple of flings?” she managed.

“Oh nothing serious,” said Sheila. “You know, under the mistletoe, the odd party here and there—”

Jo held her hand over her mouth.

“Oh God, sorry, Jo. I didn't think you'd care this much. To be honest I thought you'd be relieved he was so happy. It would be awful if he was heartbroken, wouldn't it? Our Shaunie?”

Jo tried to nod. Her mind couldn't keep up with the altered reality being offered to her. It was so surreal.

“Shaunie wasn't convinced though,” continued Sheila. “He said we shouldn't tell you for a while, but I said we had no choice. The invitations are going out next week. I didn't think it would be fair for you to be the last to know.”

“He proposed four times, Shee,” whispered Jo, wiping tears off her chin.

“I know,” said Sheila, “I was furious.”

Jo frowned a question.

“Well of course!” said Sheila. “There he was getting off with me at every opportunity while pretending to be serious with you. It was shocking behavior.” She gave a little laugh. “I'm really very cross with him.”

“I thought you said the odd party?”

“Well.” Sheila shrugged. “There were a lot of parties. And a lot of mistletoe. It
was
six years.”

“But why? Why not just finish with me?”

“Well I think he got rather attached to you really. I mean, you're very nice. And of course, it did his male ego no end of good. I remember telling him once that for all we knew you and James were two-timing us at the same time.” She smiled. “We had a bit of a laugh at that.”

“Two-timing? I thought you said it was just the odd fling?”

“Oh, whatever. The point is—”

“Does James know about this?”

“Oh yes,” said Sheila easily. “He's always known. In fact, I was with Shaun before him. How do you think I met James? Actually, I thought you might have guessed from that; you know, thought it was too much of a coincidence. Anyway, James was more than happy with the arrangement. He wanted a girlfriend who was never going to push him into any commitment. In fact, he's going to be our best man.” She sighed. “D'you know? I think I would like that cup of tea, now I think about it.”

“But you hated Shaun!”

“Oh, that was his idea.” Sheila yawned. She finished her yawn. “Oh, excuse me! Bit of a late night last night. Yes, we had to pretend we both hated each other so you wouldn't catch on.”

“But he
really
hated you!”

“Well,” Sheila stiffened. “Actually…I suppose I might as well tell you. I wasn't going to, but it might explain things a bit better: he'd already got off with me at Melanie Blacksmith's party and Philippa Fuller's party and Matt Wright's party that summer you were away in Norfolk with your folks—gosh, nearly seven years ago now. It was before he even met you.”

“He met me at kindergarten.”

“You know what I mean. Once he found out we were friends—”

“Best friends—”

“Yeah, he asked a lot about you. Said you were his first ever crush at school and it was every man's dream to actually…well, you know…I think the word he used was ‘screw' the first girl you ever fancied. That was when I knew he was going to make a play for you. And, then because you're so…well, because you're so…” She stopped short. “Hmmm…how shall I put this?”

Sheila paused, trying to find the best way to put it.

“Tactlessly?” suggested Jo.

Sheila skipped a beat before continuing. “I suppose
straitlaced
is a nice way to put it, he had to date you—for a considerable while, as I recall—to screw you, and before he knew it, he was dating one of his most bullish employee's daughters, the whole neighborhood knew, blah blah blah. And so.” She shrugged helplessly. “Right from the start, we had to pretend. It's such a relief to be honest after all this time, I can't tell you.”

Jo tried to speak, but her body sank onto the kitchen table and spoke for her. Sheila got up and came and put her hand on Jo's shoulder, but Jo jerked away. Sheila stood for a moment.

“I understand,” she soothed. “I really do.”

“Paper towel,” sniffed Jo into her sleeve.

Sheila rushed to the roll and tore some off for Jo. Jo blew her nose and, surprisingly, felt a little better.

“I'd better go,” said Sheila.