The School Gate Survival Guide (39 page)

BOOK: The School Gate Survival Guide

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I’d introduced her to the joys of rebellion and that had led her straight into the arms of Scott, the biggest rebellion of all.

I looked at my watch. Nearly two o’clock. I was going to be knackered at work. Bed would be good right now. Roberta was at the desk talking to a dark-haired police officer. He was emptying a clear plastic sack and passing things to her. I strained my ears to hear what he was saying and managed to catch, ‘Is there somewhere you can stay for the time being until you get things sorted out?’

I wondered if he’d be so bothered about a chubby, brown-haired woman with the beginnings of a double chin and no ankles – just feet stuck onto legs.

Roberta flicked her long black hair over her shoulder. The gesture was familiar. I knew she’d be dropping her head and raising her eyes, those dark brown eyes that whistled men to her.

‘I’ll be fine, don’t worry. My friend is going to take me home,’ Roberta said.

He handed Roberta a leaflet. ‘Don’t forget about the domestic abuse helpline. You don’t have to put up with it, but we can’t help you unless you report it.’

Only Roberta could be arrested and cautioned but still have all the policemen on her side.

I walked to the desk and tried again. ‘Please come back with me. You can text Alicia from mine.’

‘No, it’s OK. I’d better get home and check on her.’

I glanced at the policeman. I wanted him to forbid her to go back. For him to have the argument with her so that I didn’t have to. His eyes flicked to Roberta, then to me, in a way that was more than just a casual taking in of scenery. The pressure had somehow switched to me to prove I could make Roberta see sense. I couldn’t bring myself to disappoint the Plod. ‘Robbie, Alicia will be asleep by now. You can talk to Scott in the morning when everyone’s calm.’

I glanced over at Plod. He was nodding. I looked at him expectantly. It was on the tip of my tongue to say, ‘Come on, mate, you get your shoulder behind the elephant and give it a shove uphill. I’ve been pushing for about ten years now, so a bit of a hand any time soon would be nice.’

Roberta had that set face on. She managed to look tear-stained, fragile and defiant. I was quite sure that I would have looked like a lump of defeated corned beef had the tables been reversed.

Plod finally waded in with a feeble, ‘It’s sometimes better to let the dust settle, Mrs Green. Why don’t you go with your friend?’

Roberta smiled warmly at him and thanked him, without actually answering. He stepped out from behind the desk and opened the doors for us. For her. Everyone wanted to look after Roberta.

Except the bloke she married.

About the Author

Kerry Fisher lives in Surrey with her two children, a very tolerant husband and a naughty black dog.
The School Gate Survival Guide
is her first novel. She’d love to hear your views, so please visit her website at
http://www.kerryfisherauthor.com
, follow her on Twitter
@KerryFSwayne
, or join her on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/kerryfisherauthor
.

Copyright

Published by Avon an imprint of

HarperCollins
Publishers
Ltd

77–85 Fulham Palace Road

Hammersmith, London W6 8JB

www.harpercollins.co.uk

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Publishers 2014

Cover illustration © Robyn Neild 2014

Cover design © Emma Rogers 2014

Kerry Fisher asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Source ISBN: 9780007570232

Ebook Edition © July 2014 ISBN: 9780007570249

Version: 2014-06-14

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