‘Come on, Tom. We have to go. I promised we’d see your grandmother.’ I’m at the school gates, calling across the playground.
Tom’s pale face flicks away from Pauly. He crosses the tarmac in a few seconds.
‘Grandma?’ he asks. ‘Or Granny?’
‘Your dad’s mum.’
‘Ye-ess!’ Tom does a little air punch.
‘We’ve got to walk quickly,’ I say, taking his hand.
‘Why?’
‘We’re catching the London train.’
‘I hate going to London.’
‘It’s okay, Tom. I always plan these trips carefully. I know you’re worried about seeing Dad, but it’s a very big city. We’ll be safe.’
We head down the country path and then across the park towards the train station.
As we pass the swings, Tom says, ‘Guess what? Pauly Neilson has the same social worker we have.’
My feet slow, despite the imminence of the train. ‘What?’
‘Our social worker. Kate. She’s Pauly’s social worker too. He told me.’
‘It doesn’t surprise me that Pauly has a social worker,’ I say lightly. ‘But it should tell you he’s someone to stay away from.’
‘What’s wrong with having a social worker? We have a social worker.’
‘But we shouldn’t,’ I say. ‘We shouldn’t have one, Tom. They only got involved because of your father. They should have closed our file down by now. The school … If only you’d talk to me. Give me some answers.’
‘There’s nothing to talk about, Mum.’
When we reach the station, the train is at the platform and we have to run.
‘How long will it take before we see Granny?’ Tom asks, as we jump onto the train. ‘I can’t wait to see her.’
‘Not long. Just this train, then a short walk to the play park.’
It’s a specially chosen play park, of course – one that’s very public, with lots of escape routes.
I know Margaret loves us. She’s proved it time after time. But she still sees Olly. So I always plan our meetings very carefully.
You can never be too careful.