Kate sits down to send an email, then stands and wanders outside into the heat. She can’t settle. And for once, it’s not because of Noah.
She forgets to collect Dominic’s suits from the cleaner; she forgets to phone the Pool Guy to look at the pump again. They ran out of milk but she forgot to add it to her list and now Dom will have to collect some on his way home. If she were to say to him, ‘I’m sorry, I’ve been so distracted, thinking about Noah and how he’s getting on …’ her husband might sigh, but he’d understand.
Today, she nearly forgot to collect Maddie from gymnastics. She had to dash to the car, get to school as fast as she could. She, the mother who’s always on time for her children, made her daughter wait in the schoolyard.
She finds herself apologising all the way home, even though Maddie isn’t upset.
‘It’s not a problem, Mom, I didn’t have to wait that long.’
But the thing is, she had to wait.
‘I’m so sorry, Mads.’
‘Don’t worry, Mom,’ Maddie says for the tenth time. And then she adds, ‘There’s so much for you to think about, no wonder you got the time mixed up.’ Then she starts to tell her about how Miss Wilcox said that if she continues as well as she’s doing, she’ll definitely be selected for the school team.
‘That’s brilliant, Maddie, it really is! I’m proud of you, darling. Dad’s going to be so happy. And Noah, we mustn’t forget to tell him on Sunday.’
What Kate can’t quite admit to herself is that the thought of going to Greenhills this Sunday is making her more nervous than she’s felt in ages. Giddy, almost. She wants to see Noah, of course she does, but she’s also looking forward to talking to Mr Bill, seeing his warm smile, sitting and chatting about her son.
Mr Bill’s face doesn’t close against hers when she talks about Greenhills and how everything is going.