Free Crying for Help by Casey Watson Page B

get through yet …’
     
     
    To our great relief, however, Saturday started well and carried on without any incidents. In fact, better than well, even, as Riley came over, and made a sustained effort to get to know Sophia better, regaling her with tales of her new school – both Riley and Kieron had been pupils there – and a lowdown on the best and worst teachers. Kieron had already called Riley to fill her in on the dinner-table mutterings, so she obviously knew which topics to avoid.
    After a light lunch the three of us headed off to town and, as it was snowing again, we left Levi in the care of Mike and Kieron. Kieron usually played football on a Saturday afternoon, and Mike took him, but with the match having been cancelled because of the weather they were just as happy watching it on TV instead. Plus, Mike pointed out, he had to get his grandson into football nice and early. But perhaps I should have realised the calm and order wouldn’t last. Sophia had been with us just four days now – even if it felt so much longer – and every one of them had involved some sort of drama.
    When we returned, laden down with Sophia’s school uniform and stationery, it was to find my evening had been hijacked by the boys’ continuing football plans. After dinner – I’d made a hearty stew and dumplings, which were devoured in no time – Kieron explained that it was pretty much a life-and-death situation that they be allowed to see the Liverpool match highlights, having not been able to see two games at once earlier.
    ‘But supposing I’ve got something I want to watch?’ I argued. ‘Last time I checked, it was me who’s been on the go all afternoon, not to mention whipping up your cordon bleu dinner …’
    Mike laughed. ‘I did point that out to him, love, honest. Only fair. And this dinner is incredible, by the way. Best stew in the universe.’ He winked at Kieron.
    ‘Oh, go on then,’ I said. ‘I can see I’m outnumbered. I have stacks of ironing to wade through, in any case. Well, unless – Sophia, is there anything you’d like to see on telly? That would take it to stalemate.’ I grinned at Mike.
    She shook her head. She’d just finished wiping her plate clean with a last slice of bread. If I could do one thing right for her, I thought, it would be to feed her. ‘No, I’m fine,’ she said brightly. ‘Got to sort out all my new school stuff. And I’ve got a DVD I want to watch anyway. Not that I don’t like football,’ she added, looking coyly at Kieron. ‘All those men running around in shorts and stuff.’
    I tutted as I stood up and started to clear the table. ‘You’re much too young to be thinking about men in shorts, madam! Now, come and give me a hand with the dishes before you disappear.’
    ‘We’ll do them, Mum,’ Kieron offered. ‘Only fair, after all …’
    But I said no. Getting to know a child, I’d always found, invariably seemed to happen most naturally in those little pockets of opportunity when you were doing something else. I headed off with Sophia into the kitchen.
    ‘Do you look like your mum?’ I asked her, once we’d got the washing up under way. She’d been talking about some of the things they used to like on TV when she was younger, so this seemed a good time to delve deeper.
    ‘I suppose so,’ she said, shrugging. ‘A bit. We’ve both got blonde hair and blue eyes, but I’m taller. Actually, people often used to think we were sisters.’
    I passed her a plate to dry up. ‘Bet your mum loved that,’ I said. ‘I always do when people mistake me and Riley for sisters.’
    ‘Though I’m prettier than she is. And I don’t think we do.’ She continued to wipe the plate for a few moments. ‘But she still had more boyfriends.’
    This brought me up short. What an odd thing for a 12-year-old to say. ‘But you’re only young, love,’ I said. ‘Bit early for boyfriends, isn’t it? Plenty of time for them as you grow up.’
    She turned to face me,