‘I’ll get him; you finish your coffee and have a shower,’ offered Chris, hurriedly pulling on his trousers. Claire sank back gratefully. Just a few more minutes and then she would get up and they would have a lovely morning in Manchester. She wondered if she could talk Joshua into joining them. It would be nice to spend some time with both of them. Plus, if Joshua came, she would get half an hour to look around the shops by herself while Joshua took Jamie to the arcades.

Maybe if she let him sleep in until nine, brought him some breakfast in bed, and promised him a look around the music shop – she knew he’d been eyeing a particular guitar that he was saving for. Well, with her new salary perhaps she could help out a little bit with that. Satisfied she had a plan, she gulped the last of her coffee and went to take a shower.

September 2017

5

Claire slipped the white cape jacket over her silk shirt and black pencil skirt and looked at herself approvingly in the full-length mirror. Her sleek blonde bob – or lob, as her hairdresser had called it – framed her face and emphasised her eyes. She’d taken the time with her make-up, applying eyeshadow and lipstick as opposed to her usual quick flick of mascara and lip balm. All her running had kept her toned and she briefly admired her long shapely legs in the unfamiliar high heels. She felt like a different person. She looked like somebody in control of her life.

‘Mummy!’

Well, not quite – there was still a little person at the centre of her world and she smiled as Jamie barged in to the bedroom, his rucksack too big for his little frame, but not his determination. His first day of school yesterday had gone well. She’d taken Lucy – who’d passed her nanny trial with flying colours – with her to pick Jamie up at half past three yesterday afternoon. Lucy had been with them for the last two weeks, getting to know the household routines in preparation for Claire to return to work. Lucy was efficient, easy-going, and the house sparkled. Claire’s only regret was not hiring someone sooner.

Jamie had bounded out of the school gates straight into his mother’s arms and as Claire buried her head in his shiny blonde hair, she’d had a moment’s doubt at the thought of all the school pick-ups she would miss.

‘Mummy!’ he’d practically shouted. ‘I made a robot!’

‘A robot? How wonderful! Where is it?’

‘Mrs Chiswick hung it on the wall in the classroom! She said it was the best robot she’d ever seen!’

‘Of course she did!’

Taking his hand, Claire gave his school bag to Lucy.

‘Say hello to Lucy,’ instructed Claire.

‘Hello, Lucy,’ he parroted automatically.

‘Hi, Jamie! How was your first day at school? Sounds like you had a good time!’ replied Lucy, warmly.