Thursday. Why did that ring a bell? Football practice. The girls would be livid if she missed it after promising she’d go and support them.
She shook her head. ‘I can’t make next Thursday.’
‘Oh, I think you can,’ he said.
Chapter Fifteen
Sara blinked, a shimmer of dread running through her. James gave an exasperated sigh, fingers tugging at his beard. ‘I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I’m just panicking, you see. I really must be there, and everyone’s taking a plus-one. If I don’t have a partner, I’ll look like Billy-no-mates – which is close to the truth, if I’m honest, but it makes me seem… I don’t know, vulnerable, I suppose, and that’s never a good negotiating position, is it?’ He gave her a sheepish grin. ‘I thought with it being over a week away, there’d be plenty of time for you to sort out babysitting. So I bought two tickets and, well… I need you there.’ His eyes met hers, and in that moment, she felt sorry for him. ‘It’s what we agreed, isn’t it?’
She put her cookie down, the smell of it making her feel nauseous now. She thought about the stolen money, how James had put himself in danger of reprisals to conceal her crime. She felt ungrateful. Unprofessional. They’d made a deal and she had to stick to it, and to be honest, he wasn’t asking a lot, was he? Going to a sales dinner with him didn’t sound that onerous. What choice do I have?
‘Okay.’ She forced a smile. ‘I’m sorry, James. I know we have a deal, and of course I’ll stick to it. Thursday night is football practice for the girls, you see, but my sister said she could take them, so maybe there isn’t a problem. I’ll talk to her tomorrow, see if I can arrange it.’
A relieved grin lit up his face, eyes sparkling. ‘Excellent. I’ll look forward to it, and I think you might quite enjoy yourself. It’ll take you out of your normal environment – and you know they say a change is as good as a rest.’
She nodded, hoping it was true, even as her mind presented her with the real problem. What am I going to tell Matt?
The next day, the fine weather had been replaced by a drizzly rain and Sara wasn’t enjoying the hour and a half she had to spend on the touchline while her daughters did their football practice. But she’d promised, and it was especially important to keep her word now that she knew she’d miss the following week. They seemed excited she was there, but she wondered if it might have more to do with the promise of treats afterwards. I wish Hailey could have come, she thought as she stomped her damp feet, trying to keep them warm. There’d been a change in plans because Hailey’s service user was ill, and with no obligation to be at football, she’d ended up staying at the house with Ezra so Matt could work and Sara could have a bit of time alone with the girls.
Sara moved from foot to foot, her trainers squelching, socks soaked through, glad to see her girls enjoying themselves but unsure exactly what the appeal of football might be. When the final whistle blew, she could have wept with relief.
The girls came running over, red-cheeked and mud-splattered, while the rest of the squad headed to the dressing rooms.
‘Let’s go, Mum,’ Sophia said, slinging her bag over her shoulder, Amelia doing the same.
Sara frowned. ‘What? Aren’t you going for a shower? Don’t you want to get changed?’
‘Nah,’ Sophia said. ‘The showers are grotty here. I’d rather wait till we get home.’
‘I was going to take you for a McDonald’s, remember?’ Sara looked at her mucky daughters and shooed them away. ‘Go on. It’ll only take ten minutes. Then we can have a nice chat while we eat. I feel like I haven’t had a chance to catch up with what you’re doing for ages.’
Amelia shook her head. ‘Not happening, Mum. We decided we’re not using the showers here, didn’t we, Soph?’
Sophia nodded, and the two of them started walking towards the car park.
‘I suppose we can get a takeaway instead,’ Sara said as she followed. She wondered if there was trouble with other members of the team and that was why they didn’t want a shower. She decided she wouldn’t push it. Girls that age were always falling out with each other, and it would probably blow over and be back to normal by the following week.
It was after eight by the time they got home, and Hailey was watching TV, Ezra asleep upstairs. Sara heard the back door close and frowned. ‘Was Matt just here?’
‘Matt? Yes, he came in for a break, and he bathed Ezra. They had a right old time up there. Took me a while to clear up, but I’ve never heard Ezra laugh so much.’ Hailey gave an indulgent smile. ‘He’s such a good dad, isn’t he? Don’t you wish we’d had a dad like that?’ A lump formed in Sara’s throat and she couldn’t say anything. Hailey seemed oblivious and carried on. ‘He’s just gone back out to do some more work, he said. Make up for lost time. It’s such a juggling act for him now you’re out working.’
Sara pulled off her wet shoes while she tried to formulate a fitting response. Hailey was making it sound like Matt was doing everything, with no regard for her input and sacrifices. She could feel her temper rising and went to put her shoes in the hall while she calmed down.
‘Hey,’ she heard Hailey say to the girls when they walked into the lounge. ‘Good session?’
Sara hurried into the room after them, determined to assert herself a bit more. She felt she was becoming invisible even to her sister. ‘I’m so impressed, Hailey. You should have seen them.’ She gave a wry smile. ‘Obviously take after their father.’
‘We’re both in the first team, Auntie Hailey,’ Sophia said, the excitement clear in her voice. ‘The usual goalie dislocated a finger on Saturday, so I get to take her place.’
‘And I’m going to be in defence,’ Amelia said. ‘Coach said my tackles were awesome tonight. Didn’t he, Mum?’
‘He did, and they were.’ Sara looked at the girls, clapped her hands. ‘Right, you two, go and get showers. Football kit in the washing machine, okay? I don’t want it dumped in the bathroom.’
The girls wandered off and Sara sat down next to her sister. A shiver ran through her and she wrapped her arms round her chest. ‘I’m bloody freezing.’ She glanced at Hailey. ‘In fact, I might just nip up and get a shower myself to warm up. If I’m not quick, they’ll have used all the hot water. Why they couldn’t have had a shower at the club like everyone else, I’ve no idea. But they were adamant they didn’t want to.’
Hailey shrugged. ‘They always have done when I’ve been there.’
‘I think there must have been a falling-out or something. Maybe a bit of jealousy from some of the other girls that they’re both in the team.’
Sara was about to go and get her shower when she remembered about the following Thursday. Her evening out with James and the clash with football practice.
‘I don’t suppose you’d be able to take the girls next week, would you? It’s just… I have a meeting at work that I need to go to. It’s… um, it’s…’ She looked away, her foot scuffing at a stain on the carpet. ‘They’re doing a training course. You know, with board members being volunteers it has to be done in the evening, as most of them have jobs. And it’s a bit of a team-building thing, going for a drink after.’ She glanced at Hailey, who was giving her a curious look. ‘It’s in Harrogate. I’ve got a lift back, but I might be late.’