‘Can I see Daisy?’
‘What for? To cross-examine her about the incident? Are you going to get her to swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth?’
‘Pippa, please.’
‘Look, Clare. Now’s not a good time. I need to get back to Daisy. You need to get back to your family and sort out whatever the hell is going on.’
I nod, accepting Pippa’s decision. ‘Okay, I am sorry, Pippa, you do know that, don’t you?’
‘I’ve got to go,’ says Pippa.
‘Yeah, sure. I’ll make it up to the girls when Daisy comes for a sleepover at the weekend. If her arm’s okay, that is. Even if she just came for tea. Yeah?’
Pippa looks long and hard at me. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.’
‘Hannah will be devastated,’ I say, thinking how much Hannah is looking forward to the sleepover. She has it all planned, a mini make-over, party tea, a movie and popcorn, followed by a sleepover. She’s been planning it for weeks.
‘I’m not comfortable with Daisy being anywhere near Alice and I’m not even sure Daisy would want to be at yours now, not after this. Don’t take it personally, Clare, it’s not you it’s your sister.’
‘But you’re punishing Hannah for my mistake.’
‘And don’t you think Daisy has been punished too? She’s got a broken arm. For God’s sake, Clare. Stop thinking about yourself all the time. Daisy won’t be coming for a sleepover. I don’t want her anywhere near your creepy fucking sister. End of.’
Chapter 17
When I arrive home, the reception is just as frosty from everyone as it was at the hospital. The only one pleased to see me is Hannah. She rushes up to me and hugs me. I feel so guilty for not being there to collect her from Brownies. I’ve let her down and I’ve let Daisy down. If only I hadn’t gone to Tom’s and had those brandies, then I wouldn’t have fallen asleep and missed it. I still don’t know how my phone ended up on silent. I hug Hannah back tightly, drawing on her love. It’s the only comfort I’m going to get tonight. Chloe is already fast asleep in bed, so Luke informs me.
I spend the next hour with Hannah, bathing her, washing her hair and getting her ready for bed. I haven’t asked her about the incident at the playground yet but as we snuggle up on the sofa together, just me and her, while she has a glass of milk and biscuit before bed, it’s Hannah who brings the subject up first.
‘Is Daisy going to be okay?’ she asks.
I look down at my daughter’s worried little face and honestly feel so overcome with emotion that I could cry. ‘Yes, she will be. She’s broken her arm and the doctors have put a plaster cast on it. You know, like the one nanny had when she fell over last year.’
‘What colour is it?’
‘I don’t know. I didn’t see it. I only spoke to Daisy’s mummy. Now don’t be worrying, Daisy will be fine.’ I don’t want to upset Hannah even more by telling her what Pippa said about the sleepover. Maybe Pippa will have calmed down by next weekend and will let Daisy come after all. I’ve already decided to give it a couple of days before I call Pippa and see if we can smooth things over. I don’t have many friends and, although that’s never been a real problem for me in the past, right now I could do with an ally, especially as Luke seems to have defected.
‘Did you see what happened at the park?’ I ask Hannah, hoping my voice sounds relaxed.
Hannah circles the rim of the cup with her finger. ‘No.’
‘What? Nothing at all?’
‘No. Daisy fell over. I don’t know what happened.’
‘You know you can tell me, don’t you? Remember how you told me about the photo frame when Alice said not to? Well, it’s like that. You can tell me, even if she said you shouldn’t.’
‘Why does everyone keep asking me what happened? I don’t know.’ Hannah sticks out her bottom lip. I don’t want to upset her even more. I’ll try again tomorrow.
‘It’s okay, sweetheart,’ I say. ‘Come on, let’s go up. I’ll tuck you in. You can look at a book for five minutes.’