London Harmony: Flotilla (5 page)

The mention of my name made the kids look up from their sugary and colorful cereal. They squealed and hopped down to come running over, Nat calling out in excitement, “Auntie Kanga!”

Wil parroting her, “Anie Kanga!”

They hugged my legs as I beamed an overly amused smile at them over the nickname they bestowed upon me, reaching down to hug them to me. “Hey, little Roos.”

I ruffled Wil's hair and looked at Steph who looked chuffed. I said toward the two women, “I got the tiny ones, you need to scoot before you are late.”

She nodded and reached out and gave me a quick hug. “You're an angel, really.” Then she knelt and said to the children, “Angie will be your babysitter today, would you like that?”

They cheered, which made me smile. She straightened up their shirts and smiled as she stood. Then she said to me, “Natalie needs to be at Gosling Primary in an hour. Her lunch is in the sack on the counter. She needs to be picked up at half past two. I'll be home just after four.”

She looked as if she were asking too much, but I was truly happy to do this for her. Besides, I loved the little roos. I chuckled as I pushed past her into the flat, a child riding each leg. “Stop fussing, it'll all be brill, trust me.”

She paused, exhaled and relaxed, shooting me another smile as her eye ticked. Then she nodded, grabbing her coat from a hook by the door and turned to stop short at a put out looking Paya. The dark haired woman asked, “What? No, hug for me? Just for the 'angel'? I think you're playing favorites.”

Steph shared a resigned grin with me and then hugged Paya as she said, “I swear Miss Doshi, sometimes you're more of a hug slut than Zil.”

She gave each child a kiss on the cheek and started to lean toward me before catching herself, it was an ingrained routine from years of marriage. She instead gave me a grin and then looped arms with a smug looking Paya and started down the hall to the stairs.

I started closing the flat's door and paused as she called out, “My mobile's number is on the fridge with the emergency numbers. Spare key card is on the counter. I have...”

Paya shushed her as I tried to fight off a chuckle. “She's got this Steph. The munchkins aren't made of spun glass.”

I watched their heads bob down the stairs then closed the door after they were out of sight.

I looked down at the kids who were still attached to my legs and lifted the one that Wil was riding, and I shook it a little, saying, “Come now, let's finish your cereal before it gets soggy.” They hoped off an headed to the table.

After they had finished eating, I washed the dishes, having the little ones dry them. We made a game out of it. I had them tell me where the dishes went, and I lifted one of them at a time to have them place each dish in the little cupboards above the kitchenette.

Then I looked at the time. The school was a kilometer away. With the roos, it would take us a good ten or fifteen minutes to get there. I said, “Come now, we better get a move on, where are your wellies and macs?”

They went squealing into their room, I grinned again, I was doing a lot of that lately. Did children squeal when they did everything? Must movement come with volume? The answer, of course, is yes, they are kids.

That grin became a big smile. Wil's wellies were bright yellow with little duck faces painted on them. They looked a lot like the ones Paya had on. Nat's were adorable pink and purple with daisies printed on them. They had matching macs. I had them get into their winter jackets and put the raincoats over them. When they had the rain gear on and I was satisfied they would survive the monsoon, we were off.

Natalie grabbed a small clear brolly, which had a purple handle, from a cane rack at the door. Then we ventured down and out onto the streets, Wil holding my hand as we huddled under my umbrella. Nat walked on my other side, splashing in every puddle that deigned to park itself in her path.

She asked cutely, “Are you gonna be our new forever babysitter Auntie Kanga? You're more fun than Olivia.”

I shrugged, not knowing how to answer that. There was so much hope in her voice. How could I tell her that it was just this once? I sighed and hated myself because I knew that the truth was always the best, even if it hurt a little.

I shook my head and said with a heavy heart, “No, I'm just doing a favor for your mum today, your normal sitter is down with the flu.”

She grumped a little, looking down and splashing a puddle just to teach it a lesson. Then she looked up hopefully, “The flu lasts fer more than a day. Peggy Anderson was outta class for four whole days. Will you be our sitter 'til Olivia gets better?”

I cocked my head at her. Both she and Wil had hopeful looks on their faces as they looked up at me with their mother's eyes. I sighed again and just nodded once as I tentatively agreed with provisions, “I'll ask your mother what her plans are until this Olivia returns. I can't promise anything though, it is up to her, and Paya may need me for Flotilla business.”

They cheered and went about happily splashing puddles the rest of the way to school. I walked them inside and found the headmaster's office and spoke with the attendance clerk; an older woman with white hair and sharp eyes. “Hello, I'm Angie Wells, I'm sitting for Stephanie Draper today. I just thought I'd pop in and let you know I'll be picking Natalie here up after class instead of her normal sitter. In case someone thinks to tackle me at the door.”

The woman nodded with a sly grin at my humor, and said as if it happened all the time, which it probably did. “Yes, Mrs. Draper called. I'll need your contact information since she's your ward for the day.”

I nodded and wrote down the number of the mobile that Paya gave me. I'm still not sure if I believe that it is a 'company phone' as she insists. I'm sure she knows it is the only way I would have accepted it.

I squatted and took off Nat's rain bonnet and handed it to her and I smoothed her hair back. “I'll see you after class little roo.”

She nodded seriously and said with surety, “Ok, Auntie Kanga.”

I hugged her, and she zoomed off down the hall into a mass of little girls who were passing by, slipping seamlessly into whatever topic they were chattering about.

I chuckled and shared a knowing look with the woman behind the desk. I said to her, “Thank you. Have a great day.” She nodded, and I looked down at little Wil.

He looked tired from our walk so I hoisted him onto a hip and waved at the woman as I wove through the halls as more soaked children seemed to swarm in. I popped the brolly, and we braved the elements once again as we stepped out into the downpour.

It wasn't half past eleven when my mobile started buzzing. I looked over to where it sat on the coffee table from where I was watching Wil color a stick figure drawing of his mum and sister. I had just been thinking I should start getting lunch ready for the little guy.

I saw it was Gosling Primary and I idly wondered why they were calling as I reached for my mobile. Then I glanced at the counter of the kitchenette and saw Nat's lunch bag still sitting there. I winced, I was the worst sitter ever.

I answered already anticipating the reason for the call, “Hello, I'm sorry, I'm rushing over with her lunch now.” I paused as the woman on the line spoke, and I blanched as I listened while the woman calmly spoke. Bloody hell.

When she was done, I barked out, “I'm on my way!”

Balls. Steph was never going to trust me with her children again. Nat had a little accident on the playground and had a bad cut on her arm, they thought she may need stitches. They tried Stephanie's contact number, but it went to voicemail. Of course it would, she would have her mobile turned off at work.

I glanced out the window, it still looked like we were living through a Noah's Ark reenactment. I smiled at Wil, not wanting to alarm him, and prompted, “Right then. Let's get you back in your wellies little roo, we need to go get sister from school.” He dutifully ran off to get his rain gear as I pressed speed dial one in a subdued panic... the only number on my mobile.

On the second ring, I got a familiar, “Go for Paya.” I would have grinned if I weren't in a mild state of panic.

I blurted out a little swiftly, belying my raised anxiety level, though if it were more serious I'm sure the school would have called for emergency services, “Natalie's been hurt at school. I'm on my way there now. I can't get ahold of Steph.”

She paused a moment then asked in a calm and measured voice, “Is it serious?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, calming myself. I said a little slower, “She got a bad cut they think may need stitches. I told them I'm on my way there. Can you get word to Stephanie? Tell her I'm really sorry.”

She chuckled a bit and assured me, “Kids get cuts. You have no control over what goes on at school. You sound like a guilty mother. If they are waiting for you, then it can't be anything too pressing or they would have sent for medics.”

I nodded to myself as Wil stepped up with his boots. I stopped to help him into them as I said, “I thought the same, but I still can't help feeling guilty. She trusted me, basically a stranger with the wellbeing of her children and now one is hurt, and the other one is wearing his jacket backward.”

I grinned at Wil, who was beaming with merry mischief as I pulled his jacket off and put it on the right way. The little stinker. I couldn't help but smile at him. I slid his raincoat over his jacket and said to Paya as I took the little one's hand and started to the door, “I'm ten from the school now.”

She replied in that same calm voice, she was a rock under pressure, “I'm heading to the coffee house now. Remember to breathe woman. I'll call when I get to her. I'll have a cab meet you at the school. Ta.”

A cab? Bloody hell, why hadn't I thought of that? Too late now, I could be at the school before it could arrive at the Tennison. Paya was always thinking. I snagged the brolly and said, “Ta.” I rang off and stuffed the mobile into my pocket.

I smiled down at Wil and just hoisted him to my hip. We'd get there faster if I didn't have to slow for little legs. I popped the brolly and stepped into the second coming of the flood and double-timed it down the block.

I was positively drenched by the time we stepped into the school. I exhaled, and that part of me that was screaming silently in panic, relaxed. At the end of the main hall sitting on a bench by the office with a woman, was Nat. She was kicking her legs idly in the air, dressed in her rain gear. I noted she didn't look to be on death's door or anything, not pale from blood loss and trauma, that was a plus. Right?

She saw us as I set Wil back on his feet and grasped his hand. She was up and running down the hall as she excitedly squealed, “Auntie Kanga!” She rushed over and glommed onto my leg, her smile beaming up at me as the woman stood and walked over.

I crouched in front of Natalie, examining her and she looked none the worse for wear though her eyes were still red and puffy from a good cry. I sighed in relief again and gave her a quick hug. I stood to see the other woman grinning at the display. She held her hand out, “Wendy Parsons, the school nurse.”

I shook her hand as she said, “Natalie had a little spill when she snuck out into the playground in the rain, and caught the corner of one of the little tables out there. Cut herself pretty good. I bandaged it up, but I think you might want to get it checked out, it was pretty deep. Her shirt is a loss, torn sleeve, and blood.”

I paled, and she chuckled out, “First time huh?”

First time? Oh, yeah, I got her inference. I nodded and smiled sheepishly, “Yes, it is.”

She chuckled again and said in a reassuring tone, “This is what children do. It's good for us adults that they are a durable lot. This is nothing.” The last part was said with a tone of 'just wait and see' that chilled me.

I squinted an eye playfully and moaned out, “Oh, thank you for that, Wendy. Now it will fester in my head until I pop.”

She seemed overly amused and just replied with, “All in a day's work.”

I had to chuckle. Then said as looked Nat over one last time, “Well thanks, we'll get her properly checked and sorted.”

She gave a single farewell wave and turned to head back to the office. I grinned down at the victim of recess carnage. “Well, now that you've given me a right fright, let's get you to someone to get that arm checked out, and I'll bring you two roos to lunch?”

They both cheered and I hoisted Wil and held Nat's hand as we stepped up to the outside door, looking through the glass, and waited a minute until a taxi pulled up and tooted its horn. I released Natalie's hand, and we both opened our umbrellas in unison then hustled outside and across to the waiting cab. We were laughing as we got in, trying to close the brollies without getting drenched. We failed. Miserably.

A minute later we were on the way to the Royal London. My mobile rang as we watched the city pass by, people scurrying about in the rain. I answered on the first ring, “Paya?”

Before I could say more, she was saying in a good approximation of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's voice, “Status report, Number One.”

I said with much more calm in my voice than our previous call, now that I was able to see Nat myself and knew she was lying about with her guts hanging out, “She's fine and smiling. I guess I made more out of it than I ought. It just gave me a scare. We're heading to the London Royal emergency room now, just in case. The school nurse didn't seem overly concerned.”

She said almost smugly, “There you have it then. See? No need to panic.”

She was saying that with an odd tone, then I got it and asked slowly, “She's right there isn't she?”

She said, “Exactly.” Then she said to someone, “I told you. Muscles had this. Nat's fine and she's just getting her checked to make sure, you don't need to leave work or your boss might just sack you, he's a real piece of work. What? Fine, here.”

Then Steph's voice was on the phone, “Ange, is she really ok?”

I nodded to the air as I assured her, “Yes. Truly. I'm sorry she got hurt on my watch.”

This got an amused chuckle from her, and her voice didn't sound as stressed as when she first spoke as she assured me in turn, “Like you have magical control of the mischief children get into at school.” She paused and then asked in a quieter voice, “Keep me informed? I should be there, I'm a terrible mother.”

I growled out, “So now you're the one with magical control? Of course, I'll keep you informed, through our mutual evil one.”

Paya said from nearby Steph, “Hey! I resemble that remark.”

I relaxed more at the banter we were all slipping into, it meant that she couldn't be too upset with me.

I said, “We're pulling into the hospital now. I'll call when I know something. Here say hello to the poor victim.”

I put Nat on, and she said chirpily, “We're getting' a taxi ride mummy. Yes. No. Ok. I love you like bunches of wainbows too.”

She handed the mobile back, and the woman on the other end said to me, “I'll see you back at home, lady?”

I nodded to thin air and said, “Of course, see you there.”

As she rang off, she said, “Ta.” Ah ha! So that's where Paya got that.

It felt good to pay the driver with cash. My cash. Lolly I had worked hard for, Paya saw to that. I know I may sound as if I am off my trolly, but it made me feel like a real person again instead of the shadow on the street that everyone ignored.

We made a dash from the taxi to the emergency room entrance. Then the endless filling out of forms began. What I couldn't fill out, I got Nat to help with, or I'd call Paya. Then after an hour and a half wait, they finally saw us and I saw what was below Natalie's coat.

I had a mini panic attack at the blood on her torn sleeve. But her arm was bandaged nicely in a clean white wrap. The doc was friendly and gentle, I think she may have specialized in pediatrics. When she asked Nat how she got such a spectacular cut, the little one said with pride, “Susan Larson said I couldn't swing high 'nough to jump over the puddles and trash bin. I showed her.”

I blanched and blurted out, “You jumped a waste bin from the swings? What were you thinking? And why were you playing in the rain?”

She looked sheepishly at me and more asked than stated, “She double dog dared me?”

I just stared at her. Risking herself for something foolish like that. Then I remembered the things I did as a child on a dare, which made this look like a stroll in the park in comparison. The doc and I exchanged a look, then we couldn't help it as we cracked up. The children were smiling and laughing with us, though they didn't understand why, it was just fun to laugh.

The doc nodded at her and said in a serious tone, “Well now you'll have a good battle scar to show Susan Larson.” Nat beamed with pride over that.

The doc looked at me and said, “We'll clean it out and redress it. There will likely be scarring. It won't need stitches though it is a close thing, a couple butterfly bandages should do it. I'll give you care instructions. Mostly don't get it wet for twenty-four hours or so while it works on closing itself up.”

I turned my head to the window to watch as the rain pounded it, I muttered, “Don't get it wet... right.” She followed my gaze and then grinned, and we both chuckled again.

She quantified her earlier statement, “As much as possible I guess.”

I asked with mock seriousness, “Can we wrap her in plastic wrap before heading out?” The woman had to bite her own tongue to stop from chuckling again as she shook her head in the negative.

Then we took care of the mundane details and before long we were released back into the wild, tagged and released, and I called Paya to update her so she could let Steph know.

I looked down at the children while we sat in the lobby as I rang up a taxi. I asked, “I don't know about the two of you, but I'm about ready to eat my right leg I'm so hungry. Lunch?” They cheered in agreement with their characteristic excessive excitement.

Nat asked, “Can we eat in the 'spital cafeteria? They gots chocolate pudding.”

I paused as I dialed and cocked my head and smiled at her, “Now how would you know that? And really? Hospital food?” I made a sour face.

She said like she was simply informing me of what color her wellies were, “We ate there lots when daddy hurt mummy. The cafeteria ladies always gave Wil 'n me chocolate pudding.”

Will nodded with a smile, “Chok'late puddin'.”

I felt my stomach tighten in knots, and it took all my willpower not to react. I tried to keep my voice neutral as I asked carefully, scared of the answers they might give, “Did your daddy ever hurt you?”

Natalie was trying to drag me toward the corridor beyond the admittance lobby, most likely toward the cafeteria. She shook her head and supplied, “Mummy wouldn't let him when he got mad. So he got madder at her.”

Though my own anger was seething inside like the raging tsunami outside the building, over someone raising a hand against Stephanie, a little portion of me was relieved that the children were not abused as well.

I was starting to piece things together, and I didn't like what the puzzle was showing. I most likely knew why Steph's husband was doing time now. And... I paused, the most likely reason for her ticks, especially if the children spent enough time in the hospital to get to know the workers in the cafeteria.

I just smiled a smile I wasn't feeling and said, “Lead the way then little roos.”

They cheerily brought me to the elevators, and we found ourselves on the second floor in a cafeteria at the end of the hall, after I had to pick up Wil to press the button for the second floor of course.

And there was indeed chocolate pudding.