The Last Goodbye by Caroline Finnerty Page B

far as to say it’s right up there with finding out about Santa!” She was tucking into her cupcake.
I decided to broach the subject. “So how’s it all going?”
She knew I was referring to her and Will.
“Great.”
“Has he seen his kids since?”
“He’s picking them up tomorrow afternoon.”
“I see. He must miss them a lot.”
“He does – that’s the hardest part. I know it’s going to be a difficult transition, especially for the kids, not having their dad living with them any more, but I just hope that she makes it as painless as possible for everyone involved.”
I didn’t say anything else. I was afraid we’d end up arguing again.
She left a little before six that evening because she wanted to run to the market to pick up ginger before it closed. She told me that they were having friends over for dinner so I told her to go on and that I would close up on my own.
When I got home that evening Ben was fuming. I could feel the tension in the air as soon as I opened the door. He was moving noisily around the kitchen, opening the cupboard doors and banging them shut again. He didn’t even hear me come in. He had been in good form when I said goodbye to him that morning.
“Who rained on your parade?” I asked, going to the fridge and pouring myself a glass of juice.
He swung around when he heard my voice.
“Sorry, love, I’m just having a bad day. How are you doing?”
“Want to talk about what’s bothering you?”
“It’s just this kid – remember the one I was telling you about that was falling behind the rest of the class even though usually he was right up there on top?”
“Elliott, right?”
“Yeah, well, you know how I had called his parents into a meeting today?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Except his parents didn’t even bother their arses coming – they sent the au pair along instead!”
“No way!” I was shocked that there were parents out there who would actually do that.
“At first I thought it must have been Elliott’s older sister but then she introduced herself as Annika, the family’s Swedish au pair! She must have been about seventeen and she really didn’t seem too interested in my concerns. I felt like such a fool. I mean, if they’re not concerned enough to turn up to a school meeting, well, then, why should I be?”
“Yeah, you should just let it go,” I said absently as I scanned through the post that Ben had left on the counter.
“But I can’t just leave it, you see? That’s the problem – it’s bugging the hell out of me. There’s something going on at home, I just know there is. I mean, to look at him he’s perfect – he’s always very well turned out and he has the best of everything, but there is something troubling him.”
“You don’t think he’s being bullied, do you?”
“Well, that was my first thought, but I’m with the class the whole time and I’ve been keeping an extra close eye on him in the school yard, but he seems to be fine with his friends.”
“So what can you do now?”
“Well, I can either give it another shot and ring the parents again or else I’ll have to refer it on to the principal.”
“Are you that worried about him? Are you sure you aren’t overreacting? I don’t know much about kids but don’t they go through, y’know, phases and things like that? He might catch up again in a few weeks.”
But he shook his head. “There’s something more to this, I’m telling you.”
“Hey, don’t let it stress you out.” I put the letters down and reached out to rub his arm.
“I try not to but it makes me so mad. It’s funny – this kid never wants for anything financially – he has the best of everything, yet he doesn’t get the one thing that he needs which is his parents’ time!”
“You really do care for those kids – they’re very lucky to have you as their teacher.”
His face flushed from my compliment.

Chapter 14
We spent the next day sorting out the final bits and pieces for the exhibition. We had the