According to YES by Dawn French Read Free Book Online Page A

a big leather man he is.
    ‘OK.’ She summons her resolve, ‘This is probably doing myself out of an amazing – let’s face it, bloody fantastic – job, but I don’t really think you need me here.’
    ‘Excuse me?’ Thomas says, putting his drink down. ‘I think perhaps you should speak with Glenn …?’
    ‘Mmm, yes I know, but I just thought that I would mention it to you, because the boys seem to … well, I think they would rather spend time with their father, they genuinely believe that’s what they’re here for … to be with him?’
    Thomas is uneasy, ‘Well yes, but really … it’s Glenn who organizes …’
    ‘I’m wondering, would you, perhaps, be able to spend a little bit of time with them? It’s just that if their parents are getting divorced, this is a strange time to be leaving them with me, someone they don’t really know? Do you see what I mean …? I’m very happy to support, but I can’t seem to get a strong steer on it from their father …?’
    ‘Shall I get my wife …?’
    ‘Just wondering if I’m the best person for them right now …’
    ‘I should get my wife …’
    Rosie is determined. ‘Well, yes, but what do
you
think? You’re their granddad, and a free-thinking adult …’
    Thomas looks towards the door, which Rosie has left open. There in the doorway is Glenn. Thomas is embarrassed and relieved in equal measure.
    ‘Ah, honey, perfect timing. Miss Kitto here, um, Rosie, was just saying it might be good, if, uh, we had some time with the boys? Maybe a day trip or something … would be good?’
    He peters out as he notices the black cloud hovering over Glenn’s head. She is looking at Rosie as if she is the anti-Christ, but she employs full-tilt politeness when she opens her mouth:
    ‘Thank you for your suggestion and your concern, Miss Kitto. We will certainly inform you of our decision. As and when. Now, if you would allow Mr Wilder-Bingham some privacy to prepare for a difficult occasion …?’
    ‘Of course,’ Rosie replies, getting up to leave, ‘I shall look forward to being informed. Might it be by carrier pigeon?’
    Glenn stiffens at this insolence and looks to Thomas for support. Maddeningly for Glenn, Thomas appears to be showing distinct signs of amusement, there is the smallest smile on his face. Rosie also clocks this.
    Glenn takes control, ‘Now, if you’ll excuse us?’
    There is a panicked knock at the door and an out-of-breath Iva appears. ‘Excuse me Mrs W.B., but Miss Natalie she is here … the porter, he let her up.’
    ‘Oh for God’s sake,’ Glenn says ‘very well, show her in …’
    At which moment Natalie thunders unheeded into the room.
The speed of her whips Rosie’s head around, as she witnesses for the first time the flash of French that is the diminutive, gutsy mother of Red, Three and Teddy. She smells fabulous. Of figs.
    ‘Is he here?’ she demands.
    ‘Hello, Natty’ Thomas attempts the-oil-on-water approach.
    ‘Is he even
here
, Thomas?!’ she persists.
    ‘If you mean Kemble, Natalie, yes of course he’s here. He’s with the boys …’ says Glenn, and she flicks a glance at Rosie, who is finding this situation awkward and outright lying even harder.
    Natalie’s fury overrides her long held fear of the matriarch, ‘OK, Glenn, but please would you explain what’s going on, please? Why did he make this big fuss about having the boys live here, if he’s only going to dump them with some strange nanny?’
    Rosie mutters under her breath, ‘Less of the strange.’
    Glenn powers on, ‘We made an arrangement, Natalie. Kemble is their father, and it’s his turn to have them. You know that. I know that, and the lawyers certainly know that.’
    Natalie replies, ‘Yes, it’s his turn to have them. For
him
to have them, that’s the whole point, not some English weirdo.’
    Rosie responds quietly, ‘Less of the weirdo.’
    ‘I’d be interested in exactly how you know about the nanny,’ says Glenn.
    ‘That