Short and Sweet by Anna Jacobs Read Free Book Online Page B

car keys, and lock my place up.’
    She stood for a moment next to her car, apprehension churning through her. She hadn’t driven at night since the accident. But Kerry was looking at her so trustingly, she swallowed hard, summoned up her courage and got in.
    All the way to the hospital, the little girl sat hunched in a tight ball. ‘He won’t die, will he?’ she asked once as they stopped at some traffic lights.
    ‘No, of course he won’t. It’s only a broken leg and concussion.’
    ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘Pretty sure.’
    ‘Can’t you go any faster?’
    ‘No.’ Sara swallowed. ‘It’s not safe to drive fast at night.’
    Her husband had been speeding when the accident happened. Killed instantly, they’d told her afterwards, as if that would be a comfort. But she wished he’d lingered for a while, wished she’d had time to say goodbye to him.
    When they arrived at the hospital, reaction set in and after she’d parked, she buried her head in her shaking hands.
    ‘Are you all right?’
    She forced herself to smile at the child. ‘I’m fine. It’s just a long time since I’ve driven at night. I was . . . a bit nervous.’
    In casualty they told her that Mr Barraby needed an operation for his broken leg. ‘When did he last eat?’
    Sara turned to Kerry. ‘You were the only one with him.’
    ‘Dad didn’t have any tea,’ she said, wrinkling her brow. ‘But he had a sandwich at lunchtime and a cup of tea about two o’clock.’
    ‘Are you sure about that? Maybe he had a bar of chocolate or a biscuit?’
    Kerry shook her head. ‘No. He doesn’t like chocolate. And we forgot to buy some biscuits last week. He’s been working at his computer all day. It was a rush job.’
    That probably meant that Kerry hadn’t had any tea, either, so Sara bought them something to eat from the hospital café. After that they went back to the waiting area.
    It seemed a long time until a nurse came to tell them the operation had been successful. ‘But he won’t be properly awake for hours yet,’ she added. ‘You’d be better taking your daughter home, Mrs Barraby.’
    Sara tried to explain that she was only the neighbour but the nurse had hurried off again. She looked down at the anxious child. ‘I suppose I’d better take you home with me. Or perhaps you’d rather I found a social worker and—’
    Kerry looked terrified. ‘Please don’t do that! If you let me stay with you, I’ll be really good, I promise.’
    Not until they got into the car did she add, ‘Daddy and me don’t like social workers. When my mummy married again she went to America and she wanted to take me with her. Only I wouldn’t go. The social workers said I could try living with Daddy but they’re still watching us.’
    Sara nodded. That explained John Barraby’s wariness. ‘Well then, you can definitely come home with me. I’ll give the hospital my phone number.’
    As she was tucking Kerry up in bed, the little girl put her arms round Sara’s neck and gave her a hug. ‘Thank you for letting me stay. Can we watch the dolphins together in the morning? They always make me feel better.’
    ‘Yes, of course. I like watching them too.’
    It was a long time before Sara got to sleep. She wasn’t at all sure her neighbour would approve of her looking after his daughter, but there was no one else and there were still two or three weeks to go before school started again after the summer holidays.
    She smiled as it occurred to her that the hospital staff still thought she was his wife. She’d correct that the next day, or he would. In fact, he’d probably have sorted it all out. But if he was wary of getting tangled up with social workers, who knew what he’d have said. She’d better be careful till they compared stories.
    In the morning Sara and Kerry got up early and stood on the jetty together. The water was choppy, but not from boats passing. Several sleek grey shapes were curving in and out of the water and the two baby