Even the thought of a night in Rico’s arms barely lifted her gloom as she cleared up the classroom and pulled her bag over her shoulder. All she really wanted to do was get home and soak in a bath alone for an hour and sleep.
‘It’s good to have you back on board, Catherine.’
Marcus Regan caught her as she dashed out of the staff-room. With his glasses perched on the end of his nose, he was a typical principal in every sense, and though she dearly wanted to get home, Catherine adored her boss and would never dismiss him.
‘It’s good to be back, Marcus. I’m sorry it’s only part-time, I know how short the school is.’
‘We are at
that.’ Marcus scratched his grey hair and Catherine could see the worry lines on his kind face. She hadn’t told him about her pregnancy—it was still early days yet—and wasn’t looking forward to it, if the truth be known. Staff were scarce on the ground, and the way Marcus’s voice had lit up when she’d rung to see if work was still available had spoken volumes. ‘Some mornings I wonder if we’re actually going to have any staff to run the school. Still, it’s good to have you back, Catherine. How’s married life treating you?’
‘Wonderfully.’ Catherine smiled. It was a lie she was so used to telling it came without thought, but remembering the way Rico had held her this morning, she was able to impart it with at least a semblance of honesty.
‘Well, I’d better not keep you. We’ll see you Monday morning.’
* * *
Lily was seriously getting more gorgeous by the day, and her little face lit up as Catherine dashed through the door. She held out her fat little arms for a cuddle, but the gush of tenderness that had filled Catherine on her return yesterday was markedly absent. Catherine literally felt as if she were going through the motions as she played with the little girl. Guilt tore at her heart, and she was eternally grateful when Rico appeared bang on seven to give Lily her customary bath. Catherine perched on the edge of the tub, watching with a quiet smile as the slick sophisticate disappeared before her eyes. She was almost tempted to invite the inevitable photographers outside to come in and witness Rico in tender mode. That superior face was softer now, his expensive silk tie ruined for evermore as it dangled in the soapy water, his five o’clock shadow dotted with bubbles as Lily splashed and squealed in delight, moaning in protest when Catherine finally declared the water was getting cold and Rico should lift her out.
‘Now comes the hard part.’ Rico held up Lily’s sleep-suit, frowning as he wrestled two fat legs and two wriggling arms into the garment.
‘Don’t ask me to help with the buttons.’ Catherine shuddered. ‘No matter how hard I try to get it right, Jessica comes in and promptly re-does them.’
‘Done,’ Rico said proudly, handing her the now sleepy infant as Jessica appeared with a bottle.
‘I warmed this for you.’
Taking the bottle, Catherine noticed that Jessica’s usually shining scrubbed face was beautifully made up, and the smart shorts and blouse she usually wore had been replaced with a rather slinky little dress.
‘You look nice.’
‘Thank you.’ A blush crept across her young face. ‘Mr Mancini gave me the night off.’
‘Oh.’ Catherine forced a smile. How badly she wanted to peel off her suit, dive in the shower and have some time to prepare for dinner. This was supposed to be a romantic night—what was the point in having a nanny if Rico was going to give her time off when they really needed to be together?
Left alone with Lily, Catherine held her, fed her, trying so hard to love her—but the familiar panic, heavily tinged with guilt, was gushing back now. She tried to push it away, tried to remember the tenderness she had felt only this morning, tried to recall the social worker’s wise words.
Give it time.
But time wasn’t on her side. Lily was here and now.
‘She’s asleep.’ Rico crept in, picking up the sleeping babe and placing her tenderly in the cot before turning his attention to Catherine, his smiling fading as he registered her tense features. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing,’ Catherine lied. ‘I’d better have a shower before dinner.’
‘Dinner is down to us tonight,’ Rico said easily. ‘I gave the staff the night off.’
‘All of them?’ Catherine groaned, standing to her feet.
‘All of them,’ Rico confirmed. ‘You said you wanted to be more normal, that you were sick of being waited on, wanted to do the normal things a wife and mother does, so I figured I’d give them the night off and it would make you happier. Come on, I’m starving.’
She’d asked for it, really. In fact, Rico probably thought he was being nice, was doing her a favour, but a weary sigh escaped her lips as she headed out of the nursery. Her back was really aching now, and the thought of peeling a load of potatoes just to feel normal frankly did nothing to raise her spirits.
Heading for the staircase, she frowned when Rico took her by the arm and led her to the bedroom.
‘I thought you said you were starving?’
‘I am,’ Rico said mysteriously, opening the door and letting her walk in, watching in amused silence as she took in the rather poorly laid table and massive pizza box.