of a routine.’
‘Of course,’ she said after a moment, and then immediately wanted to kick herself when she saw the disappointed look sweep over Izzy’s face.
Breakfast passed without further confrontation and soon it was time to take Izzy to school.
‘Let’s do your coat up, Izzy,’ said Ellen, crouching down and fastening the zip. ‘It’s a bit windy out there today.’
‘Are you taking me to school?’
‘Yes, that’s right but Daddy’s coming as well. He needs to show me the way.’
As Ellen stood up, Donovan came out from his study. ‘Are we all ready, then?
‘Yippee!’ cried Izzy. ‘Can we go in your car, Daddy?’
‘I don’t see any reason why not,’ replied Donovan, running his hand across his daughter’s head.
The clipping of heels on the tiled floor signalled the arrival of Carla. ‘Did I hear you say you were going out, Donovan?’ she said, joining the group in the hallway.
‘That’s right. I thought I’d take the opportunity of driving Izzy to school.’
‘In that case,’ she turned to Ellen, ‘you won’t be needed. Why don’t you go and see if Mrs Holloway wants a hand in the kitchen?’
‘I don’t mean to be rude, Carla, but I’m employed as a nanny, not a domestic help. It does state that clearly in the contract from the agency,’ said Ellen. She didn’t mind helping out now and again, but she didn’t want it to be a foregone conclusion. ‘Anything I do is supposed to be related to Izzy.’
Ellen watched Carla’s eyebrows rise so high, she thought for a moment they would disappear into her hairline. Fortunately, Donovan spoke first.
‘Ellen does have a point,’ he said. ‘Besides, I want her to come with me so she can learn the route before having to do the school run alone.’
‘As you wish, Donovan,’ replied Carla, her smile so obviously forced. The telephone ringing in the study was a timely interruption. ‘I’ll get that. Have a good day at school, Izzy.’ Carla clipped her way back down the hall to attend to the telephone.
‘Carla doesn’t like you,’ said Izzy.
‘Izzy!’ reprimanded Donovan. ‘That’s not true. Of course Carla likes Ellen.’
‘It is true,’ said Izzy, matter-of-factly, in the way only a child could. ‘You can tell by the way she screws her eyes up at Ellen and her mouth all scrunches up like she’s eaten Brussels sprouts. Like this.’
Ellen couldn’t help laughing. That had to be the perfect impression of Carla. Glancing across at Donovan, she was met by serious-looking eyes. Oh dear, he clearly didn’t share her appreciation of the joke. Ellen fought to control herself but then Donovan’s face erupted into a huge grin. He shook his head and looked down at his daughter.
‘Izzy, sometimes it’s best to say things in your head rather than out loud. You could upset people. Remember, we‘ve had this discussion before?’ Izzy pouted slightly at the admonishment but then graciously nodded before homing in for a cuddle.
Walking out to the car, Donovan leant in toward Ellen. ‘Sorry about that.’
Ellen smiled at him. ‘That’s okay, really don’t worry.’ She opened the rear door of the Range Rover and lifted Izzy up into the seat. ‘Can you do your seat belt? My, you are a big girl.’ She closed the door and, turning round, was surprised to find Donovan standing right behind her. She could smell the freshness of his aftershave and the fabric softener on his clothes.
‘But I do worry. Please ignore Carla. As I said before …’
‘I know, she’s just a bit frosty. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before the thaw sets in,’ finished off Ellen, good-humouredly. She wanted to add that Izzy was probably right about Carla not liking her, but she kept the thought to herself. Ellen went to move around the back of the vehicle to sit alongside Izzy but Donovan blocked her way.
‘Sit in the front,’ he said. ‘You’ll get a better idea of where you’re going then.’ Reaching past her with his left hand, he opened the passenger door and, taking hold of her elbow, turned her in the direction of the front seat.
The Range Rover was huge compared to Toby’s sporty TT. She hadn’t driven regularly for three years now; living in London she had forgone a car. Toby had his car, which she had only been allowed to drive when he was too drunk. Her role as designated driver was automatically assumed without question. Well, she had questioned it once. Toby made sure she never questioned it again.
‘Will I be using this car to drive Izzy to school?’ she asked.
‘If I said yes, would it worry you?’ he asked.
Ellen looked across and could see him reining in a grin. ‘It wouldn’t worry me, but it might worry you.’
Donovan let out a small laugh, which danced around the confined space of the vehicle. It was a warming feeling, one which she realised she hadn’t experienced for a long time.
‘In that case then,’ said Donovan, ‘you can use the Fiesta that’s parked in the garage.’
‘That’s a relief.’ Ellen was aware that she was grinning, probably wider than necessary, but her facial muscles seemed intent on exercising themselves to their full potential.
‘For both of us,’ he replied with a wink.
They drove in silence out of the private beach estate, towards the nearby town of Chichester. The traffic was heavy and it took some time before they reached the north of city, where they then headed to Oakdale School, an independent school nestled in the rolling countryside of the Sussex Downs.
The drop-off routine was efficient and impeccably carried out. Pull up in the car park, walk over to the classroom, a kiss and a hug for both Ellen and Donovan, before Izzy was rounded up by her class teacher and whisked off into Blueberry Class.
‘Well, that seems pretty straightforward,’ said Ellen, fastening her seat belt as Donovan pulled out of the car park. The narrow village lane was busy with school-run traffic.
‘Yes, Izzy’s very good. Very adaptable,’ he replied.
‘Has she had to adapt to a lot then?’ pried Ellen. She knew she shouldn’t really, but hadn’t he been doing the same the previous evening? Not only that, she somehow felt comfortable in his company. She didn’t think he would take offence. She stole a glance at him. His lips pursed as if thinking about his response.
‘If I’m honest, we’ve had several nannies recently. I know it’s not ideal for Izzy. Just as she gets used to one, they leave, then a replacement comes and she has to try and build up a rapport all over again.’ They were out on the dual carriageway now, heading back towards Felpham. ‘And before you ask, because I’m certain you’re going to … the nannies haven’t
