back. ‘I’ve looked after Deon a lot over the years. He’s a nice kid. But he’s physically small for his age and he’s terrified about starting a new school. He was badly bullied at his last school. He’s about to start at St Clare’s—’
‘But that’s a mainstream school, not a special needs school,’ Matt interrupted. ‘I went there; they don’t have special needs kids.’
‘They introduced a new programme about five years back to integrate kids with special needs into the mainstream school. It’s a huge success. I also know the school well. My brothers attended it. Mak is a bundle of nerves for Deon. He’s trying to be brave but is scared witless...anyway, I said I’d go with them on his first day.’
‘Which is...?’ Will asked.
‘Tomorrow.’ Lu forked up some chicken and waved her fork at the pack of photos. ‘I thought that if Deon ran into any bullying he could offer up some signed photos from his Rays heroes to talk his way out of it.’
Will dashed his signature across a photograph and smiled. ‘No problem.’
* * *
Lu pulled to a stop outside St Clare’s and turned in her seat to look backwards. Deon was looking a little grey, his hands were trembling, and his knee bounced up and down. Mak was looking equally nauseous. He might be tough and forthright, but he was a marshmallow when it came to his son.
Lu touched his shoulder before leaning back to pat Deon on the thigh. ‘I told you that my brothers went here and that it’s a really nice school? Remember that Mr Klimt, the principal, doesn’t tolerate bullying.’
‘Mr Klimt doesn’t go into the boys’ bathrooms,’ Deon said in his slow, measured voice.
Lu sighed. The child might be challenged but he was not a fool. How was she going to get either of them out of the car and up the steps that led into the school? They were both anxiously watching the streams of laughing, smiling chatty kids mingling on the grass, within the school quad, leaning against walls and doors.
They looked confident and happy...no wonder Deon and Mak were terrified. Even she was feeling a bit intimidated.
‘I want to go home,’ Deon said, and dropped his chin to his neck.
She couldn’t cry. That wouldn’t help anyone! Terrified or not, someone had to take charge. ‘Right, let’s get your stuff together, dude.’
Lu sighed as her mobile rang. She picked it up and sighed at the display. ‘It’s really not a good time, Will.’
‘It’s a very good time,.’ Will replied, laughter in his voice. ‘Tell the kid that his posse has arrived.’
‘What?’
‘Look in your review mirror, Mermaid.’
Lu slid a glance to her mirror and laughter bubbled up in her throat. Walking down the pavement, dressed in their Rays training uniforms, looking as intimidating as all hell, were Jabu, Matt and three other prominent Rays players. Will and Kelby walked behind them. Will had his mobile in his hand.
Lu swallowed down her emotion and turned to Deon, her face alight with excitement. ‘OK, Deon, this is a mega big day for you.’ She winked at Mak, who’d just caught sight of the players now coming to a stop outside her car. His jaw fell to his lap. Lu reached over and lifted Deon’s chin. ‘I know this is scary, but some special people thought that you might need someone to see you into school. Say hello to my friend Jabu.’
Jabu ducked his head inside the car and as long as she lived Lu knew she would never forget the look on the little boy’s face when he saw his biggest sporting hero. The back door flew open and Deon tumbled into Jabu’s enormous arms. Jabu held him with ease and calmly ignored his shaking as he introduced him to the rest of his team mates.
Lu looked at Mak, whose Adam’s apple was bobbing with restrained emotion. ‘Did you know about this?’ he demanded.
Lu shook her head and sniffed. ‘Not a damn thing. Will must have organised it.’
Mak pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes. ‘I’m really liking this guy, Lu.’
Will looked at the commotion they were causing and grinned. He’d forgotten the enthusiasm kids could display—that wide eyed excitement. He’d felt exactly the same when he’d met his sporting heroes as a kid.
Then Will looked at Lu’s face as she climbed out of her car and grinned at the emotions crossing it. Wonder, amazement, joy. Yeah, this was so worth organising.
Kelby jammed him in the ribs. ‘Take that goofy look off your face, Scott. You look like a sap.’
‘I don’t do goofy,’ Will said through gritted teeth.
‘Well, you sure as hell are doing something!’ Kelby grinned as they stood a little way off from the rest of the team. ‘So what prompted this, mate? I mean, I’m not complaining...’ he gestured to a couple of sports photographers who were walking across the road towards them ‘...it’s great publicity. But it’s way out of your scope as caretaker coach.’
‘Uh...’ Will tugged at the collar of his shirt.
‘Could it have anything to do with the fact that you are doing my press photographer, who obviously has a very special relationship with this kid?’
Will shuffled on his feet. ‘I’m not sleeping with her; we’re just friends, Kelby.’
Kelby roared with laughter and slapped Will on the back. ‘Yeah, right! You’ve never done anything like this before.’
Will gritted his teeth. ‘Kelby, we’re friends...like you suggested. That’s it.’
Kelby’s laughter faded, surprise dominated and he shook his head. ‘Oh, my poor, confused young friend!’ He grinned again and slapped Will between his shoulderblades. Again. ‘You, dude, are ass-deep in woman trouble. I love it!’
Will was thinking about punching him when he felt Lu’s approach. He looked around when a small hand rested on his bicep.
‘You arranged this, didn’t you?’ Lu asked, tears in her eyes.
God, he did one nice thing and everyone got soppy!
‘Jabu and I had a chat about it. He was bullied at school so he knows what it’s like. The Rays also promote anti-bullying on their website,’ Will replied.
‘Thank you. I’m overwhelmed.’
‘No worries. It was easy enough to do,’ Will said. He caught Mak’s eye and shook his hand, brushed off his gratitude.
It seemed as if a good portion of the school’s pupils were gathered around them when Jabu raised his hand and the crowd quietened. ‘OK—any rugby boys here?’
Hands shot up into the air. ‘Who is your favourite team?’
‘Rays! Rays! Rays!’
The Rays players smiled and after a minute Jabu lifted his hand again. ‘This is Deon. He’s a new boy here today and he’s our number one fan.
