Annie Lyons - Life Or Something Like It

As Cat put down her handbag and placed her iPad into its docking station, her phone began to ring. She glanced at the caller ID before answering.

‘Andrew? Are you all right?’ Her brother rarely phoned her during the day.

‘Well actually I’ve got a bit of a problem.’

‘What is it?’

‘Work want me to fly to Brussels this afternoon.’

‘Oh?’

There was a pause. ‘And I’ve got no-one to look after the kids.’

‘Oh.’

Andrew’s words came thick and fast. ‘I wouldn’t normally ask but it’s the summer holidays and I can’t get hold of anyone. If I could drop the kids to you late afternoon, could they come and stay with you for just one night? I’m due back first thing tomorrow morning so I could pick them up from the office and then they’re going to a friend’s. I’m really sorry to ask but they can amuse themselves until you’ve finished for the day.’

Cat’s mind raced with thoughts of tonight’s dinner with Alvarro and tomorrow’s launch but she could also hear the desperation in her little brother’s voice. It was the same pleading voice he’d used as a little boy.

‘Please can Bear and me sleep in your bed with you?’ he’d asked, face forlorn, his knitted lopsided teddy tucked under his arm.

Her heart melted now as it had done then. ‘All right then. Just for tonight though.’

‘Thank you, Cat. You’re my favourite sister,’ he joked.

‘It would be more of a compliment if I weren’t your only sister but I’ll take it.’

‘I’ll drop them off around three, okay?’

‘Okay,’ said Cat with a rising sense of dread. ‘Do you think they’ll be okay with me?’

There was a pause before Andrew said, ‘They’ll love it. Staying with their Auntie Cat? They’ll be so excited.’

‘You never were a very good liar.’

‘I will give them strict instructions to be very excited then. Honestly, it’s only one night. They’ll be fine. You might even enjoy it.’

Cat doubted this very much. ‘I better get some work done. I’ll see you later.’

‘Okay and thanks again. You’ve saved my life.’

Cat picked up her office phone and dialled a number. ‘Lauren? Could you be an angel and get me a flat white with an extra shot, please. Something tells me I’m going to need it today. And could you ask Dan to pop in for a chat as soon as he’s able.’

As Cat opened the front door to her bijou terraced house later that evening, she felt uncharacteristically flustered. She had been in charge of her nephew and niece for approximately four hours and could honestly say that it had been the most stressful experience of her life.

When Andrew arrived, alarm bells started to ring. Charlie was trailing reluctantly behind whilst Ellie was pulling her father by the hand like an overexcited puppy. Andrew smiled sheepishly as he entered her office and looked apologetic as he tried to coax Charlie to speak. The boy wouldn’t even look at his aunt whilst Ellie flung her Frozen rucksack to one side and began to take in her surroundings with enthusiastic hunger. She bounced her way along Cat’s sofa as the verbal tidal wave began.

‘Ooh this is bouncy, I like it, who is that?’ she asked pointing at the picture of Grace Kelly. Cat opened her mouth to speak, failing to understand that six-year-olds don’t really have time for answers. ‘Is that your desk? It’s big isn’t it? Is that your computer? Can I touch it? Is this where you do your work?’ She had bounced her way to the end of the sofa and was now making herself comfortable on Cat’s swivel chair. ‘Whee!’ she cried whizzing round before pausing to pick up Cat’s office phone. ‘Hello? Can I have a milkshake, please?’ She giggled with delight. ‘This is fun.’

Cat felt her shoulders bristle with tension. ‘Is she always like this?’ Cat whispered to her brother. She noticed that Charlie had slumped down on the sofa, hood up, arms folded.

Andrew screwed up his face. ‘Pretty much but she’s a bit hyped-up today because of coming to see Auntie Cat, aren’t you, Ellie?’

‘Wheeee!’ cried Ellie in reply, whizzing round again on the chair.

‘Thank you so much for this,’ said Andrew. ‘Are you sure you’ll be okay?’

Cat gave her best PR smile. ‘We’ll be fine, won’t we, kids?’ Neither answered.

Andrew kissed his sister on the cheek. ‘I owe you big time. Right, kids, come and give your dad a hug.’ Ellie flew to her father whilst Charlie remained rigid with arms folded. Andrew gave him a nudge. ‘Now listen, you two, you be good for Auntie Cat and I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?’

‘Okay, Daddy,’ said Ellie with an angelic smile.

Charlie buried his head in his father’s chest. Andrew sat down on the sofa and put an arm around him. ‘Hey, fella, it’s going to be okay. Auntie Cat will take care of you, like she used to take care of me, okay?’ Charlie nodded his head but didn’t look up. Andrew glanced at his watch. ‘Right, Daddy’s got to go and get his flight. I’ll see you all tomorrow, all right?’ said Andrew taking his leave.

‘All right, Daddy. I love you,’ said Ellie giving him a gap-toothed grin.

‘Love you too, princess.’

He ruffled Charlie’s hair and gave a final wave before disappearing out of sight. Cat, Ellie and Charlie stared at one another for a moment as the stunned realisation finally hit Cat that she was in charge. ‘So,’ she said trying not to betray the panic in her voice, ‘why don’t you play with whatever toys you’ve brought while I do some work?’

Ellie looked disappointed but sat down and started rummaging in her bag anyway. Charlie seemed happy with this instruction, his face furrowed with concentration as he settled into a game on his iPad. Cat breathed a sigh of relief and took a seat at her desk ready to work. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as bad as she feared.

Of course, having never really dealt with a six-year-old, Cat had little or no experience of the concept of boredom thresholds. Seven minutes later, Ellie tossed her sticker book to one side and sidled up to her brother. ‘What you doing?’ she asked.

‘Playing Minecraft.’

‘Can I watch?’

‘No.’ Charlie was used to his sister and knew how to deal with her intrusions. Ellie harrumphed and folded her arms. Charlie ignored her so Ellie had to look elsewhere for entertainment. She peered over at Cat who was ensconced in the task at hand. Ellie looked around the room and began to make a dripping tap noise with her mouth.

‘Stop it, Ellie, you’re being annoying,’ snapped Charlie.

Cat glanced over at her. Ellie took this as an immediate invitation. She wandered up to Cat’s desk. ‘What you doing?’

‘I’m working,’ said Cat not looking up, hoping that Ellie would take the hint. She didn’t.

‘Can I help?’ asked Ellie moving closer, making it impossible for Cat to move her mouse or type.

Cat did her best to keep her voice level. ‘Not really. Why don’t you go back and play, like Charlie?’

‘I don’t want to,’ said Ellie plainly.

Cat was stumped. She had no frame of reference for this. ‘Well what do you want to do?’

‘Play with you,’ said Ellie.

Cat felt desperate. ‘I’m sorry but I’ve got to work.’

‘Can I have a biscuit?’

‘Erm, I’m not sure if I’ve got any.’

‘You don’t have any biscuits?’

‘I’ve got an apple.’

Ellie scowled. ‘Can’t eat apples ’cos of my wobbly teeth,’ she said, opening her mouth and probing at a particularly unstable-looking front tooth with her tongue.

Cat winced. She was a practised problem solver but she had no idea how to make this small person stop demanding her attention or sharing her dental freakiness. ‘I could try and find you a biscuit,’ she offered desperately.