Zara Stoneley - Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage

How could George recommend Langtry Meadows Primary School to be the next closure, after the nostalgic reminder of his childhood? As guest of honour George had excelled himself, his speech had been longer than a presidential inauguration, and had definitely made prolific use of the word ‘great’.

‘I rather thought we should invite him back to the school nativity, and ask him to switch on the lights if nobody has an objection? Keep him in the loop, as it were.’

‘Nativity?’ Lucy hissed to Jill who had a broad smile on her face.

‘Oh you’re going to love Christmas. But don’t worry about donkeys and the rest of the mayhem yet, we’ve got this half term and Ofsted to get through first.’

Which sounded ominous. ‘Donkeys?’

‘And cows.’

‘Right ho.’ Timothy clapped his hands together. ‘Let’s smash it.’

‘Smash it?’ Lucy raised an eyebrow at Jill as they made their way to the door.

Jill grinned. ‘He’s been spending too much time with his nephews over the summer. He’ll be high fiving us next and telling us how many Pokémon he’s caught. Don’t worry he’ll be back to normal within a couple of weeks.’

Lucy rather hoped he’d be back to normal by tomorrow, before the Ofsted team arrived.

Five minutes after they’d got to the classroom, the first of the children started to run in – hot and excited from running about in the sun, and within a further two minutes the head scratching began.

‘Looks like we’ve got little visitors.’ Lucy pulled a face at Jill. ‘Not only have we got bring-your-pet-in day tomorrow, we’ve also got head-lice now. Just what every Ofsted inspector likes to see.’ She automatically reached a hand up to scratch her own head. They definitely weren’t a welcome addition to her classroom.

Jill laughed. ‘I thought I saw one or two of them scratching earlier, but didn’t like to say. I think we’ve got more livestock in Langtry Meadows Primary School than there is in Charlie D’s waiting room.’

Lucy shook her head. ‘I’ll ask Liz to write a letter to the parents.’

‘Talking of Charlie,’ Jill watched as Maisie was escorted to her seat by Rosie, who seemed to have taken her under her wing, ‘is that man really going to let Josie waltz straight back in and take his daughter away from him again?’

Lucy frowned. Hoping the villagers wouldn’t speculate about the return of Charlie’s daughter had been a bit unrealistic. The daughter he’d kept a secret. The daughter his ex had said wasn’t his. She didn’t know how far that last nugget of information had spread, but she really hoped that it wasn’t a topic of conversation in the village shop.

She shook her head. ‘I hope not, I don’t think he’s going to give up without a fight, but who knows what will happen when she comes back from her travels. If she’s not his daughter though, will he have much say in the matter?’

‘He doesn’t know yet? He hasn’t had a DNA test?’

‘Nope, he says she’s his, whatever.’ It worried her, and she knew that it worried Charlie. He’d always been wary of Josie and her intentions, and they hung over them, a threatening black cloud.

‘Miss, Miss, I’ve just found a nit on Rosie’s head.’

‘And what are you doing messing with Rosie’s hair, Ted?’ Jill made her way over to the children and Lucy clapped her hands to get their attention.

‘Right, who is bringing in a pet tomorrow? Hands up!’

‘Guess what?’ Sally beamed, and actually did a happy dance on the doorstep when Lucy opened the cottage door. Sally, Charlie’s receptionist and right hand woman, was like that. She was unfailingly friendly and breezy in the vets (but always professional), and fun outside of it.

She’d also been the first person that Lucy had properly talked to when she’d moved to Langtry Meadows the previous spring, the person that had dragged her out of her new home and into the community. That made it sound like she was part of a rehabilitation programme, which in a way was true. A few months in Langtry Meadows had given her a new lease of life.

Sally didn’t wait for a response. She grabbed Lucy in a hug. ‘Piper is ready to come home!’

‘No!’ Lucy shrieked, peering round Sally to see if the puppy was actually with her, then pulled herself together. ‘Sorry, sorry, come in.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ve not got her with me, the weekend seemed a better idea. Look, I know you’ve only just gone back to work, Loo, but that’s a bit of an extreme reaction!’ Sally grinned and gave her friend another hug. ‘Bad start to the school year?’

‘No, well yes. We’ve got nits.’

Sally giggled. ‘At least it isn’t fleas.’

‘And it’s bring-a-pet-to-school day tomorrow.’ Lucy put her hands on her head, feeling like her brain was about to boil over.

‘Piece of cake when you’re used to herding Annie’s lot. What are you worrying about girl? I think a glass of wine is in order.’ She started to steer Lucy towards the kitchen.

‘I can’t drink!’

That got Sally’s attention. ‘You’re pregnant!’

‘No I’m not bloody pregnant.’ Lucy couldn’t help it, she laughed, then shook her head. ‘Nutter. It’s worse. We’ve got Ofsted tomorrow.’

‘Ofsted and bring-a-pet-to-school? You definitely need a drink. Chill, you’ve got this, you spent half the summer break preparing for all eventualities. I’ve seen the colour coded spreadsheets.’

‘There isn’t any kind of colour coding to cope with Ofsted and animals at the same time.’ She frowned and peered at Sally as the comment sank in. ‘I’m not that anal am I?’

‘You are, but we all love you for it.’ Sally put an arm round her shoulders and handed her a far too big glass of wine.

If she drank all that she’d be as entertaining tomorrow as one of the worms that little Ted liked to keep in his trouser pockets.

‘I promised to take a pet in as well.’ Lucy sank down on one of the kitchen chairs. ‘Though heaven knows what. Gertie will chase any inspectors off the premises, no way can I take a fat pony, so Mischief is ruled out. The chickens are total hooligans, and Tigger the cat will have a field day if any of the kids take in fish, mice or hamsters.’ Which was what she hoped most of them would take in, anything bigger could be calamitous.

‘How about Pork-chop? He’s got a harness, and he’s cute.’

The pig was quite cute, she had to admit it, and he spent a lot of time just grunting and sitting down, which was a definite bonus.

‘Hell, I’m being pathetic.’ She looked up. ‘It just feels like there’s still so much at stake, we need an outstanding from Ofsted, and then we’ll be completely in the clear.’

Sally shook her head. ‘Totally pathetic.’

‘Sally!’

She fought a losing battle to keep a straight face. ‘It’s okay, you’re allowed to have moments of weakness. It makes you more human.’

‘What do you mean, more human?’

Sally flung her arms round her in reply, and squeezed. ‘Less perfect.’

‘I’m not per—’

‘We all like to see other people lose it a bit now and again, you know weep, explode, scream.’ Sally shrugged. ‘You keep it in most of the time.’ She tutted. ‘Not fair.’

‘You’re mad.’ Which made two of them. She had all this to cope with, and she’d agreed to have a dog?

‘At least Piper’s stopped being sick now. We can keep her until Friday for you, she’s no bother.’ Sally grinned, as though she’d read her mind. ‘Anyhow, I hear you should be celebrating. Charlie says you’ve sold your house and found a new one.’

‘I’ve got an offer, I’ve not said …’