The Accidental Mother Read Online Free PDF Page B

in tears. She’d put her hand up, told the teacher she needed to go to the girls’ room, and walked right out of school and run after Sophie.
    “Don’t tell me you’ve finally got yourself expelled,” she’d said to Sophie when she caught up with her. Sophie had dissolved into tears and told her what happened. She remembered the feeling of Carrie’s arm around her shoulders for the rest of the walk home until she’d stopped at last outside the front door. The dogs had started barking.
    “I could come in,” Carrie had offered.
    Sophie had shaken her head. “No, I think I have to go in on my own,” she’d said, wishing she didn’t have to. “But thanks.”
    “Look,” Carrie had said. “I know it’s not the same, I know you love your dad and I hate mine, and that your dad is dead and mine ran off with the neighbor and made my mum go mental, but…well, I do sort of understand a bit. I know what it feels like losing your dad. Even though mine’s a bastard and yours was great.” She’d paused for a moment. “You realize that now there are two fatherless only children at a Catholic school. I’m not the weirdest one anymore!” Incredibly, Carrie’s stumbled attempt at words of comfort had made Sophie almost smile. Whereas other people would stifle her with sympathy and sensitivity, Carrie had done the one thing that had made life bearable. She had made Sophie laugh and let her forget for a few minutes every now and then that her dad had dropped dead of a heart attack at a gas station without any warning at all. Carrie had let Sophie be angry, let her cry, let her talk about boys, clothes, and cry again if she wanted to.
    “I’m glad I’ve got you, Carrie,” Sophie had said as her mum opened the front door, and the girls had hugged each other for a long time, until eventually Sophie knew she had to go in.
    “I’m here for you,” Carrie said. “Always, forever, whatever.”
    “I know,” Sophie said. “Me too. Always, forever, whatever.”
    Sophie hadn’t thought of that moment for years, but now that she did, she could remember exactly how it had felt and exactly how much strength the unwavering friendship of a thirteen-year-old girl had given her. “Always, forever, whatever.” It was something the girls had said to each other daily, until they’d almost stopped thinking about what it really meant. But when it had mattered, Carrie had been there for Sophie, supporting her through the very worst time of her life. Sophie had been waiting a long time to return the favor. Self-assured, stubborn Carrie, tired and embarrassed by all the handouts she and her mother had received from well-meaning church members after her dad left, had prided herself on never asking anyone for help. She’d never needed help—until now.
    “How long?” Sophie said, not quite believing what she was thinking of agreeing to.
    “Pardon?” Tess said, clearly expecting a flat refusal.
    “How long until you get hold of the father?” Sophie asked her.
    Sensing fragile progress, Tess pursed her lips and made a professional judgment. It was important she didn’t lose her now. “Well, like I say, Social Services has only been involved for a few weeks. Mrs. Stiles tried to get by on her own for as long as she could—But now we have the case, I don’t think it will be long. A week maybe—two at the most?”
    Sophie considered the information. “Two weeks—okay then. For Carrie. She would have done it for me. I wouldn’t let the girls get split up, I couldn’t. So I’ll take them for two weeks, as long you promise to move heaven and earth to make more suitable arrangements at the end of that time.”
    “I will,” Tess said, lifting her chin a little.
    Absently, Sophie touched the cool back of her hand to her blazing face. It was always the first part, actually the only part of her to show visible signs of stress. She could tame it and hide it with concealer, but she always resented the fact that she couldn’t