'Not a thing,' she assured him in a toneless voice.
CHAPTER SEVEN
'Daddy, you will look after poor Barker, won't you?'
'I've already promised I will.'
'Yes, but really?’
'Really. My word on it.'
It was time for Cindy and Adrian to go to the school camp in Cornwall but, on the morning of departure, Cindy had qualms about leaving her friend.
'He's not very well,' she explained for the tenth time. 'He was limping last night and I think his legs are hurting again.'
'Then I'll take him to the vet,' Garth assured her.
'This morning?'
'This morning.'
'You won't make him wait?'
'Cindy, get into the car!'
'But you won't make him wait, will you?'
'I won't make him wait.'
'You're sure?'
'I'm sure.'
'Sure sure?'
'Cindy, I'll take him to the vet.' Garth was beginning to sound frazzled.
'Promise?'
'Get into the car.'
'Promise?'
Garth tore his hair. 'I promise, I promise. Now, get into the car, both of you, or we'll be late and they'll go without you.'
But she couldn't depart without reassuring Barker that he would be all right because Daddy had promised.
'Cindy, I'm leaving in exactly one minute,' Garth said, at the end of his tether. 'With you or without you.'
Both children kissed Faye and scrambled into the car. As they drove away Faye was sure she could hear Cindy's voice faintly, saying, 'Daddy, you're sure you won't forget…?'
She enjoyed a private chuckle. As Garth had said, he was handling his task with subtlety. He'd even gone to watch Adrian playing football. His team had made it to the final of the inter-schools trophy and the whole family had been there for Adrian's big day.
Everyone had enjoyed it enormously, and when Cindy had kissed her father goodnight at the foot of the stairs she'd whispered, 'Thank you for coming, Daddy. You made it really special.'
'Hey, what about Mummy?' he'd queried. 'She was there too.'
'That's different. Mummy's always there.'
Faye had overheard this exchange from the kitchen and had come out, smiling quizzically at Garth.
'Don't take that the wrong way,' he'd said hastily.
'How should I take it?'
'She didn't mean to put you down.' Through his awkwardness she had detected the attempt at kindness.
'I didn't take it that way. Garth, Cindy has just said the nicest thing about me that any child can say about a parent. I promise you, I don't feel put down.'
'The nicest thing-?' She'd watched as comprehension dawned on his face. 'She said you're always there. Yes- yes, I see.' He'd sounded heavy, and she'd felt a stirring of pity for him. He was trying so hard, but something constantly eluded him.
Now it was the great day of departure for Cornwall. Garth returned from dropping off Cindy and Adrian, looking weary. 'I watched the coach go and Cindy was at the window, mouthing 'Barker' at me,' he said.
'Don't worry, I've called the vet. His appointment is in an hour.'
'Faye-actually-'
'I'll take him,' she said, smiling.
'Thanks. And by the way, before I go, will you make a date in your diary for next Monday, at noon? I'm having a press function for the anniversary range and I need you there.'
'You mean I've got to meet journalists and talk to them?'
'It's no big deal. It's not the proper launch. That will be on the exact date of our anniversary. This is a kind of teaser, to let the property press get a hint of what's in store. We'll have models of the houses on display. I'll give you some booklets about them in advance, so that you can discuss them knowledgeably.'
'I'm just kind of shy about being on show,' she demurred.
'But you promised to help me out,' he reminded her, 'and this is the sort of thing I need you to do.'
'Of course it is,' she said, pulling herself together. 'Don't worry, I'll turn up and do my stuff.'
'Great. And buy a new outfit. The best of everything.'
'So that when they look at me they'll say, 'Boy, must he be doing well if she can afford to dress like that!''
He grinned. 'You're developing a real talent for this.
Miss McGeorge examined Barker thoroughly and said his painkillers weren't quite strong enough. She prescribed some different pills and gave him the first one immediately. By that afternoon he was moving more easily and by early evening he was as mischievous as ever.
'I see he's back to normal,' Garth observed when he returned. 'Down, boy! This suit's just been cleaned.'
'The vet gave him stronger pills,' Faye said. 'I think they're doing the trick.'
'Good.'
'But it'll be a few days before we're certain. I've made another appointment-'
'You're doing a great job, Faye. Now, I've got a pile of work to get on with-'
'But you need to know all this. You're supposed to be caring for Barker.'
'Of course, and I promise you I'm taking it very seriously. But you can brief me later. Tell Nancy to bring me a snack in the study, will you?'
'But Cindy will-'
'By the way, I brought this home for you.' He handed her a thick folder. 'It'll tell you everything about the anniversary range.' He vanished.
Faye glared at his study door, then sighed. When she'd spoken to Nancy she returned to studying a list of traditional anniversary gifts.
'Paper after the first year,' she mused. 'He gave me a book that I'd been longing for. It was terribly expensive, and he starved himself to pay for it. The next year it was cotton and he gave me that lovely summer housecoat. The third year, leather-that was a shoulder bag-'
How his eyes had shone as he offered his gifts to her! How happy he'd been when she was pleased! She drew a breath and firmly dismissed the memory.
At last came the call from the children to say they'd arrived safely. Adrian told her all about the journey, before saying, 'Cindy's here and she-' His voice faded, there was a slight scuffle and Adrian hissed, 'Let me finish, you little brat.'
Then Cindy's voice. 'Hello, Mummy.'
'Hello, darling. Is it nice in camp?'
'It's super. Mummy, how's Barker? Did Daddy take him to the vet? What happened? Is he any better?'
'Just a minute.' Faye pressed a switch to connect the call to Garth's study, and walked in.
'Pick up the phone,' she said. 'Cindy wants to talk to you.'
She stayed there while he answered. She could tell that the little girl must have launched straight into her favourite topic. Garth became slightly defensive, while trying to sound in control.
'Yes, darling, of course I took- That is, Barker's been to the vet and he's much better- Well, because the vet
