Читать книгу The Doctor's Longed-for Bride - Judy Campbell, Judy Campbell - Страница 9

FROM THE CAR park Frankie looked across the school playing fields to the knot of people waiting to see their children take part in the sports day. She hadn’t felt like coming that afternoon—the post had brought several brochures about wedding venues that she’d sent off for several weeks ago and now, of course, they wouldn’t be needed. That peculiar lost feeling of rejection kept coming over her in waves.

She stumped crossly over the field, glancing up at a threatening-looking sky with dark clouds massing up over the town. Her heart melted, however, when she saw Abby, standing in a line with several other children, all looking slightly overawed by the occasion of sports day. Abby was a little taller but otherwise she hadn’t changed much, her curly hair framing a sweet little face. It was lovely to see Abby again and, after all, she hadn’t planned anything else for the afternoon.

Frankie glanced across at Jack, his tall figure making him easy to recognize. It would be good to feel, well, almost part of a family, cheering Abby on and showing an interest in her. Bringing up a little girl by himself must be hard—no one to share in the pleasure and delight of his child when she achieved little milestones, or to worry with him when she was ill. Abby wasn’t surprised that Jack had moved to be nearer his parents.

Frankie watched Abby’s anxious little face as she scanned the onlookers, making sure that her father was there. Somehow she looked very vulnerable, slightly lost. She wondered if the child would remember her after so many months without seeing her, but suddenly Abby spotted Frankie walking at them and a big smile lit her face. She waved her hand towards Frankie and turned to the child next to her, pointing over to the watching adults. Her clear little voice wafted over to Frankie above the murmur of noise around her.

‘That’s Frankie!’

‘Who’s Frankie?’ the little friend asked.

Frankie saw Abby flick a glance towards her again and then explained earnestly, ‘She’s a person that used to help look after me—she’s like a mummy.’

The other child nodded. ‘I see. She’s instead of a Mummy, is she?’

Frankie forgot her morning’s frustration in her pleasure that Abby should remember her so well after so many months, although she couldn’t help being slightly embarrassed that Abby should think of her as a mother-figure! She glanced at Jack to see if he had heard, but he was talking to his parents and seemed unaware of his daughter’s comments. He looked up as Frankie approached, and his face lit up, changing his reserved look and making him look younger and less austere.

‘Glad you managed to come, Frankie. Abby will be delighted. Can I introduce you to my mother and father—Brian and Sheila Herrick?’