3. Now

‘Mum!' Jenna's hand is on my arm. I look down and look up and slam on the brakes. I'm about to go careening past the turn-off for Port Emblyn School. The car tilts slightly as I make the right turn and Jenna shakes her head, tutting, turning away.

I bite the side of my cheek. Focus, Frances. No one needs to die today.

Someone played some weird pranks on me. So what?

I lost my job? I'll find a new one.

My husband is cheating? Well, we'll see who ends up on the wrong side of that.

I'm a fighter. You wouldn't think it. I smile a lot and see the good in everyone and I'm a great listener, but underneath it all I'm tough. I've had to be.

At least, that's what I'm thinking as I pull up to the grand school entrance and my heart stops before I register what I'm seeing.

I try to breathe, but I can't.

Standing just outside the open gates is a woman in an immaculate white skirt suit greeting the flood of children. She has a short, dark fringe that's slightly wonky and bright-red lipstick.

It feels like someone has driven a spike through my chest and pinned me dead against my seat.

The woman's lips curl into a smile and the warmth of it beams from her, but it turns my blood to ice.

She looks like an angel. No one could ever guess what lies beneath.

‘Who's that?' I ask.

Jenna squints out and zips up her backpack. ‘Who… Miss Smith?'

Miss Smith. I grip the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turn white.

‘She's great,' says Jenna, opening the door. ‘Kind of perfect, actually.'

I never thought she'd come back.

‘Mum?'

I never thought I'd have to see her again.

‘Mother?'

I snap a smile on my face. ‘Okay, love, have a nice day!'

Jenna mumbles something and slams the door.

I notice, as Jenna approaches the gates, that Miss Smith gives her a wide-mouthed grin. I do notice that. But I'm too busy keeping the smile on my own face, thinking, It's fine, everything is fine, on repeat, to think much about it. To think much about anything at all.