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Ava sighed. “I’ve been debating whether or not to bring this up, but as Alice’s class teacher I really feel like I have to.”

“Bringing what up?” Hope could feel prickles rising on the back of her neck, could feel anger building in her stomach.

“You are… very protective of Alice.”

“She’s my daughter.”

“I know that, and a certain amount of protection is necessary. But perhaps you’re going a little too far.”

Hope took a breath, trying to calm herself. “Meaning?”

Ava looked at her steadily. “I see the way you talk about her father, and how you feel about her father taking more responsibility with Alice. Something that could be good for a young child, but something you feel Alice shouldn’t have. I sense that perhaps you have trouble… sharing Alice, in a way that might not necessarily benefit her.”

“Sharing Alice? Sharing my daughter? She’s a person, not a pizza,” said Hope.

“A bad choice of words,” said Ava. She held up both hands. “I’ve offended you and that wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Hope was angry but knew that letting that anger out would be a mistake. “It’s none of your business.”

Ava inclined her head. “Right.”

“So, is that it? We’re done here?”

“Unless there’s anything else you’d like to know about Alice’s progress, which, again, is excellent.”

“No, I think I know my daughter better than you do.”

“Obviously.”

Hope crossed her arms and Ava stood up. “Well then, I suppose we can leave.”

“Fine.” Hope went to get her jacket from the cupboard.

She waited as Ava collected her bag and then locked the classroom door and then they both went out into the playground.

Ava paused at the school gate.

“Arguing is a lot easier when you get to storm off,” she said. “In this case, we’re neighbors. Would you like me to wait for a few minutes and let you get ahead of me?”

Hope stared at her for a long moment and then started to laugh. She couldn’t help it. The idea of Ava following her home like a lost dog was funny. “No,” she said. “No, not necessary.”

Ava smiled. “Good. I didn’t want to walk home alone.”

They began to walk side by side down the lane. Hope swallowed. “I do get a little over-protective at times,” she admitted, not liking the way the words sounded but knowing they were true.

“You’re a mother, you have every right to be,” said Ava.

“Maybe.” She thought about Caz dating again, thought about the way it made her feel to know that her mother had missed out on things because of her. “But maybe I could try to be a little better about that.”

“It’s none of my business,” Ava said.

“Right,” said Hope.

And they walked the rest of the way home in silence.

Chapter Eighteen

All day, Ava watched Hope with the children. She was good with them, kind and patient, good in a way that Ava wasn’t sure she could mimic.