Page 70 of The Dead Ex

Then she told Dee about what Mum had said about coming out and how she wassoexcited but also scared about where they would live.

‘I’ll miss you,’ she said suddenly.

Dee’s eyes were wet. ‘I’ll miss you too, love. But we’ll always keep in touch.’

‘Promise?’

‘Promise.’

A few days later, the visitor arrived.

‘What’s going on?’ Scarlet demanded, herbody shivery with frightened goosebumps.

She was sitting at the kitchen table with Dee and Robert and a different social worker from the one who normally took her to see Mum in the prison. This was, they’d explained, an ‘emergency conference’. Usually, they had a weekly ‘family meeting’ (as Dee called it) to talk about stuff like homework or tidying her room or ‘any other issues’. The best bitwas that there was always a home-made chocolate or Victoria sponge cake with warm jam oozing out.

But today there were plain biscuits and a scary feeling in the air that caught in her throat.

The social worker answered.

‘I’m afraid that your mother has done something very wrong.’

Scarlet felt a sharp blast of cold running through her, even though it was really hot in the kitchen. ‘What?’

‘I’m not allowed to say.’

‘Butyouknow.’

‘Yes …’

Scarlet wriggled uncomfortably in her special kitchen chair with her name on the back. Dee had stencilled it on in blue letters soon after she’d come here, and even though it seemed a bit childish now, she loved it. ‘So why can’t you tell me?’

‘It’s best that you don’t know.’

This was Robert.

‘How can you say that? You’re not my real parents.’

‘But we are your foster parents and we’ve known each other a very long time. Now listen, Scarlet –’

‘Robert! Don’t raise your voice like that. You’re upsetting her.’

‘I’m just trying to create some order here.’

‘The point is, Scarlet,’ continued the social worker, ‘that your mother isn’t going to be released now for at least five years – and that’s only if she behaves herself.’

‘But she promisedme,’ whispered Scarlet. ‘They’re going to find us somewhere to live, and we’re going to be together.’

‘She did something bad in prison again, Scarlet. I’m sorry. But that’s the way it is.’

This was her fault! It was because she’d been nervous about Mum coming out. She’d jinxed everything. ‘If you’re wondering what will happen to you, love, it’s all right.’ Dee was taking her hand. ‘You can carryon living with us.’

There was a crash. Scarlet hadn’t meant to throw her chair to the ground. But there it was. One of the legs had broken. It felt as though someone else had done it.

‘I don’t want to live with you any more. I only want Mum.’

The social worker’s voice was clipped. ‘We need to think about your best interests.’

‘Exactly.’ Scarlet felt her scream rise into the air. ‘That’s whywe need to be together. When can I visit her?’