After a couple of weeks of relative peace and tranquillity at Chalton Manor, Jess made the decision to move the girls into the adjoining bedroom. Leila had had no recurrence of her nightmare and, for her own sake, she needed to get more sleep simply so she could function properly. The two rooms had a connecting door that she could leave open at night, so she’d always be on hand, and she’d be able to decorate the girls’ new room in a style more suitable for children, with no hard objects. Despite her express intention to move, she couldn’t tell how long that might take and judged that the money spent on the conversion was worthwhile, even for the limited time they had left.
The girls loved their new private space, with new beds and soft furnishings, pink carpet and curtains and wallpaper illustrated with their favourite cartoon characters. They continued to share the en-suite bathroom, but the new arrangement gave Jess some breathing space, the girls a new and exciting place to stay and their first taste of independence. Despite this, and in the early days, Leila often slipped back into Jess’s bed during the night, but as time wore on, the frequency diminished.
Sandy’s eighteen-year-old daughter Keira was drafted in to provide childcare from time to time while Jess took driving lessons, and she quickly passed her test. By the end of August, a brand new Range Rover stood in the drive of Chalton Manor. Jess had been aghast at the cost, but Michael assured her she could easily afford it and it meant she could trade in Peter’s old Land Rover in part exchange. Emma had convinced her that, despite its size, it was a sensible choice and offered maximum protection for her family.
The car proved to be most liberating and they were able to go anywhere and do anything by themselves, without resorting to help from others. Above all, life appeared to have taken on a semblance of routine and normality that Jess had not known since Peter had died. She knew her next challenge would be to cope with the transition that came with the children’s schooling.
She could not have been more wrong.