The Misadventures of a Playground Mother Read Online Free Page B

his split with the delightful Camilla, due to her adulterous ways with the gentleman named Elvis from the local eatery last year, the Farrier had moved out of the family home he had shared with her, and resided in a rented property not too far from the village.
    That property was nothing special; it was a flat, a bachelor pad. The décor lacked a homely feel with its dull grey and black colour scheme and brown shag pile carpet which no doubt had seen more than its fair share of action over the years. It required a woman’s touch but it was a temporary stopgap until their family home was sold. It was simply somewhere to lay his head away from the drama of his marriage breakup.
    â€˜It will make life easier for me if I move back to the village as I’m looking after my daughter Rosie on my own now; at least this way she can remain at the same school and have a permanent home now her mother has also gone.’ explained the Farrier. I knew Rosie; she was the same age as Samuel, and in his class at school.
    Had I just heard him right? I felt my hangover completely lift as I drained the last remaining traces of Malibu out of the tumbler; did he just say Camilla Noland had left the village?
    Sitting upright, ‘Wait, did you say Camilla has left the village?’ I asked.
    â€˜Yes, the silly woman has accumulated enormous debts from her saddlery business that was linked to the mortgage. She took care of all the financial arrangements when we were together.’
    Gosh, that was certainly unlucky for the Farrier, who wouldn’t receive any financial benefit from that situation. Things couldn’t get much worse for him at the moment.
    It would seem that the bailiffs lacked festive spirit and had hammered on her door the day after Boxing Day. They had stripped the house of all her belongings and reclaimed the property. The lady of the manor had well and truly fallen on hard times.
    At school, her false, doting mother routine that she liked to put on in front of the teachers and headmistress did not fool anyone. She would ostentatiously smother Rosie in kisses and boast about her private violin tuition and drama lessons. Yet it was a known fact that Camilla hadn’t turned up at any school functions since Rosie started at primary school. It wouldn’t surprise anyone that Camilla had no qualms in abandoning their only daughter on the Farrier’s rented doorstep with a note scribbled, ‘Rosie’s all yours.’ It was suggested Camilla had ridden off on the back of her horse without a second thought about anyone or anything but of course she had driven off in her car with very few possessions to her name.
    It had only been a few hours since the body of the Frisky Pensioner had been removed and we had already become acquainted with our new neighbours – The Farrier and his only daughter Rosie, who was currently enjoying herself at a friend’s birthday party.
    Suddenly I heard the front door open and we were hit by a blast of freezing cold air. We looked up to find a tear-stricken Penelope standing in front of us.
    It had only been a few hours since Rupert had returned home to make peace with his wife and judging by the look on her face it hadn’t gone too well.
    The Farrier was up and out of his chair faster than a horse racing in the Grand National and took this opportunity to scarper back to his new home, as she announced, ‘I’ve left him, I’ve finally left Rupert.’

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    P enelope looked exhausted and not at her best, as might be expected under the circumstances. She plonked herself down on the warm chair; the same one that the Farrier had just vacated. I anticipated an interrogation on why the Farrier was visiting me on my birthday but surprisingly she was preoccupied and no questions were asked.
    Matt popped his head around the door to see who it was and then swiftly decided to retreat to the playroom with the children. He rolled his eyes when he saw it was a