Life Or Something Like It. Annie Lyons

because of coming to see Auntie Cat, aren’t you, Ellie?’

      ‘Wheeee!’ cried Ellie in reply, whizzing round again on the chair.

      ‘Thank you so much for this,’ said Andrew. ‘Are you sure you’ll be okay?’

      Cat gave her best PR smile. ‘We’ll be fine, won’t we, kids?’ Neither answered.

      Andrew kissed his sister on the cheek. ‘I owe you big time. Right, kids, come and give your dad a hug.’ Ellie flew to her father whilst Charlie remained rigid with arms folded. Andrew gave him a nudge. ‘Now listen, you two, you be good for Auntie Cat and I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?’

      ‘Okay, Daddy,’ said Ellie with an angelic smile.

      Charlie buried his head in his father’s chest. Andrew sat down on the sofa and put an arm around him. ‘Hey, fella, it’s going to be okay. Auntie Cat will take care of you, like she used to take care of me, okay?’ Charlie nodded his head but didn’t look up. Andrew glanced at his watch. ‘Right, Daddy’s got to go and get his flight. I’ll see you all tomorrow, all right?’ said Andrew taking his leave.

      ‘All right, Daddy. I love you,’ said Ellie giving him a gap-toothed grin.

      ‘Love you too, princess.’

      He ruffled Charlie’s hair and gave a final wave before disappearing out of sight. Cat, Ellie and Charlie stared at one another for a moment as the stunned realisation finally hit Cat that she was in charge. ‘So,’ she said trying not to betray the panic in her voice, ‘why don’t you play with whatever toys you’ve brought while I do some work?’

      Ellie looked disappointed but sat down and started rummaging in her bag anyway. Charlie seemed happy with this instruction, his face furrowed with concentration as he settled into a game on his iPad. Cat breathed a sigh of relief and took a seat at her desk ready to work. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as bad as she feared.

      Of course, having never really dealt with a six-year-old, Cat had little or no experience of the concept of boredom thresholds. Seven minutes later, Ellie tossed her sticker book to one side and sidled up to her brother. ‘What you doing?’ she asked.

      ‘Playing Minecraft.’

      ‘Can I watch?’

      ‘No.’ Charlie was used to his sister and knew how to deal with her intrusions. Ellie harrumphed and folded her arms. Charlie ignored her so Ellie had to look elsewhere for entertainment. She peered over at Cat who was ensconced in the task at hand. Ellie looked around the room and began to make a dripping tap noise with her mouth.

      ‘Stop it, Ellie, you’re being annoying,’ snapped Charlie.

      Cat glanced over at her. Ellie took this as an immediate invitation. She wandered up to Cat’s desk. ‘What you doing?’

      ‘I’m working,’ said Cat not looking up, hoping that Ellie would take the hint. She didn’t.

      ‘Can I help?’ asked Ellie moving closer, making it impossible for Cat to move her mouse or type.

      Cat did her best to keep her voice level. ‘Not really. Why don’t you go back and play, like Charlie?’

      ‘I don’t want to,’ said Ellie plainly.

      Cat was stumped. She had no frame of reference for this. ‘Well what do you want to do?’

      ‘Play with you,’ said Ellie.

      Cat felt desperate. ‘I’m sorry but I’ve got to work.’

      ‘Can I have a biscuit?’

      ‘Erm, I’m not sure if I’ve got any.’

      ‘You don’t have any biscuits?’

      ‘I’ve got an apple.’

      Ellie scowled. ‘Can’t eat apples ’cos of my wobbly teeth,’ she said, opening her mouth and probing at a particularly unstable-looking front tooth with her tongue.

      Cat winced. She was a practised problem solver but she had no idea how to make this small person stop demanding her attention or sharing her dental freakiness. ‘I could try and find you a biscuit,’ she offered desperately.

      ‘Ooh yay biscuits!’ cried Ellie, skipping around the room. Cat sighed and got up. ‘Can I come with you?’ asked her niece, leaping up and down.

      ‘All right. Would you like a biscuit, Charlie?’ The boy shook his head without looking up. ‘Right. Good. Biscuits,’ said Cat, making her way towards the kitchen. Ellie smiled and gave everyone they met a cheery hello. Jesse was making himself a coffee in the kitchen as they entered.

      ‘Hey, Kit Kat, how are you doing?’ He glanced at Ellie. ‘Wow, the interns are getting younger and younger.’

      Cat smiled. ‘This is my brother’s daughter, Ellie. He had a crisis and you know how I love a crisis.’

      Jesse laughed. ‘Rather you than me. Hello, little lady.’

      Ellie frowned at him. ‘Hello, big man.’

      He smiled and turned back to Cat. ‘So what about tonight’s dinner?’

      ‘Dan’s going. I’ve briefed him fully and he’s going to call me if there are any problems.’

      ‘Are you sure he can handle it? I would go but it’s Alex’s birthday and we’ve got reservations at Nobu.’

      ‘Who’s Alex? Is she your daughter?’ asked Ellie nosily. ‘What kind of cake is she having? I had a Frozen one for my last birthday. I love Frozen.’

      Cat ignored her niece. ‘It will be fine. Dan is our resident football expert and he speaks Spanish so he’s just the man to look after Alvarro.’

      ‘Are you sure?’

      ‘Trust me, the dinner is due to finish at ten and Alvarro will be tucked up in his hotel by eleven so that he’s all fresh and ready for the launch tomorrow.’ Unimpressed by being ignored, Ellie had decided to make her own fun and was currently experimenting with the water cooler. ‘Ellie, what are you doing?’ cried Cat as water seeped slowly across the kitchen floor.

      Ellie took a step to one side and put down the cup. ‘Somebody spilt that,’ she said innocently.

      ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ said Jesse.

      Cat grabbed handfuls of paper towels in a bid to soak up the mess. Ellie watched her with interest. ‘Can I have that biscuit now, please?’

      Exasperated, Cat found the biscuit tin. ‘Just take it!’ she said.

      Ellie eyed her suspiciously. ‘There’s no need to be so cross,’ she said, taking the tin and leaving the kitchen. ‘It was just an accident.’

      Cat took a deep breath and did her best to clear up the mess. She made a strong pot of coffee and carried it back to her office. Charlie was exactly where she had left him, shoulders hunched, eyes glazed as he played his game. Ellie, on the other hand, had made herself comfortable at Cat’s desk and was talking to someone on the phone.

      ‘Ellie, give me the phone now!’ cried Cat in a panic.

      Ellie looked up in surprise and passed the phone without a word. She skulked back to her seat and began unhappily shovelling biscuits into her mouth.

      ‘Hello?’ said Cat into the phone.

      ‘Cat? It’s Will. What the hell is going on? Was that a child answering your phone?’

      Cat’s stomach sank. ‘Sorry, Will, it was just my niece and – ’

      ‘I don’t want to hear it, Cat. I was phoning to check we’re okay for tonight and tomorrow.’

      ‘Absolutely.’

      ‘Are you sure? Because I’m starting to get concerned.’

      ‘You