11. Tough love

“How are things with Marco?” Colin was still off sick and Molly was filling in for him again. She hadn’t had a return visit from Liz so things probably hadn’t got worse at least.

“Good. Much better actually. We had a talk and I’m going to help him find a girlfriend and if you’re right and I start wanting a boyfriend he’ll help me out. Everyone likes Marco so I probably got the better end of the deal.”

“You worked out what was bothering you then?”

“Yes it was my sister’s tall tales turning me on making me expect everything to be sexier and more exciting then it really is. She really does talk a lot of nonsense but it’s always super sexy nonsense. Once I figured out what was winding me up it doesn’t really have the effect anymore. That hasn’t stopped her trying ever harder though.”

“A strange thing for her to do”, Molly said.

Liz shrugged. “According to my slut sister, last weekend she had sex, naked, outdoors, standing up, in front of a dozen people, with the husband of one of the teachers.”

“That’s a pretty unlikely story,” Molly admitted.

“Pretty unlikely! It’s absolutely unbelievable. Then she says that Stephanie Valek, from the block opposite ours, was secretly watching her. Stephanie Valek who’s father keeps her and her mother on such a short leash it’s amazing she comes to school at all. Spying on Emma having sex with the husband of a teacher at some house in the middle of nowhere. It’s bull and I told her so. She shouldn’t make up that kind of thing.”

“She most certainly shouldn’t spread it around,” Molly agreed. “I’ll have a word with her.”

“Thank you Mrs Baxter. You won’t tell her that I told you.”

“I’ll leave you out of it as much as I can. I think Emma’s tall tales will dry up pretty sharpish once I’ve spoken to her. Just don’t encourage her to start up again when you miss the buzz of that turned on feeling.”

“I...”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about Liz. I was where you are not so long ago.”

“Yes Mrs Baxter.”

She’d been where Emma was too but the girl would still need a scolding. She surely must have been expecting one the meek way she showed up at Molly’s office later that day.

“Take a seat.” Emma sat in the edge of the large chair fiddling with her skirt and looking down. “You’re eighteen dear. Sit up straight and make me believe you’re a grown woman or this will be a lot worse than it needs to be.”

Emma tried but the squirminess was still there. What were you told when you joined the Saturday club about keeping it to yourself?