Short and Sweet by Anna Jacobs

dolphins were back playing together. Water slapped gently against the two jetties and seagulls circled, hoping to snatch something from the dolphins. Their cries were so much harsher than the ones in Europe.
    ‘Aren’t the dolphins lovely?’ the child asked, taking her hand and smiling.
    They watched the dolphins herd the fish to the canal wall. Silver shapes twisted and leaped out of the water, trying to avoid being caught, while a pelican hovered nearby, ready to snatch any stunned fish that came close enough.
    Sara rang the hospital at eight o’clock and the nurse said, ‘Ah, yes. Mr Barraby is awake and asking for you to bring in his daughter. Shall I transfer you?’
    She didn’t want to risk being overheard. ‘No. Just tell him Kerry’s fine and we’ll both be there in an hour or so.’
    He was in a private room and she hesitated by the door as Kerry ran across to hug him. He still looked pale and when he thanked Sara for looking after his daughter, it was obviously an effort.
    She remembered from her own accident how the anaesthetic lingered and how dopey she’d felt.
    A nurse came up to them. ‘Ah, your wife is here.’ He didn’t bother to explain that she wasn’t his wife and when Sara looked at him in puzzlement, he put one finger to his lips and looked at her pleadingly.
    Not till the nurse had left them did he say, ‘I wonder if I can ask you to look after Kerry for a day or two, Ms King, just until I can hire someone to housekeep for us while I’m incapacitated?’
    ‘Of course.’
    As he hesitated, his daughter said, ‘I’ve told Sara about Mum and the social workers.’
    ‘Ah.’ He looked at her anxiously.
    ‘I quite understand your position and it doesn’t make any difference to me. I’d love to have her. She’s been no trouble and I’m enjoying having company.’ Sara saw him relax visibly.
    ‘Thank you, Ms King. Um – you don’t go out to work?’
    ‘Do call me Sara. Like you, I work from home. I’m an editor.’
    She didn’t take offence at him asking a few more questions. It was only natural he’d be worried about his daughter living with a stranger.
    After a few minutes, however, she could see him getting drowsy, so she took Kerry away, promising to return that evening.
    Sara quickly realized that Kerry was older than her years; used to being with adults; quiet in her play. They visited the hospital for the next two days and when John was ready to come home, they made him up a bed in her living room for the first few days.
    ‘I can get up the stairs at my place if I take my time,’ he protested. ‘You’ve done enough, looking after Kerry.’
    ‘I’ve enjoyed her company. I’ve been on my own for a while now.’
    But as soon as he could, he moved back, hiring a housekeeper to come in every morning.
    She missed them when they moved back into their own home, but the housekeeper didn’t do shopping and, once again, he was wary of asking help from any government service.
    ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake!’ she said in the end. ‘I’ll do the shopping, with Kerry’s help. How hard is that? I have to go shopping for myself, you know.’
    ‘Oh. Well. Thank you very much.’ His stiffness vanished and he gave her a genuine smile. ‘I’m so grateful. I don’t know what I’d have done without your help.’
    ‘That’s all right. People helped me a lot after the accident. It’s good to pay something back to the universe.’
    She enjoyed the shopping expeditions, which were punctuated by Kerry’s instructions.
    No, Daddy hates that cereal!
    Oh, but we always have this sort.
    He never eats bananas. They’re too squishy.
    Because John was still on crutches, Sara had to drive them to the shops to buy the school uniform and other equipment for Kerry. And since the child had clearly grown a lot recently, they had to buy some casual clothes too.
    She found herself advising the little girl about clothes and hair, smiling at John about Kerry’s strong views on what was cool and