Casey Watson - Skin Deep, Part 3 of 3: All she wanted was a mummy, but was she too ugly to love?

I woke up on the Monday morning freezing. I realised Mike must have forgotten to put the heating on before setting off for work and it was so chilly that when I looked out of the bedroom window I half expected to see a blanket of snow.

There wasnt, but for early November it was a bitterly cold day and I decided Id let the house warm up for half an hour before waking Tyler up for school, and went down to make my ritual morning coffee using the lightest of fairy footsteps. Most of all, I didnt want to wake Flip.

It was perhaps only to be expected but it was still incredibly dispiriting to deal with the nightmare she had been all weekend. Shed lost the plot Megans plot in spectacular fashion, and, despite my trying every trick in the book to bring her down again, the pair of us ended up spending almost the entirety of the much-looked-forward-to fireworks party holed up in her bedroom, with her completely inconsolable; even Tyler, who could work wonders with her, couldnt coax her out. Not even with a full-frontal assault (hed been ably coached by Mike) about how terrible it would be for him, Levi, Jackson and Marley-Mae if she did leave.

Things barely improved over the weekend. It was as if a button had been pressed in her brain and had now been stuck in the on position, or as if she was a record with the needle stuck in a groove. Shell die and itll be your fault! was her default expression, and when she wasnt railing at us she was screaming, the piercing high-pitched noise that we had half-forgotten but were now remembering with a vengeance.

I had also returned to being Mummy Casey, rather than Mummy. It was as if she was anxious to find every way possible to underline her point that she shouldnt be here any more and, to that end, Mike had similarly become Daddy Mike.

Not even the little ones normally so good at it had been able to deflect her from her anger, when Riley had agreed to come over with them on the Saturday afternoon. Shed broken toys, been horrible to Jackson, shouted at Marley-Mae, and smacked Levi and stormed to her room. If wed had a cat, shed have kicked it, no question.

It was such a full-on masterclass in how not to win friends and influence people that by Sunday afternoon Id begun to think she was more focused than she appeared. That she wanted us all to hate her so wed feel more inclined to let her go.

Coffee soothing my troubled soul well, firing up my cylinders, which amounted to the same thing I pondered as I popped two slices of bread in the toaster, ready for Tyler. If that was Flips intention, it wouldnt work, but it did make me sad. Id seen it before: kids with self-esteem issues brought about through desperate, loveless childhoods often acted in ways designed to turn people away from them, almost as if anxious to confirm that they werent worthy of love and were right in their persistent self-loathing. Thats why one of the things that was always drummed into us during training was the need to be mindful every second of the day to punish the behaviour, not the person; thats a naughty thing to do, rather than you naughty girl.

I tiptoed back up the stairs, carefully using the edges of the treads, like an assassin, but my hopes for another hour of peace (she must, after all, be shattered) were quickly dashed. I could hear her talking. In fact, I could hear her and Tyler talking. He must have gone into her bedroom. So, like an assassin, I grabbed the unexpected opportunity to gather intelligence, and stood still on the top step and listened.

Course I belong here, Tyler was saying, with an edge of defiance in his voice. Im just like one of their real kids. Its like Im adopted or something. There was a pause. Then he lowered his voice very slightly. I might even change my name to Watson, he added. Stop being so ridiculous, Flip. You know they love you too.

No they dont! Flip snapped back at him. They dont love me. No way. You dont know nothing. They kidnapped me and now they wont let me home.

Oh, for Gods sake! Tyler hissed. I told you. Thats rubbish. Anyway, howd that work? Whyd they kidnap you if you say they dont love you? How does that work? That makes absolutely no sense!

Youre the stupid one! Flip huffed. Cos of the money! I told you! If they keep me they get all the money off my mummy! They get the money she should have. And now shell starve to death! There was a low thud perhaps Flip jumping down off the bed. They probly kidnapped you as well. Thats what they do!

Tyler laughed out loud. Christ, he said. What are you on? Another pause. A creak of bedsprings. Was Tyler going to emerge? Look, Flip. I get what youre thinking, but your mum is talking bollocks. I know you dont want to hear it, but shes no good for you, Flip. I mean dont pull that face. You know what shes like. Youre the one that told me! An I know what youre talking about because my step-mum was a bitch. I heard his sigh. Flip, honestly. Trust me. You havent been kidnapped. Youre staying here with Mike and Casey for your own good. And Ill tell you something else, he added. I felt just the same as you do. I hated everyone. Trusted no one. Thought everyone was out to get me. But theyre not. Casey and Mike only ever wanted to look after me. And youre an idiot if you dont realise theyre looking after you too. So stop being so horrible and Ow! That hurt! bloody grow up!

I swallowed the lump in my throat, conscious that either of them might appear at any moment. Especially if Flip had launched herself on Tyler, as sounded probable. He was patient, but not that patient. I needed to intervene.

I rounded the corner of the landing and pushed Flips bedroom door open. Morning, Flip! I said brightly. Youre awake bright and early! Then, turning to Tyler, who was already dressed for school, Oh, youre in here as well, love. I was wondering where youd got to. Ready for your breakfast?

He glanced at Flip with an expression that Id translate as Take note of what Ive said, okay? then nodded. Im starving. I could eat a whole woolly mammoth.

Do you want to come down as well, love? I said, turning to Flip now. If so, grab your dressing gown. Its really cold today.

In response, Flip merely scowled and stomped back to her bed. Then she climbed in and pulled up her duvet. Im watching telly, she said, returning Tylers glare with her own one. But if that woman calls bout my mummy, just shout me.