Errors of Judgment(50)

Toby kissed her. ‘You look good,’ he said. ‘Who was that you were talking to?’

‘Just someone from my old chambers. Oh God, here come your parents. Your mother cornered me a while ago, wanting to discuss our plight. You’d think the fucking atom bomb had dropped. Have you spoken to them yet?’

‘Don’t worry. I’ve kept a pleasant surprise up my sleeve. I wanted you all together before I told you.’

Sarah realised there was a clarity and brightness about him. He looked happy. ‘Shit! You’ve got a job.’

‘Sort of. But not quite. You’ll see.’

Jonathan and Caroline arrived, and Toby kissed his mother. Sarah decided she could even forgive the way Toby called her ‘Mumsy’, if only he would tell them all that everything was going to be all right.

‘Managed to tear your mother away from two batty old judges,’ said Jonathan Kittering. ‘Now, what’s this summit meeting all about?’

Toby glanced from face to face, preparing his announcement. ‘I wanted to let you know that I’m taking a change of direction. My life’s going to be about something entirely new from now on.’ No one said anything. Sarah found her eyes meeting Caroline’s briefly. ‘I was coming out of the gym at Canary Wharf,’ went on Toby, ‘when I saw this notice in the lobby of one of the buildings. I went inside, and I spoke to the guy, and – well, to cut a long story short, I went along to a recruitment meeting. Well, not exactly recruitment, it was more some kind of information forum—’

‘For God’s sake, Toby! Will you just tell us?’ exclaimed Sarah.

‘I’m going to be a teacher.’

There was a stunned silence.

‘A teacher?’

Rather than let Sarah’s appalled note sound for the rest of them, Caroline said, ‘I think that’s a wonderful idea, darling. An excellent stopgap. Better than sitting around idly, waiting for the economy to improve.’

Toby looked momentarily discomfited. ‘It’s not a stopgap. It’s a complete career change. I’m never going back to banking. It’s a soul-destroying business, and I never much liked it. Since I met Sarah …’ Sarah felt Toby twining her fingers into his. ‘I’ve realised there’s more to life than making money. Massive bonuses, expensive stuff we don’t need – it’s all meaningless. I want to make a difference to people’s lives. I want to wake up in the morning and feel good about myself. I want to think about what I’m going to put into the world, not what I’m going to take out of it.’

Toby’s father nodded slowly. ‘What kind of teaching had you in mind?’

‘My degree’s in economics, so that’s the obvious choice. Usually you have to do a one-year postgraduate teaching qualification, but there’s a chance I’ll get fast-tracked.’ He smiled at Sarah. ‘In six months’ time I could be facing my first class.’ This time the smile was straight into her eyes, warm and trusting, and she had to return it. ‘And with Sarah’s support, I know I can do it.’

‘But …’ Sarah paused, trying to blend enthusiasm and caution in her tone. ‘Darling, are you sure it’s the right career change? I mean, if you were some middle-aged banker who’d been chucked on the scrap heap with no hope of ever finding another job, it would be one thing. But you’re young! Surely it’s just a matter of time before you get another banking job.’

‘But I don’t want another banking job.’ Toby was calm and earnest. ‘Getting canned by Graffman’s has let me see there are other possibilities in life. Possibilities that may not involve making a shedload of money, but which I think—which I know will make us both much happier.’

In which life, wondered Sarah, did Toby think that not having a shedload of money would make her happy? She said nothing, scanning his face, realising this was serious. Whatever else he might be, Toby, when he made up his mind about something, could be doggedly implacable. She would have a job of work to do, talking him out of this disastrous idea, but she would do it, come what may. A teacher? She couldn’t go through life married to a teacher! Still, now wasn’t the time to say anything. She smiled and squeezed his hand, while Jonathan Kittering made encouraging noises and said stuff about momentous decisions, full backing of your mother and myself, crossroads in life, and so forth, and Caroline twittered anxiously about probably taking more time to think it over, one read such awful things about schools these days, and what if Toby finished up in a comprehensive on some sink estate, had he really thought it through properly? Sarah felt she could almost begin to like the woman.