Jackie continued to dig into her breakfast, making appreciative noises all the way through. She picked up her cup and took a sip of coffee. A thoughtful expression fell across her face.
“I know we talked about being together last night. But there’s one thing we never considered, what do we tell the kids? The twins are very observant, and will notice a change in me, so I can’t keep it hidden from them. Plus, they’d never forgive me if I did.”
“Tell us what?” Ben’s sleepy voice came from the doorway, where he stood rubbing his eyes.
Carrie lowered her head and slapped her hands over her face. “I need to talk to Rich and Chas, too. I think we should sit them all down together.”
Ben walked to the fridge and pulled out a carton of orange juice. He raised it to his lips to drink from it.
“Ben, get a glass,” Jackie grumbled under her breath.
“Oops, sorry.” He went to the cupboard above the coffee maker and pulled a glass out. After drinking his juice, he lined up three more glasses. “I heard the others moving around, they’ll be down in a minute.”
Carrie finished off the last of her eggs and stood, then took two pans out of the cupboard and began to cook more food.
Ben took the stool she’d vacated. “So, what do you need to talk to us about?”
“It can wait until the others join us.” Jackie sipped the last of her coffee and stood to join Carrie. The truth was, she had no idea what she was going to say to them. Carrie was still technically with Toni, and the news that she was leaving the relationship was already a lot for them to digest.
Three pairs of feet thundered down the stairs, causing both women to cringe at the loudness.
“I swear we’ve raised a herd of elephants,” Carrie scoffed as Jess, Richard, and Charlie entered. “Morning.” Each answered with something undecipherable.
Ben clapped his hands, then drummed them on the counter top. “Hurry up and get with it, you lot, the mum’s want to talk to us about something.”
Carrie looked at Jackie and shrugged, as she leaned over to whisper in her ear. “The quicker we talk to them, the better. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’m going to be very good at hiding my feelings.” She placed her hand on Jackie’s back and rubbed it gently.
When she looked behind, the kids were standing around Ben, staring at them, their brows furrowed in confusion. Jackie elbowed her gently in the midsection, as if on cue, the four of them put their heads together and started to confer amongst themselves.
Carrie crossed her arms over her chest and cleared her throat loudly. “Excuse me, I know that we brought you up better than that, it’s rude to whisper. Would you like to share with us what you’re discussing?”
The group dispersed, and the first to step forward was Ben. He was looking far too pleased with himself, and there was a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “We were wondering where you slept last night.”
A coy smile spread over Carrie’s face. “Oh, whatever made you ask that?”
Jess moved to stand behind Ben. “There’s no pillows, or duvet on the sofa. So we’re guessing you didn’t sleep down here.”
Jackie choked on a mouthful of coffee, and Carrie turned and patted her on the back. “That’s a very smart deduction. But, how do you know I didn’t get up early and put the extra bedding away?” Let’s try and play them at their own game, this is going to be fun.
The four of them burst into laughter. Ben was the first to speak through his tears. “That’s a good point. However,” he added smugly., “when I came down to get a drink of water at four o’clock, there was no one on the sofa.”
Crap! They’ve got me there. Perhaps this isn’t going to be as much fun as I originally thought. Jackie appeared to be as amused as the children, and patted her on the shoulder. “Okay, I didn’t sleep down here. Your mum wouldn’t hear of it, and kindly offered to share her bed with me.”
“Hang on.” Jess held her hands up. “You and mum shared her bed last night?”
“Yes, Jess.” Carrie sighed nervously, then nearly burst out laughing as the four teenagers huddled up together again. They whispered and giggled like three-year-olds sharing a secret.
Jackie placed her hand on Carrie’s back. The simple touch accelerated her heart-rate. “I think we should tell them now. Judging from that,” she nodded to the tight ring of bodies, “they’ve probably come to some kind of conclusion by now.”
Sighing heavily, Carrie had to agree with her. “Fine, let’s talk.”
Jackie walked over to the twins and took their hands. “I know this is going to come as a shock, but I’ve always taught you to be truthful with me, and that’s what I want to do with you.”
Ben shook his head and motioned Carrie over with his hand. “Mum, it’s not that much of a surprise.”
Jackie did a double take when she looked at her son. “What do you mean?”
“Well…”
Then Carrie moved to her boys and put her arms over each of their shoulders.
“We kind of guessed, way before last night. The way you two are with each other, it’s clear to see. Rich and Chas told us what was going on last night.”
“What are you talking about?” Carrie asked, as she removed her hold from her own children.
Jess threw her arms up in exasperation. “You two, being together, of course!”
“You mean you already know?” Dumfounded, Carrie’s mouth dropped open as she looked between the four children. They all shook their heads, and burst into laughter. Jackie sagged back against the wall.
“How did you know?” she asked the children. “Carrie and I only spoke about this last night.”
Jess patted her mother on the arm. “There’s been sparks flying off you both for months. Even Nan noticed the chemistry between you. Mum, it’s easy for anyone to read.”
Jackie gave Carrie’s fingers a reassuring squeeze as she stared unflinchingly at the twins. “Is there going to be a problem with either of you accepting this?”
Carrie felt Jackie’s back stiffen as she sucked in a large breath, awaiting the twins answer.
Ben beamed brightly and stood up off his stool, made his way to his mother and hugged her tightly. “You’ve always taught us that love comes in many forms.”
Not wanting to be left out, Jess joined them in the embrace. “Carrie is good for you, Mum. The thing that gave you both away, is the way you look at each other. Your smiles betray you. I’ve never seen you smile like this before, not even with dad.”
Ben reached an arm out and pulled Carrie into the hold with them. Carrie motioned for Richard and Charlie to join them and they shared a six-way hug.
•••
“I’m going home to talk to Toni, and kick her out.” Carrie finally spoke, biting her bottom lip as she faced the children. She patted Richard and Charlie on the shoulder. “I want you to stay here while I go.”
Jackie slipped behind her and wrapped Carrie in her arms. “I’m coming with you.”
“That’ll make things worse. Besides, I need you to keep an eye on the boys for me.”
“I’m not happy with you going on your own. Please, let me call someone to come with you.”
“No.” Carrie tightened her hold on her. “It will be better if I do this alone, but if I need you, I’ll call straight away.”
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Chapter Seventeen
Two streets away from home, the acrid smell of smoke filled the taxi and stung her nose, causing her eyes to water. Turning onto her road, the car screeched to a halt, as two large silver and red fire engines blocked their path.
“I’ll get out here!” Hurriedly throwing some money into the front seat, Carrie jumped from the car and ran down the road towards her house.
A large set of hands grasped her arms, stopping her dead in her tracks. “Ma’am, you can’t go down there.”
Looking up at the sound of breaking glass, she saw a large billowing plume of black smoke, drifting skywards. �
�My house is down there!” She struggled against the fireman’s grasp.
“The area’s been evacuated, I can’t allow you through, I’m sorry.”
“Carrie!” an urgent female voice called from behind her. Carrie turned, to be engulfed in urgent arms. “I was so worried. I’m sorry, we tried to stop her.”
“What happened, Lou?” She pushed her neighbour away, and looked into her eyes. “Tried to stop who?” Dread filled her body, and her knees shook, as realisation set in. “Are you trying to tell me that it’s my house on fire?”
“You live in forty-seven?” the fireman asked, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. His soot-covered face fell as she nodded. “The woman who started the blaze ran off before she could be restrained.”
A large explosion shook the ground beneath their feet, and the smoke became thicker. Her stomach rolled unpleasantly. Covering her mouth to fight the nausea, she made it to a drain at the kerb-side, before losing her breakfast.
Louise’s hand rubbed comforting circles on her back, but it did nothing in the way of comfort—her heart and head pounded heavily. “Someone set fire to my house?”
Louise took her arm and guided her to a patch of grass, so she could sit down. “It was Toni.”
The fireman handed her a bottle of water. “The police are looking for her. From what we can tell, the house was doused in an accelerant, and she ignited it with a petrol bomb, thrown from the driveway into the open front door. My crew are doing everything they can to tackle the flames, but it’s too intense to have only one crew in there. We are swapping them around every ten minutes.”
Rummaging in her bag, she pulled her phone out and called Jackie. “Babe, I need you. She’s gone and set my fucking house on fire!”
“I’m on my way.”
A sudden pain radiated through her back as she felt something hard connect with it.
“I fucking knew it!” Toni’s angry voice filled the air.
Turning in time to see Toni’s leg swinging towards her, she rolled out of the way. “You bitch!” she yelled, rolling to her knees, her body filling with anger. “I can’t believe you’ve done this.”
“Me?” Toni put a hand to her chest, acting innocently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You torched my bloody house!”
Toni scoffed. “You’ve been fucking Jackie behind my back. I guess that makes us even.”
Carrie raised her arm and slapped Toni across her face—a welt showed just beneath her eye. “No, I haven’t.”
In retaliation, Toni shot her fist out and caught Carrie’s cheek, causing her to wobble and slump to her knees. And with Toni’s body weight on top of her, she raised her arms to protect her face, but the jabs were too fast, and a few connected with her jaw. It had only been a matter of seconds, the pummelling, grunting, the look of satisfaction as each jab successfully made contact with its target, but for Carrie it felt like an eternity. She’d gone through so much abuse from Toni, her snide remarks, slaps and punches when no one was around to see, but this display had taken it to a whole new level. Now she regretted staying silent, and for whose sake had she done it for, it wasn’t her own? She knew this day would come, where Toni’s anger would escalate beyond control—she’d feared her, been hurt by her cruel words, and yet still she’d believed the Toni she once knew would miraculously come back. But now that fear had gone, and in its place bravery had taken over. She would never fear this woman again.
The weight lifted from her as a fireman lifted Toni from her. Holding a firm grip on her arm, he handed her over to the police who’d just arrived to witness the incident. A female officer cuffed her hands behind her back, opened the back door of the squad car, and with her hand on top of Toni’s head, she eased her inside.
The street had been secured. Fire trucks, police cars and an ambulance had blocked the area off. Jackie pulled up in her car and was told she couldn’t enter, but she wasn’t allowing anyone to stop her getting to Carrie. She pushed through the barrage of onlookers. Fear filled her, her thoughts being inflamed by the worst scenarios. “Carrie!” She pushed harder, until she reached a gap, then faced with dread as the reality of the situation became apparent. She made her way past the ambulance, the sickening feeling grew stronger when she looked inside, and then relief filled her when she found no patient inside.
As the fireman held his hand out for Carrie to take, she placed her palm in his and pulled herself up onto her feet. “Thank you, I don’t know what I would’ve done if she’d have had the chance to take another jab at me.”
To Jackie’s relief, Carrie was safe. “Oh my god, I thought I’d lost you,” she cried out, as she approached her and wrapped her arms around her.
Apart from the glisten of cold sweat, and eyes wide from shock, Carrie assured her she was fine, but tears filled her eyes as she looked at the house—anger radiated through her body at the sight of the violent flames dancing in the air. She no longer had a home. What am I going to do? Beneath her feet, the ground suddenly felt soft, as if she was standing on a floor of cotton wool. Her mind swirled, nausea crept from her stomach to her chest, then everything went black, as her legs gave from under her.
•••
Kneeling over Carrie, Jackie tenderly stroked her hair. “Come on, wake up.” Her eyelashes fluttered. “Hey, welcome back.”
“Please tell me I’ve just had the worst dream ever, and that my house is still in one piece.”
Jackie shook her head, and leaned down to kiss her. “I’m afraid it wasn’t a dream. You’ve been unconscious for fifteen minutes. I was worried.”
“How’s my house?”
Jackie relaxed her shoulders, sadness running through her like a flowing river. Toying with the corner of Carrie’s jumper, she stalled before she answered. “They finally have the fire under control, and are working to extinguish it. I’m sorry, sweetheart, but there’s nothing left of the house, it’s just a shell.”
A wailing scream came from Carrie as Jackie flung her arms desperately around her and clung tight. “What are we going to do? We’ve lost everything!”
The odour of smoke filled Jackie’s nostrils. She looked over at the smouldering building, then back at Carrie. “Don’t you worry, you and the boys can stay with me. I’d rather have you with me, than in some horrible bed and breakfast or hostel.”
“Oh, Jackie, I would love that, thank you.” Tears trickled down her face.
•••
After giving the police their details, Jackie walked Carrie to the car and strapped her into the passenger seat. “We’ll collect the children from my parent’s and head straight home, where we can get cleaned up.”
Carrie said nothing, she just sat and looked dead ahead.
“We’ll get through this, honey, I promise! And we’ll deal with the insurance company as soon as we have all the details. Until then, I’ll take care of the new things that you and the boys need. First thing tomorrow, we’ll go shopping for new clothes for you all.”
Carrie smiled sadly and pulled Jackie into a kiss. “You’re amazing, thank you.”
“I know it won’t replace what’s been lost, but it will be a start.”
“I know, and in an ironic way, it’s a completely clean slate for us to build a new life. However, there are things in there that can never be replaced. Pictures, keepsakes, things that had sentimental importance to me. Thank God I had the sense to scan all the baby pictures of the boys into my computer, they’re all saved in my cloud storage.”
“The first chance we have, I’ll get them mounted or put in albums for you, darling, and we can have them up wherever you want. I’m just thankful you’re not hurt, I hate to think what could’ve happened if you and the boys had gone home with her last night.” A cold shiver ran through Jackie’s body at the thought.
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Chapter Eighteen
The smell of smoke and soot was evident the second they entered the front door. Jess looked at their smok
e stained cheeks, and gasped when she saw Carrie’s nose. “Carrie, are you okay?”
The boys heard the commotion from the second floor and ran down the steps, taking them two at a time.
Richard was the first one to speak. “What did she do?”
Carrie went into detail about what happened. Jackie hadn’t expected it to be a walk in the park, but when Carrie told Richard and Charlie the extent of the damage, her heart felt as if it had stopped beating, as they cried. She sat next to Charlie and hugged him.
“If there is anything we’ve got that you need, you’re more than welcome to use it,” Ben said, patting Richard on the shoulder.
Richard nodded his thanks. “Cheers, dude, we’re probably going to need clothes for the next few days.”
“We’re going shopping tomorrow for whatever you and your mum need.” Jackie levered herself off the sofa. “We’ll deal with everything else from there. The insurance company will offer your mum a settlement, and that will help you replace most of the things you lost.”
Charlie’s watery eyes shimmered as he looked up at his mum. “What are we going to do? We have nowhere to go.”
“We’re staying here. Jackie has kindly offered to put us up, until we can sort something else out.”
The air was knocked out of Jackie’s lungs as Richard and Charlie rushed her and crushed her between them. “It’s okay,” she cooed to them, stroking the back of their heads. “You’ll be safe here. Toni’s been arrested; I don’t think there’s any chance of her getting bail either.”
Carrie stood and walked to the living room door. “I need to get cleaned up, the smell of smoke is driving me crazy.”
“Use anything you want in my bathroom, and hunt through the drawers for clothes. Once you’re finished, I’ll need to take a shower.”
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