by Sarah Hope
‘Ellis, wait.’ Standing up as he stormed out of the room, Molly listened as his bedroom door slammed. Sinking back down onto the sofa, Molly clasped her hands in her lap. The bright green cartoon mouse had just climbed to the top of a mountain with a grand piano on his back. Standing still for a second, he laughed before throwing it on top of the yellow cat standing at the bottom of the mountain.
What was she supposed to say to Ellis? How was she supposed to make it all better for him?
‘Mum! Are you coming back down? Marissa’s calling me!’ Lauren called up the stairs.
Pushing herself to standing, Molly tucked her hair behind her ears and made her way past Ellis’ closed bedroom door and back down the stairs to Bramble Patch.
‘THANKS FOR THAT, LAUREN.’
‘It’s okay. It was pretty fun, to be honest. Ellis, okay?’
Joining Lauren behind the counter, Molly looked across at her. It wasn’t like Lauren to ask about her brother, she must be really worried about him. ‘Not really. He’s getting upset about going to your dad’s on Friday. He’s rung to say he’s got the afternoon off work so is going to pick you both up early. I think Ellis is worried about seeing Jessica again after what happened.’
‘Umm, I don’t blame him. She shouldn’t have called him a bully. And Ruby's annoying. I know she’s my kid sister and I’m supposed to love her, and I do, but she really is annoying. More annoying than Ellis. Jessica and Dad let her get away with too much.’
‘Hopefully, after what’s happened they’ll start to see she’s a real kid rather than one who can do no wrong.’
‘Maybe.’ Lauren shrugged. ‘Anyway, can Marissa come over?’
Looking towards the front door of Bramble Patch, Molly bit down on her bottom lip. ‘Do you mind if we just have a quiet one this evening? I think I’m going to shut the shop early and maybe we can get takeaway or something.’
‘Okay. Can we get pizza though?’
‘Yes, pizza sounds good. Why don’t you go on upstairs and make sure you’ve done all your homework while I cash up?’
‘It’s all done. Me and Marissa went to the library at lunchtime and we didn’t get any this afternoon.’
‘Wow, okay. Well done.’
‘I’d better ring Marissa back though.’ Picking her mobile up from the counter, Lauren headed towards the flat.
‘See you in a bit then.’ Too late, Lauren was already chatting on the phone. Turning around, Molly slumped against the counter. Ellis had mentioned on and off that he’d wished her and his dad could get back together over the years, but she hadn’t realised he wasn’t happy going there. Until a week and a half ago, she hadn’t realised that Ruby had her parents wrapped around her little finger, and she hadn’t realised how differently Trevor and Jessica treated them all.
What was she supposed to do now? She could ring Trevor and explain, and she probably would, but what good that would do she wasn’t sure. What she was sure about now though was that she couldn’t come between any chance, however slight, of Richie getting back with Diane. She needed to step back; she needed to give Richie space to see if he wanted to get back with Diane. She couldn’t ruin any hope Marissa might still have of them being a happy family unit again. No, she couldn’t be the reason Richie didn’t get back with his daughter’s mum.
Placing her thumb and forefinger over her temples, Molly pushed down, hoping for even a slight relief to the pain piercing through her skull. A few hours ago all had been fine between her and Richie. She’d vowed not to let Diane come between them. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t listen or react to Diane’s emotional blackmail, but after trying to comfort Ellis she just couldn’t inflict that pain on another child. She had to give Marissa that chance. She had to give them all the chance of having their family unit back.
Chapter Twenty Two
Looking behind her at Richie’s motorbike on his drive and the police car parked on the street, Molly knocked again. She knew he was there. Why else would the police car be out the front? He’d often told her he popped home on his lunch breaks.
Standing back, she ran her fingers through her hair again and looked towards the open back gate. No, she couldn’t just walk around the back. But then again, the back gate was open, wasn’t it?
Glancing at her watch, Molly turned and began walking back down the driveway. Pausing at the top of the drive, she looked back at Richie’s house and shook her head before turning around and retracing her steps. She probably wouldn’t be able to pop out later, and even if she could, Riche wouldn’t still be on his lunch break. She’d go round the back. He wouldn’t mind, and she really needed to talk to him today. Before she changed her mind again.
Glancing behind her, she slipped through the gate into his back garden. That’s why he hadn’t answered the front door then. Standing still, she watched as he hung another bright white shirt on the washing line.
‘Hey, Richie.’
Turning around, a slow grin spread across his face. ‘Molly! What a nice surprise.’
‘I hope you don’t mind me coming round the back, the gate was open so...’
‘Of course, I don’t. It’s just nice to see you.’
‘Are you on your break?’
‘Yes, on a forced break I guess. I got thrown up over so I popped back to shower and change and thought I’d take advantage of the nice weather.’ He indicated the washing line. ‘I’ve never known someone to get through as many clothes as Marissa.’
‘I think it must be the age, Lauren is the same.’
‘What can I get you? Coffee? A cold glass of orange juice?’
‘Umm, I’ll just have an orange juice, please?’ Wringing her hands together, Molly looked around the garden as Richie disappeared into the house. She hadn’t planned on staying for a drink.
‘Here you go.’ Leading the way to the end of his long narrow garden, Richie ducked beneath the sprawling branches of an old apple tree before climbing two shallow steps up to a decking area.
‘This is lovely here.’
‘Thanks. Marissa says it reminds her of a secret garden because you can’t see it from the house.’
‘It’s beautiful.’
‘Maybe we could enjoy something a bit stronger down here at the weekend? Your two are at their dad’s, aren’t they? And Marissa is spending the weekend with her mum. Well, at the moment she is anyway, Diane has a tendency to change her plans at the last minute. Although now that Marissa has officially moved in with me, hopefully she’ll start to spend some decent quality time with her. I know it’s not been long but we can live in hope that she steps up.’ Richie rolled his eyes.
‘I, uh, that’s why I came over to see you.’
‘To make plans for the weekend?’ Sitting down on a metal garden chair, Richie placed his glass on the table, indicating the chair next to him.
‘Not really.’
‘Oh, okay.’ Leaning forward, he cupped her chin with his hand and inched towards her.
Closing her eyes as his lips met hers, Molly could feel the all familiar warmth rising from the pit of her stomach. This was going to be so hard. As she began kissing him back, she frowned. However hard it was going to be to put a stop to this, she had to. She knew she had to, for Marissa’s sake. She wasn’t ending things. Not completely. Well, yes, she was, but it was only to give him the space he needed to decide what was best for his daughter. She just needed to put things on pause. She needed to let Diane have a chance at getting back with him. Pulling away, she pushed her chair back.
‘You okay?’
‘Yes. No.’ Setting her jaw, she took a deep breath. ‘I’m going to have to step back from this.’
‘You need to get back to the shop? Don’t worry, we can do this another time. I should be getting back soon, anyway.’ Richie checked his watch.
‘No, I don’t mean that. I mean us. I need to step back. That’s what I’d come round to tell you.’ There, she’d said it.
Frowning, Richie picked up his glass, holding
it in one hand and running the pad of his forefinger around the rim. ‘I thought we’d just got back together? Has Diane been to see you again?’
Holding her glass on her lap, Molly looked across at him and nodded.
Looking down at his shoes, Richie shook his head slowly. ‘I really am not back with her.’
‘I know.’ Shifting in her seat, Molly placed her hand over his. ‘The last time Lauren and Ellis went to their dad’s Ellis had a bit of a disagreement with their daughter and his so-called step-mum told him off. She said some things she really shouldn’t have. Since then he’s been really upset about me and his dad not being together anymore.’
‘I thought you’d split up years ago?’
‘Yes, we did.’ Taking her hand from his, she wrapped it back around her glass. ‘Sorry, I’m not making any sense. What I mean is, I can see what our split has done to my kids and how it’s still affecting them all these years later. And although with me and Trevor we did absolutely the right thing splitting up, if you and Diane have any chance of getting back together, I don’t want to be the one in the way.’
Sitting back in his chair, Richie rubbed his hand over his face. ‘What did she say to you this time?’
‘Just that she thinks you both have a chance of getting back together and that Marissa’s been struggling with your split recently.’
A low chuckle escaped Richie’s throat as he leant forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees as he cupped Molly’s hands. ‘If that’s the only reason you’re calling it a day then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. There’s no chance of me getting back with Diane. Zero chance. I can promise you that.’
Closing her eyes, Molly turned her hands over in his until their fingers interlocked. She could stay like this forever, the warmth from his skin warming hers, the electricity buzzing between them. Opening her eyes, she pulled her hands away and picked up her orange juice. Taking a long sip, she tried not to look in Richie’s direction. She knew what she had to do; she didn’t need to make it more difficult for herself. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve made my decision. I need to give you and Diane a chance, time.’
‘What? But you know how me and Diane ended and, to be honest, our relationship before she began cheating wasn’t great either. Not even good. We were a bad mix. She didn’t want me, never had, but for years after Marissa was born I tried to do the right thing. I stayed with her, tried to keep the family together. I turned many a blind eye to what I knew deep down she was doing. The affair that ended us, it wasn’t the first one. Had she told you that?’
Shaking her head, Molly put her empty glass on the table and stood up. ‘I can’t do this. Not now. I have to give you space, time to think about what you really want. If not for your sake, then for Marissa’s.’ Stepping down from the decking, Molly strode back down the garden.
‘Molly, wait. I don’t understand.’
Quickening her step, she ducked her head beneath the low branches of the old apple tree before making her way through the gate. If he got back with Diane, he’d thank her one day. If he didn’t, then that was his choice. She would have nothing to feel guilty about.
Closing the gate behind her, Molly wiped her eyes as she walked past his motorbike. Diane had better treat him better this time around.
Chapter Twenty Three
Looking down at Ellis as he gripped her arm in an attempt to pull her back, she paused and stooped to his level. ‘It’s going to be all right, sweetheart. Just let me answer the door and you’ll see.’
‘No. I don’t want to go. I really, really don’t want to go to Daddy’s house. Please don’t make me. I don’t have to, do I? Lauren can go and I can stay with you, can’t I? Please?’ Glancing at the silhouette of his dad on the other side of the door to Bramble Patch, Ellis tightened his grip around his mum.
Gently loosening his grip finger by finger, Molly held his hands in hers. ‘This is your home and you are always welcome to stay here, you know that, but I think today it will be best for you if you go to Daddy’s.’
‘No, no. I don’t want to.’
‘Hey, I know you’re worried, but if you don’t go today, you’ll only worry until it’s time to go again and then you won’t want to go that time either. Sometimes it’s best to do things we’re worried about and get them over and done with. Things will be absolutely fine, I promise you that. It will be better for you if you go today so you can see that things are all okay and then you won’t be worried anymore.’
‘Please, Mum? Please, I want to stay.’
Gently wiping a lock of hair from his forehead, Molly hugged him tightly. All she wanted to do was to carry him upstairs and tell him he could stay with her forever, but she knew the best thing for him would be to face the music. From what Trevor had said on the phone, Jessica really was sorry for what she’d said and wanted to make up for it. Molly might not be able to forgive her, but she knew that Ellis needed to put it behind him for his own sake. ‘How about you go to Daddy’s now and I’ll come and get you later? That way you can see that it’s all okay?’
‘You’ll really come and pick me up?’ Looking up at his mum, the tears in Ellis’ eyes shone in the stark light of the shop.
‘Of course, I will. You’re my little lad, aren’t you? I’d do anything for you.’ Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him close. ‘So, what do you think?’
‘Okay. Okay, I’ll go. As long as you promise you’ll come and get me?’
‘It’s a deal.’ Smiling, she used the pads of her thumbs to wipe the tears from his cheeks.
‘Mum, Dad’s at the door! Can’t you hear him?’ Bustling through the shop from the flat, Lauren shifted the rucksack higher up on her shoulder before walking past them to the door. ‘Hi, Dad.’
‘Hi. All ready?’ Stepping into Bramble Patch, Trevor let the door swing shut behind him.
‘Yep, all ready.’ Lauren patted the strap to her rucksack.
‘How about you, Ellis? Are you ready to come for a fun weekend?’ Looking across at Ellis, Trevor gave him the thumbs up.
Straightening her back, Molly narrowed her eyes. Why did he always do that? After all these years, why did she still let him annoy her? He always had a knack of implying that the weekends Lauren and Ellis went to his were super fun, as if she did nothing nice with them at all. She shook the thought away; he didn’t mean anything by it. She was sure he didn’t. Almost sure.
‘Mum?’
Looking down at Ellis, Molly nodded. ‘Ellis and Lauren, why don’t you both go and get your books from upstairs to take with you while I have a quick word with Daddy?’
Rolling her eyes, Lauren followed Ellis up to the flat.
‘Everything okay?’ Picking up Lauren’s discarded rucksack, Trevor flung it over his shoulder.
‘Ellis is a bit worried about coming over.’
‘Not this again. I thought we’d sorted all this over the phone?’ Flaring his nostrils, Trevor crossed his arms.
Taking a deep breath, Molly crossed her arms too. He really didn’t get it, did he? Did he really think that one conversation, now almost a whole week ago, had fixed things between him, his son and his new wife? ‘I’ve said that I’ll come and pick him up later. That way he can go over, see that everything’s okay with Jessica but not have to worry about staying the whole weekend if he feels uncomfortable.’
‘Tonight? You’re seriously going to travel over this evening? That’s a bit excessive, don’t you think? I’m his dad.’
‘I know that, but the way he was treated last time he went to yours has really upset him.’
Shaking his head, Trevor looked behind him towards the door and back at Molly. ‘Seriously? I’ve spoken to him about what Jessica said. Can we just put it behind us?’
‘It wasn’t just what Jessica said though, was it? It was the way you both treated him, and Lauren, bundling them out of the house without any dinner like that.’
‘I’ve apologised for that, what else do you want me to do?’
‘I want you to understand that just because you’ve said sorry, it doesn’t erase the memory. All I’m asking is for you to let him go to yours for a bit and see that it’s all okay. I’ll come and get him before bedtime.’
‘It’s my weekend with them. You can’t cut access.’
Really? He was really going to pull that one? If he’d managed to treat all of his children the same in the first place then none of this would have happened, but now it had, because of what he and Jessica had done, she was the one being made to feel as though she was in the wrong. Uncrossing her arms, she circled her shoulders back. ‘I just want him to feel safe and secure. If this is a way of getting him out of the door to go to yours then that’s got to be better than you dragging him out crying, hasn’t it?’
‘And what if when he comes over he enjoys it? You’re still going to come and collect him?’
‘What? No, of course not. I’m half expecting him to change his mind when he gets there, anyway. And if he does, he can ring me and tell me.’ Why was he making her feel so bad? If she hadn’t suggested picking him up in a few hours, Ellis would now be hiding in his room.
‘I suppose I haven’t really got a choice, have I?’
Turning towards the door to the flat as Lauren and Ellis came back, Molly rolled her eyes. ‘Did you get them? Great. Pop them in your bags then.’
‘Yes, come on. We need to get back.’ Shrugging the rucksack from his shoulder, Trevor passed it to Lauren. As soon as the books had been packed, he turned on his heels and headed outside. ‘Come on you two.’
Picking his rucksack from the floor, Ellis crept over to Molly. ‘You will come and get me, won’t you? You won’t forget, will you?’
