by Sarah Hope
Letting herself into Bramble Patch, she flung the keys down on a nearby shelf and headed up to the flat.
Sinking against the sofa cushions, Molly curled her legs up in front of her and wrapped her arms around her knees. She never learnt. She probably never would. Bea was always telling her to look out for herself more, to not be so trusting and to put herself first. Well, she hadn’t followed her advice, again, and look where it had landed her. Alone, grieving for a relationship that hardly ever was with the first man she’d actually felt a connection with. It served her right. She’d just have to get used to the idea of being alone forever.
Wiping fresh tears away, Molly sank her head back against the cushions. She’d actually really liked him, more than that. She’d had proper feelings for him. Yes, their relationship hadn’t really even took off before she’d ruined it, but the night of the Village Dance she’d actually thought she’d be with him forever.
Chapter Twenty Five
Opening her eyes against the bright force of the sun, Molly reached out to the coffee table, knocked Lauren’s pile of magazines to the floor and located her mobile. Hitting the off button, she silenced the alarm and pushed herself to sitting. Rolling her neck, she rubbed her shoulders in an attempt to ease the pain. She must have fallen asleep crunched up on the sofa. Momentarily closing her eyes, she forced herself to open them again. If it really was quarter past nine, she’d already slept through her eight o’clock alarm and numerous snooze intervals.
Standing up, she surveyed the living room, Ellis’ school PE kit still laid sprawled across the armchair where she’d asked him to empty his bag, obviously failing to specify to empty it into the laundry basket rather than just where he had happened to dump his PE bag. Lauren’s nail varnish bottles were still scattered across the coffee table, the accompanying nail varnish remover and stack of cotton pads encircling them, and a stack of clean washing teetered on the edge of the sofa. How she hadn’t kicked it off in her sleep she’d never know, but for that, at least, she was grateful.
With Sunday being her only day off, she had to cram all the housework into one day alongside doing a food shop and any other jobs such as sewing up the hole in the knee of Ellis’ school trousers.
Slumping back down, she remembered she still hadn’t finished restocking the shelves downstairs. There was too much to do and she really couldn’t face doing any of it. Least of all going to the local supermarket. Sunday was usually one of Richie’s days off too and she really couldn’t face running into him in the fruit and veg aisle.
Rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands, she set her jaw. There was only one thing for it, she’d have to go to the supermarket on the retail estate two towns down. It was a longer drive, but maybe she’d pop to the nature reserve which skirted the town. A brisk walk along the canal with a takeaway latte might be what she needed to blow the cobwebs of yesterday’s encounter with Richie away. The housework would be here when she got back, and if she didn’t have time to dust, she was quite certain that it would still be there mocking her the following weekend.
‘MUM, MUM. LOOK WHAT Jessica and Dad got me! Am I’m allowed to play it now?’ Running towards her, Ellis brandished a computer game in her face before dropping his rucksack at her feet and running upstairs, the door to the flat swinging loudly shut behind him.
Molly rolled her eyes. That was how they’d made it up to Ellis then? Gifts.
‘Hey, Mum. Can I pop over to Marissa’s house? I’ve just arranged it and Dad’s going to drop me off on his way back, aren’t you, Dad?’ Glancing quickly at Trevor, Lauren looked back at her mum. ‘Can I, please? We’ve got this art homework that we both forgot to do and we thought if we did it together it would take less time.’
‘Okay.’ Molly nodded.
‘Thanks. You’re the best.’ Dropping her rucksack next to Ellis’, Lauren turned back to her dad. ‘I’ll wait in the car, Dad. Don’t be long though please, I’ve told her I’ll be there by now.’
Taking a deep breath, Molly looked at Trevor who shifted on his feet. Why didn’t he just leave? ‘Thanks for Ellis’ game.’
Shrugging, he stared at her.
What was wrong with him? What did he want from her now? Pinching the bridge of her nose, she could feel the little piece of her heart that the walk in the fresh air along the canal had healed breaking again. She really didn’t have the emotional capacity to deal with one of Trevor’s tantrums. Not today. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘Oh, nothing. I just thought you’d apologise now you’ve seen Ellis actually did have a good time at mine.’ Crossing his arms, Trevor smiled smugly.
Seriously? And she was feeling sorry for herself that she was single? Walking past him towards the front door, she held it open. ‘I apologise for worrying that our son was upset because your new wife had called him a bully and you had brought him home without dinner last time you had him. I’m sorry I was concerned because he understandably didn’t want to go to yours in case you and Jessica treated him like that again. I am, however, pleased that you have all moved on from the, shall we say, incident, and that he obviously feels settled again at yours. I’m so sorry that I put the interests and wellbeing of our son ahead of my own. Is that what you want to hear?’
Huffing, Trevor walked out of Bramble Patch before turning back to her. ‘Jessica warned me not to expect an apology from you.’
Shutting the door quietly but firmly behind him, Molly sank to the floor. She didn’t need to apologise. If anyone should apologise it should be Jessica, to Ellis, and she apparently had. Plus, hadn’t Molly already justified her actions? Was everyone against her at the moment? And to top it off, she’d have to go and collect Lauren up from Richie’s house in a few hours and see him again.
PUTTING HER MOBILE down on the kitchen table, Molly pushed her chair back and stood up. Great, Lauren had just called, now was the time she’d have to face Richie.
Shrugging her cardigan on, she pushed open Ellis’ bedroom door. ‘Ellis, sweetheart, we need to go and pick Lauren up now.’
‘Can’t she walk?’ Pulling his headphones off his head, he quickly glanced at his mum before focusing on the screen in front of him again.
‘No, it’s dark. I don’t want her walking home by herself.’
‘How come? It’s not far.’
‘Ellis, no. I’ve said it’s too dark. If we go now, we’ll be back in ten minutes. It’s only a five-minute walk.’
‘Aw, but I need to finish this level.’
‘I’m sorry, we won’t be long. Besides its getting late so you’ll need to get off for bed soon anyway.’
‘Can’t we wait until I have to come off then? Or else I’m going to miss out on time.’
Tapping her foot against the floor, Molly leant her forehead against the doorframe. She couldn’t very well tell him that she just wanted to get it over and done with because she didn’t want to see Richie. ‘I tell you what, as a special treat, if we pop out now and get Lauren without any fuss you can stay on your new game for half an hour past bedtime?’
‘Really? Okay, cool. Thanks, Mum.’ Putting his controller on the bed next to him, Ellis jumped up and turned the console off before Molly had time to change her mind.
‘YOU DIDN’T TELL ME we were walking.’ Kicking a stone along the path, Ellis trudged behind.
‘Yes, I did. Besides, it would have taken longer to get in the car, drive there and park up. Look, Marissa’s house is the one on the end of this street so it’s not far at all.’ Glancing back at Ellis and then back towards Richie’s cottage, Molly pressed her fingers tips against her temples. ‘In fact, why don’t you run ahead and get her? You’ll be able to get back to your game even quicker that way.’
‘Aw, no. Can’t you go ahead and I’ll wait here? My legs are hurting from going on a big walk with Dad.’ Leaning down, Ellis rubbed his shin.
‘Nice try. Come on.’ Why did they always refuse to go on walks with her and yet they always seemed happy to go on long walks with Trevo
r? Molly shook her head. She should stop comparing. It didn’t matter.
‘Are we there yet?’
‘Yep, it’s this one here.’ Taking a deep breath, Molly led the way down Richie’s driveway and tapped on the door.
‘Molly, hi. Hi, Ellis. How are you?’ Opening the door, Richie grinned at them.
‘Tired. Mum made me walk all the way from home.’ Leaning against the wall next to the door, Ellis sighed.
‘Wow, that must be miles, right?’ Chuckling, Richie ruffled his hair.
‘Yep. Is that Rocco?’ Bending slightly, Ellis patted his hands on his knees. ‘Come on, Rocco. Come say hello.’
As a black nose nuzzled its way past Richie, he stood aside letting Rocco out onto the driveway where he immediately made for Ellis, his tongue hanging out and his tail wagging in excitement.
‘Did you want to go in the garden and throw some balls for him while Lauren and Marissa finish up?’
‘Yes okay. Can I, Mum?’
Biting down on her bottom lip, Molly nodded.
Standing back, Richie waited until Ellis and Rocco had raced past before waving Molly inside. ‘I just wanted to clear the air and see how you were?’
Molly nodded. ‘I’m fine, thanks. You?’
Richie nodded. ‘To be honest, I’ve not had much sleep. I wish things could be different between us...’
‘Don’t worry, I understand.’ She’d messed up, and that was it.
‘Mum, you’re here.’ Giggling, Lauren and Marissa walked down the stairs.
‘I am. Are you ready? Did you manage to get the project finished?’
‘We sure did. I’ll show you when we get home.’ Slipping her trainers on, she picked up a roll of paper.
‘Great. Thanks for having her.’ Nodding at Richie, Molly called down the hallway, ‘Ellis! Time to go.’
Chapter Twenty Six
‘Here, try this one.’ Holding up a bright red satin top, Bea slipped it off the hanger and threw it to Molly.
‘Oh no, not that one, I’ve never liked it much.’ Catching it, Molly added it to the pile of discarded tops on the bed next to her.
‘Is there anything you own that you actually like?’ Turning back, Bea continued to riffle through Molly’s clothes.
‘Not anything that I could wear out. I don’t go out normally, remember.’ And that was for good reason. The last thing she wanted to do after being on her feet all day was to spend her free time walking across sticky carpet in pubs and clubs and trying to have a conversation above the angry tunes of today. No, the sofa, a tub of chocolate ice cream and a TV series to binge-watch was just what she needed.
‘Umm. I still can’t believe you forgot. It’s a good job I came early or we wouldn’t be getting out until goodness knows when.’
Molly grimaced. Yes, she may have forgotten, but in her defence, she’d never actually agreed to go out with Bea. That had been all assumption on her part. ‘I still feel bad you dropping the kids off with your parents. I wasn’t even able to thank them.’
Bea waved her hand dismissively. ‘Don’t worry. Honestly, they’ve been looking forward to having them. Now, what about this little number? It’s grey, so still one of your go-to colours, but it actually has a bit of colour on from the pinkie flowers?’
Holding out her hand, Molly accepted the top; she did actually like the style of this one and with its slightly gathered hem it distracted from her belly. She’d brought it at least a year ago to go on a date, but then the man had called off due to sickness or more than likely a change of heart, and it had sat forgotten in the back of her wardrobe since then. She didn’t even remember unpacking it. ‘Yep, that one will be fine.’
‘Okay, great. I’ll leave you to get changed and go and call a taxi then.’ Closing the wardrobe door, Bea went towards the door, pausing before leaving the bedroom. ‘Hurry up.’
‘Will do.’ Pulling her t-shirt off, Molly slipped the grey silky top on. It felt good next to her skin, cool. Standing up, she looked in the full-length mirror on the back of the door and sucked her stomach in, tightening her belt. Breathing out again, she turned to the side before loosening her belt again. She was what she was.
And anyway, she was only going out to have a catch-up with Bea. Men were definitely off the table. The way she’d ruined her relationship with Richie due to her own insecurities had told her that even after all of these years she wasn’t ready for another relationship. She needed to get herself to a place where she felt worthy enough and confident in herself before even attempting to find a partner.
‘SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK of him then?’ Holding her wine glass up, Bea pointed her finger towards a blonde guy near the bar.
‘No comment. Anyway, I thought you promised talking about men was off the table?’ Sipping her orange juice, Molly laughed. Bea was relentless in her pursuit to pair her up.
‘Fair enough. I did promise.’ Bea stared ahead at the dance floor. ‘Hey, I’ve got an idea for your shop!’
‘What’s that?’
‘You could start doing art classes!’
Molly grimaced. ‘Don’t you remember what my drawing is like? The best I can do is a blob for an apple or a stick person. Why the sudden interest in art? I didn’t think you had time for anything like that, what between Stuart and the kids and your new promotion?’
Leaning into her, Bea clinked glasses. ‘Ah, I would make the time if it was a nude life drawing session.’
‘Bea! I bet you would!’ Rolling her eyes, Molly laughed. Bea’s banter was one hundred percent worse when she drank, which was the main reason Molly hadn’t - she didn’t want to wake up in the morning to find out Bea had dragged her up on stage in some karaoke bar or something.
‘You know me!’ Standing up, Bea slammed her glass onto the table and held out her hand. ‘Come on, let’s go and dance.’
Looking at the dance floor, full of kids who could only have been barely eighteen if not younger, Molly shrugged. Why not? No one from the village would see her here, and she didn’t have to come back.
‘OOH, DON’T LOOK NOW but I think those two are having a bit of a disagreement.’ Leaning in towards her, Bea whispered loudly in Molly’s ear.
As they danced, Bea swung Molly around so she could see what she was talking about. It certainly did look as though they were in the middle of something. However, the word ‘disagreement’ seemed a little understated. Two men, or boys as they looked barely eighteen if they actually were, were sat opposite each other at a table at the edge of the dance floor. Their shouts, though muffled, could be heard over the incessant base of the music, which was saying something the volume it was turned up to.
Rolling her eyes at Bea, Molly moved closer to her, keeping her steps in time with the music, as best she could anyway. ‘Let’s hope they sort it out soon or they’re going to end up getting chucked out.’
‘Yep. Do you remember the time those two, what were their names? Wayne and Michael or Mickey or something, ended up having a boxing match in the club when we were younger?’
Laughing, Molly shook her head. How could she ever forget that? ‘That had been your fault, you know that, don’t you?’
‘I can’t help it if I was that irresistible that I had boys literally fighting over me.’ Flicking her hair over her shoulders, Bea grinned.
‘I don’t think it helped much that you’d told them you were taking them both to the college dance the following week.’
‘Oh yeah. I’d forgotten about that! What’s happened to us? It barely feels like a few minutes ago that we were in a place like this dancing the night away without a care in the world.’
‘Life. Life happened.’
‘Umm.’
‘Hey, don’t get all down on me. It was you who had wanted to come out.’ Reaching over, Molly held Bea’s hand and twisted her around. ‘Just because we’re a bit older than almost everyone else in here, it doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy ourselves!’
‘You’re right.’ Steadying herself from t
he twist, Bea smiled again. ‘Yes, you are right. We’re not that old, we just have a little more experience.’
‘Exactly. Oh, watch out. Come this way, Bea.’ Molly pulled Bea towards her just as one of the boys arguing stood up and came round towards the side of the table closest to the dance floor, signalling to the other one to join him.
Sidling across to the far side of the dance floor they watched as the other boy pushed back from the table and came to stand opposite the other, their shoulders squared and their jaws set. People around them stopped to stare at the altercation unfolding and two more teenage boys raced across the sticky floor to join the stand-off. The two girls who had been at the table stood between the boys, shouting and waving their arms in an attempt to break up whatever was unfolding.
‘Huh, the bouncers are slow in this place, aren’t they? Not that they would have been any quicker in our clubbing days, the idiots would have just been be left to fight it out.’ Rolling her eyes, Bea continued to sway to the music. Flicking her hair over her shoulders, she tried to get Molly to join in.
‘In a minute.’ She hated any sort of confrontation, she’d rather know what was happening before going back to their oblivious trip down memory lane. ‘Maybe we should just go. It’s late anyway.’
‘What? No way, the night’s still young.’
‘Still young’ was one o’clock in the morning. Bea might have been used to dancing the night away but Molly’s idea of a late night was getting so engrossed in a new TV series that before she knew it she’d eaten a whole tub of ice cream and Ellis had padded through for his 2am toilet habit.
Shaking her arms, Molly smiled at Bea. Bea was right, she needed to loosen up. She needed to forget everything that had happened recently with Trevor and Richie. She needed to learn to enjoy herself again.
