Full Circle

Chapter One

A familiar face arrived in the square, a small leather glove gripped onto the rugged suitcase. She dressed herself as if she was much older, the only notable youthful aspect of her was her familiar plaits; her hair was still as black as coal. A grimace came across her face as she looked towards the home of her grandmas; Dotty Cotton has returned to the square.

...

Dotty made her way towards the home, being unnoticed by the rest of the square. Nervously did she knock on the door, wondering what the reaction would be. She hasn't seen her since January.

"Hello grandma" Dotty spoke as soon as the door was opened, Dot gave a surprise gasp; greeting her with joy almost immediately.

The old woman felt some tears fall down, she has felt quite lonely despite her friends and step-family regular visits, it's not the same as your own flesh and blood.

"Come in Dotty, please" Dot cried, tears of happiness; her emotions got the better of her. Her granddaughter made her way in for the first time in years.

All memories came rushing back to her, everything looked like the same as before. The home has a frozen in time feel with the same pictures, the same ornaments and the same decor. It did make you feel as if time has not moved on.

"I can't believe you still kept that old radio, grandma" Dotty exclaimed, keeping a tight grip onto her suitcase.

"I kept everything the same...well apart from my bedroom, that's downstairs now but you are still welcome to come in and I will make us tea and crumpets"

"Okay grandma...may I go upstairs first to put my suitcase in the spare room?"

"You are welcome to do anything within reason Dotty" Dot notified her with a smile; Dotty gave her a smile back.

Her face however dropped as soon as her grandmother's back was turned, her eyes watching the old woman walk into the kitchen. Thudding echoed throughout the house as Dotty began dragging the suitcase upstairs, every thud made Dot flinch.

...

"This is really nice" Dotty acclaimed, finishing the rest of her crumpets; it was almost as if she never left.

"Dotty...is everything okay between you and your mum? She does know that you come?"

"Well, I think mum is relapsing; she had a whole bottle to herself last night, shouted at me she did because I tried to take it away"

"Oh! This family! I'm going to have words with your mum, it's not right for a daughter to see her mother in that state" Dot insisted, the thought of it made her angry.

Addiction was a cloud forever towering over her family, she was not prepared to sit back and let it happen again. Of cause though, Dotty is telling her only half the story, not telling the whole truth to benefit yourself was also something that ran in the family.

"Don't be angry with her grandma, she can't help herself; ever since we heard that dad died, she's not been the same; I think she was hoping for a reunion" Dotty stated.

This made her grandma shake her head, that didn't sound like Sandy at all; she was pretty happy to see that man go. Once again though, Dotty was only telling half the story. It wasn't the way she made out at all, she wasn't some little girl being lied to anymore; Dot was thinking.

"I'm going to phone her, wait here please" Dot told her firmly, giving her a brief stare.

...

Sandy was a wreck as she answered the phone to her old mother-in-law, she was currently sitting on the floor with a wine bottle in one hand and the phone in the other. Shaking and shivering she was.

"Sandy, this is Dot; do you know that Dotty is here?" Dot asked, not having any idea how bad things has gotten.

"You can keep her Dot...spiteful witch; I bet she is listening right now" Sandy snarled.

"You're not well Sandy, Dotty has told me that you are back on the drink; I can hear it in your voice"

"Really? Well she would, wouldn't she? Did she also mention that she was the one who kept bringing alcohol into the home...purposefully trying to spite me"

"I'm sure she didn't, she also said that you started after Nick's death; you can't let him win Sandy; not now"

Sandy gave a weak laugh on the other end of the phone, the mention of his name barely fazed her these days.

"Now I don't even think you believe that, I know you're not suppose to speak ill of the dead but I hated that man; the reason why I started drinking again was because of that little witch"

Dot gave a sigh, she gripped tighter onto the phone wire; how could she speak so badly of her daughter? The old woman looked towards the living room at Dotty, the teenager was drinking her tea; it was almost like she was oblivious.

"Well I didn't believe that, no but please, why do you speak about your daughter in such a way? She's not her dad"

"She's evil, she may act like butter wouldn't melt but there's an evil in her; she's the only girl I know that spiked her own mother, I have tried but I give up...it's killing me"

Those words sounded so familiar however Dot was now frail and it was breaking her heart to hear those words. Ethel has said the same thing about her Nick all those years ago, she didn't listen then.

"She's my only granddaughter" Dot cried, this made Dotty finally pay attention; the girl stood near the doorway.

"Do yourself a favour and get rid of her, live your last few years in peace"

Sandy then hung up.

"I'm not being deceived again...I had too much of it in my life; the only one that never done me any harm is my poor Ashley"

Dotty gave a small frown as she placed her arms out, waiting for her grandmother to give her a hug. Dot was torn between her head and her heart, a few moments passed and Dot remained still.

"Alright grandma...I can go back if you want, sort things out with mum; it's what daughters do" Dotty spoke with a sad look on her face, she went to walk back upstairs however history tends to repeat itself...

"No Dotty...please stay, at least for one night; I will sort this out I promise" Dot pleaded, holding out her arms.

Dotty gave a small smile as she gave her grandmother a hug, it seems that once a fool always a fool.

...

TBC