WHO SHALL IT BE - PART 1

Imagine Lexie and Archie never got together …..

Lexie climbed into bed after a bad dream she'd been having them a lot recently. She could feel the softness of the bed covers as she pulled them further over her body. She lay awake for a while until she felt her husbands arm reach over her waist and pull her closer. She could feel Paul's warmth against her body and finally she drifted off to sleep. Lexie was wakened by Paul moving around the room. She could hear the creek of the cupboard as he lifted his jeans out and shut the door. She sat up in her bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Morning Paul" she said through a yawn. Paul smiled and walked over to her. He sat down on the bed next to her and kissed her softly. "How are you this morning?" He asked her. "Did you sleep well last night?" "I'm fine, and no I didn't really you know that Paul" Lexie said sarcastically. "Sorry" Paul said getting up and walking towards the door. "Where are you going?" asked Lexie. "Im going for a quick shower then im going to see to the wolves" Paul answered before leaving the room.
Lexie got up and pulled her dressing gown on, then went downstairs. She poured a mug of tea then she walked down to the loch's edge and sat on a rock. Lexie liked to sit here when she needed to clear her head.
She had a dream about Archie last night, and it got to her. Why did she still think about Archie? Lexie sipped her tea. She really missed Archie's company. She really missed him being here. "Maybe I should phone him" Lexie asked herself.
"Phone who?" said Paul who had came up behind her. "Oh nobody just a friend" Lexie replied. Paul smiled and sat down next to her.
"Why are you sitting out here in your dressing gown" he asked laughing. "I don't know it's a nice day why not" Lexie answered.
"Well I've arranged with Molly to go on a picnic at about 12ish, so maybe you should go and get changed and then get some stuff done before we go" Paul ordered.
"Okay Paul no need to be so pushy" Lexie muttered. "Im not being pushy, im only trying to run the place as best I can" Paul answered with a slight tone of anger.
"PAUL, do you always have to shout at me?" Lexie shouted back. "Lexie im not shouting at you, it's just I have millions of things to do today and I would appreciate it if you'd get organized and do some things for me, then we can enjoy the picnic more".
"But Paul" Lexie said trying to talk to him. "No buts Lex" Paul said standing up and walking away. Lexie was screaming inside. Screaming at herself and him. She'd starting regretting marrying Paul when he started to order her around, but still she told herself she loved him, even if part of her didn't.

She got up and went inside slamming her mug down as she passed the kitchen. "Lex, are you alright" Jess asked as they nearly collided on the stairs. "Im fine OK?" Lexie shouted back. She barged past Jess and stomped upstairs slamming her bedroom door behind her.
As Jess made her way outside she could hear a relieved scream come from Lexie. "I wonder what's up with her" Jess asked herself.
Back upstairs Lexie decided not to sleep with Paul that night. She gathered her belongings that she would need and walked to Hectors old room, a room that was promised to her by Molly that she could use if she ever needed to. She opened the door and was greeted by the warmth of the colours.
Lexie put her pj's down and the rest of her things and sat on the bed. She looked up at a photo of Hector, Molly and Archie. She got up and reached for it. They all looked really happy, even though on a number of occasions Hector and Archie never got on.

Jess, who was ordered by her dad to trim the bushes for Molly, had gone to get the trimmers. "Duncan" Jess smiled. "Would you like to help me trim the bushes?"
Duncan looked from side to side. Jess went up to him and used her feminine charms on him. "Pleeeease Duncan, I can't do it all on my own" Jess whispered stroking her finger up and down his chest. Duncan smiled and gave out a little whimper. "But I have things to be doing Jess" he said.
"Oh well I'll just have to do it all on my own, and what if I hurt myself?" Jess replied. Duncan sighed. "Fine I'll help but later you have to let me do my other work".
Jess smiled and kissed him. "Right Dunc, lets get a move on" she said yanking at his arm and pulling him in her direction.

Lexie met Molly and Golly in the kitchen for the picnic. "Where's Paul?" Lexie asked as she packed the apples in the basket. "He's not finished working yet" replied Golly. "Ok" Lexie said.
"Are you alright Lexie" Molly asked. "Yes I'm fine just had a long soak in the bath to relax a little" Lexie smiled.
"Right Lex everything packed?" Paul said as he came through the door. "Eh no not everything, I need to pack the drinks and make myself something" Lexie said lifting the bread onto the table.
"Lexie, didn't I tell you to get organized before and not sit around all morning, we have to go" Paul moaned. "I was having a bath Paul" Lexie replied. "You didn't need one, just hurry up with that, I'll take this to the car" Paul said picking up the blankets and sun lotion.
"Yes boss" Lexie muttered under her breathe as he left. "Golly could you go and ask Duncan and Jess to come in now while I help Lexie" Molly asked. "Aye" Golly nodded leaving the kitchen.
"Why is Paul being so hard on you?" Molly asked Lexie who was frantically trying to get a sandwich made up before Paul came back.
"Is he? I haven't really noticed" Lexie said trying to cover up the fact that she had noticed but didn't want to say anything. Molly smiled and handed her the butter knife.
"LEXIE" Paul shouted as he came back down to the kitchen. "Im going upstairs ill be down soon, so put the food in the car and wait on me outside" Paul shouted. "RIGHT OK" Lexie shouted back. "OH and there's a letter for you in the hall" Paul finished.
Lexie smiled, "I wonder who could be sending me a letter" she said to Molly half wanting her to know the answer. "I don't know dear, you go and look and I'll finish up here" Molly replied smiling and waving her hand towards the door.
"Aw thanks Molly" Lexie said. She ran down out of the kitchen and into the hall to find the letter addressed to her sitting on a table. She went over and picked it up. The envelope was hand written and the only person she could think of was her mother. She ripped it open and read ….

TO BE CONTINUED