Goodbye.
Ronnie sneaks into Andy's house to steal things that once belonged to Danielle after she is banned from the funeral. Then she decides to go, regardless of what anyone thinks. When she gets back home there is a letter from her dead daughter waiting for her.
Chapter one.
It was Tuesday the fourteenth of April, a pile of unopened cards lay piled up, on the coffee table.
Ronnie felt ill, maybe because this was the day her daughter would be buried in the cold hard earth, far away in some damp meaningless graveyard, in some coffin that she had no authority over, probably right next to her adoptive mother. Was that right? Ronnie didn't think so, she had wanted to put her locket in with Danielle when she was buried, but the girl's father had refused, yelling aggressively, "You are not her mother! Stay away from me and my family!"
"I begged him to let me go… But he won't see reason…" Ronnie explained to her sister, as they sat side by side in the living room, "I gave birth to her didn't I…. I'm gonna be there whether he likes it or not!"
Roxy had been up all night with Amy and was tired, she shut her eyes and breathed heavily, "You don't want to cause a scene at Danielle's funeral remember…" she reminded Ronnie gently, "Remember we agreed that you'd say your goodbyes later on, after the service…. I'll come with you if you want…."
"Yeh well… I've changed my mind!" snapped Ronnie, glaring at her sister, "Who's side are you on anyway! I didn't want to give her up!" she started to yell, "I was forced into it! Therefore I am not the one to blame here! I know that you obviously think that I should take a step back, you wouldn't be saying that if she were yours…"
"Look I know what your saying…" insisted Roxy, who was trying to keep calm, "But… Danielle has died, and I don't think that you've come to terms with that yet… That girl's adoptive family brought her up Ronnie, if you go to the funeral it's going to make the day ten times harder for them… Would Danielle want you to go and cause a row…"
"Danielle can't want anything!" screamed Ronnie, getting up from the sofa, "She's gone, encase you hadn't noticed… Because that brainless cow Janine can't stop herself for speeding around the square like a maniac…… Look I'm sorry…" she added rationally, "Maybe you're right. I caused nothing but misery for that girl when she was alive, and now I'm doing the same thing…"
"No…" insisted Roxy soothingly, "That's not what I mean, You didn't know, none of us did… Well except for "Him" of course.."
"All I want…" Ronnie blurted out passionately, "Is to give Danielle her locket back, so that she can…." she stopped suddenly and continued more calmly, "Oh I don't know…. I'm just being stupid…"
"It's not stupid… But why don't keep the locket aye…. Keep it for her…" suggested her sister softly.
Ronnie wiped her eyes as she was beginning to cry again, as she had been doing for the last week, every hour or so, "She's gone and that's it…." she said flatly, "These daft sentiments won't ever change that…. I'm going out ok….. I Want to be left alone…"
"Don't worry…" she added before exiting the door, "I'll stay away from my daughter's funeral…"
Ronnie banged loudly on the Slater's front door, Stacey answered, she was wearing a rather tarty looking black outfit, presumably she was dressed for the funeral.
"What de you want…" asked Stacey with a scowl on her face, "I thought I told you to leave me alone… I don't want to talk to you about Danielle, I thought I was being clear when I told you that I cant deal wiv it right now…"
"I just need her address that's all, the one in Telford… I just want to see the place where she grew up, surely you can understand that…" Ronnie pleaded with her, "Her dad has already banned me from the funeral!" she added, hoping to get Stacey on side.
Stacey glared at Ronnie for a moment, "Fine… I'll get it for you… but you just leave Danielle's family alone, they don't need the grief of you turning up on their door step…"
Stacey slammed the door and then returned a moment later with a piece of paper, "There, I rit it down for ya… Now get outa my face…"
Ronnie reached out and took the address, and gave Stacey a look of thanks…. For the door was slammed once more in her face.
She headed off down to the station and purchased a ticket. What ever happened she had to know what kind of life her daughter had led, whether she had to break the law to do it or not.