It was about 9 o clock on a Friday night and Lucy was stood outside of her house, trying to open the front door as quietly as she possibly could.
What Lucy didn't realise was that her mother had seen her walking up the drive and was already waiting on the other side of the door.
Lucy started pushing the door forward slowly but she soon saw Rachel stood in front of her, hands on hips.
"Where the hell have you been?"
"Like you care"
"Of course I care, I'm your Mum"
"You've got a funny way of showing it, I thought Mums were meant to be nice to their kids" Lucy said as she walked past her Mum
"You still haven't told me where you've been"
"Out"
"Yeah I gathered that, but I seem to recall telling you not to go out tonight. Were you at the park?"
"Yep" the twelve year old said before storming up the stairs
She had tears in her eyes but there was no way she was going to let Rachel see this.
As much as she didn't like to admit it, Lucy hated falling out with her Mum all the time but there just always seemed to be so much tension between them.
Rachel didn't bother to follow her up. She couldn't be bothered for another evening arguing with her daughter.
Instead she went into her youngest daughter's bedroom expecting to find her asleep, however when she went in Ivy was still wide awake.
"What are you still doing awake at this time?"
"I'm excited Mummy"
"And what are you excited about?" Rachel asked smiling, but she already knew the answer to this
"My Birthday tomorrow"
"Oh yeah I forgot it was your Birthday tomorrow" Rachel joked "how old are you going to be again?"
"I told you at teatime Mummy" Ivy said laughing "I'm going to be five"
"Oh yes I remember now. Just think the sooner you go to sleep and the sooner you can wake up and it will be your Birthday"
"I know, I'm trying it's just really hard. Are you still letting me have my party tomorrow Mummy?"
"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well I've never really had a party before so I was just checking"
Rachel couldn't say she was particularly looking forward to having a class full of reception children running around. But it was only for a couple of hours and it wasn't in her house either.
"The party if most definitely still on my love"
"I can't wait to go on the bouncy castle Mummy, will you come on with me?"
"Wouldn't you rather go on with your friends?"
"Yes but I want to go on with you sometimes too"
"I'm sure I could cope for a few minutes"
"And Lucy too"
Rachel sighed, she really hoped Lucy would be in a better mood tomorrow for her little sister's Birthday.
"You'll have to ask her won't you. Anyway lie down and try to go to sleep now, you don't want to be tired tomorrow"
"Okay Mummy"
Although Ivy could be a little madam sometimes she could also be extremely sweet, and Rachel was glad she was being sweet at the minute as she didn't think she could cope with two stroppy daughters right now.
"Night sweetheart, love you lots"
"I love you too Mummy"
Ivy closed her eyes and Rachel stroked her hair until she dropped off to sleep.
Rachel then tiptoed out of her bedroom and decided to go and see Lucy. She really wanted to be on speaking terms with her daughter before tomorrow.
Rachel was shocked when she went in and noticed Lucy's face. It was obvious that she'd been crying.
As angry as Rachel felt with Lucy she tried her best to stay calm, as she wanted to get things sorted for Ivy's sake.
"I'm not here to lecture you, but I do just want to know why you felt it was okay to go out when I specifically told you not to"
Lucy just shrugged her shoulders.
"Is that all you can do, I'm trying to be nice here Lucy"
"I didn't see why I couldn't go"
"How many times do we have to go through this Lucy? I don't feel right letting you go out to just hang about with your friends, those aren't the sort of people I want you associating with"
"Why are you acting like you're suddenly so bothered? All you care about is having the perfect daughter because everyone things you're the perfect head teacher. Maybe if you'd been the perfect Mum you might have raised a perfect daughter"
"Lucy please, I'm trying to get this sorted. It's Ivy's Birthday, you don't want her getting upset again because we're arguing do you?"
"Because you've really cared about making her Birthday special for the last three years haven't you Mum? I was the one who decorated the house last year and made a cake to try and make the day feel like her Birthday"
"You know how much I was still struggling last year Lucy"
"Well so was I Mum, he was my Dad you know"
Three years ago Rachel's husband had died in a car crash. He'd been on his way back from the supermarket buying a cake for Ivy's Birthday, as Rachel had attempted to make one but it had been a complete disaster.
"Of course I know, and I know how hard it must have been for you too"
"But Ivy should have been more important. Her third Birthday was practically like any other day, you just gave her some presents. That wasn't fair on her Mum"
"I know Lucy" Rachel said as tears began to form in her eyes "and that's why I'm making such an effort for her this year. I'm trying my best, but her Birthday brings to many mixed emotions for me"
Lucy could feel tears brimming in her eyes, but she was trying her best to push them back. Crying in front of her Mum was something she hadn't done in a long time, despite the numerous amount of times she did cry.
"I miss him Mum, I wish he was still here"
"Me too darling, me too"
For the first time in what seemed like forever Lucy allowed her Mum to cuddle her for the first time in a very long time.
The death of Lucy's Dad seemed to have really taken its toll on Rachel and Lucy's relationship.
Lucy used to be a proper little Mummy's girl, but these days they were so distant with one another and they argued all the time.
"I'm going to go to sleep now" Lucy said pulling away from her Mum
Rachel hoped she had made a little break through with Lucy and that tomorrow they would get on. She knew she still had the issue of Lucy's bad behaviour and attitude to deal with, but that could wait for another day.
"Okay, night love"
As soon as Rachel closed her bedroom door Lucy curled up into a ball and cried. She cried so much that eventually she cried herself to sleep.
Rachel went to bed herself after this point, knowing she was going to need all the rest she could get ready for tomorrow!
Although she dropped off pretty quickly, she woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't get back to sleep.
After lying there for about an hour, she flicked on the lamp beside her bed and went over to her wardrobe and pulled out some old photo albums.
She sat there for ages looking through the photos of Ivy's first and second Birthday when Rachel had been so happy. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world with her husband and their two beautiful children.
Rachel would have done anything to have Tom back again, for their children to have a Dad that was alive.
Since Tom had died Rachel had taken hardly any photos. But she knew all of this needed to change. She needed to stop dwelling on the past and think about the future, for her two daughters.
Rachel had been so engrossed in the photos that she hadn't heard Ivy come into her bedroom.
"What are you doing Mummy?"
Rachel hastily wiped away a few tears before turning to face Ivy.
"I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd just have a look through these, come and have a look you were practically a baby here"
"How old was I?"
"You were 1, these are all photos from your first Birthday"
"I look really tiny"
"You were tiny"
Rachel really glad looking through the photos with Ivy. It was something she hadn't been able to do since Tom had died because it had just upset her too much, but now it was becoming easier to just remember all of the good memories she'd shared with him.
"Anyway sleepyhead what are you doing awake?"
"I woke up and I thought it was the morning but then I realised it was still dark outside, but I can't get back to sleep Mummy because I'm too excited"
"Do you think coming in with me might help?"
Ivy nodded so Rachel started to put all of the photo albums away.
"I want to look at more photos Mummy"
"We can, tomorrow or maybe another day. You need to go to sleep now"
"I need a wee first"
"Go on then"
Ivy quickly went for a wee in Rachel's en suite before climbing into Rachel's bed.
She loved sleeping in her Mum's bed, it was so comfy and her room was so pretty.
Rachel wrapped her arms around Ivy and they quickly fell asleep.
Before she knew it Rachel was woken up by a very excited Ivy.
"Mummy, Mummy it's my Birthday"
"Happy Birthday darling" Rachel said before kissing her daughter's forehead
"Can I go and wake Lucy up?"
"I suppose so, and then bring her down to the lounge"
Rachel had spent ages last night decorating the lounge and laying out all of her presents.
Rachel wrapped a dressing gown around her before going downstairs.
A few minutes later her two daughters came.
The look on Ivy's face when she was the room was priceless and seeing her so happy made Rachel very happy. It was the happiest she had felt in a very long time.
"Did you do this Mum?"
"Yep"
"Thank you" Ivy said before wrapping her arms around her Mum "can I open my presents now?"
"Of course you can"
Of course Ivy went straight for the biggest. Not that it was wrapped. Rachel had just put a blanket over it with a ribbon on top.
Ivy was so pleased when she saw it was a bike.
"Thank you Mummy, I've wanted to learn how to ride a bike for ages"
"I know you have love, and I thought it was about time I taught you"
Ivy then opened the rest of her presents. She loved playing with dolls so Rachel had got her a few more bits for that and a few other bits and bobs.
"Do you want your present from me now Ivs?" Lucy asked
"Yes please"
Lucy went upstairs and got the present from her room before bringing it back down.
Rachel didn't even know what it was. She'd offered to buy it for Lucy to give to her sister, but Lucy had insisted on choosing it and paying for it herself.
Ivy opened it and it was a pink karaoke machine. Ivy loved singing and dancing so Lucy thought she would probably enjoy it.
"Wow thanks Lucy, this is the best Birthday ever I've got so many presents"
"Auntie Mel is coming over a bit later, so you never know she might have a present for you too"
Ivy was grinning so much.
Ivy went over and gave her Mum a big cuddle.
"Thank you so much for all of my presents Mummy"
"You're more than welcome darling"
Ivy then went over to give Lucy a hug.
"Right then, what does the Birthday girl want for breakfast? I've bought pain au chocolat so you can have that with some fruit, or I can make pancakes. Whatever you fancy really"
"Can we have pancakes and pain au chocolat?"
"It is your Birthday I guess" Rachel said smiling
The two girls followed Rachel into the kitchen and sat at the breakfast bar whilst she started getting all the stuff out for breakfast.
"Can I have a go at cooking a pancake Mum?" Lucy asked
"Yep"
"Can I toss it"
"You can try, see if you have any better luck than me" Rachel said laughing
Lucy tried and did manage to do a good job of tossing the pancake.
Once it was ready she put it onto Ivy's plate and Ivy started filling her pancake with all sorts.
"Don't make yourself sick love"
They all sat down and had a really nice breakfast together.
Once they'd finished breakfast Rachel took Ivy upstairs and gave her a bath so she was looking nice and fresh for her Birthday party this afternoon.
Once Lucy was ready Rachel wanted to go and have a little word with Lucy. She thought her present for Ivy was so thoughtful and she just wanted to tell her daughter how proud of her she was.
Rachel opened the door however Lucy was in the middle of getting changed.
"Mum" Lucy shouted quickly holding up a top against her chest
"Sorry love I didn't know you were getting changed"
"Well you should have knocked first and I'd have told you"
Rachel sighed thinking Lucy's mood had changed back to normal.
"What was it you wanted anyway?"
"Just to say well done for Ivy's Birthday present, she's so pleased with it"
"It took me ages walking around Toysrus trying to choose something"
"Well you did an excellent job, anyway I'll leave you to finish getting ready"
Rachel walked out and went and jumped in the shower herself and got ready.
By the time Rachel was ready Mel had already arrived to see Ivy with Philip and her 14 year old daughter Olivia.
The three of them stayed until it was time to head to the leisure centre for Ivy's party.
Mel was coming too to help Rachel out.
They arrived and went into the hall where the bouncy castle was already set up and lots of toys had been put out.
Rachel laid all of the party bags out on the table before agreeing to go on the bouncy castle with Ivy.
Rachel was so carried away with Ivy she didn't notice one of the Mum's come in with one of Ivy's friends.
She quickly stopped feeling quite embarrassed when she saw her stood there as Rachel felt a bit hot and sweaty now and her hair was all over the place.
"Sorry I know we're a bit early, but I need to rush off to pick up my son from his football match so Maisy was hoping she could wait here"
"Yeah of course, that's fine"
"I will be back once I've picked Max up and dropped him to his Grandma's"
"Yes of course, it's no problem whatsoever"
Within half an hour the hall had gone from being completely empty to packed full with five year olds and Mum's and Dad's.
Things seemed to be running smoothly at the minute though which Rachel was glad about.
After a good couple of hours playing Rachel rounded all of the children up and took them through to the café ready for the food.
The staff started bringing out all of the food and then they started tucking into the buffet.
The children were all starting to eat when Rachel noticed Maisy looking a bit sad so went over to her.
"Are you okay darling?" Rachel asked to which Maisy nodded her head
"Are you sure?"
"Well I wanted to sit with Ivy because she's my best friend but I wasn't quick enough because everyone wants to sit next to her because it's her Birthday"
Maisy was Ivy's best friend so Rachel took hold of Maisy's hand and pulled a seat next to Ivy so she was sitting next to her.
"Thank you Rachel"
"No problem love"
Rachel then went and grabbed a plate of food for herself before going to stand with Mel and some of the other Mum's
Rachel had taken plenty of photos from the day so was looking forward to printing them off and making an album.
After they'd eaten Rachel lit all of the candles on the cake and then everyone sang to Ivy.
Rachel then cut the cake and started putting it into party bags as it was nearly time for everyone to go home.
Once the party had finished and everyone had gone home Rachel took Ivy and Lucy home.
Rachel had said Mel could come back too but she said she needed to get home because Olivia had friends coming over tonight.
When they got home the three of them sat down and watched a DVD that Ivy had got for her Birthday however by the time it had finished she was extremely tired, which was no wonder after such a busy day.
"Let's get you up to bed love"
Ivy didn't put up any protests and went straight up with Rachel.
Once Ivy had changed into pyjamas and been to the loo and brushed her teeth, Rachel got her tucked up in bed.
"I've had the best day ever today Mummy, I wish we could do it again tomorrow"
"I was thinking a bit of a quieter day tomorrow, maybe a nice walk or something"
"That's boring though"
"If all days were exciting as today though it wouldn't have been special though would it?"
"No I guess not"
Rachel stayed and talked to Ivy for a bit longer before saying goodnight and going back downstairs with Lucy.
"Mum can I go out tonight with some friends?"
"Can't you just stay in tonight with me love?"
"But I want to see my friends"
Rachel sighed.
"Where are you going with them?"
"Just out"
"Well no, my answer is no. I don't know why you even bothered to ask"
"Thanks a lot Mum" Lucy said before storming out
"And don't even think about sneaking out again like you did last night"
Just when Rachel thought she'd got somewhere with Lucy, she spent yet another evening sat in the lounge on her own whilst Lucy sat up in her bedroom.
Rachel did keep checking on her and she didn't sneak out again, which was one thing to be glad about she thought to herself.
