Chapter 2
Thank you for all the lovely reviews really made my day means a lot. I had a query about whether Amy's pregnancy is going to be featured in this story and the answer is I'm not sure as I don't think will reach up to that point in Amy's life however I haven't decided yet.
It was later that night and Amy and Holly were downstairs with Rachel and Richard watching TV. Rachel was glad to see Amy had cheered up considerably she knew that she could be quite strict at times however she would hate to think that any of her kids were too afraid to come to her.
It was weird Rachel thought if anyone was to look at then 4 of the, now they would seem like the perfect happy family Richard and Rachel with their arms around each other while laughing and joking with their 2 beautiful daughters as their son was doing his homework upstairs. However the reality was quite different almost every night Rachel and Richards conversations would end in massive arguments they would both go to bed furious with one another, and finish up sleeping In different beds, Rachel was beginning to wonder just how much more of it she could take.
Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Jake coming downstairs and into the living room.
"Hey love have you done all your homework?" Rachel asked
"Yeah I didn't have that much anyway" Jake said
"Okay well do you want to watch some TV with us" Rachel said
"Actually I was wondering if it would be okay if I went out for a bit" Jake asked nervously he hoped his parents that actually he had a date with Jessica Thomas who was actually in the year above him, he knew that neither of his parents would mind he just didn't want the ordeal and embarrassment of explaining It to them.
"out where?" Rachel asked automatically
"Just out" Jake said
"Not good enough I need to know where you are and who you're going to be with" Rachel said
"Bloody hell mum I'm just going out no one else's parents quiz them like this" Jake protested raising his voice
"You just watch your tone young man and you're not going out until I know where your going" Rachel said
"Round to Tom's house okay? And I'll be back by 10" Jake promised he hoped he'd be allowed to go now he really didn't want to put Jessica off by turning up late
"Fine but you make sure your back on time and actually come to think about it you're very lucky I'm letting you go out at all your still meant to be grounded from last week if I remember rightly" Rachel recalled remembering that she grounded Jake last week for coming home way after his curfew and for swearing far too much around the house.
"Okay well bye see you later" Jake said before practically running out the house.
"You shouldn't suffocate him like you do Rachel" Richard said this immediately irritated Rachel she hated it when her husband made digs at her especially when it was concerning the children and her parenting methods, all she wanted was what was best for her kids and if that meant a bit of questioning and tough love then so be it was Rachel's view however her husband was much more relaxed he cared deeply about the kids but not in the same way Rachel did.
"Oh well thanks for that bit of advice Richard why don't I let you do all the parenting then the kids will be running riot on the streets all day" Rachel said snappily she knew she was being unfair she was just in quite a bad mood and felt rather snappy towards everyone. Richard didn't say anything else the last thing either of the, wanted was to fight in front of the kids.
"Mum I really don't feel very well I think I'm going to be sick." Holly told her Mum she sounded very worried. Richard quickly dashed into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl and luckily got back in time before his youngest daughter was sick. Richard held the bowl while Rachel rubbed her daughters back.
"Rach do you want me to tuck her up in bed" Richard asked his wife
"I'll come with you" Rachel said as she always did like to be there if any of her children were feeling unwell.
Richard carried the poorly little girl up to bed while Rachel followed closely behind. Eventually he put her down on her bed and pulled the covers over her. Rachel smiled as she sat down on Holly's bed she always did love watching Richard care for the kids in many ways he was an excellent dad it just frustrated her when she was made to look like the bad guy when she Richard more or less let the kids do whatever they wanted and she wouldn't.
"Come on sweetheart try and go to sleep its way past your bedtime and you'll feel better in the morning" Rachel said before kissing her daughter on the cheek.
"But mum I was having fun with you and dad downstairs it's not often your both like that" Holly said
"Both like what?" Rachel asked
"Both happy normally you just argue" Holly said
"Oh darling that isn't true all couples argue but I am very sorry if you feel that we're not getting on very well or that we don't love each other to pieces because we do" Rachel explained to her daughter who looked very worried
"Your Mums right love we do argue but it's not over anything important me and your mum are completely fine so stop worrying" Richard said
Holly looked at both of her parents before mumbling "Louisa's mum and dad argued all the time and they got a divorce" tears were starting to form in Hollys eyes it had been something she had been worrying about for quite some time but until now she'd been too afraid to talk to her parents about it
"Well that must be very hard for Louisa horrible for her in fact and I hope your being especially nice to her at the moment because she'll need lots of friends to be there for her but daring if your worrying about me an dad getting a divorce then stop because I promise hand on heart that isn't going to happen okay" Rachel said
"Okay" Holly mumbled before shutting her eyes
"Night night Holly and no more worrying promise" Rachel said
"yeah I promise"
"Holly if your worried about this sort of thing in the future please come and talk to one of us love" Richard said
"okay night love you" Holly said to her parents
A few moments later they both crept out of her room and went onto the landing
"Richard we really need to stop arguing in front of the kids first Amy and now Holly our relationship isn't what 2 young girls should be worrying themselves about" Rachel said quietly so her daughters wouldn't here there conversation
"I know Rach and I'm sorry if I've been upsetting you you're a fantastic Mum and a fantastic wife I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have you and I'm sorry I don't always show it and you know what I do need to be more strict with the kids I know they see me as a push over"
"Oh darling they love you to pieces that's just who you are. And you know what I'm sorry too I've been a moody unreasonable cow over the last few days"
"No you haven't sweetheart but you do seem quite stressed out recently is something bothering you?" Richard asked sounding concerned
"oh nothing important just the usual, stress from work, keeping the kids happy, Mum being ill and to add to all that it's time of the flipping month so I suppose that's all the right ingredients to make a girl glow eh" Rachel said, Richard smiled at her before pulling her into a big hug
"Come on then you miserable old cow lets go and tell Amy its bedtime" Richard joked
"Oi only I'm allowed to call myself that" Rachel said laughing before walking downstairs to see Amy who was watching the music channel
"Come on now Amy bedtime love" Richard said
"just let me watch for 5 minutes please it's Friday night so it's not like I have school tomorrow" Amy whined
"5 minutes then straight up no arguing your still in trouble for earlier so behave yourself" Rachel warned this was enough to silence Amy she watched for a bit longer and then went to bed
Rachel and Richard made themselves a coffee and chatted for a while suddenly they noticed the time
"Oh my god it's 10:30 where the hell is Jake" Rachel said starting to worry
"I'll call Tom's mum see if he's on his way" Richard said before grabbing the phone
A few minutes later he came back into the living room looking very worried
"What is it love" Rachel asked
"Apparently Jake didn't show up at Tom's house his mum knew nothing about him coming" Richard said
"Oh god where can he be"
"Okay lets calm down I'll give him a ring" Richard said he tried ringing Jakes mobile but got no answer
A couple of minutes later they heard the phone ringing they felt so relieved thinking it must be Jake, however it wasn't Jake at all it was Richards work saying they needed him to come in
"You go I'll be fine here" Rachel said
"Are you sure what about Jake?" Richard asked
"I'll deal with him don't you worry I'm sure he'll come back soon" Rachel reassured her husband
"Okay bye sweetheart see you soon" Richard said to his wife Rachel kissed him goodbye before ringing Jakes mobile again however there was no need Rachel heard her son come in she felt so relieved but very angry at the same time
"Thank god you're okay I was worried sick" Rachel said
"Right in there sit down" Rachel commanded this immediately frightened Jake he knew that tone of voice and it normally meant only one thing-big trouble.
"Explanation now" Rachel shouted
"We were at toms and then …" Jake began before Rachel cut him off
"Well that's a load of rubbish you weren't at Toms so stop lying to me" Rachel said
"Where's Dad?" Jake asked
"At work not that it matters as he is just as annoyed as I am" Rachel said
"Look Mum I'm dead sorry it won't happen again but I don't want to explain where I was" Jake said
Rachel began to feel a little less angry now this was unlike Jake and he did look very worried she remembered that he hadn't wanted to explain where he was going earlier
"Why not?" Rachel asked her voice a little softer now
"Because it's embarrassing alright?" Jake explained Rachel looked at her son however much he pretended he was all grown up and tough now Rachel knew he was still a little boy and really quite vulnerable he was only 12 after all. She got up off her seat and went to sit on the sofa with her son and put her arm around him
"Hey I can do embarrassing I work with about 600 odd teenagers remember" Rachel said
"I know it's just.." Jake said but he didn't know what to say
"Look Jake is this something you'd feel more comfortable discussing with your dad when he gets back from work because if it is I would understand" Rachel said Jake shook his head weirdly he had always been closer to his Mum than to his dad just like Amy was a little closer to her Dad
"Okay want to talk to me about it then huh?" Rachel asked Jake thought for a minute and then decided he trusted his mum enough to talk to her
"Well I went out with Jessica Thomas you know like on a date" Jake explained
"Yes I do know I was 12 once you know and love that's not something to be embarrassed about she's a lovely girl me and your Dad would have been completely fine with it if you'd told us you really didn't need to lie to us" Rachel said
"I know I just I don't know I felt weird I thought you might make a big deal out of it or something but mum the thing is …" Jake said sounding nervous
"Go on" Rachel encouraged wanting to find out what was bothering her son
"Well how do you know if a girl wants to kiss you or not and if she does well what do I do?" Jake asked Rachel couldn't help but smile she felt so glad that Jake could talk to her about this stuff she wouldn't have dared talk to her Mum about it let alone her Dad
"Well you should wait until you're comfortable with each other and I'm pretty sure you'll know if she wants to because it just sort of feel like it's right and then it happens it' not something that most people plan or anything and as for what you do just be gentle and caring oh and make sure you've had a few mints" Rachel joked
"Okay thank mum" Jake said smiling
"That's alright but if you are going out with her again which I'm sure you will be what girl could resist your irresistible charms eh just let us know we're not going to make a big deal of it it's just good to know where you are and who you're with and try and look at a watch when you're not gazing into each other's eyes because if you don't your next date will be a maths lesson young man" Rachel joked causing Rachel to laugh
"Okay night Mum and I take it I'm grounded right" Jake said
"I'll let you off just this once but I mean it Jake if it happens again …"
"It won't" Jake promised
"Okay up to bed before I change my mind" Rachel said she gave her son a quick kiss before he went to bed Rachel was still smiling she loved that her son knew he could always talk to her
Reviews greatly appreciated xxx