Chapter 2
The following morning Elsie woke up snuggled into Rachel who was sat up in bed reading her book. She began to stretch but then it all came flooding back to her. Why she was in her Auntie's bed. Why she was now living with Rachel. How her Mum and Dad were no longer alive. A sad smile spread across her face.
"Morning love, you sleep alright?" Rachel asked
"Yes thank you, your bed is so comfy"
"I know, makes it even harder to get out of in the morning though"
They stayed in bed chatting for a while but then Rachel decided it was time to get up.
"I'm going to have a quick shower I think" Rachel said before going into her en suite
Molly woke up a little while later. As usual she was bursting for the loo so quickly got out of bed and went into the bathroom. When she was on the toilet she noticed the blood all over her pyjama bottoms. She didn't know what to do as she hadn't packed any pads and didn't really fancy asking Rachel for some.
She looked in the bathroom cupboard hoping she might find sone in there but she had no such luck. She knew her Auntie must keep some somewhere but they were probably in her en suite bathroom she thought to herself.
Molly quickly went and got dressed before going into the bathroom and stuffing some toilet roll down her knickers. She then shoved her hair into a messy bun before walking down into the kitchen.
She was thinking about how she could get some pads when she spotted her Aunties handbag on the kitchen side. Cautiously she went over and started rummaging through Rachel's bag until she found her purse. She was just about to take a fiver out when she was interrupted by Rachel's voice.
"Molly, what are you doing?" Rachel asked shocked at what she'd just caught her niece doing
"I-i'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking" Molly stuttered before putting the purse back and running upstairs slamming her bedroom door shut behind her
Rachel left her for a few minutes before going upstairs and knocking on Molly's bedroom. Molly ignored her and just buried her head into a cushion so Rachel went in anyway.
She went and perched on the end of Molly's bed and put her hand on her leg.
"Are you going to tell me what you were doing taking money without asking?" Rachel asked
"I needed some money to buy something but I only have dollars" Molly explained turning around to face her Auntie
"Okay, but if you'd have asked you know I'd have happily given it to you"
"I know, I really am sorry" Molly said feeling really bad
"What is it you need anyway?"
"I don't want to say"
"You can tell me"
"Just urmm well you know girl things" molly said and Rachel immediately got what she meant. Molly felt really embarrassed to be talking about this with Rachel. Her Mum knew how uncomfortable this sort of thing made her so she just bought her pads regularly and never mentioned anything about it
"Oh sweetheart, why didn't you just tell me?"
"I was embarrassed I guess"
"Well you don't need to be, I have them too you know. I've got some pads in my bathroom so I'll go and get some for you"
"Thanks Rachel and I really am sorry for trying to take the money, I promise I'll never do anything like it again"
"That's alright love, but you're right you won't do it again because you really have no reason to. Anything you need just come and tell me and I'll get it for you, well within reason of course. I'm not just going to go out and buy you a new ipad or something" Rachel said making Molly smile, the first genuine smile Rachel had seen Molly give since they'd arrived
Rachel went and got a pack of pads before bringing them back to Molly.
"Auntie Rachel do you have any painkillers because I have a really bad stomach ache?" Molly asked
"Yeah course I do, why don't you get yourself sorted and then come down and I'll get you some asprin or something" Rachel said. It was only something small but she couldn't help but feel that Molly was starting to open up to her a bit
A few minutes later Molly had sorted herself out so came and joined her sister and Auntie at the kitchen table and had some breakfast.
"Anything you fancy doing today?" Rachel asked
"I don't mind" Molly said
"Well it's a lovely day again it might be nice to go for a walk or something"
"Yeah okay" both girls agreed
"Rach what time is it in America?" Elsie asked
"Urmm well it's 9 o clock here" Rachel said looking at her watch "so that makes it 1 o clock in the morning in California"
"That's so strange. All of my friends will still be fast asleep"
"It's very weird"
"Do you think I'll ever see my friends again?"
"I don't know love, maybe. If you wanted to go back at some point we could but i don't know it might be a bit weird for you"
The two of them talking about this made Molly get all upset. She excused herself from the table and ran upstairs. Rachel sighed, just when she thought that she was getting somewhere with Molly.
"I hope I get to see Maisie again" Elsie said, Maisie was Elsie's best friend
"You could always skype her later I'm sure she'd love to hear from you"
"Yeah maybe I will"
Rachel went upstairs to see Molly. When Rachel went in it was obvious that Molly had been crying because her eyes were all red and puffy but she'd tried to hide it as soon as she heard Rachel coming
Molly propped herself up against her headboard and Rachel went and sat next to her
"Come here love" Rachel said pulling Molly into her chest "it's okay to get upset and cry you know Mols. I know you're hurting a lot"
Rachel continued to rub her back and much to her surprise Molly did actually start to cry into her. Slowly at first but then becoming more hysterical
"That's it darling you have a good old cry, get it all out. You really will feel so much better for it"
Elsie had come up the stairs and seen her sister breaking down. She'd never seen her big sister upset before and it pained her to see her like it. Rachel noticed her at the doorway and beckoned for her to come over
Elsie came and wrapped her arms around her Auntie before starting to cry too. Rachel too let a few tears fall .
"Oh my loves. You're going to be okay, honestly you are. Now come on let's get out of the house for a few hours"
Rachel didn't even bother to put make up on, she just couldn't be bothered with the hassle of it.
The girls got into Rachel's audi and they drove to the beach.
"Please can I paddle my feet?" Elsie asked
"Yeah go on love, I put a towel in the boot because I thought you might want to"
They all took their shoes off and rolled their trousers up before walking down to the sea
"Ooh it's cold" Molly said after only dipping her toes in and quickly taking it out again
"Oh yes, the water's definitely not as warm as what you're used to"
After a while they all got used to the temperature of the water and it was really nice to just get a bit of sea air.
All of a sudden Rachel spotted a really big wave coming so shouted "quickly move back girls"
Molly and Rachel both managed to get back far enough however Elsie wasn't quick enough and ended up getting her jeans absolutely soaked.
"It's not funny" Elsie said watching her Auntie and sister trying to stifle their giggles
"Okay it's kind of funny" Elsie said joining in too
"I'll go get that towel" Rachel said walking back to her car and getting it out of the boot
"It's probably best if you take those wet jeans off love"
"Okay will you hold the towel up around me then?"
"Of course I can"
Elsie took her jeans off but then realised the water had soaked right through to her knickers
"Auntie Rachel my knickers are wet too"
"Oh dear. Well I guess you'll have to take them off as well then but don't let the towel slip whatever you do"
Once Elsie was all sorted they went to the cafe on the beach and ended up staying their for lunch.
"I like it here, it's really pretty" Molly said
"Yeah I come here a lot actually. If I'm stressed or upset or just want a walk" Rachel told her nieces
Rachel then realised she needed to sort out getting the girls enrolled at a school
"Molly I was talking to Elsie about what school you want to go to yesterday. She said she wants to come to Waterloo road. But obviously it's your choice where you want to go, if you don't want to go the same school your old Auntie teaches at"
"Can I come to Waterloo road too please?"
"Course you can love. I'll ring up later an then we can maybe go and have a look around towards the end of the week"
"Okay, when are we going to start?"
"I thought that Monday would probably be a good day. But obviously if you're not ready that's fine"
"Okay" Molly said and Rachel could tell how nervous she was about starting a new school.
After they'd eaten their lunch they drove back to Rachel's.
"I'll just put these wet things in the wash and then do you want to put a film on or something?" Rachel asked and both girls nodded
The day passed really quickly and come the evening the girls were really tired again what with jet lag and everything.
"I think I'm going to go and out my pyjamas on" Molly said and Elsie decided to do the same
Rachel finished clearing up the kitchen and then remembered she wanted to have a little chat with Elsie. She went upstairs and knocked on Elsie's bedroom door
"Come in" elsie replied
Rachel walked in and went and sat down on the bed next to Elsie
"Els can I ask you something?"
"Yeah" Elsie replied wondering what Rachel was going to say
"Have you started your periods yet?" Rachel asked, she didn't want a repeat performance of what happened with Molly earlier
"No, why?" Elsie didn't have a problem talking about this with Rachel, she really was the complete opposite to her sister
"I just wanted to check that's all. But you know when you do start you can come and tell me and I'll help you" Rachel said supportively
"Okay, I will thank you"
"And with anything else. Even if you think it's really awkward and embarrassing"
"Okay I will do"
"Good, now what do you fancy doing now?"
"I think I'm going to read my book for a bit"
"Okay love shout if you want anything"
"Thanks Auntie Rach"
"No problem"
Rachel then went into see Molly who was sat at the end of her bed holding a picture of her, Elsie, Mel and Lee
Rachel went over and sat by her. She didn't say anything but Molly ended up cuddling into her Auntie and crying
"I miss them so much" Molly cried
"I know you do love, I do too"
Rachel sat there comforting the girl for a while not really knowing what to say to make her feel better
"How about I run you that bath now?" Rachel suggested because clearly she'd got distracted when she came up to get changed earlier as she was still in her clothes
"Yeah okay. Thanks Auntie Rachel"
"No problem darling"
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed xxxxxxx
