I've been on holiday so its taken me a little longer to update than I would like...but anyway its up now. so thank you for reading - and for reviewing previous chapters :) Please read and review!
Rachel x
Chapter 4
"I can't tell you, Mum" I apologised "I'm sorry but I can't, not yet at least"
"Casey Anna Jones, you tell me who the father is right now" Mum growled at me, her eyes glinting with fury.
"I can't mum, he works with you! You'll treat him differently! I'm sorry, but not yet, mum" I shouted back.
I turned on my heel and stormed out into the hallway and pounded up the stairs. I flung open my bedroom door and buried myself in my bed under my covers. I couldn't help but cry to myself. I wanted nothing more than to go back downstairs and tell my mum about Nate, and the baby and his reaction. I wanted to tell her about how bad I felt, stupidly, because I saw the look in Callum's eyes when I'd told him Nate was the father. But I couldn't, because she was their Inspector, and because my mum would go mad. She'd lose it; she'd take all her anger out on Nate, maybe Callum just to spite me.
I wanted my dad. He'd understand, he always could understand, or at least he could when he was home. Nowadays he wasn't there very often; I couldn't tell him everything anymore. Who else could I turn to? There was Hollie of course, but, she was always pretty busy with her work and every bit of free time that she had was filled with little Sammy. I dint want to disturb her. Who else could I call?
I rolled over and reached into my bag that I'd dumped on the floor when we'd got home. I flicked through my contacts page until I got to someone I could talk to. I sighed and dialled the number. I held the phone to my ear.
"Hello?"
"Smithy? It's Casey" I said.
"What's wrong, Case?" Smithy asked, concerned.
"I know it's getting late, but can you meet me somewhere? I just need to talk to someone" I mumbled, I was trying not to cry.
"Course, Case…but shouldn't you talk to your mum or something" Smithy said.
"I can't Smithy, I've tried…but she's interrogating me. I just want to talk to someone, who isn't going to dish out CCTV duty to anyone who has any sort of inside information on me" I cried.
"Ok, ok" Smithy agreed "how about you come over my place? You remember where it is right?"
I did remember; I'd stayed there one weekend when my mum had to go to Scotland on a training course at work. I was sixteen and my dad was supposed to be home to look after me. He cancelled at the last minute. I told my mum that I'd be ok for the weekend, but Smithy offered to look after me; he had the weekend off. I'd expected him to treat me like a baby, but instead it was a really good weekend. We watched films and Smithy got us a takeaway – a curry, my favourite.
"Yeah, I'll be there soon. Thanks, Smithy"
I hung up the phone, grabbed my handbag and thundered down the stairs.
"Mum? I'm going out" I called "I'm taking the car"
"Where are you going, Casey?"
"To talk" I sighed.
Reluctantly, mum handed over the car keys. I pulled on my boots and slid my phone into my pocket. I opened the front door and walked out to the car. It was pretty warm outside but not as warm as I'd expected for a summer night like today. I opened the door to our car and climbed in.
It was only a short drive to Smithy's flat. I parked up the car out front and pulled my bag onto my shoulder. I sat in the car for a few moments before I got up and pressed the buzzer on the door of the flats.
"Come on up, Case" Smithy's voice fuzzed through the intercom.
I pushed open the door, and climbed the steps to the second floor. Smithy's door was already open. He was sat on the sofa, a beer in hand. He was in his casual clothes, jeans and a t-shirt.
"Thanks for letting me come over" I mumbled, slumping down on the sofa, "I just had to get away from mum"
"She's just worried about you, Case. What did she want to know?" Smithy sighed.
"She keeps questioning me about the baby's dad, and about college and about what I'm going to do now. I don't know what I'm going to do, about anything for Christ's sake, its not like I planned all this. I told the dad today, and I know I'm keeping the baby, but that's as far as I've got with all of this"
"How did he take it?"
"Ok I suppose, it's a lot to take in. I wouldn't have said he's the fatherly type, Smithy. I just don't think he's going to stick around and be a dad; but I've given him the choice. He can be a part of the baby's life if he wants to be, or he doesn't have to be" I rambled.
"He might surprise you, Casey. He might take on the responsibility"
"I doubt it, Smithy. It's Nate, Smithy, he's the father" I admitted.
Smithy let out a mild laugh.
"Well I never saw that coming" Smithy finally muttered.
"Yeah, that's what I said" I said dryly.
"I'm not going to tell my mum about it until Nate makes up his mind" I informed Smithy "she can question me all she likes, I'm not giving in. I'm going to come to the station tomorrow and speak to him, find out what he wants and I'll go from there" I decided.
"Sounds like a plan" Smithy agreed.
I checked my watch and sighed.
"I better be off, Smithy. I'm knackered and I don't want my mum to worry any more than necessary. Thank you for this, Smithy" I leaned forwards and hugged him tight, "I'll see you tomorrow".
Smithy walked me to the door and I got back in the car, driving back home for another set of twenty questions. Oh the joy. That was just what I needed.
