Thanks again for all your wonderful comments. They mean a lot to me. x
Sam and I sat waiting for Grace to be collected. We had managed to spin our web of lies quite successfully saying Sam's sister had died rather suddenly and how important it was that she be surrounded by her family at such a time. I asked them kindly not to mention her Father's presence, not wishing to worry her before we had a chance to explain what had happened. I felt incredibly guilty at how sympathetic they had been over the whole thing. "I can't believe we just got away with that." I muttered to him. "I know. It just all came too easily." I smirked at him and quickly remembered we were supposed to be grieving. "Perhaps you should wait outside and we can surprise her? It might earn me some greatly needed brownie points." He dug the car keys out of his blazer pocket and he bowed his head in acknowledgement. "I'll let you have this one, just this once." I shoved him playfully as he made to get up, winking as he exited the door.
I swallowed the thick lump that lay heavy in the back of my throat, standing up to meet my daughter as she walked through to the reception area, her face a picture of bewilderment. I hooked my bag over my arm and closed the gap between us, bending my knees to her level, embracing her in a warm hug like I did every time we'd been away from each other. "Hello my darling." It pained me when her arms didn't wrap themselves around as tightly as they once did. They hung loose, awkward and un-reciprocating. "What are you doing here?" Her voice direct, uncaring and I fought back the tears of hurt, smiling through the ache that tore through my heart. "I don't want to tell you here. We will talk about it when we get home. Now, come on sweetheart, thank Ms Blake and we'll be on our way." I gratefully accepted Grace's bag of possessions, placing my hand on her shoulder to encourage her to speak. "Thank you Ms Blake." She dripped with attitude and I smiled apologetically. "You're welcome. I'll see you soon. You both take care now." Her smile was sympathetic and I felt a pang of guilt at the lie we were now embroiled in. "Thank you so much Ms Blake. We'll be in touch soon." I wrapped my arm around my daughters shoulder but she shrugged it off as soon as we exited the building.
"I have a little surprise for you darling." She pulled herself away from me, walking down the steps ahead of me. "What?" I felt a sense of loss, this girl before me a far cry from the daughter I love so dearly. "Less of the attitude please." She stopped and turned to look at me defiantly. "No." My breath caught in the back of my throat. "I beg your pardon?" Her pace became faster than the clicking of my stiletto clad feet. "You heard me." I sped up, putting my hand upon her shoulder to stop her, turn her around. Her face was filled with such anguish for a child. It was like she was possessed by it. "You listen to me. I will not be spoken to in that manner by you nor anyone else so you can cut it out right now. I don't know what's gotten into you lately but I know it has something to do with me. I just wish you would tell me Grace. I'm your Mother. We need to sort this out." I held onto her, my glassy eyes searching hers for answers but she looked away. "I don't have to tell you anything." Her arms ripped free from me and I lost control, the tears resurfacing. "Tell your Father then." I almost whispered, my voice wobbling as she turned to face me. "If only he were around Mum!" The pitch of her voice so high as she shook with rage. "He's behind you." Sam sent me a questioning gaze, I nodded saying I was fine as I wiped away the teardrops. Grace turned and ran into her Father's open arms as he dropped his knees to the ground. Her head buried in his chest as he held her so tight. I cried tears of happiness and tears of hurt that she couldn't be like that with me. I hid myself as I opened the boot of the car, placing Grace's bag in and taking a moment to inhale some fresh winter air into my lungs willing it to fight away the drops of salty moisture. I composed myself, dabbed beneath my eyes with a tissue and closed the boot of the car. I lost myself, transfixing my gaze upon them but for just a moment, I closed my eyes and dreamt that I was in that picture. I open them and I'm merely a shadow in the background.