RONNIE'S POV:
Charlie and I lay in bed together the next morning, my back pressed against his front, his hands playing with mine…
"Y'know, we probably should tell Grandma about this…" he admitted as he played with my engagement ring
"I completely forgot!" I informed him as I turned over to face him, moving a pillow so I could lie comfortably "How do you think she'll react?"
"She'll be thrilled, I hope." he replied
"I hope so too…" I admitted "So when do we tell her?"
"Today, lunch at The Vic on me?" he suggested, raising an eyebrow at me
"Okay." I replied as I reached for my phone as my alarm began to go off "I better get in the shower."
"Okay…" he stated as I pulled away from him
"There's always room for one more." I informed him as I climbed out of bed, pulling the t-shirt of his that I'd worn to bed the night previous, letting it drop to the floor
"Is there really?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow at me
"Yeah," I replied "I'll see you in there?"
"If you're lucky." he informed me
CHARLIE'S POV:
I laid there for a few minutes after Ronnie had disappeared into the bathroom. Hearing the water begin to run in the shower, I groaned and climbed out of bed too, making my way across the landing and into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind me…
"You do realise my offer might have expired, don't you?" she questioned
"I do, but I think I can convince you to change your mind." I admitted
Smiling at me warmly, I moved over to her and cupped her cheeks in my hand, pressing my lips to hers passionately, smirking against her lips as I heard a moan escape her mouth, taking advantage and letting my tongue slide in, feeling her hands grip at my arms tighter. Pulling away a minute later, I rested my forehead against hers…
"Well?" I inquired
Keeping her eyes locked on mine, I felt her hands trail down the t-shirt I was wearing and begin to lift it off of my body. Helping, I pulled it over my head and threw it to the floor, her hands resting on my waist, her fingers playing with the waistband of the tracksuit bottoms I was wearing…
RONNIE'S POV:
Charlie and I were about to leave the house an hour or so later. Opening the door, I stopped in my tracks as I saw a woman was poised to knock…
"Can I help you?" I questioned
"Dot said you'd be here…" she admitted
"Mum!" Charlie proclaimed, moving past me to kiss her cheek "What are you doing here?"
"Well seeing as though you were meant to be coming to visit me two weeks ago but you never showed, I thought I'd come and see what the hell was going on." she informed me "And now I can see why you've not been in touch either."
"Excuse me?" I inquired as she looked me up and down
"Mum, don't." Charlie sighed
"Don't what?" she questioned "Aren't you going to introduce me?"
He glanced at me and I raised an eyebrow at him. Turning back to his Mum, he sighed…
"Mum, this is Ronnie, Ronnie, this is my Mum Yvonne." he introduced us "Mum, Ronnie's my fiancée."
"You've been here for 7 months and already you're engaged?" she questioned
"That's not all…" I informed her as I pushed past Charlie
"What?" she inquired
Placing my hand on my stomach, I looked at her, seeing her facial expression drop…
"You're going to be a Grandma, Mum." Charlie informed her
"Well seeing as though we're going to be related soon, I suppose we'd better get to know each other…" Yvonne admitted
"Actually, Charlie and I are meeting Dot in The Vic for lunch to tell her about our engagement, you're more than welcome to join us, isn't she, Charlie?" I asked
"Yeah, course." he replied
CHARLIE'S POV:
Once I'd said goodbye to Ronnie, I went off in search of my Mum, finding her in the café…
"What are you really doing here?" I questioned as I sat down opposite her
"Your father's been in touch…" she admitted
"What does he want this time?" I inquired, running my hands over my face
"Money, and lots of it." she informed me £15,000 of it to be precise."
"And you think I've got that kind of cash, do you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her
"I'm sure your girlfriend has…" she admitted
"No, no way!" I proclaimed "I'm not asking her."
"I'm not saying you ask her," she replied "but we know what your Dad's like if we don't comply with his demands. We need the money, Charlie, or we're both in danger."
What a pickle Charlie's in – and life was so simple only one chapter ago. How will he manage to get the money his Mum desperately needs?
