Chapter 14

Eddie walked into his and Rachel's bedroom to find Rachel sat with her head in her hands making muffled sounds.

"Rach, are you crying?" Eddie asked perching on the bed next to her

"I'm sorry. I've just been so emotional lately. All I did was put my pyjama top on inside out" Rachel replied snuggling into Eddie's chest

"It's just your hormones Rach. At least it's coming out as tears. When Allison was pregnant with Taylor she just got angry with me all the time"

They both sat in silence for a few moments before Rachel spoke.

"Do you miss her?"

"I used to. Like when Taylor was younger. But mainly because I thought that Taylor was missing out on not having a Mum. I felt like I was letting Taylor down because she didn't have a Mum to do all of the things that Mum's normally do. I did miss her, but I wasn't completely heartbroken because I don't think I was ever truly in love with her"

It was nice for Rachel to hear Eddie opening up to her about Allison. Usually when she brought her up he just changed the subject.

"You've done an amazing job with Taylor. She really is such a lovely girl."

"I'm glad she's got you now. You've been so good to her, you really have"

"Did you know she called me Mum last night?"

"No I didn't. Are you okay with that?"

"Of course I am. I was delighted that she really does see me as her Mum. Over the last few months I knew I'd been a motherly figure to her, but I never knew she actually considered me to be her Mum"

The two of them sat chatting for a bit longer before Rachel put her pyjama top on the right way round and they headed downstairs.

Rachel walked into the lounge to see Taylor sat on the sofa with eastenders on, but she could tell she wasn't really watching it.

"Are you alright love? You've been ever so quiet ever since you got in from school" Rachel asked sitting next to Taylor on the sofa.

"I'm fine" Taylor replied but Rachel could tell from the sound of her voice that something was bothering her.

"You know you can tell me anything"

"I said I'm fine" Taylor snapped "sorry, I'm just a bit tired. I think I'm going to go up to bed"

"Okay, I'll come up in a minute and say good night"

Like she'd said she would, a few minutes later Rachel went upstairs to say good night to Taylor. Taylor was lying on her bed, not undressed yet, hugging a cushion to her chest and staring up to the ceiling.

Rachel went and sat by her on the bed when she noticed the tears starting to pool in Taylor's eyes, so she pulled her into her chest. The tears started to fall freely down her cheeks as Rachel ran her fingers through her hair. Rachel just let her cry into her, which was something she clearly needed to do.

"Are you going to tell me what's got you so upset, huh?" Rachel coaxed after a few minutes

"It's so stupid, I don't even know why I'm crying about it"

"Well it's clearly something, or you wouldn't be crying"

"We got the letter from school today about the injection that we have to have next Wednesday"

Rachel knew that the school nurse was giving injections to all of the year seven girls next Wednesday, but she had no idea that it would bother Taylor so much.

"It will be okay. It might hurt for a few seconds or so, but then it will be all over. Please don't worry about it"

"It's not the pain that worries me, I just hate having injections."

"I'll come down when it's your turn if you like, and come and hold your hand"

"Thank you. You must think I'm so silly getting myself worked up over something so little"

"Of course I don't think you're silly. I used to get myself all worked up about going to the doctors when I was your age"

"What if I pass out, like I normally do, and then everyone will think I'm a baby"

"You normally pass out?"

"Yeah, the doctor said it's because I get myself so worked up"

"Oh honey, it will be okay. I'll be there with you the whole time, I promise"

"Thanks Rachel"

"That's okay. Now do you want to come back downstairs and watch a bit of TV with me and your Dad before you go to sleep?"

"Yes please, I'll just put my pyjamas on first though"

"Okay love"

Rachel had no idea that Taylor had such a phobia of injections.

The three of them watched TV for a bit before Taylor went up to bed, and Rachel and Eddie weren't long behind her.

The next morning Rachel woke up feeling extremely sick. It wasn't long before you had to rush to the loo to be sick. Eddie heard her so went in and held her hair back for her, whilst stroking her back.

"I'm so fed up of this Eddie" Rachel said once she had finished being sick.

"I know. And if I could do it all for you, I would"

Rachel laughed before thinking about just how easy men do actually have it. They don't have to have periods, or morning sickness, they don't have to have their body stretched or give birth.

Rachel got in the shower, which took a lot longer than normal as Eddie decided to join her.

"We're running late now because of you" Rachel said rummaging through her wardrobe trying to pick out something to wear

"Sorry, but you have to admit it was a pretty good way to start the day" Eddie winked

"It most certainly was"

Once Rachel was dressed she went in and woke Taylor up. She felt bad for waking her when she looked so peaceful.

"Ahh, do I have to go to school today" Taylor moaned

"Yes, now up now" Rachel said pulling the quilt off Taylor

Rachel was surprised to see that Taylor had only slept in a top and knickers.

"What happened to your bottoms?"

"I was way too hot last night, so I took them off?"

"Are you still not feeling too good?" Rachel asked

She'd had the day off on Monday as she was feeling poorly, but she felt a lot better on Tuesday so she'd gone back to school. But now Rachel was beginning to wonder if they'd sent her back too soon.

"No not really"

"I think you ought to have another day off school then, I'll give Grandma and Grandad a ring"

"Okay"

"What's wrong, what's making you feel poorly?" Rachel asked

"I keep going from boiling hot to freezing cold, and my ear really hurts"

"Maybe we'll see if we can get you a doctor's appointment then"

Rachel and Eddie dropped Taylor to Sally and John's on the way to school before Rachel made an appointment. Rachel managed to slip out to take her to the doctors just before lunch time and it turned out that she had an ear infection. So she was given some antibiotics.

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