Chapter 35:
Sephy:

The day finally arrived, Callum was finally coming home, and I was awake hours earlier than necessary. As was Callie Rose, she insisted on being dressed and having Breakfast the second she was awake, even though it was only 5:30am, so we had to do everything silently as not to wake Mum and Meggie. Callie was as excited as I was about Callum coming home and as soon as she finished her breakfast she wanted to go and get him. When I told her we'd have to wait another couple of hours she looked heartbroken. I couldn't help but smile, Callie was showing the excitement I was feeling. I wanted nothing more than to leave and bring Callum home right this second but I knew we couldn't. I tried putting the tellyon to distract Callie, but she took no notice of it, prefering to bounce around repeating 'Daddy's coming home'.

'Callie, shush, your Nana's are asleep' I laughed.

Callie jumped onto the sofa beside me. She hugged me, and looking up at me innocently demanding 'Mummy, sing!' her voice too sweet for me to say no. She curled up next to me.

I started singing Callie Rose's favourite song, the one that discribed her best; Rainbow Child. She was too young to understand the importance of the words of the song and how true they were to how I felt about her but that didn't matter, she just loved it anyway.

And what was life before you?
And do you know how I adore you?
And it scares me how I feel,
All my past scars fade and heal
When I hold my Rainbow Child

As I finished I realised Callie Rose had fallen back asleep, curled up next to me, looking so peaceful with her thumb in her mouth. I would've loved at that moment to be able to look into Callie's mind and see what she was dreaming. I could guess though; she was dreaming of Daddy being home and everything being perfect. Perfection - a dream me and Callum would do our very best to make a reality for her.

NCNCNC

'When's Daddy coming out?' Callie asked for the millionth time once we were at the prision.

'Any minute now' I replied.

'You said that last time' moaned Callie.

'Just but last time was less than a minute ago' I pointed out, and with that Callie let go of my hand and raced forward. I looked straight ahead to see Callum walking out.

'Daaaaaaaaaaaaddy' Callie screamed and jumped into his arms.

Callum caught her and held her close 'Hello Baby Girl', he looked at me and smiled, I smiled back. Once he reached me he hugged me as well.

I couldn't think of anything to say. Which admittedly was a first, normally I couldn't shut up and now I couldn't think of anything to say. In the end i settled for 'Ready to go home?'

'Not quite' Callum said with a sly smile. 'How about you and Callie meet me at the beach in about an hour?'

I felt myself freeze. The beach? Was he mad. 'Callum... I haven't been to the beach since... since...' I trailed off, I didn't need to say it, he knew what I meant.

'Exactly' he was still smiling. 'We had so many good times on that beach but they're all clouded by the last time you went there. So I think it's about time something good happened there again. So, you and Callie meet me there in an hour?'

'What are you planning?' I asked both curious and worried.

'That would be telling' said Callum.

'I WANNA STAY WITH DADDY!' Callie screamed at the top of her voice as Callum tried to pass her back to me.

Me and Callum both laughed. 'Well that settles that' I said. 'I'll meet you and Callie at the beach'

'Come on Daddy' Callie said,jumping to the ground, grabbing Callum's hand and pulling him along.

Still laughing Callum looked back to me. 'See you soon. I love you'

'Love you too' I laughed.

NCNCNC

45 minutes later I found myself stood on the beach again. I hadn't been there since coming back from Chivers. Since the kidnap. It was strange being back here, I felt almost out of place. Paranoid. I kept expecting to hear shouting, I could here shouting, in my head, I could hear Jude's voice telling me this was for his sister. I fell right back to that moment, I could almost feel Jude's punch again. I could picture Callum there, organising it.

Noo! I screamed to myself. Callum wasn't trying to hurt me. 'Hurry up, Callum' I muttered out loud. I hated being back here. It wasn't my beautiful excape any more. It was my horrid remembrance of reality.

'Muuuuummmy' I turned to where Callie's voice came from. She was running ahead of Callum, her shoes thrown off somewhere up the beach. 'Mummy, Mummy, Mummy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy said he's going to....'

Callum reached us and put his hand over Callie's mouth. 'Shhhh' he said laughing. 'It's my job to say this'

Callie wiggled away 'But I wanna'

'But it's my job' replied Callum, and stuck his tongue out childishly. 'You can do it with someone else when you're a lot older'

'Anyone going to inform me as to what is going on?' I asked, looking from Callie to Callum.

'Daddy wants to...'

Again Callum put his hand over Callie's mouth. He knelt down on the sand, keeping one hand over Callie's mouth to stop her talking, he put his other hand in his pocket, pulling out a small box. Even behind Callum's hand I could see Callie's smile broaden. My heart started beating faster and faster. Was this what I thought it was? Callum thumbled trying to open the box with one hand, when he was finally successful it revealed a ring. Oh God, this had to be what I thought it was.

'Persephone Mira Hadley...' Callum started, and I couldn't help thinking hadn't he agreed never to call me my full name ever again 'will you marry me?'

What the hell was I doing thinking about my name when he was saying that? I couldn't help but smile, the biggest smile I could ever remember smiling.

'Of course I will' I replied, and knelt down to hug him and Callie.

The End