"Hmm purple" Ronnie said breaking off another piece of chocolate.
Danielle smiled,"Your favorite colors purple? I dont think I have ever seen you wear it" she laughed taking the piece of chocolate from her mum.
Ronnie wrapped her arms around Danielle and held her close. Saturday mornings were usually filled with paperwork and suppliers but now she had her baby back all Ronnie wanted to do was spend time with her. A lazy Saturday morning in bed with her daughter,Ronnie couldn't think of anything better. "So come on favorite animal?" she asked wanting to get to know her child a little better.
"Well I had a cat called Musty but Charlie wouldn't let me keep it because he was allergic to it. I had a dog up in Telford,dad always said animals were too much trouble" Danielle cuddled into Ronnie's side breaking off more chocolate. "Did you have any pets when you were younger?" she asked not ever wanting this moment to end.
Ronnie nodded,"Only Roxy" she laughed snatching the piece of chocolate Danielle was about to eat.
"Oi" Danielle giggled nudging Ronnie playfully.
Ronnie kissed her daughters head,"Right how about some coffee?" she asked squinting as the sunlight began to pour through her bedroom window.
"I dont think you have any milk,i'll go to the shop if you like..i need to have a quick word with Stacey anyway" Danielle ripped the duvet off her and stretched her arms and legs.
Ronnie gazed adoringly,"Well I will put some breakfast on then" she replied wanting to make herself useful. Being a proper mum was all Ronnie ever wanted to be,Danielle was no longer a baby but she needed mothering.
"Ronnie its way past breakfast time" Danielle glanced at the clock and let out a small laugh. "Where do you keep the towels?" she asked shyly.
"Oh..well lunch then,i'll make us something nice..in the bathroom babe" Ronnie pointed slowly getting out of bed.
Danielle nodded,"Well im gonna have a quick shower then i'll go" she smiled opening the bedroom door and leaving Ronnie to get up.
Ronnie happily sighed and laid back on her bed,Danielle insisted she stayed the night last night much to Andy's annoyance. The dinner had gone extremely well and it really seemed everyone was getting along fine. Ronnie listened as she heard the shower,one step a time seemed plenty for Danielle. The last thing Ronnie wanted was Andy or anyone else to accuse of her stealing Danielle away from them. Getting up from the bed Ronnie walked to her wardrobe and picked up the bag Danielle had taken with her to stay the night. She pulled out Danielle's top and held it like it was the most precious thing in the world. Ronnie brought it up to her nose and inhaled the smell of her child,everything felt more than right.
* * * * * *
Stacey sipped her boiling hot cup of tea whilst Jean continued to press her for details about the dinner last night. For the first time in her life everything was going ok,she truly loved Gareth and could see herself with him for a long time. She didnt have to pretend to be someone else,she knew he loved her for herself and that for Stacey was all she ever wanted. Saturday's always went well for Stacey,usually punters would buy her stock for a night out clubbing or just for the weekend.
"Have you seen Danielle this morning?" Stacey asked her mum whilst sorting through clothes.
Jean shook her head,"No love,she's probably with Ronnie" she replied back.
"Surprise surprise..it would be nice if she called me and told me she doesn't feel like coming into work today! Its them Mitchell's mum telling her what to do!" Stacey explained looking over at the Vic.
Jean smiled,"You were telling me last night how much Ronnie had changed Stacey,oh look theres Gareth!" she pointed almost bouncing up and down on the spot.
"Right your coming with me!" Gareth announced taking Stacey's hand. "You can watch the stall cant you Jean?" he winked.
Stacey frowned,"No look I cant alright,mum cant manage on her own".
"Oh dont be silly Stacey go on,have fun..enjoy yourself!" Jean said already untying the money belt from her daughter's body.
"Where are we going?" Stacey asked.
Gareth yanked on her hand pulling her towards Andy's car,"Come on get in!" he began running and pulling Stacey along with him.
* * * * * *
Danielle shut the door behind her whilst Ronnie was in the shower,she always hated leaving her mother in fear that when she got back she would be gone. Learning to trust someone used to be easy for Danielle,but Ronnie had been so cruel in the past that she found it incredibly hard. Danielle put the five pounds Ronnie had given her in her pocket and began walking across the square. The market seemed fairly busy,customers and traders were busy chatting. Danielle walked closer to Stacey's stall,she frowned as Jean rambled away to a customer.
Danielle approached Jean,"Where's Stace?" she asked smiling as the customer looked relieved as Jean turned her attention else where.
"Gone with Gareth,he just came over and took her away! Such a lovely boy!" Jean tilted her head to the side and rubbed Danielle's arm softly. "Everything ok?" she asked.
Danielle stared ahead at Roxy and Archie from a distance,she wondered why on earth Roxy would give him a second of her time. "Er yeah..yeah listen I've got to go" Danielle forced a quick smile and strolled towards her aunt. Archie obviously caught site of Danielle and gave her a smug smile before kissing Roxy's forehead and walking away. Roxy turned around and flashed a big smile at Danielle and walked over.
"Hey! Got to say last night was the best roast ive had,im gonna have to get your dad to cook for me more!" Roxy joked trying to avoid conversation about Archie,it would only cause problems.
Danielle nodded a little and walked into the Minute Mart,she heard Roxy behind her. "Why were you talking to him for?" she asked picking up a basket and heading to the back of the shop.
Roxy bit her lip and followed her niece,"He just wanted to see how Amy was doing you know,he's still her granddad" she whined watching Danielle fill the basket with milk and eggs. "You and Ronnie alright?" Roxy asked hoping to steer the conversation away from herself and her dad.
Danielle nodded,"Fine" she replied back bluntly. "Is that a new coat?" she looked at her aunt.
Roxy grinned,"Yeah you like it? It was in the sale, although it still cost a bomb" she joked following Danielle towards the counter.
It suddenly clicked in Danielle's mind where Roxy had got the money from,their cosy little chat was not about Amy. "Did he pay for that then?" Danielle asked as Heather began scanning her items.
Roxy paused,her mouth opening and closing several times,"No.." she said shaking her head. "Look I just got lucky on a scratch card alright" she lied through her teeth hoping Danielle would buy it.
"Im not stupid Roxy" Danielle paid Heather and grabbed her carrier bag. "Thanks" she smiled and hurried out the shop.
Roxy ran after Danielle and grabbed her arm,"Look its nothing alright,Amy needs a few things and dad wanted to help out,how could I say no?" she explained. "Don't say anything to Ronnie yeah? You and her your in a good place at the moment,why ruin it for something un-important?" Roxy smiled rubbing Danielle's arm affectionately.
Danielle sighed,"Fine,i wont say anything" she agreed.
Roxy smiled with relief,"Thank you,hey how about I come round tonight..we could have a girly night in?" she suggested hoping her niece would forget all about Archie and his money. "Oh I nearly forgot,i printed this off for you last night off my camera" Roxy handed Danielle a photograph from last night.
Danielle took the picture,she smiled at how happy Ronnie looked to be in her company. Something like this was precious,a memory to cherish forever. "Thanks" Danielle smiled turning her back and walking towards the flat. Back to Ronnie.
"Right come on I brought this camera for a reason,i want a picture of my sister actually smiling!" Roxy laughed trying to position Ronnie and Danielle for the perfect photo. Ronnie stood behind Danielle with her arms wrapped around her waist,her chin resting on her shoulder and a big smile spread across her face. Danielle looked up at Ronnie with a smile and Roxy quickly caught the loving stare between them.
* * * * * *
Gareth drove for about twenty minutes until he got to his destination,love songs on the radio blared out from Andy's old tired speakers. Several times Gareth attempted to sing to Stacey with his awful voice whilst stuck in some traffic. Stacey's stomach hurt from laughing hysterically,she knew she was head over heals for him. Gareth stopped the engine and took his seat belt off. "Here we are!" he said happily.
Stacey frowned at the quiet road suddenly putting two and two together and coming up with sixteen. "Gareth..if you wanted to get your leg over you didnt have to bring me here,its like a morgue!" she grimaced at the silence.
Gareth stared at Stacey and blinked several times,"Stace..i was going to teach you how to drive" he slowly explained holding in a laugh.
"Oh..well you could have said!" Stacey grinned as they both burst out with laughter.