So it would seem all you lovelies out there were happy with how Henry dealt with the two harpies in his life. Thank you so much for your comments; you all know how much they mean to me!

You're still keeping all of us going.

Chapter: 37. More changes afoot!

Casting her eye around the chateau Penelope could plainly see that Rebecca hadn't lifted a finger to do even the simplest of things, in fact it still looked the way she remembered leaving it over a year ago. The shutters were drawn making the room dark, the furniture was still covered with dustsheets and her clothes were dumped unceremoniously on the floor. Throwing the windows and shutters open to let in some much needed light and air, she turned her attention to the crumpled heap laying on the sofa. It was blatantly obvious from the empty Champagne bottle and the untouched food Rebecca would wake nursing the hangover from hell!

'Mummy She groaned shielding her eyes and trying to get her tongue unstuck from the roof of her mouth when did you get here?' Penelope was tired and irritable after her long journey

'What the hell is this Rebecca? Couldn't you at least have taken your clothes upstairs? Or even attempted to get some air into the place?' trying to focus Rebecca sheepishly answered

'I was completely exhausted Mummy! It was a long drive and I needed a rest!' she uttered holding her head and slumping back down on the sofa

'Completely drunk you mean don't you? Honestly Rebecca, if this isn't hard enough, I certainly didn't expect to be greeted with the sight of you in this appalling state!'

'Mummy please, not too loud! She winced my head can't take it! Did you bring coffee?' she asked hopefully

'Coffee Rebecca? She repeated indignantly Have a little compassion; I'm completely traumatised I barely brought myself, let alone bloody coffee!' She proclaimed. This was the last thing she needed! If this was going to work at all she needed to lay it on the line for her; gone were the days of freeloading, this was about making the best of things and by God she was going to make sure Rebecca pulled her weight, time to reveal the full extent of what she'd been forced to agree to.

'There should be some in the pantry, Penelope offered in a tight tone take a shower Rebecca; I'll make a pot, then we need to have a very serious talk!'

Some time later re-emerging from her shower Rebecca sat at the now clean kitchen table, gratefully accepting a cup of strong black coffee

'Mummy, I was thinking, lets call the lady from the village to clear up here while we take a leisurely lunch in the village, perhaps spend some of Daddy's money! She grinned you know celebrate our new life together! What do you say?' She uttered hopefully and wanting to fully embrace her new easy lifestyle. Penelope shook her head, this wasn't going to be easy; but she needed to be made fully aware of their current situation.

'Firstly, there is no money Rebecca! She coolly offered my only settlement is this house! Apart from the little I have in my bank account, this is all there is! And that my girl, means no lady from the village to help out and definitely no spare money for leisurely lunches!' Rebecca studied her face for a few moments; maybe her hangover was worse than she thought, surely she couldn't have heard her correctly.

'For a moment there Mummy I thought you said there was no money!' she chortled, Penelope fixed her with a serious stare; back in scheming mode she'd already chosen to keep Henry's offer to herself, she needed her fully on board for this pay-out to take place. Instead she confirmed 'that is exactly what I said! There is no money!'

'WHAT!...She yelled jumping up and banging her hands on the table and making her already sore head jolt you have to be joking; She exclaimed please tell me you're joking Mummy she whimpered…..Mummy? She implored, searching her eyes and gulping hard none at all? She exclaimed, her mouth dropping open this isn't happening to me! There must be something? How are we even going to survive? She sank down onto the chair reeling from the shock!

'There's more Rebecca, so much more! It's a good job you are sitting down because this is going to be one almighty reality check! As she regaled the conditions of the divorce she explained she had no option but to accept his terms.

'If I hadn't agreed we would be heading for a prison sentence, if you think that was preferable? Rebecca shook her head, I simply had no choice!' She offered further explaining the full extent of Henry's conditions. They were prevented from contacting or seeing Sam for a 10-year-period, as she watched her reaction she actually thought she might faint; the final blow was the insistence on Henry's part that Rebecca must sign documents to hand sole custody of Sam to Charles.

'So I've lost everything then! Bloody Charles and little miss perfect! She groaned my house, my part in my son's upbringing she grumbled forgetting the fact she had effectively abandoned him and my lifestyle…all for what? What's left? I should have stayed with Hugh, although even that's not an option anymore! What are we going to do Mummy? She panicked! Penelope took the chance to clearly outlined her plans

'Pull yourself together Rebecca. We've just got to work with what we've got! We are going to have to roll our sleeves up, knock this place into to shape and become a B&B or even a wedding venue, what about turning the turret room into the Bridal suite? It would be so romantic!'

'A wedding venue! She scoffed Oh because the 'Till death do us part' bit really worked for us didn't it? She remarked sarcastically In case you've forgotten Mummy we are both divorced women and I for one am not about to watch some doe eyed bride thinking she's found the man of her dreams! All that fake happiness is not for me thank you very much!'

'Enough Rebecca! Penelope shouted angrily it seems to me you have two choices, either you stay and help me or you leave! Stay and you get a roof over your head and an opportunity to help me turn this place into a growing concern or leave and take your chances on your own.

It's going to take hard work and plenty of it! There will be early mornings, late nights and the guests needs will come before our own, but I'm prepared to do it if you are?'

'What do you mean? She asked incredulously work for a living?' Looking horrified at the thought of it.

'Precisely Rebecca! Your father and I have provided for you your entire life! Its time to give a bit back, the sooner we get this place cleaned up, the sooner we can have paying guests! We'll have to pool our resources and make a start! Now if you want to keep this roof over your head I suggest you change your attitude. No more feeble excuses, are you in or out?'

'I suppose I'm in!' She answered reluctantly

'Good! Now money, do you have any?'

'I have a little and some things I could sell! She answered sheepishly thinking she might be able to sell Hugh's expensive watches but really Mummy, you expect me to do cleaning? I'm just not cut out for this type of thing! What about my nails?'

'You'll never know unless you try will you? As for your nails, she huffed wear gloves Rebecca! Now come on, chop, chop it's about time you realised what hard work is all about! You can make a start in the kitchen! ' Thoroughly defeated she slowly began to realise her mother was right, at this precise moment she really had no other option than to stay and try to make it work; this was going to be utterly horrible she thought and certainly not how she expected her life in France to be! That bloody wife of his is behind this while I'm stuck here! She gets to live the life I'm supposed to have! If I can't contact Sam I sure as hell can let Charles and little Miss bloody perfect know how I feel!

Henry called Charles and Molly to tell them he was the barer of good news

'Henry Molly replied I've been worried about you, thought you'd dropped off the face of the earth mate! Everything ok? We've all missed you!' He just adored how natural she always was with him; there was never any hidden agenda where Molly was concerned, just a no-nonsense way of making anyone she cared about feel thoroughly wanted.

'My dear girl, I'm absolutely fine! I just wondered if there is a possibility of using my bolthole this weekend? He cheekily asked

'Course there is numpty! The takeaways on you though! She giggled oh and just so you know my Nan's coming too, so hold onto any valuables!' she laughed out loud.

'Takeaway it is then, He chuckled back and it would be my pleasure to finally meet her He confirmed I have some rather good news for you, lets just say that sole responsibility of Sam is no longer a problem, but I'll save the full details until I get there, ok?

'Really! That's amazing, it all sounds very interesting! She answered excitedly I won't spoil it for you then. But seriously though Henry, be prepared, for my Nan, she's' shall we say… unique!' Laughing heartily Henry countered

'Well Molly I could do with some..Erm 'Unique' in my life, I'm sure she's delightful, a breath of fresh air in fact!' Molly thought for a moment, she'd never actually heard the words delightful or a breath of fresh air used in the same sentence when describing her Nan, but there was always a first time, if nothing else this was going to be hilarious!

'On your head be it Henry, if it gets too much just give me the nod and I'll send her to bed with a bottle of Gin, ok?'

'Molly he laughed again it will be fine, stop worrying! I'll see you Friday evening, take care!' I'd better break the news to Charles then tell my Nan to behave herself she thought

'Hello baby, you busy?'

'Never to busy for you, what's up?'

'Henry's coming for the weekend!' She mentioned innocently

'This is your Nan's weekend to babysit isn't it?' He winced

'Yep! Should be interesting don't you think?'

'That's one way to describe it I suppose! He chuckled did you prepare him?'

'Told him she's unique…what do you reckon? She giggled think I got it covered?'

'Stand back, light the fuse and Boom! He laughed

'Henry's a fine figure of a man, you might well have competition on your hands!'

'Fine by me! I'm hoping my hands will be busy elsewhere!' He crooned

'Oh yeah! She lowered her voice suggestively got a plan have ya?'

'Indeed! He countered just you, me and our own special brand of fireworks!'

'Ooh, I'm up for that!….But we don't have to wait till the weekend you know!'

'Maybe we could just practice then…you know just so we get it right of course!'

'Yeah, of course, we wouldn't want to get it wrong or anything would we? 'She giggled softly

'Certainly not! He confirmed I'll see you later then gorgeous!..Oh! And Molly

'Hmm'

'I Love you!' 'Love you too!'

'Hiya Nan, you ok?'

'allo Mol, we still on fer the weekend then?'

'Yeah, I just wanted to let you know Sam's Grandfather is coming for the weekend as well!'

'Oh yeh! Bit of alright is e?'

'Listen Nan, you behave yourself ok?'

'What Mol, I'll be charm itself!'

'I'm just saying, he's a lovely man Nan and he's going through a messy divorce, so be kind ok?'

'Don' worry Mol, I'll be as good as gold!'

A letter arrived that afternoon it was addressed to Mr and Mrs James, Molly didn't recognise the handwriting but the postmark was from France. She wanted desperately to rip it open, it could only be from Penelope or Rebecca or even both; but this was something they needed to read together so she put it to one side waiting for Charles to get back. As he opened the door she all but pounced on him, his grin was huge as he wrapped his arms around her

'Eager Mrs James?'

'No, well yes but it's not that! We've got a letter from France!'

'Its been driving me crazy all afternoon, I was good though, I didn't open it!'

'But now you're chomping at the bit? Come on then, lets see what it's all about?' Before he had even finished his sentence Molly was heading back to the kitchen to retrieve the letter

'Go on, you do it! I'm all over the shop!' Giving her a little chuckle he carefully opened the letter and read it out loud

Charles,

I don't know how you managed it but it seems you have manipulated my Father into thinking you are the better parent.

I never thought you would ever do such a thing. Just because I wanted to have some fun you do this to me!

I am so mad with you about all this. You've taken everything away from me! And now Sam no longer has a Mummy!

It seems that not only is Daddy punishing us but you are too! Daddy has also taken steps to keep me away from Sam over a 10-year period. And you and little Miss perfect get sole custody! I really can't begin to understand why!

According to Mummy if we try to contact or see Sam Daddy has threatened to bring fraud charges against us. I suppose you had something to do with that as well!

Well I hope you are proud of yourself! You got what you wanted! Me out of the way and a new wife who you think is better suited to bring up our son than I am! A boy needs a mother and you have deliberately taken that opportunity away from me.

I hate you for this Charles, and I want you to know I will never forgive you! Sam loves me, and mark my words he will want to see me, what will you do then I wonder?

Lets see how your precious Molly copes playing at being a mother to him? I really hope, as he gets older he gives her a mountain of trouble. She is not his mother I am, he deserves the best kind of mother he can get and that would surely be me! I only went away for a little while, what was so wrong with that?

I hope it all goes terribly wrong for you both and Sam resents the fact you took me away from him.

Rebecca.

Molly was seething

'How fucking dare she? Playing at being a mother am I? She needs taking down a peg or three! How the hell can she think she is the best kind of mother? She fucking abandoned him, it's a good job she's not here I'd knock her lights out!' Charles folded the letter chuckling at her response, secretly knowing Rebecca wouldn't stand a chance if Molly ever did manage to get her hands on her. He placed the letter into the bureau, stating he would show it to Henry later. He now had the task of calming a fiery Molly down; placing his hands on her shoulders he pulled her into a hug

'We both know it's nothing but the ramblings of an angry woman! He spoke into her hair I'm so proud of you Molls, He whispered gently and you my darling; are a brilliant Mum to Sam and Luca!'

'You sure about that? She asked a little unsure She said some pretty nasty things about me!'

'Without a doubt! He affirmed confidently kissing her head none of it! Not one bit of what she's written is remotely true he emphasised Molly look at me he smiled softly, raising her chin so she met his eyes Sam even calls you Mum! He wouldn't do that if he didn't love you would he? Rebecca is just jealous that he loves you as much as he does! I for one am not going to let an angry letter spoil what we've got! You do know what this means don't you? She shrugged

'Not exactly!'

'We got our wish Molls! Sam's ours! I've always said I wished you were his Mum instead of Rebecca and now you are! Smirking just a little he shared an idea How about we rub her angry nose in it a little?' He winked, cocking her head to one side she grinned

'What did you have in mind?'

'Well a short sharp reply might be on the cards, put her straight on a few things! He sniggered But I was thinking more about including a few snaps….Every picture tells a story, especially the ones that show how happy Sammy is with us! Changing his tone he asked we are team James are we not? Molly smiled and nodded and we are a force to contend with aren't we? He asked raising an eyebrow, nodding at his question well then Mrs James, are you game?'

'I am…She grinned mischievously can I add my bit as well? If I can't take her down physically, I sure as hell can on paper! Is it polite to address a letter Dear Bitch-face?'

'Molly! He laughed shaking his head Polite no! Apt possibly!' He wrinkled his nose

'Aww! Shame!' she giggled 'you spoil all my fun!'

'How about we compose something together! Lets speak with Henry and get his take on it! Ok?' Molly nodded as they moved into another hug

'Charles she uttered pulling back slightly and looking into his eyes is she ever gonna leave us alone?' her eyes welling up with unshed tears 'don't cry Molls please, our family is all that's important to me, you, me and the kids; not some remarks by a bitter woman! And I don't spoil all your fun! He ran his thumb over her lips you said we should practice! So how about after dinner and getting the kids settled we do just that! Wrapping his arm around her shoulders and walking her into the kitchen he whispered into her ear looks like another early night Mrs James!'

To be continued: Charles and Molly's letter, and of course the meeting between Henry and Nan!