Road to Destiny
Chapter 8
To say that things were hectic since his return from Mali was an understatement. The only saving grace was that Molly was no longer stationed at Keogh and at home with him. It had been a long separation as far as he was concerned.
The first weekend he had been home they went to Bath to see his parents and Sam. Sam seemed very happy that Molly wasn't in the army anymore and was extremely interested in her idea of becoming a police constable. He had always wondered if Sam might follow him into the army when he was old enough. But at 14 and a half nearly 15, as he preferred to tell everyone, it was very difficult getting anything out of him. Gone was the happy grinning boy and in his place a secretive teenager, who just wanted to be taken to London to Molly's brothers so they could discuss the latest games or go out somewhere, McDonalds or Burger King probably. He wasn't exactly ecstatic over it as Molly's brothers had been brought up in the city and were streetwise, Sam hadn't been, his mother ensuring he was sent to a good public school for his education. But apart from the Cinema there didn't seem to be anything of interest in Bath for Sam or so he said. It was boring, full of old people and no fun at all, and why couldn't they go and live in London. By the end of the three days he was certainly ready to come home to the peace and quiet without doors slamming when Sam was told he couldn't do something or have something, his taste in music, well if you could call it that, sounded like dirge to him had a lot to be desired.
"You're probably too old to remember what it was like Charles" Molly giggled "You were probably exactly the same and your parents tore their hair out too."
He humped "No, no definitely wasn't like that, ungrateful little sod."
-OG-
As the following weekend approached Molly was getting more and more nervous this was the weekend that she told her family she had left the army and joined the police. He kept giving her sideways glances as she kept chewing her fingernails, to the point he was forever bringing up his hand to hold hers and stop her before she made them bleed. He couldn't help grimacing that she hadn't thought through this part of her plan, Dave was pretty upset and cut her off when she joined the army goodness knows what he was going to say when he found out about the police, and he couldn't wait to see what Nan had to say.
They drove into London on Friday late morning and checked into their hotel, Molly had hardly spoken the whole journey and if he spoke to her it was like sitting next to his son, she was either so engrossed in her thoughts she didn't hear him or grunted a reply.
They got the tube to Upton Park and walked to the maisonette, the whole time Molly's hands were gripped to his arm.
"Shall we just go home, I could phone to tell 'em" as they stood outside looking up at the front door.
Charles shook his head and lifted her chin to look at him and saw the worry in her eyes "No, it will be all right, it's a good job and a job for life if you want it and certainly less risky than the one you have been doing for the last 4 years in Special Forces". Since they got back together, he had kept his own counsel on his opinion of her job. He knew she loved it and the people she worked with, but ever since he saw her stand up in the back of that truck he hated what she did and every time she went away he worried. He was so pleased that she had finally decided the time had come make the change, had sort his opinion on what she was thinking of doing.
"You don't think I've made a mistake then, jacking in the army"
He shook his head and kissed her on the nose "Do you?" he asked "If you wanted to change your mind you could probably get back in, especially with the medal, they wouldn't have wanted to lose you" He didn't think he had shown her how much he didn't like what she did and hoped he hadn't unduly influenced her and she was having regrets.
"Nah" she shook her head "What with me being in Keogh those months then you off for 6, if I stayed in we might have had to live like that for years"
"Come on then, let's get up there and get this done, and then I can take my beautiful wife for dinner and if I'm lucky she might get a little pissed and I'll be on a promise" grinning down at her worried face.
She broke out into a wide grin herself and slapped his arm "You don't need to get me pissed to be on a promise."
"Oh good, a cheap date then!" he chuckled "but it made you smile though didn't it?" waggling his eyebrows "come on be the brave solider I know you are, you've crawled across a mine field, gone up on a winch, won a medal and even stood up in a truck to distract insurgents. It will be OK Molly." He kissed her on the lips and held her hand as they walked up the steps to the door before knocking.
-OG-
Although Molly had come to London a couple of times while Charles was away and rung her mum she had never mentioned that she was looking into an alternative career away from the army. One that would bring her home every evening. She was actually starting to look forward to the start of her 16 weeks training in Bridgend and it was only an hour's drive from home. She knew that Charles was happy about it, she could see it in his eyes every time she left for a mission he hated what she did but never said anything, knowing that she loved it, but wishing she didn't. He may like to think he covered it up, let her do what she wanted but she knew. She loved him for trying.
Her mum greeted her with her customary hug and led them into the living room where Dave was sat watching TV. Charles sat on the sofa with Molly next to him.
"You want a beer Charles?" asked Dave
"No you're all right, coffee for me"
"Belinda, get us a beer love and Charles wants a coffee" Charles raising an eyebrow and looking at Molly, biting the inside of his mouth. If he had pulled a stunt like that he would probably be speaking in a high pitched voice and joining the soprano choir "Leave it on the side Bells, just going for a quick fag before the others get here" as Dave got up and went onto the balcony.
"I'll get Charles his coffee Mum" said Molly giving a withering eye to her father's retreating back, who had probably been sat on the sofa all day while her mum had raced around after the younger kids along with her part time job at the school as a teaching assistant.
She got up following her mother into the kitchen leaving Charles on his own. He wasn't there long before Jade, her youngest sister came in. Crickey he had been away a while, she looked like she was at least six months pregnant, he wasn't going to say anything as Molly hadn't mentioned anything about it.
"Hello Charles" she grinned "Ain't seen you in a while"
"No, just got back off a six month tour" and she nodded before flopping down on one of the chairs and they fell into silence as he wasn't sure if he should comment and if he did what did he say. Fortunately Molly came back into the room with a mug of tea for herself and a coffee for him. It may be instant but at least she would have made it strong and black for him.
"Cor blimey Jade, you look fit to pop" laughed Molly "Has the father stepped up yet?" and he breathed a sigh of relief he hadn't got it wrong but also hadn't put his foot in it.
"Yeah! he has" pouted Jade "and for your information we are getting our own place, the council have found us a nice ground floor flat out at Plaistow. Might not be as posh as your gaff but it will do us."
"That's good Jade" replied Molly but a little upset that Jade felt she needed to be defensive "Can I?" she asked wanting to touch her sister's belly and Jade nodded as Molly stroked her stomach and kissed her on the cheek. "Can't wait to meet me little niece or nephew" Charles watched and saw the happy grin Jade gave her sister but couldn't hear what Molly whispered in her sister's ear.
Jack and Martin came into the room to join them, you could hear them coming thumping down the stairs. Her two youngest siblings. Now they just had to wait for Bella and Gary the two nearest in age to Molly. Both out at work and waiting for them to come back. Dave had finished his cigarette on the balcony as Nan came into the room and sat on one of the dining chairs, Charles wanted to get up and give her his place on the sofa, but Molly put her hand on his leg stopping him.
Belinda came back into the room with Dave's beer along with a tray of tea for Jade, Nan and herself.
Nan had always been observant and had noticed that Molly didn't want Charles to leave her side but was happy for the chit chat until the last of the Dawes siblings got back from work.
Gary was another that just walked into the room and flopped down. "Is there anything for dinner Mum?" he asked and Belinda shook her head saying she would sort it later after they had seen Molly and Charles.
Bella came into the room and beamed at her older sister, told her she had been shopping up west and she would show her the stuff she had bought later.
"Right Moll" said Nan from her place at the dining table "you gonna tell us whatever it is?"
"How do you know I want to tell you something?" and Nan raised an eyebrow "Just spit it out Moll"
Molly looked to Charles for re-assurance, he nodded as she swallowed.
"I've left the army" she started.
"Bout bloody time" snorted Dave.
"I've…." She looked at Charles again before continuing "I've joined the police."
"You've what?" bellowed Dave spitting his beer out "You've joined the old bill. How am I meant to go down the bleedin pub now, it was bad enough you being in the fucking army but the police, that really takes the fucking biscuit" he sighed "I need a fag and a beer after that pearl" as he got up, picked up his baccy and carrying his can of beer stomped to the door and balcony.
Nan was open mouthed "a blue bottle" and both Charles and Molly looked at her.
"Won't that be dangerous Moll?" asked Belinda and Molly looked at her incredulous that she thought it might be more dangerous than being in Special Forces. But then she had never told her of the things she had seen and done.
"A bloody blue bottle" said Nan again quietly shaking her head
"Well I think it's a good job and good on you for getting in" said Bella with a grin. Bella was closest in age to Molly and had been inspired with her older sister to better herself and had knuckled down and finished her own education and got a good job in admin at one of the big banks in Canary Wharf.
"Yeah! well done Molls" added Gary the next in age. "They didn't mind your tat's then?" and Molly shook her head grinning.
"A blue bottle" said Nan still shaking her head as Dave came back into the room.
"Will you give it a rest with this bloody blue bottle" snapped Molly.
"Well, it was bad enough that you joined the bleedin army but a daughter of mine being a bloody Rozzer" said Dave shaking his head and sighing "what will everyone think?"
"Well I would hope they will think well done and she's got a job, and that she's helping people" sighed Molly her hand gripping Charles leg and wishing they could get away. She knew they wouldn't be over the moon at her chosen career but they were getting on her nerves now.
"Well you can't came round here no more" Dave shouted "We'd never hear the end of it Molls fucking old bill"
"Well, you are hardly the fucking Krays" screamed Molly "I really can't see what your problem is" as Charles put his hand over hers she calmed "I wasn't going to come round in me uniform any more than I did when I was in the army."
Jack and Martin both giggling but then realising that they wouldn't see Sam anymore if Charles and Molly didn't come round and got up and left the room, thinking they would text him.
"Look Dad" started Bella "Surely it will be better than being in the army and sent to all them dodgy places where someone wants to kill her"
"You think that being a Blue Bottle will be any better" said Nan "There's plenty of people wouldn't mind seeing the back of them an all."
"Well, the decision has been made" sighed Molly "I've jacked in the army and start in the Police in a couple of weeks, like it or lump it!, she snapped."
"Well, you left us with no choice but to lump it" shouted Dave "don't come back here with your tail between your legs when you need a helping hand, sometimes I wonder at you girl, how you could be a daughter of mine?"
"Yeah me too" retorted Molly.
"Molls" Belinda spoke for the first time "can't you change your mind, you don't have to work do you. Can't you find something else to do?"
"No Belinda, she doesn't if she doesn't want to, but she does want to work and have a career" said Charles raising an eyebrow. He could feel that Molly was getting upset by the way she was gripping his leg and he was getting a ring side seat of what it must have been like for her when she was 18 and announced that she was joining the army.
Molly stood up and started putting her jacket on "Well if you all feel like this then there is no more to be said, you know where we are if you want to get in touch". Charles looked across at her and stood to join her. She was dry eyed and he couldn't help but wonder if her expressionless face had been learnt from him. You would never know how upset she was at the reaction of her family.
They were halfway down the passageway when Bella caught them up.
"Molls" she called and they both stopped and turned "They will come round, eventually" she giggled "But I'm dead proud you've done this and I wanna keep seeing you, you're me sister. I'm grown up now and can make me own decisions, that twat won't be telling me what to do and who I can see" and hugged Molly tightly and Molly hugged her back nodding before she pulled back patted her sister on the cheek.
"I'd like that Bella, we'll keep in touch and you will always be welcome at our house."
-OG-
They were out of sight of the maisonettes before Charles stopped walking and turned to Molly who had been holding his hand and arm. He put his hands on her shoulders and could feel them hitch.
She looked up at him with watery eyes "That went well didn't it" and he snorted a laugh shrugging his shoulders "Well Bella was supportive and Jack and Martin didn't seem too concerned."
She wrapped her arms around his waist and he pulled her head close his chest enveloping her in his arms. "They will come round, they did before when you joined the army" he whispered kissing her head. He really couldn't understand how they didn't want their daughter to better herself and achieve her dreams and ambitions. "How about I see if they have a table at the Darwin Brasserie and you can have one of those lovely cocktails for afters" he chuckled and she could feel his chest vibrating.
"Too late to see the sunset now though" she grinned looking up at him and he shrugged "Come on then, get me pissed."
He cupped her face in his large hands, his thumbs brushing across her cheeks, her eyes huge blinking rapidly so that she didn't cry over her parents cutting her off yet again "Not too pissed, I thought I was on a promise tonight" kissing her lightly on the lips and making her laugh.
