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Chapter 22: You Always Know

"Do you think she's in Paris for good?"

It was the first thing Philip had said since the 'new man' comment. Rachel had been casting him worried glances across the table. He hadn't touched his breakfast, and had been staring into space for a good ten minutes. If he was okay before, he certainly wasn't okay now.

Rachel hesitated before answering, and didn't feel able to put the words together until she felt a supportive hand on her knee. Eddie - he just always knew.

Perhaps Rachel was finding it so hard to answer her nephew's question because she wanted him to be happy, content with life. And she didn't know which response would bring him that closure - yes I think she will probably long for a fresh start or no… I think she will long for some sort of revenge on me.

"Honestly Philip… I don't know. I never have done with your mother," she watched as Philip glanced down, breaking his gaze with her, "but what I do know Philip… is I'm going to be here no matter what she does. Okay?"

He looked back up, and Rachel was somewhat relieved to see that at least some of the tension had leaked out of his features.

"Yeah… um I know Rach," Philip fumbled, "it's just this whole new man stuff is really freaking me out. I didn't think she was serious."

"Nor did I. I erm… kind of presumed that it was her way of provoking us," Rachel admitted as she glanced at Eddie briefly.

Philip scoffed, "yep. Does sound like something she would do. I never could stop her from being such a cow."

Rachel was taken aback at Philip's insult towards Melissa. She felt as if she should reprimand him for it, but he was hurting, wasn't he? Rachel's thoughts continued to swim around in her brain before she realised that she hadn't actually said anything at all. Eddie seemed to sense this, he always did.

"Phil mate, we both understand that you're hurting right now, and angry at your mother. Rach and I are angry with her too. But don't talk about her, or anyone like that."

"Yeah… um, sorry," Philip mumbled as he fixed his attention on the cornflakes in front of him rather than the worried glances Rachel and Eddie were currently exchanging.

Philip wanted to speak, to break the silence. He, or more specifically his mum, had imposed enough strain on Rachel's life in recent weeks. But Philip couldn't. He felt foolish, by all accounts. Just the night before, after thinking over Melissa's text, he allowed a part of him to accept that maybe she was trying for once. She wasn't, of course she wasn't. How could she possibly care about him when she was swanning around Paris with her new man? And that was another thing - there was something about the man he recognised. He just couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"If mum comes back…" Philip eventually found the ability to speak as a new thought occurred to him, "can I still… stay here… with you guys?"

Rachel shifted out of her seat now, moving around the table to sit next to her nephew. She placed a hand on his arm, willing the boy to look at her. Rachel felt torn in two upon seeing the pained expression on his face. She hoped that her response to his question would alleviate some of that.

"Philip, of course you can. I'm not going to make you go back with your mum, if she does return. Not if you don't want to."

He shook his head, "I don't Rach. I couldn't live with her again, not after this."

Eddie watched on from across the table. His heart was warming upon seeing the exchange between Philip and Rachel. As she put an arm around him, Philip began to look considerably relaxed. It was a sure sign that he had faith in Rachel's words. As much as Eddie's mind was centered upon Philip, he couldn't help the way he focused on the boy's particular words. Can I still stay here with you guys. It was just another example of how natural it was for himself and Rachel to be living under the same roof. He smiled warmly as Rachel caught his eye. No matter the situation, Eddie decided it was necessary to find some time to have that conversation with her. Perhaps the idea would do all three of them some good, if it went to plan.

It wasn't until Sunday evening that Eddie was presented with an opportunity. Philip was spending his night getting homework done, whilst he and Rachel were sitting together on the sofa. The way her head lulled against his chest as his arm wrapped around her waist, just reinforced how right this all felt. It was that exact thought which gave Eddie the encouragement to broach the topic.

"Rachel?"

She sat up slightly upon hearing his voice, turning to smile at him as a response.

"I've just been thinking, about how much time we've spent together over the past week or so. Maybe more significantly, the little time I've spent at my place."

Eddie watched as Rachel's lips curled upwards. It gave him more faith that he had read her in the right way. Still, he hesitated, not wanting to in any way jeopardise the love they had been building up for so long now.

"And you were thinking we should move in together for good?"

Rachel sensed Eddie's uncertainty, and was more than happy to help him out. She was just finding it rather difficult to conceal the grin that was threatening to break out.

"Well… yes, I mean, if you want to."

There was a nervous edge to his tone, and Rachel's heart soared. She briefly flashed back to when he had asked her out for a drink on the last day of term. They had both been incredibly nervous then too. Perhaps some things never changed. Rachel was just glad that the things she wanted to alter, had.

Giving in to temptation, Rachel surged forwards, wrapping her arms around Eddie's neck before kissing him sweetly.

"Of course I want to. You soppy sod."

And just like that, they segued into discussing plans of moving in together. Whether he would move to hers or she would move to his. They came to the idea that Philip had been through enough upheaval, and they had been perfectly content at Rachel's for almost two weeks now. Rachel mentioned about broaching the subject to Philip, and with a case of suitable timing, the boy himself walked into the living room.

Both adults were glad to see that the touch of relaxation they had seen in him on Saturday morning remained. Rachel just hoped at the back of her mind that Melissa wasn't planning on putting that to the test.

"I think it's a great idea," Philip commented as he sat down adjacent to the couple.

Rachel and Eddie exchanged a glance, admittedly confused. They hadn't yet mentioned their new plans.

Philip chuckled at their flabbergasted expressions, "I was in the kitchen, getting a drink," he gestured, "I heard you guys talking. About you know, Eddie moving in."

Rachel smiled, "right… I see."

Eddie concluded to broach the question that was no doubt floating around in Rachel's mind, "and are you sure you're alright with it Philip?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

Both Rachel and Eddie smiled delightfully. The look on Philip's face told it all: he meant that, he was truly happy for Eddie to move in. Rachel too hoped that this would also do her nephew some good. She guessed that it would, what he needed right now was support, and stability. She and Eddie were more than willing to give him that whether Melissa made an appearance or not.

….

"New pupil," Steph said as she entered Rachel's office the following day.

Sure enough, a girl who looked about eleven or twelve was hovering in the doorway next to the French teacher. Rachel was quite baffled, she most certainly couldn't remember the mention of any new students whatsoever.

"I'm sorry Steph, I'm not quite sure…"

"I saw this one milling around outside my classroom," the other woman said, gesturing towards the girl, "no uniform on. So I thought I'd investigate, turns out her guardian dropped her off, left her to her own devices."

Rachel stepped closer to Steph now, noticing just how apprehensive and reluctant the young girl looked.

"Thank you Steph. I will deal with it from here."

Just like that she turned and left, leaving Rachel's attention solely focused on this new pupil.

"And what's your name?" she questioned lightly, along with a smile in hopes of reassuring the girl.

"Mollie."

"Your surname?" Rachel said, preparing to call for Joyce to collect the relevant forms.

Mollie glanced down, "don't have one."

"I'm sorry… you don't have a surname?" Rachel questioned, tilting her head to the side.

"Well I do. Just don't want to use it. My mum left when I was young. And I've never even met my dad. Don't see why I should have to."

Rachel was left feeling rather baffled. She made a mental note to keep an eye on Mollie, perhaps she was having some significant struggles at home. Rachel most definitely longed to help with that. For now though, she didn't want to overwhelm the girl, so merely nodded her head and told her to take a seat on the sofas.

"Joyce?" Rachel questioned as she walked out into the antechamber, "could you get Mr Lawson up here please? I believe he's got a free lesson. And check your emails, see if you've had any information regarding a new pupil… Mollie."

Joyce responded before busying herself for a few moments, but it wasn't long after that when she was calling Rachel back.

"I've received one email… from a Mrs Tate. Explaining that she is Mollie's legal guardian, and was wondering if there are any places for her at Waterloo Road."

Rachel nodded, drinking in the information, "and does she mention a surname? For Mollie?"

"Yes… erm yes she does. It's Ryan… Mollie Ryan."