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Chapter 24: Something Familiar

Philip couldn't believe what he was hearing. At Waterloo Road, news spread fast, and word of the new girl in year seven quickly got around. It was mainly due to the fact that Bolton had approached him, asking if this new girl was a relation of his. Surely this just had to be one of Bolton's pranks?

"What did you say her name is?"

"Can't really remember if I'm honest. Mollie… Millie. Summit like that. Look, all I know is, her last name's Ryan."

Philip froze. Mollie. Now if her name was Mollie, this was far from a half hearted joke.

"Look I've… gotta go lads. See you later yeah?"

He said his goodbyes to Bolton and Paul, leaving them both utterly baffled. They had only been having a laugh with Philip, they didn't actually think that he was related to this new girl. But having seen his reaction, maybe it was a possibility.

Paul turned to Bolton and shrugged. For once they didn't want to pry, they would find out sooner or later. Philip was their mate now anyway, and Bolton wasn't about to disappoint Miss Mason again. Not after everything she had done for him.

Philip was pretty much breathless by the time he reached Rachel's office. He had dodged the masses, receiving several grunts and complaints after knocking into the majority of people in the corridors. He didn't care. He didn't know if Rachel had worked it out yet, if she had looked into Mollie. But Philip knew that she and Eddie would be asking him about it sooner or later. It was better to just tell them the truth, this wasn't his fault. It was his mum's. Philip sighed, yet again, here he was, cleaning up his mother's mess.

"Rach, I need to talk to you," Philip entered the room, not bothering to knock.

She was sitting at her desk eating lunch, with Eddie sitting at a chair adjacent. Somehow, Eddie being there allowed Philip to feel slightly relieved. If Rachel wasn't already aware of the situation, she was going to be in shock. Eddie was certainly more capable of giving comfort than he was.

Yet from the way the two adults shared a glance, Philip made a guess that Mollie Ryan was already common knowledge.

"Okay..." Rachel began warily, "sit down then Philip," she commented, offering him an uncertain smile.

"Thing is… erm. This new year seven girl, Mollie…"

Philip was about to continue when he became witness to the expression on Rachel's face. It was identical to the one she had given Eddie just moments ago. Yes, she knew.

"Oh, you know don't you?"

Philip watched as Rachel hesitated, her mouth opening and closing. She was obviously searching for the right words.

"We do Phil, yeah," Eddie spoke for her.

"How long have you known about this Philip?"

Philip could sense the empathy in his auntie's tone, and once again found himself feeling guilty that she had been dragged into all of this. Rachel remained to care about him first and foremost, even when this was causing her a great deal of turmoil. Philip doubted that he could ever repay her for all of her support. Particularly now and in recent weeks.

So he took a deep breath and prepared himself to reveal all. This was a secret he had held close to his heart for nearly twelve years. Maybe it would be a relief to finally let it go.

"I've always known… well, since Mollie was born. Obviously I was only five, but I remember bits of what happened."

"Philip… I'm so sorry that you've had to keep this a secret all this time. I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for you."

Philip smiled at Rachel before continuing. He hoped that the gesture looked just as genuine as he longed it to be.

"She was seeing this bloke. I guess he must be Mollie's dad. I… I can't remember his name. Just that mum, she… she would always leave me in the house, sometimes overnight, to go see him."

….

A giant lump formed in Rachel's throat as Philip began to explain. Just when she thought that Melissa couldn't get any more inconsiderate. Five years old, that was Philip's age when all this was going on. How could a mother put her own son through that? Rachel had to hold back tears upon thinking that this mother was her sister. This wasn't just a story or problem that she was being told by a pupil. One that Rachel could solve. This had happened to her nephew, this was her sister's wrongdoing. Rachel wasn't sure if she could fix this when it was happening so close to home.

She had taken her eyes away from Philip. The worried look on his face was only making Rachel want to break down more. But she had to listen to him further, to find out what else he was aware of. As much as Rachel longed for this not to be her problem. As much as she wished she could just brush it under the carpet, it had become her problem. She had no choice but to clear up Melissa's mess once more and deal with the consequences.

"He barely ever came over to our house," Philip continued as Rachel looked back up at him, "but when he did… he erm…"

Rachel could see the tears beginning to build up in her nephew's eyes. She couldn't face this anymore. Gratefully taking the box of tissues that Eddie passed to her, Rachel made a move towards the other side of the desk. She crouched down to Philip's level and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. It came as a surprise when the boy leant forwards slightly and began to cry on her shoulder. It was somewhat rare for Philip to show such emotion in front of her. For Rachel, that's what made this whole situation even more heartbreaking and difficult to watch unfold. As she rubbed a hand across his upper back, the tears began to subside. Now Eddie stood too, coming round to place a hand on Philip's shoulder.

"It'll be alright Philip. You, me and Rachel will sort this."

The boy nodded briefly, and Rachel adjusted her gaze to Eddie so that she could give him a watery smile.

Philip sat up and wiped his tears away shortly after this. Rachel guessed that he was preparing to resume where he left off. She didn't know if she could take whatever he was about to say. With the way that Philip had cried so intensely, it was unlikely to be anything but earth shattering.

….

Since he had begun speaking, Philip knew this was the bit he would struggle to say. He tried to think about it as little as possible. So saying it aloud, would be another matter entirely.

Taking a shaky breath, Philip took comfort in the caring way that both Eddie and Rachel were looking at him. He trusted that they were always going to be there to support him. Maybe that's what spurred Philip on to just say it.

"He used to hit me. For no reason. If I was there, and mum wasn't in the room, then I would get it."

Philip sensed the tension in the room. He could just tell the way both adults had frozen at his words.

"Oh, Philip," Rachel managed to comment as she brought a hand up to her mouth.

"Mum she… either didn't know, or she did and chose not to say anything. Maybe it was just another time she put her own happiness before everyone else's."

"Philip I… your mother can be extremely selfish. And yet I don't think even she would do something so horrific."

Rachel's words seemed to be her true thoughts, but Philip saw the uncertainty in her eyes. He saw just how much she wanted to make this all go away for him. That along with the way her gaze averted to Eddie briefly. Philip guessed that even just a tiny part of his aunt believed that Melissa was in fact capable of such a thing.

"I don't remember the time scale… or anything like that. But I just remember a baby being there. Mum said she was called Mollie. The man visited less then. And then I don't think we ever saw him again."

Philip could see just how much Rachel wanted to ask about Mollie. Why did Melissa abandon her? Yet Philip wasn't sure if he knew the answer to that. It was a question he had been asking himself in recent years.

"Like I said. I don't remember it all. But one day Mollie just disappeared. I don't know why, and I think she was still a baby."

Rachel tilted her head to the side, offering Philip a smile. By now Eddie had busied himself making three coffees. As the drinks were passed across, Philip was more than glad for the amount of sugar Eddie had put in.

"Don't beat yourself up about not being able to remember Phil," Eddie spoke as he sat back in a chair.

"Eddie's right. I don't want you to feel like that Philip."

Philip attempted to laugh, but was acutely aware of how false it sounded, "I'll try not to."

Philip allowed himself to relax again for the first time since hearing of Mollie. The ordeal was far from over. Himself, Eddie and Rachel had a long way to go. But what mattered was that they'd be doing it together. Philip wouldn't be without someone by his side, like he had been so many times in the past.

It wasn't until much later that day, as Philip was readying himself for bed that he caught sight of the birthday card from his mum. He couldn't resist looking at it again, no matter how much he wanted to. As Philip opened it, he was predictably met with the photo of his mother and her new bloke.

And then it hit him. Maybe this new man wasn't so new after all.

The features were unclear on the man's face, yet there was something about him. Philip hadn't been able to put his finger on it upon seeing the picture for the first time. But now, having revisited part of his childhood, there was something oddly familiar about this figure's dark hair and tall build. Philip just hoped for everyone's sakes that this wasn't the man he thought it was. Mollie's father.