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Chapter 27: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

As Rachel made the coffees, it registered with Philip just how many hot drinks he had consumed in the past week. Maybe it was slowly becoming his coping mechanism. When he had approached Rachel in the corridor, Philip had half expected her to tell him to go back to class. She wouldn't have wanted his education to be jeopardised because of this problem. Yet maybe because she didn't do that, it showed Philip just how much she cared about it all. As if he didn't know that already. Of course he knew that already, after everything she and Eddie had done for him.

Rachel smiled at him when he took a seat on the sofas, and Philip was aware that it was his call. As much as he didn't want it to be. He was the one who came running to Rachel about this, so now he had to explain. With hopes that she would be able to help.

"I had to know Rach."

She looked at him with a slight furrowed brow, and Philip knew he would have to give her more than that.

"What I was saying to you… about if she knew about… you know…"

Philip saw as realisation struck Rachel and her expression softened. He guessed from that look that she already knew what his mum's response had been. Philip had been expecting that demeanour from her, but he didn't anticipate the look of shared understanding. As if she had been through something similar to him. Philip wanted to ask, but knew that his aunt was someone who had to open up to people unquestioned. Perhaps with the exception of Eddie.

Her next word was spoken after a brief silence, "and?"

"She did… she did know. She just never did anything, or said anything to anyone."

Rachel closed her eyes and Philip guessed that she was just trying to take it in. Either that or she was trying to stop the tears from falling. Much like he had done after the phone call with Melissa the previous evening.

"I'm so sorry Philip," she eventually whispered, eyes still closed.

Immediately, a surge of anger coursed through Philip. Directed at Melissa. His mum. It still baffled him that someone who was supposed to love and care for him and caused him so much pain. It certainly wasn't Rachel's place to be feeling guilty or saying sorry.

"What are you saying sorry for? There's nothing for you to be sorry for."

"I wish I had been in your life all those years ago. Maybe then I could have stopped him, could have done something."

Philip couldn't stop the sigh that escaped his lips, it was as if he was trying to rid himself of some of the anger. Yet from the way his fingers automatically clenched and unclenched, this feeling wasn't about to disintegrate.

"You weren't to know. And you're in my life now, doing a better job at being my mum than my real one ever did."

Rachel smiled now. And Philip was more than glad to see some sincerity as well as shared sympathy in it. Once again, he found himself wondering if his aunt had been through similar things in things in the past to what he had. Maybe if he ever found the courage he would ask her about it one day. Or maybe she would find the courage to talk to him. That seemed like the more likely of the two scenarios.

"There's something else," Philip muttered as he met Rachel's watery eyes.

"Right…"

"The man...that she's with now. It's him… it's the same man who used to hit me."

The effect was instant. Rachel's expression changed from that of comfort and sorrow to one of disgust and anger. Presumably targeted in a similar direction to where Philip's own anger was targeted in.

"I don't know what to say, Philip. I… just once again I'm left feeling like Melissa couldn't get any more heartless. But of course, she can."

"Knowing about what he used to do to me is one thing. But for her to go back to him. I… I just can't get my head around it. She said he's changed, that he's a teacher now."

If at all possible Rachel looked even more horrified at this latest development.

"Let's hope Melissa is right. Let's hope he has changed. For the sake of the pupils he teaches."

"He wouldn't get away with anything like that in a school though… would he?"

Rachel glanced down and shrugged, "maybe not. But there's been plenty of examples of abuse in schools in the past."

Philip felt himself sigh once more, "I just don't know what to do now. I tried asking her about why Mollie just disappeared and she clammed up, snapped at me and put the phone down. None of it makes sense."

"I can't quite get my head around it either Philip. But I think we do need to get to the bottom of all this. For our own closure if nothing else. Maybe a relationship with you and Mollie could come out of all of this."

"I hope so. I have always wanted a sister, you know Rach."

Rachel smiled and Philip could tell that she was thinking about her own relationship with Melissa and the better one that they could have had.

"You've got one. It's just getting to know her."

"Every cloud."

"Most definitely."

"I just feel like I can't approach her until I know what the hell's gone on."

Rachel went silent for a moment but looked thoughtful. She was definitely thinking of a way to solve all of this and Philip just hoped that it would work.

It was then that Eddie entered the office, as promised. Philip couldn't help but smile along with Rachel. They were both perfect for eachother and Philip was so happy to see their relationship getting stronger each day. In a way, this made him glad that his mum left.

"Melissa did know... about what happened with Philip and her boyfriend," Rachel began as Eddie sat down.

Philip found himself once again feeling glad of Eddie's presence. It was just another person who he knew that he could rely on.

Philip didn't miss the way that Eddie ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He looked just as angered about all of this as himself and Rachel were.

"That woman is something else…" Eddie grumbled, with Rachel nodding and sighing in agreement.

"That's not all. The man she's with in Paris, is Mollie's father, also known as, the man who abused Philip."

"Christ…"

Rachel and Eddie shared a look of consensus before she turned back to Philip.

"Talking of Paris, Philip… do you know if she's still there?"

Philip wasn't surprised at this question from Rachel. In fact, he had been expecting it earlier on in the conversation.

"When I rang her last night, she said they were flying home that evening. As in last night."

Philip decided to leave out what Melissa had said about coming to see them. It would only put more strain on his aunt. And like he had thought many times before, she didn't deserve that and neither did Eddie.

He could see the way that Eddie was looking at Rachel worriedly as she massaged her temple with her fingertips. Philip gathered that Melissa's return had obviously been a topic of conversation between the pair. He just had to hope that his mum's comment about visiting them had been a throwaway one, and nothing would come of it.

"Anyway," Rachel continued, seemingly as an attempt to ignore the slight worry to do with Melissa's potential return, "I think we can both agree that the silver lining of this would be for Philip to have a relationship with his sister. But he can only do that if we find out what on earth went on."

Eddie's eyebrows raised, "have you tried directly asking your mum Phil?"

"Yep. When I phoned her last night. She put the phone down pretty much straight away."

"Helpful," Eddie responded, sarcasm very much evident.

"She mentioned Julie though. Mollie's adopted mum. Was a bit weird about it actually."

The look Rachel and Eddie shared was expected, but what wasn't expected however, was what Rachel said to Eddie next.

"What do you say to a visit to Julie, Mollie's legal guardian? Maybe then we can find out what really happened."