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Chapter 29: Every Step of the Way

"She threatened you? Melissa can be… selfish… and … and heartless at the best of times but this just doesn't make sense," Rachel stuttered as she ran a shaky hand through her hair.

It felt foreign coming out of Rachel's mouth, to almost defend her sister after everything she had done. But this was her little sister, and no matter how spiteful she could be, Rachel couldn't picture her threatening Julie so intensely.

Julie shrugged as she glanced between Eddie and Rachel, "I didn't either. She was always… nice to me. Back when we first met each other. And I would've thought her to be the exact opposite of friendly, given what her deal was."

Rachel and Eddie shared a glance. They had experienced their fair share of Melissa being the polar opposite of kind in recent weeks. But always acting sweet and innocent on the surface. So probably out of everything discussed with Julie, this strangely made the most sense.

"Look, did she say anything else?" Rachel heard Eddie question.

Maybe Melissa wouldn't go as far to threaten someone. She was more covert than that. Unless… she was being forced or told to. Then that would be a different story.

"No. Just what I've already told you. The calls and texts have become more persistent in the past few weeks."

Another glance was shared between Eddie and Rachel. Surely it was no coincidence that Melissa's threats to Julie had increased since she abandoned Philip? Abandoned Philip for Mollie's dad. Rachel wasn't sure about sharing this piece of information with Julie just yet. It would only put her on edge further, wouldn't it?

Unless she had been back in contact with Mollie's dad for longer than a few weeks. Rachel couldn't quite comprehend it. Just when she thought that the pieces of the puzzle were fitting together, it all jumbled up again.

It was when Julie glanced at the clock that her whole demeanour seemed to change.

"Look, you'd better be going. I need to pick Mollie up soon."

Rachel and Eddie stood hesitantly. It felt odd to leave now. For Rachel, there was so much more she needed to know before she could begin to fully understand. Maybe she would just have to figure it out for herself.

As they reached the front door, Rachel turned to Julie. She realised that there was something she absolutely couldn't piece together herself. Something that she had kind of already asked but Julie hadn't particularly answered.

"Did you know that I was headteacher of Waterloo Road when you chose the school for Mollie?"

Julie glanced down, "I did. I was struggling to homeschool her once she started secondary. The content… it's completely different to primary and far more difficult to teach. And then she kept asking, about her blood relatives. I wanted to tell her about Melissa, to let Mollie meet her. But it's something I can't risk, not with Melissa threatening me. I love Mollie like she's my own, I've looked after her for her whole life. Of course I do. I couldn't imagine losing her."

Julie paused for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"I obviously remembered what Melissa said, about you being a teacher. So I did my research, and just by chance you were the headteacher of a school near us. I was hoping she could get to know you. At least then she'd have one blood relative."

Two, Rachel thought absentmindedly. She didn't want to mention that yet. Rachel couldn't even begin to think how she was going to explain all of this to Philip. It was bound to tear him apart even further.

"Does she know? That I'm her auntie?"

"No… I thought it would be best to just let her figure it out. Sounds a bit cowardly really."

"Julie, it doesn't," Rachel said, taking a step closer to place a hand on the woman's arm, "I think you've been really brave to make a life out of this awful situation. You obviously love Mollie a whole lot."

Rachel was glad to see Julie nod in agreement. She had a great deal of sympathy for this woman. Rachel knew what a journey you had to go on to completely turn your life around. But Julie had. Perhaps not with the best circumstances, or with the best catalyst. But the main thing was she had done it.

"Thank you, Rachel… and?"

Julie turned to Eddie, questionably. It was then that Rachel was reminded how they hadn't got a proper chance to introduce themselves. Julie must have been wondering who Eddie was for the whole conversation.

"Eddie Lawson. Deputy head at Waterloo Road."

Julie nodded in response to Eddie, smiling as she looked between them both. She was probably wondering why Eddie was here if it was Rachel's family business. Or maybe she had already put two and two together.

"I'm sorry about how much of a shock this must have been for you."

"Don't be. Thank you Julie, for being so honest with us."

Rachel expected that to be it, that they would just open the door and walk out. But just as she swung the front door open, she heard Julie's voice calling her name.

"Rachel, hang on a second."

Rachel spun around, closely followed by Eddie.

"There's another reason why I sent her to Waterloo road."

Rachel noted that Julie all of a sudden looked unsure of herself now. Rachel couldn't help but wonder what it was that she wanted to say.

"Well… I… could you talk to Melissa? Get her to stop threatening me? I can't go on being worried about if I'm going to see my daughter from day to day. And I know Mollie isn't my blood daughter… but that's how I see her after all these years."

"I understand that Julie… of course you would see Mollie as your own."

Julie smiled and Rachel was just unsure about how to react to everything else she said, "Melissa and I… we haven't got the best of relationships. I want to help you though Julie. In my eyes… you are Mollie's mother. But if Mollie… if she wants to know more about her blood relatives, perhaps you should talk to her? I take it she doesn't know about all of this?"

Julie shook her head violently, "I wouldn't know how to start."

"She wouldn't blame you, you know."

"I hope not. Because I do think you're right, I'm going to have to tell her, before we start persuading Melissa to stop."

"It's your choice. As I said, in my eyes, Mollie is your daughter. I'll leave it up to you to decide what's best. But I do want to help, as best I can. I will support you if Melissa comes back."

Rachel was pleased to see a smile spread across Julie's lips, albeit through watery eyes.

"Thank you for that Rachel."

"Here, take my number. Call me if you need anything."

And with a final swing of the door, along with one last smile, they were gone.

It felt almost surreal as Rachel and Eddie walked away from Julie's house, and back to Rachel's car.

Eddie reached for Rachel's hand as soon as they stepped out of the doorstep. It was something he had been wanting to do for the entire duration of the conversation. For his own comfort and reassurance as well as Rachel's.

He couldn't put into words how proud he was of her for how she handled that situation. Eddie had no idea how she was able to keep so calm and collected throughout the entire meeting. He hoped she knew how phenomenal she was. And how so very much he thought of her.

Perhaps this adoration directed at the woman to his left was the only reason why Eddie hadn't exploded with anger. If at all possible, Eddie now felt even more furious at himself for ever getting involved with Melissa. Aside from the fact that he should have waited for Rachel, Melissa was far from the person he thought she was. Not that he particularly liked her after her selfish acts. This was just on another level. It sickened him to think that he was going to marry her. How could she give away her child like that? And then just expect to have her back 11 years later? Didn't she know how lucky she was to have a baby, alive and well?

Eddie was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't realise he and Rachel were now sitting back in her car. He glanced across at her and was met with a look so full of care and love that he felt as if his heart might explode. Rachel brought a hand up to his face and brushed a thumb over his cheekbone lightly. Instantly, he felt some of the tension ease away.

"I know what you must be feeling, and thinking."

There was another perfect example of how special Rachel was. She had put how he was feeling about it all above her own feelings. Because no doubt her mind was in turmoil right now.

As Rachel whispered these words, Eddie was also reminded that the way he could read her like a book was a mutual thing. She knew him inside and out too. And he could open up to her just like she could open up to him.

"It just… doesn't make sense. How she could take for granted having a child who is alive and well. Surely there has to be some sort of reason why… some explanation."

Rachel reached for his hand with her free one, "I'm sorry Eddie, that you had to hear all of that. I can imagine it brought back a lot of painful memories for you. I hope that there was… some kind of plausible reason or… or explanation behind Melissa's actions. Because the alternative is just… not worth thinking about."

He shook his head, "it's not."

Eddie looked back up at Rachel then and softly smiled. It was his way of thanks for her comfort. Because he felt as if he spoke, he would cry. Rachel's support was second to none and the amount of love she so obviously has for him, had a lump forming in Eddie's throat. He loved her just as much, and from the way Rachel smiled back, Eddie was sure that she knew that.

Realising that her hand was still aligned with his cheek, Eddie tilted his head slightly so that he could plant a soft kiss to her palm. He lingered there for a moment, just cherishing the feelings that came from the feel of her skin against his or the feel of her skin against his lips.

"How are we going to tell Philip all of this, hm?" Rachel muttered, "it's going to break him."

Eddie took a hold of her hand which was resting against his cheek, cupping it gently with his own.

"We will sort it. We'll be there for him."

A brief silence elapsed and Rachel looked thoughtful. Eddie couldn't begin to imagine the amount of thoughts that must be flying around in her mind.

"I meant what I said to Julie, I want to help her. I just don't know how. I can't remember the last time Melissa actually listened to a word I said."

"As it is with Philip, I think we've just got to be there for her. There's not much else we can do at the moment. She will call you, if there's any problems."

Rachel nodded before furrowing her brow, "Did it come as a shock to you? About Melissa threatening Julie?"

"I don't know Rach. Maybe it would have, if we hadn't just been told about the whole baby situation. I just don't know what your sister is capable of anymore."

Rachel sighed, "the Melissa I know. My little sister. I can't picture her doing any of this. But then I'm reminded of how much she's changed since we were kids. Just how selfish she has become, and it breaks my heart."

"It's why you were initially almost defending her about the threatening then."

Rachel nodded sadly.

"I can understand that Rachel. She's your little sister, like you say. Your instinct is always going to be to defend or protect her."

"But I don't want it to be. I can't stand this Eddie! Feeling as though I have to sort out her mess all of the time. Because it always gets thrown back in my face. If there truly isn't an explanation… then I can see myself being able to walk away. But if Melissa's in trouble Eddie…"

Eddie couldn't help but smile as he squeezed Rachel's hand, "that's one of the many things I love about you. Your selflessness. You want to save everyone."

Eddie noticed that Rachel too smiled slightly, shrugging her shoulder, "maybe you were right. Maybe I can't save everyone."

Eddie thought for a few moments, "this might be hard to consider. And it sounds harsh. But maybe some people just don't deserve to be saved."

It was harsh, Eddie knew that. And he wasn't someone to be selfish either. But after everything Melissa had put Rachel through recently, he couldn't help be angry. Because as he had thought countless times before. Rachel truly did deserve all the happiness in the world. He wished that she would allow herself to be entirely happy for a change.

"You are right. Melissa probably doesn't deserve saving. I'm furious with her. I can't believe she could have done such a thing. And yet, I'm sitting here thinking that there must be an explanation. A reason why she would do all of this. I don't know if I can just leave it Eddie."

"You've got to let yourself be happy too Rachel."

He watched her smile sincerely and flush at his words. Eddie was glad that she could take some joy out of his love and care for her.

"And you make me happy. So very much."

Eddie leant in now, kissing her lightly on the lips. She responded for a brief moment before he pulled away to study her expression with a smile.

"The feeling is mutual. But what makes me happiest, is seeing you smile. I'm not sure how much of that you'd be doing if Melissa were to be involved in your life again."

"Don't you see that she already is involved? All of this is causing me to be thrown back into the world of Melissa."

"I know Rach. I know."

"Thank you Eddie… well…you've been there every step of the way. And I just love you even more for it."

Eddie felt himself grin instantly. She never failed to put a smile on his face, despite the circumstances.

"I didn't think it was possible to love you any more. But I do, every single day."

They just shared a look for a few moments. Eddie found himself feeling extremely grateful to have Rachel throughout all of this. And extremely glad that he could be there to support and love her. Every step of the way, just like she had said. Because he was sure that she was going to need it.

"We will sort this, won't we?"

The vulnerability in her voice broke Eddie's heart. He had only heard this tone on a handful of occasions. The fire, and her first day back. It was just privy to how much this situation was affecting her.

"Of course we will."