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Chapter 33: Déjà Vu

"Rachel, we have to go to the police."

"And say what Eddie? That Max Tyler used to physically abuse my nephew ten plus years ago? Because my sister would back that up all the way."

"Well… then we'll inform the LEA."

"And do you really think that's going to make a difference? They're not going to believe it Eddie. And we can't put Philip through that. We can't put him through explaining everything he knows, for authoritative figures to turn round and say they don't believe him."

Eddie sighed and Rachel could tell that he knew she was right and was trying to think of other ways to solve it.

"He probably applied for the job knowing exactly who I am. This will be all part of Melissa's grand plan."

Eddie raised his eyebrows in response, looking thoughtful. She wasn't sure what they were actually supposed to do from here. And she knew that Eddie was thinking the same thing.

"I could ring his flaming neck and I haven't even met the bloke yet."

"Honestly Eddie… it's you and me both. But the last thing I need is you going all macho on him."

They shared a look and Rachel realised what she had to say next, "because what we need to focus on, is Philip. He is the person who is going to be most affected by this. The last thing we need is him going back to square one, if he hasn't already."

"I can't imagine what's going through his head."

"The level of deception from Melissa is just…" Rachel shrugged, "unbelievable. However expected. I knew she would be planning something. If this is her doing. Melissa… she was never one to… go down without a fight."

"Well we aren't about to go down without a fight either."

Rachel allowed her mouth to contort into some sort of smile. This sort of talk from Eddie was what helped her to keep going. She would always be grateful for it. Just as she was about to thank him, even though he was constantly telling her not to, Eddie spoke again.

"And what about Mollie? Does she actually know who her dad is?"

"I don't think even Julie knows."

"Might be something we need to change."

A silence fell until something seemed to reoccur to Rachel.

"Oh god, Eddie," Rachel sighed as she placed her head in her hands, "when Philip told me… it made me realise… or you know, think about… who might be encouraging Melissa to threaten Julie."

"Max."

Rachel nodded, already feeling another sigh on the horizon.

"The little…"

Rachel raised her eyebrows at him in slight amusement. That was one of the things she loved about being with Eddie. They could always put a smile on one another's faces if necessary. Just to stop their moods from completely hitting rock bottom.

It worked and they both smiled slightly for a moment.

"Sitting here trying to think of a creative insult. But I don't think anything can top knob the builder."

Rachel giggled now and she could tell that Eddie was glad that he could distract her. Even if it only was for a few blissful seconds.

"Let's just hope Max Tyler isn't Stuart Hordley the second then."

She had said it as a joke, however meaningful for her. But from Eddie's expression, he had detected the hint of anxiousness in her tone.

It was just then that he made the short journey around her desk to where she was sitting. Eddie took hold of Rachel's hands, pulling her up until they were facing one another.

His hand came up to brush the loose strand of hair behind her ear. Instead of removing his touch, Eddie's soft palm remained lovingly on the side of her neck. With his free hand, Eddie took Rachel's in his own, already beginning to brush the back of it with his thumb.

"I know what you said. That we need to focus on Philip, and you're right. We do. But you have to look after yourself too Rachel. Just like I'm going to look after you."

She was blinking furiously now, willing the threatening tears not to fall. But Eddie's words were so heartfelt, and so truthful, that Rachel couldn't stop the lone tear that ran down her cheek.

Eddie's head titled, the hand resting on her neck coming up to brush the tear away. She shut her eyes under his touch, feeling herself relax straightaway. Even if it would be short lived, Rachel reminded herself of everything that Eddie had said to her in recent weeks. She knew that he loved her, and he wasn't going anywhere. He would always be there to support her and care for her. Just like Rachel would be for him. They were a team.

Apparently, Eddie had read her mind and intended to emphasise this.

He lifted up their hands that were already linked, so that they were visible to them both.

"You're not doing this alone. We are a team, me and you. Okay?"

Rachel couldn't resist falling into Eddie's arms now. Her arms came up to scoop under his shoulders, resting her palms upon his back. Whilst Eddie's own arms wrapped securely around her waist. One of his hands already began to smooth up and down her back, as she rested her head on his chest.

"We will tackle Max. And whatever else he throws at us."

Eddie planted a kiss atop of her head before resting his own against it. She hoped that he felt her nod before she spoke her next words.

"I love you so much."

"And I love you."

They pulled back from one another slightly, still keeping their arms respectively wrapped around each other.

"It might be… difficult to know where to start. But why don't you give Julie a call or go and see her. Might be a good place to begin."

Rachel nodded, "I think you're right, she needs to know. I mean… we don't know what Max and Melissa are planning… but it's bound to be something. This has to be some sort of… revenge or… or I don't know…"

"And we will cover all grounds. Just think, if your sister wanted this to be a big reveal, that's out the window. We are one step ahead of them."

Rachel looked at Eddie and raised her eyebrows as if to say that's true. She had noticed how he barely ever said Melissa now, instead saying 'your sister' or 'your mum' (when talking to Philip). She knew Eddie well enough to know that this was entirely purposeful. She guessed that he couldn't bring himself to say it. After everything she had done, Rachel didn't blame him. She herself had to gulp down the anger whenever she spoke Melissa's name.

Rachel looked up at Eddie as he repeated his earlier action of brushing her hair behind her ear, before bringing her into another much needed embrace.

….

It was as Rachel was approaching Julie's front door for the second time that week, that she wished she'd accepted Eddie's offer to join her. He had been persistent, but Rachel wanted him to be there for Philip. If she was in his position, she wouldn't have wanted to be on her own. They needed to show their support for him.

Rachel couldn't really comprehend why she was nervous. She actually felt completely comfortable around Julie. Maybe it was just the fact she would have to repeat what Philip had told her. A task that wouldn't prove easy. And of course it would lead to more revelations for Mollie. Rachel's niece and nephew really were having a tough time of it. Naturally she would be there for Philip, but Rachel also hoped to try and hold out a helping hand for Mollie too.

"Hi… Rachel! I wasn't expecting to see you?"

Rachel smiled rather awkwardly. She felt awful to break Julie's obvious happy mood, but this had to be done.

"Is Mollie there with you?" She tilted her head slightly to look over Julie's shoulder. Searching for any sign of the girl.

It was when Rachel saw Julie's expression change. A flicker of concern was clear as she began to speak.

"No, she's with friends. Look, is everything alright? What's happened?"

"Could I… just come in for a moment?"

Rachel noted how Julie's worry only grew when she avoided her questions. She nodded curtly before opening the door and gesturing for Rachel to follow her through to the living room.

This was all starting to become far too familiar. Fragments of the conversation had in the room earlier in the week flashed across Rachel's mind. She wished that, unlike before, it wasn't her disclosing a revelation.

Julie refrained from offering Rachel a drink as she had done two days prior. It just showed how much she wanted to know what was going on. Because it was bound to be obvious by now that this was no social call.

"Is it Melissa, has she been in touch with you too?"

"Not exactly," Rachel began, taking a seat next to Julie, "do you remember… what I told you about Mollie's father?"

Julie nodded, "about what he used to do to Philip?"

Rachel too nodded, subconsciously playing with the watch on her wrist, "am I right in thinking that Mollie knows nothing of her father?"

"When I was telling her about… well about everything that happened. And you, and Philip. She asked but I just said I didn't know anything. Maybe a mum who paid someone else to look after her and a dad who used to abuse her little brother would have been too much to handle all in one go."

Rachel half smiled in understanding, sighing, "no… of course it would be. I guess I'm here to return your earlier favour of a heads up."

Julie tilted her head and Rachel saw this as a signal to continue.

"You will have received a letter about a merger taking place, commencing after the Easter break. The local education authority has made the decision to… appoint an executive headteacher."

Julie closed her eyes, perhaps not liking where this was going, "I don't get it. What does this have to do with Mollie's dad?"

Rachel could tell that Julie just wanted to know. To get it over and done with. So she decided to be blunt about it.

"He is Mollie's father."

"Oh you've got to be joking."

"No… it's no joke."

"I don't believe this."

"I know. I also found it difficult to… wrap my head around."

Julie exhaled sharply, running a shaky hand through her hair.

"I meant to tell you this earlier. On the phone. I was thinking about how Melissa and Mollie's dad… as much as I don't want to call him that...are back together."

All of a sudden Rachel knew where Julie was going with this. It had been something that she herself was going to bring up. Because it just made so much sense that Max would have had a say in the way that Melissa was threatening Julie. If he had, maybe it would be another thing they could have against him. But still, no solid evidence. That's what they needed.

"I gather that, you might be thinking what I'm thinking."

"That Max is the one telling her to threaten me? To get his daughter back. My daughter. And now… all of this… him coming here," Julie sighed, "great minds think alike."

Rachel's eyebrows raised, "something like that."

"Have you thought about going to the police? About Philip. There's no way he would have even been allowed to teach in the first place if that was common knowledge."

"Spoke about it for the most part of this afternoon with Eddie."

"Eddie?" Julie questioned, quirking an eyebrow.

Rachel cursed herself. That was a mistake, but a natural one. She should have forced herself to say the deputy head. It was just another example of how she actually felt comfortable around Julie.

"The deputy head," Rachel spoke swiftly, "a force of habit."

"So what's the deal with you two then?"

"Sorry?"

Rachel was sure that, if she did have a drink, then she would have most certainly spluttered on it.

"You and Eddie. The deputy head. He's very supportive of you."

It was weird but nice in the way that Julie was being with her. Strangely reminded Rachel of Melissa the few times that they actually got on well. She could see how the conversation had steered off topic, but maybe she trusted Julie enough to talk to her about this.

"He's a good deputy."

"And… am I a fool to think that there's something more?"

The smile on Julie's face made Rachel smile too. Which she quickly realised wouldn't go in her favour. Julie was actually reminding her a little of Steph now too. Except, it wasn't prying or sticking her nose in. Rachel was glad that she and Julie were actually building up a friendship from all of this.

"Between you and I… no, you aren't. You could say it's early days between Eddie and I. But I think we both know that there's been… something there for longer than that. In all seriousness, is it that obvious?"

Julie laughed now. It was odd how easily they had veered off topic, given how serious the Max situation could become. But Rachel was glad that Julie felt at ease with her. She would say that the feeling was mutual.

"It's obvious with the way he was looking at you. No man's ever looked at me like that. The other day, you could just tell that he wanted to comfort you for the whole conversation."

Rachel couldn't stop the slight blush that rose on her cheeks. She loved the way that Eddie was with her, and the fact that others could see that without knowing of their relationship, just emphasised how consistent his support was.

"Don't worry. My lips are sealed."

"I knew they would be. I'm quite… a private person. So you know I wouldn't have told you if I didn't trust you."

Julie smiled, "not sure how this conversation has gone completely off track. Anything and everything to distract myself," she paused, "I need to tell Mollie."

"I suppose it's better than the alternative," Rachel shrugged, "I don't know about you but I don't think Max approaching Mollie in the corridor would be the best of scenarios."

"No," she shook her head, "she would hate me like she hates her real mum. She said the other day that she didn't care and just wanted me to be honest with her."

"Try not to be too harsh on yourself, or overthink too much. I of all people… know how damaging that has the potential to be."

"What are you gonna do though? What next?"

"Honestly? I don't know. I just think that I really need… to focus on Philip right now. And I want you to know that I'm there for Mollie too, if she needs me."

"Thanks Rachel. She told me she spoke to Philip today."

Rachel nodded, "Philip mentioned that too. I just hope that, you know, they continue to. They've got a lot of catching up to do."

Julie smiled before her expression changed. Rachel could tell that her mind had once again averted to Max and what they were going to do about him.

"He's not going to be able to keep up his executive head act forever. You're just gonna have to wait till he slips up. Can't see another way out of this that won't make things worse."

"Maybe that is the most sensible option until we figure something out. I just... can't bear the thought of what he's capable of. And not only that, what my sister is capable of. I can imagine the toxic combination that they must be."

"You need to listen to your own advice. Stop overthinking."

Rachel smiled as they both stood up. It just seemed like a natural end to her visit.

"You guys should pop over in the Easter break. Philip and Mollie can talk more. You could get to know her too."

Rachel turned as she reached the door. She was glad that Julie brought it up as she was going to if she hadn't. For Rachel, it seemed right that she should build up some sort of relationship with Mollie. Especially before next term. Because she was definitely going to need someone to turn to at school.

Rachel's phone began to buzz after she had agreed to Julie's suggestion. The call was from Eddie and she could even tell herself that her expression had just lit up.

"That Eddie?" Julie said with a smirk on her face.

"I find myself asking once again if it is really that obvious."

They shared a laugh and a goodbye before Rachel picked up the call. The situation with Max was far from resolved. They all still had a long way to go, and Rachel and Eddie would have a long term ahead of them. But as Eddie began to speak, the care and love that never failed to calm her was evident.

No, the situation wasn't resolved. But it would be. In due course.