Past wont go away: Story of my life – Day 11
The house had remained silent most that day; everyone seemed to be avoiding each other. Archie had been in his children's bedroom all day, Molly had wondered past the doorway; she had hung over the door handle, but not opened it.
Lexie had walked past with Ami and Paul. Lexie had turned to Paul with a worrying glance; Paul had stared back with a blank look. No one knew quite what to do. At last Lexie took a deep breath, she handed Ami carefully to Paul.
"Paul, if I talk to him, will you watch the kids?" Lexie asked
"Sure no problem" Paul replied as Lexie turned round and knocked on the door.
"Arch?" Lex whispered quietly as she peered round the door. Archie was sat cross-legged on the floor with toy cars around him and Owen and Sapphire looked up as Lexie spoke.
"Sorry…was just wondering if I could have a word" Lexie questioned, as she saw a smile appear on Archie's face. Lexie pushed the door open further and Paul smiled from behind her.
"Hello, may we join?" Paul asked putting Ami down as she ran over to join the other two children.
"Oh yeah sure, we've got a car park system going on here" Arch gave a small laugh and stood up to join Lexie outside.
She took hold of his arm and looked up into his eyes and smiled. "It's nice to hear you laugh again" She whispered to him
Archie remained silent and just stared back at Lexie for a while, pondering over what to say next. Lexie was about to say something when Molly appeared at the end of the hall "LEXIE, oh Lexie dear your there" Molly threw her arms up in the air and started waltzing towards them.
"Your mothers on the phone" Molly explained
Lexie looked shocked "What does she want?"
"I don't know dear but she sounded quite stressed about the matter" Molly replied. The shocked expression on Lexie's face turned to worry "Ok, Arch I'll be right back" Lexie answered walking quickly with Molly back downstairs as Archie joined Paul back in the bedroom.
"That was quick" Paul commented as he took his eyes of the car he was holding and Owen cheered as he crashed his car into Paul's.
"No her mother called, she's gone to find out what she wants" Archie sighed as he flopped himself down on the nearby bed.
"Oh ok" Paul replied as he continued playing as Ami came and sat herself on his lap.
Archie observed Paul with Ami and thought about the fact he had seen Lexie with Paul quite often in the last 11 days.
"You and Lex get on quite well" Archie commented
"Yeah I suppose we do" Paul replied not really looking up
"Does she ever talk to you about…you know stuff?" Archie questioned
This time Paul took his attention away from the game and looked at Archie.
"What kind of stuff?" Paul replied
"Family" Archie answered quickly
"Well, I don't know that much, but I know she did turn up quite unexpected about 18 months ago" Paul stated
Archie sat up and looked at Paul "What here?" he asked
"Yeah, her and Ami, Ami must of only been about 6 months old"
"And Max wasn't with her?"
"No, although he did turn up later on"
"What happened?" Archie asked quickly, he was very involved in the story now, he wanted to know reasons, explanations.
"Lex was upset, she muttered something about needing to get away" Paul answered, as Archie's face dropped
"You mean you don't actually know?" Archie asked disappointed
"Arch, like I said, Max turned up, then she didn't say anything else"
Archie sat back and scratched his head "I don't get it"
"Why don't you just ask her?"
"Scared of upsetting her" Archie finished as the door opened again and Lexie appeared in the doorway.
"Hey Lex…is everything alright?" Archie asked, as Lexie nodded silently in reply and walked over to Paul.
"Thanks" She muttered and picked Ami up, then turned and walked out the door.
Archie gave Paul a confused look, as he did the same back.
"Something's going on, and I'm going to find out what" Archie mentioned getting up and walking out the door letting it slam behind him.
Lexie sat in her room; she had just put Ami down for her nap. Her mother's words echoed through her mind, as she went over and over them again.
"I told you Lexie, I told you it would happen again"why did her mother always have to be right?
"What are you going to do now Lexie?"The questioned played on her mind as she felt her head banging. She travelled down to the kitchen and searched for parcetamol in the cupboard.
"Headache Lex?" Archie questioned coming into the kitchen.
"He's not gonnae hurt you anymore you hear me?"
"Hmm…what?" Lexie looked up
"Your not gonna be me Alexandra, I wont let you put up with it"
"I said have you got a headache?" Archie repeated himself
"You need to get out Lexie, while you can, get right away"
"Yeah, don't worry it will go soon" Lexie answered
"Don't worry, I soon sorted him out, no one messes my daughter about"
"Lex are you sure your alright, you look a bit pale" Archie commented sitting down opposite her.
"Right in the house they were, your house Lexie!"
"Arch, there's something I haven't told you about Max" Lexie whispered
"Cheater"
"He…"
"Cheater"
"He…"
"Cheater, cheater, cheater, cheater"
"He cheated on me" Lexie finally spat out
"You can't go back to him this time Lexie"
"He did what?" Archie yelled across the table, tears filled Lexie's eyes.
"Lexie, you have Ami to think about now, you don't have to stay with that man"
"Arch, I had a feeling he was a while back, now my mother has just confirmed it" Lexie replied standing up from the table.
"Wait Lex, what do you mean?"
"Ma mum went round to the house, she caught them at it" Lexie said quietly looking away from Archie.
"Oh Lex…" Archie replied
"GRrr How could I be so stupid!" Lexie yelled at herself in anger.
"Lex, don't blame yourself" Archie answered taking her arm
"I knew though! I knew what was going on!"
"I don't understand"
Lexie sighed and took a deep breath "About 18months ago, I thought Max was having an affair, but I didn't want to confront him, I had a 6month old baby and I was scared of being left alone…I didn't wanna be my mum"
"Lex, you will never be your mum, that was different"
"I was scared Arch, I didn't know what to do!"
"So you came here?"
"I…I thought you might be here"
"Oh Lex, I'm so sorry" Archie wrapped his arms around her, comforting her as her muffled cries faded into his shirt.
Neither of them said anything for ages, until Lexie looked up into Archie's deep brown eyes.
"I love you Arch, I always have" Lexie whispered, Archie cupped her face in his hands and gave her a kiss.
"I love you too Lex, I love you more than my life, I have done all these years"
