Telling Ellie and Gabby
Melanie Carmichael woke up feeling so happy, Andrew a well known and respected politian and son of the Mayor of New York had proposed to her last night, of course she had accepted. However she also felt a sense of dread, she had to tell her children the news, Gabby who was 7 would be okay with it, she had always gotten on with Andrew. Ellie however was different she was now 15 and a complete nightmare, she had always made the fact that she hated Andrew perfectly clear.
"Mummy, Ellie won't let me watch Spongebob Squarepants" Melanie heard Gabby shout
"All right I'm coming just give me a minute" Melanie shouted back
'oh well I guess I better get up and give them the good news' thought Melanie 'we're going to Alabama'
Melanie still wasn't divorced from Ellie and Gabby's father, Jake her childhood sweetheart, she had sent him divorce papres several times but he just kept sendig them back. She would have to go back home to get him to sign them.
Melanie got out of bed and got dressed. She went into the living room and turned off the television.
"Hey I was going to let her watch Spongebob" moaned Ellie
"Whatever I need to talk to you guys" said Melanie seriously
"Okat sounds serious. Oh my god you're not pregnant are you?" asked Ellie
"Oh Yeah a baby" said Gabbrielle as she clapped her hands in excitement
"No No I'm not pregnant"
"Thank god imagine Andrew's baby yuck. Oh have you finally realised you can do better and dumped him" asked Ellie hopefully
"No, we're uh engaged. We're getting married"
"Really, can I be a flower girl, and wear a beautiful dress" asked Gabby
"Yeah of course you can" laughed Melanie "What about you El"
"What the hell! Why would you want to marry him" exploded Ellie
"HEY! calm down" shouted Melanie.
"Wait a minute you can't marry him cause you're not divorced from your first husband" smiled Ellie
"You mean the man you called daddy for 9 years" replied Melanie
"Yeah him, if he hasn't divorced you by now what makes you think he ever will?" asked Ellie
"Yeah Mummy what about Daddy?" asked Gabby innocently
"Why, do you call him that? You've never met him, he isn't the hero you think he is, he doesn't give a damn about you or any of us" said Ellie Viciously.
"Hey leave her alone. Gabby why don't you go to your room for a minute" said Melanie
Gabby got up and went down the hall to her bedroom.
"Who the hell do you think you are? You don't tell her things like that, she's seven years old, especially when they're not true. She thinks Jake is a hero and you were exactly the same at her age." said Melanie angrily
"Well. I don't want her making the same mistakes I did and Jake doesn't care"
"Yes he does, he sends you present every christmas, easter, thanks giving and birthday. He also calls on all the holidays even since you decided he doesn't exist."
"Yeah me but what about Gabby? He didn't even come and see her when she was born, in fact he's never seen her, his own daughter."
"That's not his fault" replied Melanie quietly
"How do you figure that" said Ellie and then suddenlt realising "he doesn't know about her does he?"
"No he doesn't" said Melanie " and now I have to go back to get him to sign the divorce papers. I need you to come with me I can't do it on my own"
Ellie put her arm round her mother
"It's okay I'll come, but as soon as he signs we leave"
"Yeah, I don't wanna spend anymore time there than necessary"
Ellie suddenly remembered why they had to get Jake to sign the papers and took her hand off her mother and took a step back.
"I'm doing this for Gabby. She deserves to know who her father is even if it is just for her to find out that she's much better off without him. But don't think that this means I'm happy about you and Andrew and that I won't do everything I can to make sure that the wedding doesn't happen."