Authors notes: Thanks to all who reviewed. Will hopefully update again soon. Please read and review.
Chapter 12
It's the next morning and Neil is sitting on Andrea's sofa feeding Annabelle.
"You finished Bella? Let's put you back in your cot, for a bit." He says carrying the soft bundle that is in his arms back into Andrea's bedroom. Quietly placing Annabelle back in her crib, he makes his way to the kitchen making a cup of tea for Andrea.
Once the tea is made, Neil creeps back into the room, placing the cup on the bedside table. He sits on the edge of the bed where Andrea is still sleeping, brushing the hair out of her eyes, he places a kiss on her forehead and whispers in her ear. "Andrea. Wake up. Come on sleepy."
Andrea responds by murmuring something and turning to face the other way.
"Andrea, wake up, I've got to go to work." Neil tries again.
Andrea turns back round, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Morning" She says smiling.
Neil leans down to kiss her properly on the lips. "Good morning sleepy, made you some tea."
"Thanks."
"I've fed Bella as well. I've got to get going I'm meant to be working."
Andrea pulls a face.
Neil smirks. "I'll ring you later. Okay."
"Kay" She says letting out a yawn. "Do I get a goodbye kiss?" She asks smiling up at him.
Neil smiles back. "Come here you." He pulls Andrea up to him and gives her a proper kiss. "I'll see you soon okay." He says once they break apart. Neil looks into her eyes. "What we talked about last night." He tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't want you to worry about it. Okay? I'm gonna make sure it's all sorted."
Andrea nods. "Okay."
Neil kisses her forehead. "I've got to go." He says getting off the bed, stopping to kiss Annabelle goodbye and making his way out the flat.
It's now afternoon and Neil is sitting in his car just outside what used to be his home. He's there to talk to Phillipa about the letter but is just sitting thinking first of what he's going to say.
He finally gets out the car and makes his way to the front door.
He knocks and waits.
"Daddy!" The door opens to reveal Jake. "We gonna see Bella and Andrea?" Jake asks excitedly jumping up and down.
"Jake! What have I told you about answering the door?" Phillipa can be heard shouting as she approaches.
"It's Daddy!" Jake says happily.
"Neil, what are you doing here? You saw Jake yesterday!" Phillipa says once she reaches the door.
"I wanted to talk to you." Neil says.
"Haven't you heard of a phone?" She asks.
"I want to talk to you now Pippa. Can I come in?"
Phillipa moves away from the door heading into a room. "Jake go and play in your room."
"Awwwh, but Daddy's here." Jake whines.
"Go on Jake, do what your mum says." Neil says.
Jake then heads off upstairs not at all happy.
"Well?" Phillipa asks stiffly. "What's going on, Neil?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Neil says. "What the hell do you think you've been doing, first going through my post, reading letters addressed to me and then writing letters supposedly from me!" Neil fumes.
Phillipa rolls her eyes. "I'd watch what you're accusing me of."
"So you're denying it are you? You're telling me you didn't send that letter to Andrea, pretending to be me? After what she said to you at the hospital, I asked you what she meant and you said you had no idea! You knew exactly what she was talking about? Didn't you?" He rages.
"I didn't want Jake get involved with your illegitimate brat and that stupid journalist you had to go and have an affair with."
"Well it hasn't worked has it?" Neil argues back. "Why keep those letters from me and then give them to me after all if you didn't Jake involved."
"Perhaps I didn't think you'd be as stupid to go after her again. She's a journalist Neil. Think what she could do to your career."
"That's all you care about isn't it, you and your bloody career!"
"Don't raise your voice to me Neil! You'll regret it you know getting back with her, I wrote that letter for your own good."
"Oh really! Well it doesn't seem that way to me. I love Andrea and nothing you do or say is going to change that!"
"Well if you want to make a big mistake then that's up to you Neil. Have you finished I've got work to do?"
"I can't believe how petty you've been, how ridiculous. I'm just glad the divorce is coming through soon and I've applied for regular access with Jake."
"We'll have to see won't we?" Phillipa says. "Jake! Come and say goodbye to your father!" She calls up the stairs.
Jake comes running down. "Bye Daddy"
Neil gives his son a hug. "Bye Jakey, love you."
"Love you too, Daddy." Jake replies.
Neil has been home for about an hour now and has calmed down. He picks up his phone, to make the phone call he'd earlier promised.
"Hello" the person at the other end says.
"Hey, it's me."
"Neil" The voice instantly warms.
Neil smiles as she starts chatting down the other end, telling him a story about their baby daughter. The bitterness of the afternoon doesn't seem so pointless now.