It took Kate ages to fall asleep her mind constantly replaying everything over and over. When she had climbed in to bed there were 2 scraps of paper on the pillow. Opening the first she sighed
'Dear mummy it really, really, really not me. I love you lots and lots and lots. Love Grace'
Folding it in half she picked up the second one. This was from Nicole
'Mum I swear it wasn't me., I would never do anything like that or take anything that wasn't mine. I love you love Nicole'
Folding that one in half she could feel the tears building in her eyes.
Walking in Mike could see she had been crying.
"Kate? What's wrong?" he asked sliding in next to her.
"its nothing really. The girls left these notes on the pillow and," she paused "was I too hard on them?" she asked. Taking their pocket money away for 2 years was extreme and she did have her card details saved just to make her life easier. Were they really to blame for the situation?
"Kate" he sighed "they are just trying to make you feel guilty so they can have their own way. Until the right person comes forward then you need to stick to your guns" he said kissing the top of her head
"I know," she sighed "I just don't know how I can make them see that they were in the wrong" she said
"well you could always make them clean the heads" he grinned
"what and have them use my toothbrush as a act of revenge" she said before half laughing. Everyone knew it was her go-to punishment on the ship, no sailor liked cleaning the toilets on board especially as Kate had such high standards.
"true, okay maybe don't get them to clean the toilet" he said softly as Kate nestled in to his arms "i am sure the truth will come out, one of them will slip up. I think this is just a waiting game"
"i hope so." she sighed
She eventually fell asleep all be it a disturbed sleep worrying about everything and if she had done the right thing with the girls. She may have been a mum for 13 years but she was still finding her feet and trying to do what was best by them. She hoped mike was right but at this moment in time she had lost all trust in her two daughters.
The next day she awoke early almost with the birds. A storm had rolled in overnight and was sat over them like a bad penny. It was a stark contrast to the beginning of the year which most people had wished was over before it had even begun. The door slowly creaked open and 2 faces appeared.
"what do you want Girls" Kate asked sitting herself up in bed
"we made you breakfast mummy" Grace beamed as if the previous day hadn't happened.
Frowning it was clear that they both had no intentions of telling the truth and who was really responsible for ordering the huge box of snacks.
"we'll we will leave you to it then" Nicole said sensing that mum was still cheesed off.
Falling back against the pillow the breakfast was made up of, a small bowl of cornflakes that were drowning in the milk and had gone soggy, cold toast that resembled charcoal. A glass of orange juice that had been spilt everywhere so the tray was all sticky.
After taking a bite of the toast she sighed, it had been buttered whilst hot so the melted butter had mixed in to the charcoal making it taste vile. Dropping it back on the plate she sighed it was clearly just to try and get back in favour.
"what's all this" Mike asked sitting up
"breakfast. Well supposed to be." she sighed as her phone began to ring on the side. Pulling it towards her she could see it was NAVCOM. "Kate Flynn." she answered. "yep okay see you then" she said hanging up.
"Crash sailed?" he asked taking a bite of the toast that was supposed to be Kates'
"no. Commander Smith wants a word about the crew, apparently Jonesy put in a transfer request on the sly so I am meeting my new Buffer" she sighed sliding from the sheets.
"right so..." he said as she walked across the room.
Opening the wardrobe to pull her uniform out she sighed as it was on the floor of the wardrobe and Midnight was curled up in the middle staring up at her with her huge green eyes.
"Midnight you little monster" she cursed shooing the cat off her uniform. Lifting it up it was covered in a ton of black hairs. "remind me again why the hell we got a black cat." she said heading in to the en-suite chucking her uniform in to the washing basket.
Following her in Mike grinned wrapping his arms around her pinning her against the sink.
"i think it was your brilliant idea. I think it was you saying we should get the jet black one because she will be left all alone once her brothers and sisters had gone because black cats are always left" he grinned teasing her in to a kiss.
"oh. Yeah." she grinned "I best go get my other uniform from downstairs" she smiled pulling her robe from the back of the door.
Heading down stairs she found Grace and Nicole watching cartoons. Sighing she headed through in to the kitchen. It looked like a bomb had hit. There was mess everywhere. Puddles of milk and orange juice dripping on to the floor the empty carton of both just abandoned on the side instead of being washed and put in the recycling, a pile of cornflakes half kicked under the counter so no one saw the other half crushed to a pulp. Every available plate and bowl sat in the sink.
Grabbing her uniform off the ironing pile. It was a little creased but it would be better than the one that had been the cats' bed for the past who knows.
Walking back through she stopped at the living room.
"Girls, that kitchen looks like a bomb has hit" she said
They both stayed glued to the television watching whatever mind rotting cartoon was on ABC Kids. It was a Saturday so it was usually crap. Grabbing the remote which they had left on the sofa she turned the tele off. Both girls turned
"MUM" they wailed in unison
"that Kitchen is a mess. i have been called in to a meeting. I am going up to get dressed. I want that kitchen tidy by the time I come down" she called heading back up the stairs.
Placing her uniform on the bed she looked at her watch wondering if she had time for a quick shower. Deciding she did actually need to wash her hair she headed in to the bathroom
"Mike" she called "can you go and make sure the girls are actually tidying the kitchen please" she poked her head around the shower door.
After pulling her uniform on she headed downstairs to grab a quick coffee before heading to NAVCOM as she needed a caffeine fix if she was to get through this. Thankfully the kitchen looked a tad better than it did before. The floor was still slightly sticky from where the orange juice was and there was still a trace of the cornflakes in-between the tiles but it was better.
After Filling her Keep-cup with coffee she walked in to the living room.
"right that's me off. I shouldn't be too long but its not a crash sail so I will be back this avro" she smiled.
Grace dived towards her mother like she always did. Holding her arms up in the air so her coffee didn't go flying down her uniform as she hadn't the time to change.
"bye Grace" she said as Grace eventually let go.
Walking over to Mike who had Chris on his lap. She bent down kissing the top of her son's head "bye Chris" she smiled leaning in to Kiss Mike. "bye" she smiled.
Heading out she placed her cup in the little holder of the car. She could see Grace looking out of the window watching her leave.
Inside Grace turned to look at her father. "Daddy, why does mummy hate us now?" she asked
Sighing as he knew it was far from the truth. "she doesn't hate you sweet pea she is just very upset and disappointed in you and Nicole because you have lied to us and used her credit card to buy snacks of amazon because you couldn't raid the treat cupboard every hour of everyday"
Grace hung her head before dashing out of the room in to the kitchen.
"Daddy can I have some shapes" she called
a great big thank you to everyone who has reviewed it is so nice to here what you all think. I have lots of ideas planned and more just keep jumping in to my brain. the letters is something I used to do if I was sent to my room if my mum told me off. me and my twin would write silly little apologies hoping she would forgive us. she didn't at the time but in the end she would. Also the thing about Black cats is sort of true (I heard it or read it somewhere) anyway hope you enjoy and let me know what you think. xxx