Thank you for all your wonderful reviews of the last chapter... it was always going to be a tricky moment when she found out. Once again, I'm sorry to have left you on a cliffhanger, but luckily I'm on a writing roll - the headspace of the bank holiday weekend is doing wonders for my creativity. I really don't want to keep you waiting out, so here is the next chapter. Enjoy and please do leave a review to let me know what you think.
FIVE YEARS
Chapter 14
She checks her watch and realises she has been wandering aimlessly around the streets of Aldershot for over an hour. Her initial anger with him has subsided as she has reflected on what has happened. Whilst she still feels let down that he wasn't honest with her from the start, she can also understand his reasoning for withholding and accepts that there was probably never going to be a perfect time to reveal this particular news given her previously stated views on having kids. More importantly, she recognises that a significant driver of her extreme reaction was the actual shock of finding out she is indeed pregnant. She feels ashamed for having told him that it had been a mistake sleeping with him.
"Molly? Halllloooo! Molly!"
She stops and sees a girl waving frantically at her from outside a pretty looking café on the other side of the road. She considers this situation briefly, having no idea who the girl is, but decides to cross the road and find out.
"Hi?"
The girl, who is wearing an apron and appears to be a similar age to her, smiles warmly.
"Thought you were going to ignore me then!"
"Sorry. I was miles away."
"Haven't see you around for a few days… Have you been away on exercises? Ha, I know you can't tell me, or else you'd have to kill me, right! How's that gorgeous husband of yours? You know if you ever tire of him, you can send him my way!"
She's slightly taken aback by the casual familiarity of the girl, who clearly knows her and something about her life.
"Erm, yes … I was and then ….. I've been ill."
The girl looks immediately concerned.
"Oh you poor thing. Now you mention it, you do look a bit washed out. Here take a seat. I'll get you your usual."
She instinctively pats her coat pockets, checking for money, realising they're empty.
"Oh, that's very kind of you, but I've stupidly come out without any cash or means of paying."
The girl smiles at her.
"Don't worry about that lovely. I know you're good for it."
She senses that the girl is not easily going to take 'no' for an answer and contemplates that actually sitting down for a little while would be very welcome. Now she's stopped walking, she realises she feels quite weary.
"Oh, ok, thanks. Sitting down would be great actually."
The girl looks satisfied with herself.
"Good-oh. I'll be back in a minute."
She sits down at one of the little outside tables and absent-mindedly fiddles with the menu and sugar pot, whilst waiting for the girl to return.
"Here you are, with a little something extra to give you a sugar boost, free of charge!"
The girl places in front of her an oversized steaming cup of something which looks suspiciously like coffee, together with a delicious looking Danish pastry.
It's not the drink she would have expected to be her 'usual', but she attempts to smile gratefully at the girl anyway.
"Thank you, that's really kind."
The girl returns her smile.
"You're welcome."
She expects the girl to leave, but she doesn't and instead hovers.
"Molly, I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you sure you're ok?"
She briefly considers lying or making an excuse to leave, but there is something about the way this girl is looking at her which makes her decide to tell the truth.
"I…. err…. I'm sorry but I had an accident.. a head injury… and now I can't remember the last five years. I'm sorry but I don't know who you are, even though you obviously know me."
The girl looks surprised, but seems to take this revelation in her stride.
"Oh my god. It's like something from the movies. You hear of this happening, but I've never actually met anyone who has had it….. what's it called…. oh yes, amnesia. How scary for you."
She smiles ruefully at the girl's empathy.
"It's not the best."
The girl extends her hand.
"Well, Molly. I'm Carla and this little coffee shop is my passion. You've been coming here for two years, ever since I opened. In fact, you were one of my first customers and we've got to know each other over that time. When you're spoiling me, you bring Charles along too and I generally make him feel a bit uncomfortable with my letching and inappropriate comments. Sadly, he only has eyes for you."
She laughs, instantly imagining how that would play out.
"Thank you Carla. I feel stupid that I don't even know what my usual is? I was expecting a tea bag."
"It's a single shot mocha with extra chocolate."
"Coffee?"
"Yes, well, coffee and chocolate, with extra chocolate."
"I didn't even know I liked coffee?!"
"I gather you resisted initially, but Charles persuaded you to try it. It's always been your drink of choice here!"
She takes in this new information, whilst Carla nods at a couple of new customers heading into the café.
"Right, I'd better get back inside. Is there anything else I can get you?"
"Actually Carla, I've come out without my phone too. I don't suppose I could borrow yours to make a quick call?"
Carla reaches into her pocket to retrieve her phone and taps in her pin-code before handing it over to her.
"Yes, of course. Take as long as you want – I've got unlimited minutes… you know how I like to talk!"
"Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome, just drop it back into me when you've finished."
She looks at the phone and carefully dials the number, which is engrained in her memory. It rings a couple of times before being picked up.
"ello, Dawes residence. Dave speaking."
"Dad?"
"Molls? Is that you? 'Ere Belinda, come here, it's our girl."
"Hi…"
"Wait a minute, love. I'm just gonna put you on speaker…. That's better! We can both hear you now."
"Mum, dad…"
She bursts into tears.
Her mum speaks, "Hey, don't cry love. Where are you?"
She tries to talk through a series of noisy sobs.
"I'm in a coffee shop in Aldershot…. I think I've screwed up….. I've had a fight with Charles….. I can't remember anything."
"Calm down love….. You haven't screwed up but Charlie is worried sick about you."
"Charlie?"
"Yes, he called a little while ago, explained what has happened. He hoped you might call us, wanted us to be prepared if you did."
"Did he tell you about…. the baby?"
"Yes…. but I already knew…. Molls, you told me the morning of the accident. You'd just found out yourself. You were overjoyed and planning to tell Charlie that evening."
Her sobs fade away as she concentrates on what her mum is saying.
"I told you?"
"Yes, and I've been worried ever since about whether you'd lost it in the accident."
"Shit. I've just given Charles both barrels because he kept it from me, but I already knew?"
"Maybe he should have told you earlier, but he was just trying to do what he thought best. There's a lot for you to take in about the last five years. He didn't want to overwhelm you with this news too soon. Your life has changed in a way none of us would ever have envisioned. We've changed too."
"Mum, I'm scared. How can I become a mother if I can't remember, if I don't recognise who I am?"
"You will be brilliant. You're a natural with kids, always have been. Your brothers and sisters adore you. Sam thinks the world of you. You've been clear to all of us that you didn't want to have kids too young, but when you made Corporal a few months ago you surprised us all by announcing you were ready. Charlie was delighted, of course. He's never pressurised you, but it's been obvious that he was ready to start a family with you whenever you were. Turns out that you're a chip off the old block in that respect, 'cos as soon as you started trying, you got pregnant."
"I really wanted this?"
"Yes, very much so. You were so excited when you told me, even though it's very early days."
"Shit. What have I done?"
There's a pause before her dad speaks.
"Molls. You need to go home and talk to him. He's a top bloke. You will get through this together. Running away is never the answer, believe me."
"I didn't expect to ever hear that from you?"
"Well, as your mother says, we have all changed. Take it from someone who nearly lost everything that was important to him, by being a stubborn dickhead."
She laughs at his candid admission.
"You're right, but the immediate problem is that I'm lost. I can't remember how to get home. I was in such a state when I left that I didn't concentrate on where I was going. I don't have any money or even my bleeding phone. I've borrowed this phone to call you. Not that I even know his number anyway."
"Don't worry about any of that. Just let us know exactly where you are and we'll call Charlie. He'll come and get you."
"I'm at Carla's café. She knows us. I'm sure he will know where it is."
"Ok love, just stay put and we'll call him now."
"Thanks Mum, Dad."
"You're welcome. We love you and can't wait to see you properly."
"I love you too. Bye."
-OG-
p.s. Gold star to Debs60 who wondered if Molly's mum would feature ... hoping to update again very soon.