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Fumbling around for her phone and eventually discovering it on her bedside table, Rachel glanced at the time and quickly realised she had endured a lengthy lie in. It was 10:30 already; had she really been that mentally and physically exhausted? As if on cue the events and memories of the previous day crashed over Rachel, and even now, she found them hard to comprehend. Every emotion in the world had found itself on her doorstep yesterday, from the death of her sister to rekindling with Eddie, a turmoil of feelings had been experienced.
Thinking of Eddie, it was then she remembered. He had offered to stay over, to sleep in the spare room. Despite everything, Rachel couldn't fend off the smile tugging on her lips at the mere thought of Eddie being just down the corridor, or pottering around in her living room downstairs. Swinging her legs to the left to stand, Rachel wrapped her purple gown around her waist before emerging from the bedroom. As she made her way down the staircase, Rachel recognised the smells seeping into her senses as bacon and eggs - another thing which took her back to the abundance of fantastic times she had shared with Eddie, one of those being his kind nature and consistently making breakfast for her. Now faced with that possibility again, Rachel allowed any underlying tension to ease out of her body as she came face to face with the kitchen door, before making an entrance.
The sight that met her eyes caused Rachel's heart to soar - Eddie's gentle humming was only just audible over the music from the nearby radio. With his back to Rachel, Eddie was just shutting the oven, checking on the bacon to ensure that he wasn't overdoing it with the cooking. Seeing an opportunity, Rachel approached the man as silently as possible, before placing one hand on his upper back and mentioning her gratitude, "this looks lovely Eddie."
His gaze flicked to the left unexpectedly, drinking in the presence of the woman beside him. Eddie's grin widened slightly, prior to his reply, "good sleep?" he queried, gesturing to the circular clock resting on the wall.
Rachel broke her stare, focussing on her bare feet and toenails painted a deep burgundy shade, "it took me a while to get off," she responded, expression turning slightly more serious as she reconsidered just how long it had taken her to drift off, and more importantly, why.
Flicking the switch on the oven so that the temperature was suitably low, Eddie placed his hand on Rachel's shoulder, encouraging her to take a seat at the breakfast bar.
"How're you doing?" he questioned lightly after taking a seat opposite Rachel.
Her eyes finally met his upon noting Eddie's slight intonation. She considering dodging his concern, brushing it under the carpet much like several other instances in her life. No, Rachel forced herself to think, shaking herself out of this current mindset. Last night, her and Eddie had vowed to be honest with one another - she couldn't break that promise. And besides, if Rachel was going to open up to anyone, it would be Eddie; she trusted him, she was almost certain that he would be able to settle her negative thoughts.
"Every time I went to shut my eyes…" she began, voice evidently shaky, to which Eddie responded with a look of encouragement, "all I could see was Melissa, her body, lying there, not moving, not breathing. I just hate to think she's gone Eddie, you know, we weren't even that close anymore, but somehow that heightens my current feelings. I just can't bare it Eddie, I can't…"
Recognising Rachel's state as being on the verge of tears, Eddie instinctively made a move to her side of the table and wrapped his arms around her, hoping to alleviate any of the distress she was obviously enduring.
"It might seem tough now Rach, but it'll get better, I promise. Together, we'll get through this. Okay?"
Nuzzled into his neck, Rachel's head let out a slight nod, indicating her agreement. Together. Somehow, Eddie's use of that word melted away a fraction of her worry. He was right, this would be far from easy, but together, with Eddie, not without him; getting over this catastrophe was a possibility, rather than a mere aspiration.
"Thank you Eddie," she spoke, barely above a whisper as her upper body emerged from its previous position. Only then, as her and Eddie exchanged a weak but meaningful smile, did Rachel recognise a second presence now known to the room.
"Philip," Rachel instantly stood, making a move towards her nephew, "I didn't realise you were here."
"Yeh," Philip remarked, fumbling with the sleeve of his jumper, "Eddie collected me about an hour ago, gonna go back for Isabelle in a bit."
Rachel nodded, consolidating this new information, "you like her name then?" she spoke, breaking the brief silence that had elapsed.
"Yeh I…" the boy shuffled slightly, obviously wanting to continue but unsure of how to place his words. Rachel tilted her head slightly, hoping to alleviate any uncertainty. Apparently, she succeeded - shortly after her slight gesture, Phil proceeded with his comments, "I'm glad… that Eddie chose to give her your name, as a middle one I mean."
Any remnants of heartache seemed to temporarily disappear upon hearing Philip's sincere words. Sharing a glance with Eddie, Rachel's heart melted that little bit further - the look of compassion and admiration stretched across his features was unmissable. Turning to Philip to offer her thanks in a smile, Rachel proceeded with a more pressing matter.
"And how are you doing Philip? Hm… truthfully?" she queried, taking a small step towards her nephew.
"Erm… better than yesterday," Philip settled on, shuffling away from his aunt slightly and making a move for the door.
"Philip," Rachel began, in turn causing the boy to shift his feet back to her, "if you ever want to talk about it, you know where I am. You don't have to bottle it all up you know."
"Yeh…" he responded, following back to his prior movements, "thanks Rach. Gonna go… get a shower now."
Upon hearing the boy's footsteps vanish up the staircase, Rachel turned back to Eddie, previous worry and concern more than evident.
"He'll be alright Rach. He just needs time, like all of us," Eddie comforted, stepping marginally closer to Rachel and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I know Eddie, I just worry about him. I don't want him to feel as if, he has to keep all of his feelings to himself."
Eddie nodded in agreement, before aspiring to ease any desperation Rachel was currently feeling, "sounds like someone else I know," he chuckled, referring to Rachel herself.
"Hmm," she sounded her agreement, allowing a smile to tug at her lips in amusement, "is this breakfast ready? Smells delicious," she commented, wanting to change the subject to something less complex.
"Absolutely," Eddie grinned, turning his attention to the bacon in the oven.
….
"Are you coming to collect Isabelle mate?" Eddie voiced up the stairs, roughly an hour later, considering Philip hadn't appeared since his earlier conversation with Rachel.
In response to Eddie's question, the boy's presence was made known as he bounded down the stairs, looking a little more relaxed than he did earlier, to Eddie's delight.
"You ready?" Eddie queried, placing a hand across Phil's shoulder.
"Yeh," he replied, instantly grabbing his shoes from the floor.
"I'll just go have a word with Rachel," Eddie commented, leaving Philip to lace up his trainers.
"Hi, you off to get Isabelle?" Rachel asked, instinctively responding to Eddie's existence in her living room.
"Yeh," he grinned slightly, allowing his joy at collecting his daughter to become evident, "listen," Eddie shifted his tone, hoping to portray his sincerity, "do you want to come? I'd like you to be there."
Rachel's lips parted slightly in surprise, not entirely sure how to respond. Delight was the initial feeling to overcome her, which signaled she could respond with nothing other than, "yes, of course I'll come."
Following Eddie out into her hallway, Rachel paused momentarily upon hearing the sharp ring of her house phone. Her brow furrowed in confusion before picking it up, it was rare for Rachel to receive landline calls, if she needed to be contacted, it would generally be through her mobile.
"Hello…"
Eddie shifted his position closer to Rachel after noticing her demeanour completely change, he meant what he said, he wanted to be there for her throughout everything. Which was why, the faint sound of the other person involved in the conversation could be heard.
"Is that Rachel Mason speaking?"
"Yes, can I help you?"
"Hi Rachel, I'm PC Scarlett May, from Rochdale police station… I've got your mother here with me, Susan Fenshaw. She has obtained some rather extensive injuries, and she wants to see you before proceeding to the hospital. I was just wondering if it was possible for you to make your way to the station?"