Just doing my job

Epilogue 1 - The morning after (London)

London Borough of Newham - 9.30am.

Molly and Charles were just finishing another long phone call.

"All packed then Molly?"

"Yeah, but there int 'alf a lot of it. I got all me service stuff in the Bergen and kit bag then I got five days civvies in me rucksack along wiv even more service stuff. 'Ardly room for a toothbrush now. Weighs a ton. Gawd knows 'ow I'll get across London with that lot."

"I told you Dawsey, get a taxi, my treat. We're picking you up from Bath Spa station at 3.25 assuming you catch the 1.55 from Paddington, unless we hear otherwise. Now, quick question, have you got something to read on the journey?"

"What a book you mean? Nah. Not a great reader, me."

"I'll tell you what, give it a go. You might even like it. I know a book you'd love."

"What's it about?"

"It's about a beautiful twenty year old girl who lives in a chaotic house with a large number of siblings, always at odds with each other, a ditzy Mum and a father who has lost the plot. She's intelligent and feisty and doesn't take any bullshit from anyone. Oh, and she's always answering back. Sound familiar?

"Yeah alright. Sounds a bit like Molly Dawes I grant yer, apart from the "beautiful" and "intelligent"!"

"Actually, Dawesy, it's set two hundred years ago."

"Nah. Sounds shit."

"Go on Molly, give it a good old college try, just for me. First few chapters then give up if you want. Pride and Prejudice it's called."

"I'll think about it." she said, unconvincingly.

"Charles"

"Yes Molly', he said, knowing something important was coming.

"It's a big deal for me you know."

"What is, my Darling?"

"You know, meeting your Mum and Dad an' 'at."

She'd told him about her worries many times. What more could he say. a) there was no way anybody, including his parents, couldn't fall for this gorgeous, endearing girl, and b) even if they both suffered a personality change overnight and hated her, it wouldn't make any difference to him.

"They're going to love you almost as much as I do, don't worry" was all he could say."Molly, I've got to go. My mother's driving me to Bristol to do some shopping but she wants to be off now. We can talk later when I get back and you're on the train if you like."

"That's OK. I'm going down to spend some time with me Mum and Nan before I 'ead off. Why Bristol, that's a long way innit?"

"I have to get something special, don't ask. Must go. I love you Molly. Can't wait to see you again."

"Love you too."

She finished packing and went down to see her Mum and Nan in the kitchen. Nan had bought several of the morning papers round and they were laid out on the table.

"You're famous Molls" she said, opening up the Daily Telegraph and showing Molly a lovely picture of them all at the palace. "That's the nicest one and we're all in it.

Seeing a large picture of yourself in a national newspaper is a strange experience for anybody but Molly seemed to take it in her stride. She pointed to an unopened copy of The Sun on top of the pile beside the open Telegraph.

'Ere, Nan," she said, "Let's 'ave a look at that one. I ain't made it onto Page 3 at last, 'ave I?"