Chapter 3

The end of the day had finally come around and Rachel was feeling really nervous about picking the girls up, she really hoped today had gone okay for them. She'd found out that Rosie's school finished a bit later than she'd expected, which is some ways was good as if meant she could go and pick her up herself, but she still needed to pick lily up from her mums house.

Rachel picked up her coat and bag before going out to the car and driving to the school. She'd arranged to meet Rosie at the front gate, she really hoped she'd remembered as Rosie didn't have a mobile and Rachel hadn't got round to buying her one yet, though she was planning to soon, but this meant that If Rosie forgot she wouldn't be able to get in touch with her.

Luckily about 5 minutes later Rachel saw Rosie, she was so relieved when she saw she was with a group of girls and had a big smile on her face.

"Hiya love, how was your first day?" Rachel asked

"It was so good, everyone was really nice, some of the girls in my class asked if I could go out with them tonight"

"Go out where?"

"Just out" Rosie replied

Rachel sighed she didn't really like the sound of this, the thought of Rosie just hanging round places wasn't something that particularly appealed to her, however she also didn't want to stop her settling in and meeting up with some of the girls in her year, as she thought it would do her a lot of good.

"Okay I guess that's fine, are you sure you'll be able to find you're way back to the house though"

"Yeah it's pretty hard to get lost round here"

"Right, well take my mobile with you, then that way I can ring you on the house phone if there's any problems and you can ring me" Rachel said

"Okay"

Rachel then rummaged round in her bag and found her mobile.

"You ring me if there's any problems"

"I will do"

"See you later then, I want you home no later than 6:30"

Rosie then wrapped her arms round Rachel and gave her a quick hug.

Rachel smiled at her as she walked off, it was so nice to see her so happy and was such a relief for Rachel knowing everything at school had gone okay.

She then walked back in her car and drive to her mums house,

When she was waking up the drive, Rachel saw lily through the window laid down on her mums sofa looking a bit down, she really hoped that her first day had gone okay too.

Rachel knocked at the door, however her mum had pretty bad hearing so she didn't always answer, when she didn't get an an answer Rachel tried the door and realised it was open.

"Hiya mum" Rachel said walking into the kitchen

"Hello love, how was your day"

"Okay thanks, how does lily seem"

"She's been really quiet actually, and a little bit teary, but that might be because she's tired"

"Oh dear, that's doesn't sound great, I'd better go and have a word" Rachel said

She walked into the living room and crouched down next to lily

"Hey love, how was your first day"

"Okay" lily said quietly

"Just okay?" Rachel asked, it was pretty easy to tell when lily was feeling upset about something and Rachel could tell she definitely was now

Lily didn't say anything else just stared off into space

"What sort of things did you get up to?"

"Just stuff" lily said

Rachel could tell something must have happened, however she also knew how hard lily would sometimes find it to talk about things

"Lily has something happened sweetheart?"

"No"

Rachel sat down beside her and out an arm round her supportively, she was feeling pretty worried about lily as already she felt so protective over her and hated seeing her upset.

"You seemed so happy when I dropped you off earlier love, and you certainly don't seem the same way now" Rachel said "so do you want to tell me what's happened to make you feel differently"

"I don't feel very well"

"How don't you feel well"

"I've good a poorly tummy and my head hurts" lily said

Rachel didn't know whether to believe her not, after all it could be possible that lily was just feeling a bit rotten and this would obviously make her feel a bit upset,

"Okay love, well when we get home have a little lie down yeah?"

Lily nodded, Rachel gave her a quick squeeze before getting up off the sofa and going into the kitchen with her mum

"She said she feels poorly" Rachel said

"Do you believe her"

"I'm not entirely sure" Rachel sighed "anyway I'll take her home now, thanks so much for looking after her"

"It's my pleasure"

Rachel and lily then both said goodbye before getting in Rachel's car.

"Where's Rosie?" Lily asked

"She's gown out with some friends she met at school today, but she shouldn't be home too late"

"When's joe back"

"Tomorrow love"

Lily gave a little smile, she really was looking forward to seeing joe again, she'd already grown quite attached and close to him like she had Rachel.

They were about half way back when Rachel noticed lily had started crying, although she kept trying to brush her tears away.

Rachel felt quite worried so pulled in.

"Sweetheart what's happened huh?"

"I feel really sick"

"Are you sure that's all?" Rachel asked thinking there was probably more to it than this

"Yes"

"Well when we get in why don't you get straight into your pyjamas so you can get all comfy"

"Okay" lily said while trying to brush her tears away.

Once they were home Rachel took lily upstairs and sat her down on her bed, while she found her some fresh pyjamas. She then got her changed out of her clothes.

"Do you want to have a lie down up here or downstairs love"

"Have a lie down in here"

"Okay, well you get yourself all nice and comfy, and I'll bring you up a hot water bottle and some water, we'll see if those help before I give you any calpol"

Rachel smiled at her, before walking downstairs and getting her the hot water bottle and water.

When she went back up to Lily's room she saw she was crying again

"Oh dear you really aren't having a good day are you my love"

"I just feel poorly"

Rachel handed her the water and lily sipped it, before putting it on the little table next to her bed.

Lily then turned on her side to get all comfy and Rachel sat on the edge of her bed

"Lily, I know you haven't known me very long and In some ways that might make it really hard for you to feel like you can trust me with things, but I just want you to know if ever you did fancy a little chat about something, then I'm here, even if it's just that you want someone to listen to you, it's just I really don't like to think something's bothering you and what I don't want Is to feel like you have no one to talk to about it"

"I'm fine nothing's bothering me"

"Good because if something ever does start to bother you, you come straight to me yes? You mustn't ever feel frightened of anyone, I promise if ever you did need a chat I wouldn't get mad or anything like that you know"

"I'm okay"

"Right well you have a little rest, you must be pretty tired anyway, so shout if you need anything"

Rachel was about to get up and leave but then she decided to stay with lily for a bit

"I'll tell you what, why don't we read a story for a little while, that always used to help me when I was a little girl"

Lily liked the sound of this so Rachel went over and picked out one of Lily's books and laid down next to her in bed

Rachel had been reading for a few minutes, suddenly lily felt herself getting really tired, the sound of Rachel reading to her relaxed her a lot

It didn't take long for lily to drift off to sleep.

Suddenly Rachel heard lily snoring gently, Rachel smiled and out the book down before going downstairs.

She got in with some Ironing and some other house jobs, for an hour or so.

It was only then that she realised it was almost 6:30, she really hoped Rosie would be back soon, as she didn't really want to have to tell her off for being late back.

As tea was just about ready she decided to go and check up on lily and try and wake her.

When Rachel got to her room she realised she want in there, but saw the bathroom door was closed so presumed she'd just woken up and gone in there.

She went into her bedroom and took the phone in there and tried ringing Rosie just to check she was nearly back home, however there was no answer, so she just left a message.

Rachel sighed, before getting up, as she knew she needed to get tea out, however she saw the bathroom door was still closed so she decided to check lily was okay .

"Lily is everything okay in there love?" Rachel asked

When she didn't get a response she said "are you just on the loo?"

"Yeah" lily mumbled

"Okay well come down and have your tea when you're finished"

Rachel went downstairs and got three plates out

She tried ringing Rosie again as she was about 10 minutes late now, however still she didn't get an answer.

Lily came down a couple of minutes later still looking quite upset

"Are you okay lily?"

"No" lily said "I really feel poorly"

"How exactly do you feel poorly?"

"I've got a poorly tummy"

"So do you feel like you're going to be sick, or is it just aching a bit"

"Both"

Rachel sighed she really couldn't tell if lily was telling the truth or not, but either way she was beginning to get quite concerned about her.

"Well some tea might help you know love, give it a try yeah"

Lily sat down at the table and started eating.

Rachel glanced at the clock and saw it was 7

"Gosh where on earth has your sister got to huh"

"Are you angry with her?"

"A little bit" Rachel said.

She was feeling pretty annoyed with Rosie as she didn't expect she'd be this late home, and she couldn't really let her off but she was also quite worried about her.

"Are you going to shout at her"

"Maybe we'll have to see what her excuse is won't we?"

about 10 more minutes passed and Rachel was pleased to see lily had eaten most of her dinner

"You feeling a bit better now love"

Like shook her head

"Well I'll finish clearing up then maybe you should have an early night"

"Okay"

Rachel cleared away the table . She was really relieved when about 5 minutes later she heard the front door open.

"Where have you been Rosie it's 7:30" Rachel said

"Just out round the park and places" Rosie said

She started to head upstairs to her room but Rachel quickly stopped her

"Hang on, I'm talking to you"

"I haven't done anything wrong though?"

"Erm you've come home an hour later than I asked you too, I'd say that was pretty wrong"

"Well I thought you wouldn't mind"

"Well then you thought wrong" Rachel said beginning to get quite angry about the fact she didn't seem at all bothered! she didn't want to start to shout at her, but she could tell she was going to loose her temper If she carried on like this

"Okay but I'm home now"

"Well that's not good enough is it?"

"For gods sake what's the problem"

"Hey don't talk to me like that, you need to tell me exactly why you're so late"

"Well all the others were out still"

"And that's your excuse is it" Rachel said her voice suddenly sounding quite angry "when I ask you to be back for a specific time, I expect you to keep a track of the time and be back exactly when I ask is that clear?"

"Why are you shouting, it's not like I got into trouble at the park"

"That's not the point, it's the fact you've deliberately gone against what I said, do you think that's acceptable?"

"But..."

"But nothing, you haven't seen my strict side yet, but believe me you come back late again and you're going to see it, now go to your room we'll talk about it later" Rachel said "and you better think up a good excuse as to why you didn't answer the phone when I rang it about 15 times"

Rosie didn't say anything else just went up to her room, she honestly didn't think she'd get into trouble, but she hated the fact Rachel had got angry with her and it made her feel quite scared.

Rachel sighed before going upstairs and into Lily's room

"Lily should we get you tucked in now, we won't bother with a bath tonight"

"Can I sleep in your bed?" Lily asked sounding nervous

"Darling you did so well by yourself last night, give it another try for me"

Rachel helped her out of her clothes and got her into some pyjamas

"Have you brushed your teeth"

"Yeah I did it when you were downstairs"

"Good girl, have you been to the toilet?"

Lily shook her head

"Might be an idea to go then, I'll wait here for you"

Lily quickly went to the toilet and then got into bed

Rachel tucked her in and said goodnight, she was about to turn off the light when lily stopped her

"Rachel I don't think I'll be able to go to school tomorrow"

"And whys that"

"Because I'm poorly remember"

"I think you'll be better by the morning"

To her surprise lily then started crying

"Hey sweetheart what's wrong?" Rachel asked wondering what had brought this on all of a sudden

Rachel sighed before going over and getting in her bed next to her as lily continued to cry

"Shh it's alright love don't cry" Rachel soothed

"I..can't ..go tomorrow" lily said between sobs

"Okay you just calm down a bit for me, then we're going to have a chat"

Rachel for her a glass of water and lily sipped it.

"Good girl" Rachel said once lily had calmed herself down a bit. "Tell me what's gone on my love"

"I really don't want to go to school"

"Okay why?"

"It was good at first but then I wanted to go home because I got all tired so I asked if I could but they said they can't just send me home for no reason"

"Well there right"

"But then they started talking about families and all the others were talking about all the nice things they did with there mummy and there daddy's and I never did anything like that with mine, and then when I had to say, I told them I didn't have a mummy or daddy anymore and they started laughing and this own girl was being really mean so I hit her and then the teacher got angry and told me I had to wait outside but then I ran away and hid but she found me"

"Oh love" Rachel sighed "gosh it sounds like you haven't had a very good day"

"Are you angry?" Lily asked

"No but lily hitting people is never the right thing to do, no matter how much someone's upsetting you"

"Are you going to hit me?" Lily asked sounding scared

Rachel sighed and wrapped her arms around lily

"I think that would kind of go against what I just said wouldn't it?" Rachel said "no love I'm not going to hit you, I've told you we don't hit anyone in this house no matter what and you must never ever be afraid of me or joe hurting you"

"But my daddy used to hit me all the time and no one shouted at him so I didn't know it was wrong"

"Love what your dad used to do to you was absolutely horrific and it was very, very wrong"

"He said he was reaching me a lesson and then I'd get scared sometimes and I'd cry but that made him more angry"

Rachel didn't know what to say lily had never really spoked about her dad before, not properly anyway

"How did it used to make you feel when he hit you?" Rachel asked gently

"It used to hurt loads and I'd feel frightened" lily sobbed

"So that's why hitting people is never the answer because you don't want to make other people feel frightened do you love?"

"No"

"I'm sorry today didn't work out better for you love, but tomorrow will be different"

"But what if there talking about mummy and daddy's again"

"Well first thing tomorrow morning I'm going to have a little talk with your teacher okay, just so she knows your situation"

"Okay" lily said

"I'm really pleased you told me what had happened lily, because I hate to think of you all upset"

"I wanted to tell you before,I was just scared" lily said

"Don't feel scared of me love, I really don't want you to be"

Lily pulled away from Rachel and got back into bed.

"Is Rosie in trouble with you?"

"Don't you worry about Rosie she's fine" Rachel said "now considering this was meant to be an early night it's finished up being pretty late hasn't it?"

"I'm tired now"

"Good, well I'll stay a couple of minutes until you drop off"

Lily got comfy in bed and Rachel started stroking her hair, this seemed to relax lily quite a lot and within just a few minutes she'd fallen fast asleep.

Rachel kissed her gently on the forehead before creeping out.

She decided to go and check on Rosie, so walked up the stairs and knocked on her bedroom door.

"Yeah?"

"It's Rachel can I come in?"

"Okay"

When Rachel went in she could tell straight away that Rosie must have been crying

"I'm sorry if you thought I was being too harsh on you earlier, but I was just a little bit annoyed"

"I know I'm really sorry for making you angry, it's just my dad never used to care what time I stayed out till, so I didn't think you would"

"Well I do, love I'm not your dad okay, by the sounds of what you and your sister have been saying we do things very differently"

"I'm so sorry"

"Let's just forget it even happened" Rachel said "I won't mention it again but next time make sure that you're in on time"

"That's it?" Rosie asked thinking Rachel was going to go on at her a lot longer than that

"That's it" Rachel said smiling "now seen as you haven't had any tea, why don't we call out for a pizza or something love"

"Yeah that'd be really nice"

"Come on then let's go down"

The two of them walked downstairs together and Rachel ordered Rosie a pizza.

They decided to out the tv on while they were waiting for it.

"I didn't get much chance to talk to you about school earlier, how was it?"

"Really good, I can't believe how nice everyone was to me, and even the lessons were okay too, like I wasn't amazing or anything but I was sort of getting all the stuff they were saying"

"Well that's fantastic love, see I told you it would be alright"

They stayed chatting for a bit when suddenly there was a knock at the door

"That'll be the pizza, I'll get it"

Rachel went to the front door and quickly paid for the pizza before going back into the living room

"Do you want me to take it through to the kitchen"

"No it's alright, just be careful not to get any on my sofa"

A couple of minutes later lily appeared in the living room

"And what are you doing out of bed young lady, I thought you were fast asleep, you looked lovely and comfy when I saw you"

"I heard a knock at the door and I got scared"

"It was just the pizza man love, nothing to be scared of" Rachel said "come on I'll take you back up"

Rachel led lily back upstairs and started heading to her room

"I need a wee" lily said

"Well you go to the loo then and I'll wait in your bedroom for you"

Once lily had come back Rachel tucked her up and made sure she went back to sleep okay.

She then went down and spent a bit longer with Rosie, but then sent her off to bed at about 9:15 as she had school the next day so didn't want her up too late.