Chapter 2

She got to the front door. She lifted the keys out of her pocket and opened the door. Walking through the door she was rather expecting her children to still be upset and the house as her ex mother-in- law liked it.

"Hello?" she called up the stairs. She wasn't sure if her kids would still be living here or moved in with friends for the last few months. "Hello." A voice returned from upstairs. Cath recognised that voice; the voice of her daughter that she missed every time she was away. Chelsea started to make her way down the stairs to see her mum. As she walked over to her mum, she just stood there. Not the reaction that Cath was used to every time she came.

After a few moments of silence Cath realised that her daughter had changed. This wasn't the little girl who would be waiting at the door for her mum to come home. "Where's your brother?" She asked trying to make conversation with her daughter. "Not sure think he is in the garden." Chelsea replied with a blank expression on her face. She was trying not to let her mum no how much she missed her, but how angry she was at her for not coming back sooner.

As Catherine made her way to the garden to see her son she was wondering what sort of reaction she would get from him. After all he had been the more forgiving and accepting one about their mother's job. "Hi Jay," she stood behind him waiting for him to turn around. He sat there staring at the sea at the bottom of the garden. "Hi mum, you home for good?" All he wanted to know was if he was going to have to be the one to tell his sister that their mother did care he just didn't know how to show it.

"Yeah. I will work from base, in Pearl. For once I can be a proper mum to you two." Jay wasn't convinced but it was all he had for now and he had to take it. He stood up and walked over to his mum and hugged her, giving Cath the welcome home she wanted.

Jay pulled himself away looking over at Chelsea who was now stood behind them. Chelsea just stood there wanting to do the same to her mother but knew she couldn't.

Meanwhile...

Steve was driving to pick his daughter up from the airport. He hadn't seen her in years. He didn't know after all these years he would see her again. This was his chance he thought. This time I can do things differently and be a better dad. He was trying to think of anything else but Catherine. But as he tried to disregard them the kept flooding his head.

When he got to the airport he waited in the terminal waiting for his little girl to come through. He wasn't sure how good of a father he would be. Not knowing how to look after kids by himself. He had been out with Grace and Danny, but didn't know what to do or the first thing about parenting.

As people started walking through from the plane, Steve was looking out for a little girl by herself, but as he looked up he saw the little holding hands with Mary. He couldn't believe it. He had waited years to see his daughter and months to see his sister a now they were here together.

As they walked over to each other Evie ran to her dad, hugging him. She had missed out on was hugs from her dad. He was only ever about for a week at a time when she was young. Although Catherine knew he had a daughter he felt that he had lied to her too.

"Hello sweetheart" he said as he let go of her. She stood there looking up at a man who could be anyone but she would recognise him anywhere from the photos her mother had shown her. "Hi dad" she returned.

Mary had finally made it over to Steve carrying the bags. She put them down to give her brother a hug. "Hi bro" she said with a smile on her face. She could tell by his face that he had surprise him. "What you doing here?" Steve asked trying to work out if he was happy to have both his sister and daughter here, or if it would just complicate things more, having his sister advising him on what to do about Cath.

"Well, I got a call from Evie's mum, she asked about you and if you had changed. When I said I think you are still as mad but older, she asked me to bring Evie over, as she didn't trust you. She also asked me to give you this." Mary said reaching into her bag looking for an envelope. As she pulled the letter out of her bag Steve wasn't sure what to expect.

Steve put the envelop in his pocket not wanting to read it in front of Evie and Mary, out of fear of not knowing what it was going to say. He picked up their bags and walked them to the truck.

The start of the drive went slow. With Steve thinking about what he was going to do about Cath. Mary wasn't sure if it was a good surprise for Steve to see her and didn't want to push it any further. But Steve realised that it wasn't their fault he felt like this and not talking to them made him feel bad. "So how's my daughter been?" Trying to think of ways to start a conisation.

"I am okay." She wasn't really sure what to say in response.

The whole way the conversation consisted of few words to each question someone asked. When they finally got home, Evie felt like it had been ages since they left the airport. Steve showed her around his house, then taking her upstairs to show her, her room. It was the guest room. He was going to give her Mary's room until her room was decorated but Mary needed that now.

"I am going to unpack." Evie said grabbing her bag and opening it on the floor in front of Steve. He couldn't believe it. His 10 year old daughter was here. Doing this for herself. Last time he saw her face to face she had been 3, his little girl.

"Okay I will leave it to you then." He said turning walking out the door. He made his way down stairs to see Mary sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. "What is going on?" she asked knowing when her brother was lying to her. "Nothing. Just leave it." He said sharply. Mary knew he was lying but thought if she pushed him anymore it would turn out into an argument.

Mary grabbed her suitcase and made her way up the stairs. Steve sat that kitchen table getting the letter out of his pocket that Mary had given him at the airport.

Steve,

10 years you have not been a good father to Evie. I can't do this anymore. I sent her over with Mary to make sure she was okay. I need to take a break. We had her when we were young. You were in the navy and didn't want this commitment. I still wanted a life but I had no choice. Now I have to live my life before I get older and regret it even more. I want Evie to live with you. I am getting the rest of her things shipped over to you. She's a good kid. I will be in touch soon.

Sarah.