Chapter 12

A rainy day had come to Weatherfield and as the tired Head of the McDonald family lay on the sofa he was sure he couldn't feel worse. He was sure he was literally sick with love for her and there was nothing worse than being in love alone. Yet here he was. While he worshipped Fiona she felt nothing for him.

She was getting married.

And he loved her. And as much as he tried to get that massage across to her she just refused to let him and it was killing him. Fiona wasn't even letting him talk to her. She had completely with drawn her friendship from the family.

That one night of romance which they had had together had sparked something in him for the first time in a long while. He hadn't felt like that in years.

But in the mean time life progressed and he had to keep moving on as he was about to learn time didn't stop due to his depression….

-

That summer went fast.

It was the fifth of September when Liz arrived early to help her daughter change in to her uniform and get her breakfast. Jim and sorted her out together, and had a good morning. It was dun dare she think it.

t was like they were a family again.

"Mummy are you going to come get me too?" she asked as she sat at the table having her cereal.

"Yup I will see you at lunch time." she smiled. The firsts year class only had to go in till mid day as it was their first day so she would see her then.

"Come on sweetie, eat up you don't want to be late on your first day do you baby?" she asked.

Katie shook her head and ate up.

But as she got in the car she got more and more scared. The further are she got the more she wanted to go home. The more she wanted Andy.

Getting to the class room just like all the other kids her mum and dad came in with her and found her peg and her desk with her, just like all the other parents.

They sat her down and both gave her hugs.

"I'm so proud of you lass, you know that don't you?" asked Jim.

He remembered when he thought he was never going to get this. First day at school. Five years had gone so fast.

"Daddy stay today. Don't go." she said and he saw her chin wobble.

"No, none of that baby, I will see you at twelve. You're going to have such great day baby. I love you!" he promised he kissed her.

She was going to be just fine.

-

At break time Katie sent out in to the play ground. It had been a good morning sand she had been sat next to a girl named Mandy and they had made friends and they were going to be doing math after break.

Going out she heard two voices call her.

"Katie over here!" she heard and turned to see David and Rosie from the street.

They invited her and Mandy to play with them and it was great. This school thing wasn't so bad.

Before Katie knew it the day was over. Far too quick. She wanted to play all day.

Katei struggled little with the math. She got to grips with it rather quickly.

"Mrs Smith can't I stay here a bit longer." she asked as the king first year teacher helped her put her jacket on.

"I wish you could as well Katherine but, no sweet, it is time for you to go home to mummy sand daddy." she smiled.

"Just daddy… mummy doesn't with us any more." she explained to her teacher.

"Oh I am sorry about that." she said giving Katie a sympathetic look as she turned to the rest of the class. "Right get in to pairs please children." she said . That way it was going to be easier for her to get them out.

Mandy went over to Katie and the two girls walked out together, rather pleased with how day one had gone.

-

Jim and Liz walked out in to the play ground together, walking quickly to get to there daughter. What if she had been bullied or she hadn't been able to grips with the work or what if she had been - any thing could have gone wrong.

But as soon as they saw there daughter's face came in to view they saw that she had had a great time. She was beaming with happiness, all the mornings worry gone.

As soon as she saw them though she came running over, and straight in to her fathers arms and all the way home she went on about what a wonderful day she had had to them both. School ruled!

"Cant I go back yet, do I have to wait till tomorrow?" she asked said as they got home.

"Yes now upstairs to get those hands and washed up for dinner." said her dad as he pointed her upstairs and she tore off to do as she had been told.

"Well it does look like our little girl is all grown up." said Liz as she smiled at him nervously. That was a horrible thought for the both of them. Where had five years gone?

"Yeah it does. Scary but I'm chuffed. So proud of the way she handled today. I wasn't sure she was going to cope." he admitted to her.

"I think I always knew that she was going to be ok, because I have always known that she has had her daddy's spirit. You always went through with the important things and so has she."

He was shocked by her saying this. It had been a while since they had complimented one another and he found himself with a smile on his face.

"Yeah well with her mothers looks no one was going to pick on her. She's too pretty." he said and watched her blush. "You got plans for dinner?" he asked.

"Me, Deirdre and a microwave meal."

"Well I hardly know if me, Katie and a bag of chips is any better but…"

"Jim, if it's an offer, I'd love to."

"Aye, it is."

-

Katie who had never had a lot of confidence in her self found that her self belief was growing each day she was at school,

Even though she missed all the friends she had made at nursery she didn't dwell on it. She wanted to play all the time. She was just such a little spirit and Liz saw that growing. Day by day it grew…

How ever one day something happened to make her confidence hit all time low, and her love of school end for a time.

She and Jim had always been self absorbed at times but she never though he would forget about her.

The more he had to get on with life, the more he had to get over her, the more he had been unable to forget Fiona and one day it hit its head in the worst way.

He had just been so distracted that when three o'clock had came and it was time to pick up his daughter he had forgot to.

Four o'clock.

Four thirty.

-

Liz had been at home relaxed when she had got the call from the school.

She had never been so furious with her ex! She had never thought he would forthright forget about his precious girl when he had nearly lost her to his ex wife once before.

Welt his time she wasn't going to give her back.

Taking the girl in to her arms as she got to the school Liz had not seen her daughter so worked up in such long. And who could blame her. The little one must have been scared.

"Its ok baby I'm here, I'm here mummy's here." she said to her.

"Mummy where's my daddy I want dad." she said told her.

Liz was shocked, after all this was the girl still so blind to her father. Was she still so blind to her father or was she still going to see him in rose colored glasses. How could she still want to be with him?

"Come on sweet come home with mummy for a bit!" she said to her.

Taking her daughter back to the flat Liz did fish fingers, and chips.

But the minute she was done she just wanted to check her dad was ok.

0-0

Jim's head hurt ass he woke up. He had drunk so much that day. He hadn't drunk like that since he had been in the army and it had felt good. Till now.

Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was the clock. It was seven.

He had to make Katie a bit dinner.

Katie…KATIE!.

"Oh my god baby." he said as he jumped up. He had to get to her he had to make sure she was safe. Oh my god where was she! He was such a idiot. God, god, god any thing could have happened to her! Please be ok, be ok…

Opening the door the first thing he was relived to see was her.

Katie wrapped her arms round her dad as she saw him open the door.

"oh my god baby I am so sorry baby I didn't mean to god, daddy is so stupid, I am so sorry sweetheart" he said as he held her in his arms as Liz had earlier that day.

He hadn't meant to go to sleep. "I am so sorry sweet," he promised.

Tears slip down her cheeks as she stayed in his arms happily. So much had gone through her head when her had not turned up.

"Its ok daddy it is." she said as she tried tot forget the events of the day. He was there now. It was all ok…

"I want Katie with me tonight Jim," said Liz. He wasn't surprised if she had done the same then he would have been the same with her.

"No mum I want to be with daddy. Please don't make me go back to the flat, daddy!"

"You can stay baby, don't worry." he said as he soothed her. If she wanted to stay then she could. .

"Oh Jim I do not believe you. Why do you always over ride me where she is concerned?" Liz asked. Her frustration with him never ended. And why was it their daughter always forgave him. She knew that Katie didn't understand what had gone on. She thought he had been working or he had been going some thing important, or even worse, hurt. That was just her way. She thought the better of every one. Especially her dad. She thought he was made of gold or some thing.

"Good bye Elizabeth." he said as he shut the door.

That was not going to going to help Katie the two of them arguing.

"Sweet I am so sorry." he said to her as he kissed her again on the fore head. "Daddy didn't meant to - not on purpose baby." he couldn't say he forgot. He'd lose her for sure.

But she didn't seemed concerned with his reason at all as long as they were together then and as he held her he released he had the most loyal little friend in his daughter.

-

"Daddy I don't feel well." complained Katie as she got up the next day. She knew it was wrong to lie to him but she didn't want to go back to school. What if it happened again?

"What's wrong lass?" he said as he looked at her.

"I got a belly ache." she complained.

He looked at her. She didn't appear unwell but she wouldn't lie to him he knew it. Either that or she was and she didn't want to in. Understandable after the day before. She hadn't had a day off yet. One wouldn't matter.

"Ok, well if you belly's sorer then you can't go to school then can you little one?" he asked. She shook her head.

"Why don't you go and lay down on the sofa and then we can try make you feel better love?" said Jim and she nodded.

So he rang school to tell them she wasn't attending that day and he rang Kevin too explaining he needed time off.

"Mate we have so much going on right now I need you in, can't she go over to Elizabeth?" he asked.

"Pleas,e Kev she wants her dad right now. You know what it is like with girls, yer' got two of your own. I'm going to be back tomorrow, and I'll do some free over time." he said as he watched his daughter get comfortable on the sofa.

"Oh alright."

Through the day the daughter and dad just watched films. Katie didn't seem unwell. She was just quiet. She was eating ok. She was chatty. Just some thing was worrying her. That was it, and he knew it.

had the days before events had an effect on her more than he had known?

"Come here lass." he said as he moved her in to his lap. "Katie, you would never lie to your daddy would you baby?" he said to her.

She shook her head but couldn't met his eyes. That was a yes…

"Cause you know you can talk to me and I can talk to you. We're bests friends right? Daddy's never let you down has he?" he asked. Except yesterday…

She shook her head.

"Then why are you lying to me now?"

"I'm not dad." she said.

"Katie I know your not unwell."

She fell silent. She wasn't denying it anymore. "You're not in trouble. Yesterday scared you didn't it baby?" he asked as he run his hands through her hair.

"I thought - dad I didn't know if you were coming - and I thought bad thoughts - I didn't know - daddy!" she pleaded as she turned in to him.

"Katie if you ever feel like this don lie to me kid. Talk to me. I'm your dad I am here to be spoken to a bout this stuff.." he said he said as he hugged her. "I swear yesterday was a mistake. Never again."

-

"This is right thing to do." said Liz as she sat down to dinner.

"With out a doubt!"

Elizabeth was on a mission after yesterday.

"He has had his last chance as far as I am concerned. It is my daughters best interest for me to have custody of her full time." she said to Deirdre.

"But I thought you wanted Jim back."

"So did I, but then I saw him for what he is and that is not the man I want or the man I want to raise my baby girl. No she has to be with her mum. I have to know she is safe!" said Liz.

She was doing the right thing by filling for custody.

"I know this is not what you want hear but what if she doesn't want to come with you?" she asked.

"She has to no choice in the matter, and it not like she doesn't know who I am. I am her mum and she knows I love her no matter what. I am only doing what best for her."

But Deirdre still remained unconvinced. Up till now her god daughter had been settled had happy. And they didn't want a repeat of two years ago. That really shouldn't happen. It'd hurt Katie so much just as it had before. And Deirdre hated to say it but they all knew who Katie was happiest with. Even if he was a self absorbed arrogant pig…

-

Katie was clearly in a state of panic. It was the day after the she had skived off and she was feeling sicker now than when she had fooled her father she was ill. He had made it clear the night before when the bell went for class she was going to be there.

"Dad please, don't leave me here!" she begged clinging to him as he took her to school.

"Katie, baby, you know I have to. I love you so much and I'll promise I'll be back later." he said as he put her down put it didn't put an end to her tears.

Mrs Smith who had seen her come in went over and took her hand to led her in to class but even as he walked away Jim could still hear her crying. It was only getting louder.

He had never felt such guilty. This was all his fault. If he hadn't have got drunk then she'd be ok. He had got her in this mess. Up till now she had loved school. She had enjoyed the learning, her friends and he felt like he had taken that from her. For that he felt as if he was the worse father in the world. Now he had to go and talk to Liz. It had been two days since they had spoken and he had been so rude to her. He had just been so happy to see Katie safe. Good he was such a fool.

They had been getting on ok again.

Why was he so stupid as to mess it up …again…