Thank you so much for your reviews they made my day. I have to say I was worried after posting but the more I thought about it the more I loved this story.

A couple of days later Linda sneaked to the ladies toilets at work where she decided to contact Grace after leaving that cake so she called her Grace's mobile only to hear her mother's voice instead of Grace's.

"Mum, what are you doing with Grace's phone?" Linda asked confused why she had her daughter's phone.

"What are you doing calling her mobile, we have talked about this Linda"

"Well you ignore the calls to my house"

"You know the phone works both ways Linda, she could call you if she wanted" Linda's mother said coldly.

"Well I was wondering if I could see Grace and spend time with her as I am her mother"

"We'll see" her mother hung up

"At least let me talk to her" Linda said to the dead line on the phone. Linda felt the warm tears slip down her cheeks.

Linda wiped her eyes and went back to work in a bad mood snapping at everyone who dared open their mouth to speak to her.

Zoe grabbed Linda and pulled her into the staffroom. "Right you are going to tell me what the hell is wrong with you as you have been snapping at everyone and well we have had enough.

"I can't tell you Zoe"

"Oh yes you can and you will Linda Andrews right now" Zoe demanded.

"Fine, 11 years ago I gave birth to my daughter Grace and well she lives with my mother and all I am allowed to do is pay for dance lessons and things she needs and when I try to see her or talk to her my mother turns it round saying I'm buying her affection"

"Oh Linda, why didn't you tell me I could have helped"

"I know I'm sorry I never told you but I wanted to keep my personal life private and the easiest thing was to pretend I never had Grace but I think about her everyday"

"It's alright, I know why you did it and like I said I could have helped or willing to help"

"Thank you so much Zoe and once again I'm sorry for not telling you this part of my life"

"It's alright, look this may sound bossy but try as much as you can to get her back" Linda nodded.

Linda was thankful for her best friend willing to help her as much as she could and this made her wish she had told her sooner rather than later.

Once Linda's shift had ended she head down the pub

With her best friend and the group to have a much-needed good time and a good laugh.

Linda's mother never told Grace that she phoned but she did regret snapping at Linda but she was doing what she thought was for the best for Grace and that was pushing Linda away because if she got too close to Linda she would only crush her hopes and dreams.

A few days later

Linda dialled Grace's mobile and waited for her to answer.

"Hello"

"Grace, Hi I was hoping to get you before school"

"What do you want Linda? I'm going to be late for school"

"I've been thinking how about we have lunch after school"

"I can't today I have dance class after school"

"Oh well how about Friday? we can go to the place round the corner from school" the line went silent

"Grace?"

Zoe walked in just as Linda was on the phone to Grace.

"Yeah ok, but I have to go bye" Grace hung up and rushed to get to school on time.

Zoe waited for Linda to finish the call before she said anything.

"How did that sound?" Linda asked excitedly

"Ok, I don't mean to sound harsh but just back off a bit"

"Yeah but you said to do what I can to get her back"

"Yeah but just take it slowly Linda" Linda thought about what Zoe just said but she didn't think she was being pushy

Later on that day Zoe asked Linda to lunch to their favourite café which was in town so they took Zoe's car and parked down the high street and began walking down the street when Linda suddenly walked off.

"Linda? Where are you going?" Zoe called after but it was no use she was already far ahead so Zoe tried to catch up wearing her killer heels. Once Zoe caught up with Linda she realised that it was a dance school and Linda was standing outside looking in the window to see Grace standing there in her dance wear talking to a cute guy who was making her blush and clearly making her laugh and obviously liked Grace.

"I'm going in"

"Linda..." Zoe never got to finish her sentence as Linda was already inside and already walking over to Grace.

"Grace, Hi"

"Linda what are you doing here? I'm not supposed to meet you until tomorrow" Grace dumb founded as she watched the cute guy slowly walk away from her.

"I just wanted, I just thought"

"No, you didn't think at all you never do" Grace stormed off through some double doors. Zoe watched as Linda looked defeated and walked back to Zoe with her head down.

"I told you to back off a bit Linda and now look what's happened" Zoe and Linda went to lunch but, Linda was just not herself later that little incident with Grace earlier and Zoe could see her best friend was hurt.

"I'm sorry Zoe but, I'm going tell Tess I didn't feel well please and I'll call her later to explain" Zoe nodded as she watched Linda leave feeling hurt and her heart crushed.

Once Linda arrived home she just lay on the sofa and wrapped her fleece blanket round her and watched TV only to glance once in a while at the photo of Grace and Linda when Grace was round about the tender age of 4 and they were both smiling and Grace actually had her arms round Linda. Looking at the picture she began to feel herself tear up.

Linda stayed on the sofa and didn't move until she knew she had to phone Tess and apologise for today.

"Hi Tess, it's Linda, I'm sorry for today but, I felt so sick and was sick once I got home but I will be in tomorrow"

"Don't worry you just rest and see you tomorrow "Linda loved Tess she was so understanding and just a great person to work for. Linda weakly got up and changed and had an early night and looked forward to lunch with Grace tomorrow.

Grace went to bed that night confused why her mother was trying so hard when after all these years she never really bothered before but, Grace quite liked the Idea of her mother actually caring about her and wanting her back but, she wished she would just back off a bit. Grace never told her Nan about the encounter today at dance and she never was going to, knowing her Nan would go mad once she knew what Linda was trying to do.