"I'm not doing it! You can do it, they're your parents!" Molly started shouting half-way through the journey as Charles though it would be better for Molly to do it so they can get to know her a bit over the phone.
"Alright. Alright. Let me pull over then I'll do it." Molly smirked to herself while Charles indicated to park in service station. He got out his phone and scrolled through the contacts to find 'Mum', "Hiya mum - yeah everything's fine - mum can you remember me writing in my letters about someone called Molly Dawes - yes, you do? - ok that's great - because I know I should've told you earlier but I didn't know her answer and I guessed it was ok because it's only temporarily. But I asked her to move in with us and she said yes, so? - yes, yes. You will meet her soon, I promise - well that's great mum, thank you - you'll be back from Lake Garda Monday - ok that's great and thank you - love you, bye!" Charles ended the call, "that's a relief! They said they couldn't wait to meet you and that you're most welcome in our house."
Molly screamed in excitement. Charles put his phone in the phone holder on the dashboard and drove out of the service station, "but what about Sam?"
"I've got him all next week as it the holidays and Rebecca and we boyfriend are going on holiday. We will introduce you to him then. Yeah?"
"Yeah that's fine. What's wrong?" Charles looked a bit upset.
"Listen Molls. When you were in the hospital, I had a phone call from Rebecca." Charles stared at the road ahead, "she-she said that, her new boyfriend Kyle, didn't want anything to do with Sam and she was getting abuse-"
"You serious-" Molly was interrupted by Charles.
"Molls. Calm down. As I was saying, he doesn't want anything to do with Sam. So, I have agreed to act as Rebecca's boyfriend for a day after they get back off of holiday as she keeps trying to split up with him but he keeps giving her more abuse every time. I just wanted to check with you to make sure you're ok with it."
"Yep." Molly was trying to hide her emotions.
"Well that's good then." Because Molly was so good at acting normally to Charles he didn't know that she was feeling angry and upset. Charles pulled up on the drive, "here we are Molls. Let me get your bags out while you hobble out the door like an invalid."
"Oi! I've only got a cast on, you cockwomble!" Charles was always good at making Molly smile, even in the hardest of times but then Molly suddenly remembered what he said about being Rebecca's boyfriend and stopped smiling.
Charles led her up to the door and put the keys in, kicked it open with his foot and dumped the bags in the hallway, "my parents are away until Monday. We have the house to ourselves, what do you say Molls?"
"I say I'm good thanks for now. Let's just unpack my stuff." Charles gave a strange look to Molly and instantly knew Molly was a bit angry so he walked up the stairs and waited until they got to his room to have a 'talk'.
They reached his room and Charles made space in his wardrobe and drawers. Charles took out some of Molly's pyjamas and placed them in a draw whilst she was hanging clothes up in the wardrobe. Without Molly realising, Charles snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on her neck, "What have I done wrong Molls? I can't remember what's happened to upset you? Is it the Rebecca thing?"
Molly used her left elbow to get him off her, "I'm going for a walk." Molly walked down the stairs and put her shoes on.
"Let me come with you. You barely know the place."
"Gives me a better reason to take a walk." Molly opened the front door.
"Molls. Listen-" he was cut off by the slamming of the door, "for fucks sake!" He ran down the stairs after her, quickly put his shoes on and ran out the front door, then locked it. Charles was slower than he thought and by the time he got to the edge of the drive, she was gone. He walked towards the path near the park as he could see someone on the swings. He got to the start of the park and could see some bloke speaking to her. The bloke raised his hand to her cheek which was quickly swiped away by Molly. Charles ran towards Molly and the bloke next to her, "Oi! Leave her alone!" The bloke suddenly turned around to see Charles angry.
"Well that's a nice greeting. My name is Jake, how are you?" Jake didn't sound posh at all.
"Leave her alone!"
"How about you leave me and my girl alone yeah?"
Charles was fuming at this point, "who says she's yours?"
"Me. And I suggest you back off mate."
"Well. To be perfectly honest, I think you should back off and leave my girl alone." Jake pushed Charles towards a swing, "listen 'mate'. I've spent 10 years in the army, so I wouldn't push me."
"Oh for fucks sake! Jake, whoever you may be, can you fuck off! I'd take my boyfriend over you any day. And yes, he is my boyfriend, if you didn't hear it the first time." Charles smirked, "I don't know what you're laughing at mate! We need to talk."
They reached Charles' house after a walk of silence, "Make yourself comfortable in the living room and I'll bring you in a cup of tea."
Molly walked into the living room while Charles walked into the kitchen. About 5 minutes later he came back with a Rosabaya and a cup of tea and sat down next to Molly.
"Listen Molls. I've already told you the story and I don't want to repeat it. I just can't let Rebecca get hurt."
"Because you still have feelings for her?"
"No it's not like that."
"Well that seems to be the fucking case." Molly went to stand up but was pulled down by Charles to sit on his lap.
"Just listen. If she gets hurt, Sam will think I'm a rubbish dad and I don't want that. Also, Rebecca still loves Sam and would still like to see him. Imagine if that was you?"
"Well, having a dad that forces you to marry an Albanian bloke whos a man whore, then abuses me outside a pub, then tells my family to not speak to me during basic. I think that comes pretty close don't you think? After living with it for 19 years, you still don't get over it."
"That sounds awful Molls. I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yeah well there's no point I'm bringing up the last now eh? Just do what you want Charles, it's your life and I don't want to stop you from doing things like given your ex a screw."
"But it's not going to be like that. I'm only spending one night round her house while her boyfriend has somewhere to stay then she's kicking him out. Trust me Molls. You're the one I want to be with."
Molly got up off the sofa and started to walk up the stairs, "let's finish unpacking and then we can go to bed. I'm shattered." After Molly said that, Charles yawned and followed her to their room.