It was the next day and Rachel was pottering about the house doing various jobs.
Ellie and Chloe were still sleeping, Amy had stayed at her friends house after going out last night and Chris had gone to work.
Rachel had just finished mopping the kitchen floor when Ellie came downstairs looking sleepy.
"Morning love did you sleep okay?"
"Yeah good thanks"
"Don't go in the kitchen because I've just mopped the floor"
"But I was going to get some breakfast"
"Well give me 20 minutes and I was going to make pancakes for you all"
"Okay"
Rachel went upstairs to do her hair and makeup so Ellie went and put the TV on in the lounge.
Once Rachel was ready she decided to wake Chloe up, deciding she'd been asleep for plenty long enough now.
"Time to wake up"
"Mum go away I'm trying to sleep"
"There's no point in sleeping the day away"
"It's my summer I should be able to do what I want"
"I'm going to make pancakes now, they'll be ready in 10 minutes"
"Fine I'll be down in a minute"
Rachel went downstairs and made the pancake mixture and then shouted the girls through when she started cooking them.
Chloe and Ellie sat up at the breakfast bar.
"Mum what are we doing today?" Ellie asked
"Well Amy wanted to go shopping to get stuff ready for when she goes to University so you two can come when we do that if you like and go off shopping together"
"That sounds good"
Once they'd had their pancakes and cleared up Ellie and Chloe went upstairs to get ready.
Not long after Rachel heard Amy come in the front door to see her.
"Hi love I thought I was meant to be picking you up at 11"
"I know but I decided to walk home, I'm just going to go and jump in the shower"
"Okay sweetheart, do you still want to go shopping today?"
"Yes please" Amy replied however she didn't have the same excitement about it as what she'd had yesterday
Rachel could tell there was something up with her daughter so decided to go up and have a chat with her once she'd had her shower. She always could tell when there was something bothering her daughter, it was so much easier to tell with her than with Chloe and Ellie.
Amy went into her en suite and got into the shower.
She'd been so happy yesterday but now her friends had made her feel like crap. She hated the way they'd spoken to her about the things she'd done last night.
She knew she'd got extremely drunk and had ended up passing out in the club but in her opinion it was meant to be a celebration and she was only having a bit of her fun.
When she got back into her bedroom after her shower Amy checked her phone and saw she had a message from Molly.
Tears started to fill Amy's eyes when she read it. Molly had told her that she couldn't believe the way she'd been last night and that she was being completely inappropriate.
Although Molly was Amy's best friend, Amy did hate the way that Molly would often think Amy was in the wrong after a night out.
Molly was quite a sensible girl and didn't really let her hair down at all, Amy just didn't see the point in not having fun.
Amy was feeling quite hungover and really wasn't in the mood for talking to Molly right now so completely ignored her message and got changed.
Amy was drying her hair with tears rolling down her cheeks when Rachel came into her bedroom.
She quickly wiped them away when she saw Rachel.
Rachel walked over and took the hair drier off Amy and started drying her hair for her.
As she ran her hands through het daughter's long brown hair it reminded her of all the times she used to do this when she was little.
"Thanks Mum" Amy said once Rachel had finished
Amy stood up and turned around to face her Mum.
She couldn't help the tears that were starting to fill her eyes again.
"What's happened darling?"
"Nothing I'm fine"
"I don't think you are, come on tell me what's wrong, let's sit down"
Molly and Rachel both sat down on her bed.
"it's just Molly and a few others saying stuff"
"Saying stuff about me last night"
"Why what happened last night?"
"Apparently I was acting inappropriately, and Molly said I was being too forward with James but I'm sure I wasn't"
"Why what were you trying to do?"
"She said I kept touching him and dancing with him but I was dancing with everyone, I don't see the big deal"
"I'm sure she'll calm down in a minute, I know you'd never try and do anything with her boyfriend and I'm sure she does too really"
"Why is it always me who gets the worst and completely shows myself up"
"Oh love, I'm sure everyone feels like that after a night out once in a while"
"But I feel like it's always me and everyone knows it"
"There's nothing wrong with going out and having a bit of fun, as long as you don't get completely out of it so you don't know what's going on"
"I know" Amy said but really she knew there'd been several occasions where she could've ended up going along with anything because she was so drunk but she wasn't about to admit this to her Mum.
"So what should I say to Molly?"
"Just apologise and say you'd never try to do anything with James"
"Okay"
"Are you feeling a bit happier now?"
"I guess"
Amy could talk to Rachel about just about anything and she knew she was going to miss having her Mum there to talk to whenever she needed her.
"Shall we leave to go in about an hour then?"
"Yeah sounds good, I can't wait to get everything"
Rachel left so Amy got her phone to text Molly.
If she was being honest she felt quite angry with Molly for making out like she was trying to get with her boyfriend, but she didn't feel like getting into an argument in the last month before they went off to Uni.
So instead she sent her a text apologising like her Mum had said and then tried to forget all about it.
Once everyone was ready they drove to the shops.
Before they started they decided to go for a bit of lunch as everyone was feeling quite hungry so they went to Bella Italia as everyone liked it in there.
Once they'd finished eating Ellie and Chloe went off together so Rachel and Amy headed to Next as the first thing she wanted to choose was some new bedding.
She'd found out what accommodation she was going to be staying in today.
It wasn't her first choice which meant she didn't have a double bed but it was still self-catered and en suite so she was still pleased.
Amy picked out some nice white bedding for her room but Rachel wasn't keen on her getting this as she thought she would be better off with a darker colour so it didn't know up the dirt so much. After all she didn't know how often Amy was going to end up washing it.
In the end Amy chose a nice pink and brown quilt cover. They got a few other accessories for her bedroom too but Rachel didn't want to buy everything in Next as it was expensive in there and she didn't see the point in spending out too much money.
Meanwhile Chloe and Ellie were looking around New Look.
They'd both picked up quite a few things that they wanted to try on and now they were heading to the underwear section as Chloe needed a new black bra as her other one was getting a bit too small.
Ellie felt a bit awkward being in that section but when Chloe looked over she noticed that Ellie had walked off and was looking at some of the smaller sized bras.
Chloe walked over to her sister and put her hand on her back.
"What you looking at these for"
"I was only looking" Ellie said as her cheeks burned bright red
"Alright keep your hair on I was only asking, do you want one?"
"Don't you think Mum would go mad if I bought one without even asking her?"
"I think you should go with Mum to get your first bra, she'll want to make sure you get one that actually fits"
"But if I ask Mum she'll say I don't need one" Ellie sighed
She wore crop tops at the minute but she hadn't really starting developing much lately and was still quite flat chested.
"She'll get you one if you want one, she understands you're at that age now. Just ask her"
"Fine I'll ask her when we get home" Ellie said feeling quite disappointed now she was here she really wanted to get one
"You'd just as well ask her while we're here then you can get one today"
"I'm not going bra shopping with you, Mum and Amy that would be so embarrassing"
"Well you can just go off with Mum then"
"I'll see"
After a couple of hours Chloe and Ellie met back up with Rachel and Amy.
"Did you not buy anything?" Chloe asked noticing they didn't have any bags
"Yeah we just got about everything" Amy said bubbly "but we put it all back in the car to save having to carry it round"
"I see you girls have bought lots" Rachel said looking at all the bags of shopping in their hands
"We saw loads of nice things"
"Hopefully all that I'll approve of" Rachel said raising her eyebrows at Chloe knowing it was likely this wouldn't be the case. Chloe had a tendency to buy clothes that didn't cover her up nearly enough in Rachel's eyes
"Of course" Chloe said giving her Mum a cheeky smile
"Anyway what do you girls all want to do now? Do you want to do a bit more shopping or go for coffee or go home?"
"Well Ellie wants to go shopping with you for a bit just the two of you"
"How come?"
"She just does, and I want Amy to see a dress I want to get for my party next weekend"
"Ok well shall we meet in Costa in half an hour?"
"Yep sounds good"
Ellie left with her Mum but she felt a bit nervous about having to ask now.
"So what is it you want to get?"
"Well when me and Chloe were in New Look I saw this really nice bra and I kind of want to buy it" Ellie said speaking extremely quickly and looking very embarrassed
Rachel picked up on how embarrassed she seemed to be but didn't comment on it knowing this would only make it worse.
"If you want to get some bras that's fine love, but I think we should get them from somewhere that do better quality ones"
"But the ones in New Look were really pretty"
"Yeah and they'll fall apart in no time, we'll go to M&S and get you measured properly"
"There's no way I'm doing that Mum"
"Well it's important to have a bra that fits properly"
"I know but I'm not having some stranger see me naked"
"You wouldn't be naked, she'd measure you with your crop top on but if you really don't want to then you'll just have to put up with me making sure they fit"
Ellie wasn't keen on this idea really but it was better than having to be measured in M&S so reluctantly agreed.
Once Ellie had bought a few bras Rachel decided to get some new underwear for herself while they were there and then they headed to Costa.
There was no sign of Chloe and Amy yet but by the time Rachel and Ellie had been in the queue for a few minutes they came in.
"Hi girls, do you want to choose what you want and me and Ellie will go and sit down" Rachel said passing a £20 note to Amy "I'll have a cappuccino and Ellie wants a chocolate muffin and an iced lemonade"
Rachel and Ellie went and found a table and they were soon joined by Amy and Chloe.
"So did you get the dress"
"Yeah" Chloe said, she hadn't actually been planning on showing Amy a dress but while they were in the shops she happened to find a dress she really liked that she thought would look really good at her party next weekend.
"I'll be looking at everything you bought when we get home, and if there's anything I think is inappropriate it will be going back"
"You always say that" Chloe said rolling her eyes
After they'd finished in Costa they were all feeling pretty tired so decided to go home.
Rachel drove home and parked up on the drive and then they all brought their shopping in. There was a lot of it!
Ellie and Chloe both took all of their stuff up to their rooms and Rachel and Amy took all of her Uni stuff up to the spare room as she was planning on keeping it in there until she left.
Amy laid it all out on the bed.
She couldn't believe it was all hers for when she moved out, she really was so excited about it all now.
Once Amy and Rachel had sorted all of the stuff out Rachel went across to Chloe's bedroom to have a look at what she'd bought.
"Let's see what you got then"
"I've already put it away now"
"Basically what you mean is you don't want me to see until you're worn it and taken the labels so I can't make you take it off"
"No I'll show you if you really want to see"
"Yes I do actually"
Chloe went over to her wardrobe and picked out the black, bodycon dress that she had bought for her party at the weekend.
Rachel just gave Chloe a disapproving look as she held up the dress.
"What's wrong with it?"
"That's way too short, they're no way you're going out wearing that young lady"
"It's actually not as short as it looks"
"I want to see it on then" Rachel said because by the look of the dress it was not something she was going to feel happy about her daughter
Chloe faced away from her Mum and got changed into the dress.
When she turned again Rachel was actually quite surprised, she was expecting for it to be a lot shorter and tighter.
"Well?"
"It's very short" Rachel said although she actually realised it was as good a length she was going to get with Chloe
"I've seen pictures from when you were my age and you're skirts used to be as short as this if not shorter so you can't exactly say much"
"It's not as bad as I was expecting"
"So I can keep it?"
"Yes, it does make you look incredibly grown up in it though"
"I am 15 Mum"
"Exactly, you're not 20"
Chloe showed Rachel the other things she'd bought which Rachel actually really liked and thought suited her daughter well.
She stayed and chatted with Chloe for a bit before going into see Ellie who was watching youtube videos on her Ipad.
Rachel went and sat on the bed next to her and started talking.
Ellie sighed heavily before pausing her video.
"I'm ever so sorry for disturbing you" Rachel said sarcastically
"I was just getting into it"
"I was just in with Chloe and she said you didn't want to ask me about getting a bra today because you thought I'd say no"
Ellie's cheeks started to turn red when she heard her Mum say this.
"Well I thought you'd say I don't need one, I'm still quite flat chested aren't I?" Ellie said feeling her cheeks getting hotter and hotter
"You haven't developed much yet I know, but you're definitely starting to. And anyway I think you're at that age where you're bound to want to wear one I'm sure a lot of your friends are now aren't they?"
"Yeah"
"I know you're finding this whole growing up thing a bit embarrassing but just remember I've been through it myself and I've been through it with Amy and Chloe so any questions you've got or anything you want to talk about just pull me aside and speak to me about it"
"Yes Mum I know"
"I'll stop talking about it now, but if you are worried then do just come and find me, hm?"
"Yes I will"
"Good girl, anyway I'll leave you to get back to your video"
Rachel left and went downstairs.
She looked at the clock and saw it was about time she was getting on with tea.
Rachel had promised Ellie they could have sweet and sour chicken, one of her favourites.
Rachel got everything ready and it wasn't long before Chris was home from work.
He came over and wrapped his arms around his wife.
Rachel still always did love it when Chris came in from work. Although it wasn't the same as when the girls were young and they'd run up to him too the minute he walked through the front door.
Chris went upstairs to get changed out of his work clothes and then came back down again.
"Can you get the deep fat fryer out and cook the chicken balls for me please?"
"Why me?" Chris said but he was only teasing
"I've done everything else all you have to do is cook the chicken so I don't get all messy"
While Chris cooked the chicken Rachel did the rice and once it was ready she called the girls down.
They all sat around the table to eat their tea, all joking and laughing.
It was unusual for everyone to be in such a good mood, normally there was at least one person who wasn't very happy about something.
Rachel started to feel quite sad when she realised it wouldn't be long before they wouldn't all be eating around the same table every night. Amy would be nearly two hours away from them in the car.
After tea the girls offered to clear up so Rachel poured a glass of wine for herself and Chris and went into the lounge.
Rachel leaned in against Chris so he put his arm around her.
"You okay? You've gone a bit quiet"
"Yeah I just can't stop thinking about Amy going, it all seems so real now" Rachel said with tears forming in her eyes. She was feeling really emotional about Amy leaving.
"I know but you'll get to see her, she'll come home for weekends and stuff and students get loads of holiday"
"It won't be the same" Rachel said letting a tear roll down her cheek
"Oh Rach don't cry. I know it will be hard at first but we'll soon adjust"
"I know"
Once the girls had finished clearing up Chloe and Ellie came and sat in the lounge. Rachel had heard them coming so hastily wiped away her tears.
Amy helped herself to a glass of wine before coming in too. As soon as she sat down she saw that her Mum had been crying.
"Mum what's wrong?"
"Nothing love I'm fine"
"I can tell you've been crying"
"Your Mum's just a bit upset about you leaving"
"Aren't you happy for me?" Amy asked suddenly realising she'd been so excited about the whole thing she hadn't thought about how much her family would miss her
"Of course I am darling, I've just got mixed emotions. Obviously I'm over the moon that you've got into the University you wanted to go to and you're so excited about it but I am going to miss you"
Amy put her glass of wine on the coffee table and then went over and snuggled up next to her Mum.
"I'll miss you too you know" Amy said looking up at her Mum
"Yeah when you've got no food and none of your clothes are clean, I'm sure you'll miss me then"
"Not just then"
"I just hope that you have a fantastic time and you're not disappointed by it"
"I hope not too"
Amy gave her Mum a big cuddle before going back to join her sisters on the other sofa.
Rachel flicked through the channels and they all decided on EastEnders.
It was nice to have a quiet night in as a Friday, it wasn't often that they did this at the weekend.
At about Amy decided to go up to bed.
Her friends all still seemed to be quite off with her which was getting her a bit down again.
She'd had a lovely day but now she was thinking back to last night and wished she hadn't drank so much.
But there was nothing she could do about it now, she just hoped that her friends would understand soon and stop being how they were about the whole thing.
Rachel came up a few minutes later and said goodnight to each of the girls just like she always did.
Despite the fact that Amy was 18 now, Rachel would still come in just before she went to sleep.
Amy liked her Mum doing that though, it wouldn't feel right if she didn't.
"Night love"
"Night Mum"
Rachel saw the expression on Amy's face and noticed she didn't look too happy so sat down on the bed next to her.
"Have you spoken to Molly?"
"Yeah, she said she knew I was just drunk but she still seems kind of off with me just like all of my other friends"
"Give it a few days and it will all be forgotten about, I'm sure"
"I really hope so, I was going to see if anyone fancied going to the cinema tomorrow night but I don't think I fancy it if there going to be like this I'd rather just stop in with you lot"
"Second best are we? Well maybe we're going out tomorrow" Rachel said joking
"You know what I mean"
"Of course I do, I'd just ask them. You lot all get on so well don't let your last month at home be ruined by a night out. Your hardly the first person to do stupid things when you're drunk"
"Exactly that's what I keep saying"
"Just ask them. And Amy you know how proud of you I am don't you?"
"Yes Mum"
"Well I'm just saying because I really am, and I'm not sad about you going to Uni really I'm just going to miss you that's all but as long as you're happy then I am too"
"I am happy Mum, I feel so ready to go now and just start fresh again"
"Well that's all that matters then"
Rachel stayed and talked to Amy for a bit longer before going back down and spending a bit longer with Chris.
"Did you get everything Amy needs for University today?"
"Yeah I think we got just about everything actually, I wasn't expecting to get it all in one trip but Amy knew exactly what she wanted, cost me a flaming fortune mind you"
"No surprises there" Chris said and they both laughed
They went up to bed at about 11.
Rachel changed into her pyjamas and brushed her teeth before climbing into bed next to her husband.
She couldn't believe how fast the time had gone by since they'd brought Amy home from the hospital together.
One minute they were worrying about how much Amy was going to change their lives and now she was leaving home soon ready to start her own life.