Chapter 23:- Talk Of The Square
Ronnie and Danielle entered the Vic, the same silence had occurred that had earlier in the Café, everyone stopped still and watched them both enter, Ronnie and Danielle made their way over to the bar where Roxy stood pulling pints for Garry and Minty. "Be with you in a minute Ron" Roxy said placing two beers on the bar. "£4.80 please" Roxy asked watching Minty pull a five pound note from his wallet. "keep the change" Minty grumbled as he handed over the note and walked away after picking up his pint sitting down at a near by table. "Ignore him girlfriend troubles" Garry laughed picking up his pint, turning to join Minty stopping next to Danielle "Oh hi Dan" he said smiling at her "erm hi" Danielle said nervously slightly embarrassed. Garry smiled again and left the three women standing alone as he joined Minty at a table. Danielle turned to face Ronnie and Roxy who both were watching Danielle with confused expressions. "What was all that about?" Roxy asked with a smirk on her face, Danielle's cheeks turned redder as she nervously pushed her hair back and looked down at her hands "nothing he was just being polite" Danielle said smiling nervously over to Ronnie who stood by her side. She snapped her head up quickly looking at Roxy not giving either Ronnie or Roxy chance to reply to her previous statement "Anyway, i wanted to apologise for running out on you earlier" Danielle said quickly, smiling to Roxy. "Forget 'bout it, i'm sure you had your reasons" Roxy said in a soft calming voice.
Ronnie and Danielle sat down on bar stools at the edge of the bar, whilst Roxy went off to serve another customer. After about five minutes Roxy returned to the pair with a huge grin spread from ear to ear "You'll never guess what I've just heard" Roxy said cheerily, speaking so confidently. "Apparently you two are talk of the Square" Roxy added quickly not giving either chance to reply. "So i've heard" Danielle said sighing, 'she sounds so much like Ronnie' Roxy thought to herself, watching Danielle turn to look around the pub at every staring at them. "Everyone has different ideas to who you are Dan. Apparently some think you're another cousin, some say long lost sister and worst of all, Ron you're gonna laugh at this one, a couple of people have got it into their head's that you two are yunno lovers" Roxy spluttered falling into fits of laughter, causing a red looking Danielle to giggle too, which soon sent Ronnie into fits of laughter attracting attention from most of the people in the Vic.
"So what can i get you two to drink?" Roxy asked admiring her nails, once all three had calmed down from their laughter and everyone had settled back down to their drinks, Ronnie and Danielle looked at each other then back at Roxy "just a orange juice please" Danielle said politely causing Ronnie to smile over at Danielle, she was so proud she could've cried Danielle was a well-mannered, attractive, smart, young woman. "Me too please Rox" Ronnie told her younger sister who raised her eyebrows at Ronnie "Well i never...Ron what happened to vodka?" Ronnie shot Roxy a look "Roxy! you make me sound like such an alky!" Ronnie said blankly. No one understood that Ronnie only drank to take away the pain, the loss of her child. Now most of that pain had been taken away, she had her baby back.
Danielle watched as Ronnie and Roxy argued about one and others drinking habits, Danielle thought they got along really well, everything that had happened between them in the past between them had been forgotten, they were Danielle's family, she was a part of them, she was a part of Ronnie. So why did she feel like such an outcast?
As the Vic got busier as it approached the end of the working day, Roxy pulled Ronnie into helping behind the bar. Tracey had gone home early, complaining of all the symptoms of swine flu, so Roxy had practically kicked her out the door not wanting Amy to be infected, leaving Roxy alone behind the bar. Danielle had volunteered to watch Amy, while Ronnie and Roxy worked the bar.
Danielle was so natural with Amy, she sang to Amy whilst cradling her in her arms watching the beautiful baby fall asleep, her little eyelids flickered shut. Danielle lowered her head and placed a kiss on Amy's forehead, she sat back comfortably into the sofa and held the sleeping baby in her arms.
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Roxy was serving a customer whilst Ronnie was leaning against the bar sipping a glass of orange juice, staring into space, "So where's Dan staying?" Roxy asked Ronnie watching her down the last bit of her drink. Ronnie said nothing and continued staring into space "Hellooooo? Earth to Ronnie" Roxy said waving her hand infront of Ronnie's eyes, Ronnie's head snapped up "Oh sorry, what did you say Rox?" Ronnie asked standing up straight. "Where's Dan staying?" Roxy asked again, Rolling her eyes a Ronnie, "erm...i'm not sure really, she stayed at mine last night, but i'm not sure if she's staying again or wants to go back to Stacey's" Ronnie replied sighing, she just wanted her daughter to stay with her. "Has she mentioned wanting to go back to Stacey's?" Roxy asked adjusting her top to reveal more of her chest. "Well no, but she hasn't said she wanted to stay either" Ronnie answered fidgeting with her hands. "Well she's not going to is she Ron, knowing Danielle she'll be too nervous to ask you if she can stay incase you say no, so she'll wait for you to ask her" Roxy said smiling, turning away to serve a customer. "But that's just it Rox i don't know her. Thanks Rox, i'm gonna go up" Ronnie said over to her sister, who simply smiled and nodded turning back to flirt with a group of men that sat at the end of the bar.
Ronnie slowly tip-toed up the stairs trying to make as least noise as possible. She reached the front room and pushed the door open slightly, sliding her head round the door to see Danielle sitting peacefully with a sleeping Amy in her arms, they looked so peaceful together. Ronnie watched Danielle and smiled pushing the door open further she stepped into the room causing Danielle to turn her head and smile, she raised a hand that had been softly stroking Amy's hair and placed it gently onto her lips, informing Ronnie to be quiet. Ronnie's smile spread as she pushed the door gently shut behind her, she walked over to the sofa and sat closely next to Danielle.
Danielle carefully placed Amy into Ronnie's arms trying not to disturb her and stood up leaving Ronnie looking up at her daughter confused. "I'm just going to use the bathroom" Danielle mouthed at Ronnie pointing towards the door, Ronnie turned her head to watch Danielle exit the room, her eyes lay focussed on that spot for the next couple of minutes.
Ronnie returned her gaze to the baby in her arms and sat watching Amy for a minute, she loved Amy but Amy always brought sadness to Ronnie she reminded her of all the things she had missed out on with her Amy, the time she missed with Danielle. She also reminded her of her sisters betrayal with Jack, the only man she thought she could seriously ever love in her life at the moment, yet at the same time she hated him for sleeping with her sister. Ronnie carefully stood up holding Amy gently in her arms, she walked out of the front room and into Roxy's bedroom. One half of the room held a cot with toys, teddy's, nappies and baby clothes. Amy's half. The other half was Roxy's, it was hardly clean there were clothes and make-up flung everywhere. Ronnie had the sudden urge to tidy up she hated mess but resisted when she heard the toilet flush. Ronnie placed Amy gently down in her cot, tucking the blanket around her small body. She gently ran her hand across her niece's cheek, smiling down at her she stood up and walked away, pulling the door shut behind her, leaving Amy alone in the bedroom.
Danielle entered the front room again, finding it empty, 'where were Ronnie and Amy?' Danielle questioned in her head. Straight away her thoughts were answered as Ronnie softly placed both hands on Danielle's shoulders from behind and kissed the top of her hair. Danielle smiled to herself walking slowly towards the sofa. She stopped infront of it, as Ronnie removed her warm hands from Danielle's shoulders. Ronnie sat roughly in the middle and patted the seat next to her signing for Danielle to sit down. Danielle gladly accepted the invitation and sat down close to Ronnie leaning her head on her mothers shoulder taking in the scent of her perfume. Ronnie lifted her arm carefully trying not to let Danielle's head fall and wrapped it lovingly around Danielle's shoulder, pulling her in close, as Danielle pressed her head gently against Ronnie's chest.
The two could have sat there for ever. All they needed at that moment was there with each other. Ronnie still felt like it was a dream, she didn't think it was possible that she could be so happy, she didn't feel as if she deserved it after everything that had happened in the past. And Danielle was still coming to terms with the confidence and strength she had discovered in herself, the side Ronnie brought out in her. The comfortable silence was broken by the sound of Ronnie's voice "Dani, sweetie, you remember yesterday when i said you could stay the night?" Ronnie asked nervously not knowing how to approach the topic of sleeping arrangements with Danielle. Danielle's body tensed up, she moved slowly away from Ronnie sitting up straight, her lip quivered slightly as she spoke "you...you...erm...you want me to leave?" she stated nervously not sure herself whether it was a question or a statement. Ronnie smiled and placed a hand on Danielle's cheek "No no of course not sweetie. I wouldn't ever ask you to leave. Erm...i was wondering maybe you might stay...i wasn't sure if you'd want to go back to Stacey's" Ronnie answered nervously. How could Danielle think she wanted her to leave?
Danielle's face lit up, this was the smile to die for. "I'd love to stay, i mean if your sure" Danielle answered smiling brightly. "Of course i'm sure, i wouldn't love anything more" Ronnie informed Danielle pulling her into a tight embrace. Mother and daughter sat there once again in each others arms.
Hey :D thanks to everyone who has previously reviewed, your reviews mean a lot to me. i hope you like this chapter please please Read and Review :D
couple of things firstly I'd like this to dedicate this chapter to Samantha Womack, my thoughts are with you and your family at such a difficult time.
Secondly i'm sooo sorry for the gap between updates, my computer is driving me mad, i have the dreaded blue screen so my computer wont let me acess normal mode so i'm having to type this up in safe mode, which doesnt have half the stuff normal does :S i havent got a clue what to do so i'm sorry if my updates are a little bit behind for the next couple of weeks i will try my best to update when i can. i did promise myself i'd do a double update for passing my gcse's but that may not happen yet :( sorry again and sorry for the longgg boring comment. please review :D
