Glenda walked up the stairs of apartment 29B. She carried a big travellingbag. As she got upstairs she walked over to the livingroom where she heard some music playing.
- 'Roxy?' Glenda said surprised 'I thought you were over at the salon?'
- 'Hmm, I might pop over later I was just cleaning up in here' Roxy said wiping the kitchencounter with a cloth.
- 'I ehm, I brought my last bag upstairs, but if you rather have me back at the house I will…' Glenda said carefully, not wanting to upset Roxy.
- 'No mum ehm, it's alright, I mean I listened to Robbie's story, and I know it's a bit to much for her to just remember all that specifically so I don't think it is something you made up for her to tell me, so I'm sorry I said you brainwashed her, it was stupid cause…well I know she wouldn't go against me, I mean we have our little rows and everything but we love eachother to dead, she's always honest with me, even when I don't want her to be, she wouldn't betray me, never' Roxy said.
- 'But as for me, I could've, that is what you mean right?' Glenda asked curious.
- 'I don't know mum, you've been out of our lives for such a long time, I mean practically Robbie's whole live, she's gonna be 16 in a week or so, and here you are turning up all of a sudden, then leave and come back again, we don't know what you been up to all these years, or what you turned into for that matter' Roxy said putting one hand on her hip trying to make some sort of a statement.
- 'So what are you gonna do about Phil?' Glenda asked.
- 'I just don't know if we would just go up to him or confront him when he's not expecting it' Roxy said'I have to talk to Ron about it, we'll see, but he's definitely not gonna get away with it'.
- 'He's probably not gonna admit it that's for sure, he's gonna be blaming me for it' Glenda said sitting down at the diningtable.
- 'We'll see mum' Roxy said and started wiping the kitchencounter again.
Xxx
Back at the café Carol was bringing some breakfast over to Ronnie and Robbie's table.
- 'Thanks Carol' Ronnie said.
- 'You're alright darling?' Carol asked Robbie.
- 'Yeah thanks for last night' Robbie said taking a bite of her baconbuttie.
- 'Yeah thanks Carol' Ronnie said.
- 'So you're moving next door today then?' Carol asked.
- 'Yeah, Jack's bringing Amy over to nursery and then he'll be putting some stuff up in Robbie's room and then we'll be over there as off tonight' Ronnie said smiling.
The thought of the three of them living together brought a smile on her face, it would probably bring a little more peace and quiet, and less drama in the house. She grinned again thinking that that could only be wishful thinking with her sister, niece and mum living just upstairs.
- 'And what about…' Carol started but was interrupted when Ian called her over.
- 'Socializing with the family you can do on your own time Carol, you've got some other customers to serve!' Ian said with a smirk on his face always enjoying bossing everyone around.
- 'God how he can be related to Peter I ask you, prick' Robbie said.
- 'Robbie watch your language please! ' Ronnie said in a calm tone of voice which made Robbie understand to watch herself talking like that.
- 'I'll see you girls later yeah' Carol said smiling as she walked back to the counter again.
- 'So i finally get to spend some time with my favorite babygirl' Ronnie said glancing at Robbie who was a little distracted by the people walking in and out and keeping an eye on Ian trying to act like Donald Trump and his "empire", behind the counter thinking he was all that.
- 'He's such a joke' Robbie mumbled not even hearing what Ronnie just said.
- 'Lovey, could you pay attention please, I'm talking to you, hey' Ronnie said looking around then back at Robbie again with a questioning face.
- 'Sorry, what?' Robbie said looking at her mum.
- 'Forget it, so are you thrilled about us moving into Jack's apartment?' Ronnie asked.
- 'Yeah, I mean it's gonna be strange having Rox and mum upstairs' Robbie said 'mum is still moving in upstairs now Is she?'
- 'Yeah, for now, I don't know, but ehm, it's still one frontdoor, we actually will be still living in the same house' Ronnie said 'just a little more privacy for everyone'.
- 'What do you mean you don't know mum, is she moving out, is Roxy throwing mum out, what?' Robbie asked not liking the sound of this.
Ronnie could see that the thought of Glenda leaving was upsetting Robbie again.
- 'Calm down sweetie, I just don't know that's all, we still don't know if she…' Ronnie said a little hesitating.
- 'Don't know what, if she did it, are you kidding me mum, after I told you all about it, so…you don't believe me either then…'Robbie started to get irritated again.
- 'Robbie I'm not say….'Ronnie said trying to convince Robbie who did not let Ronnie interrupt her but kept on talking a little louder.
- 'You oh and ah when I tell you about what I heard Phil tell Shirley and you let me believe you thought I was right but what you're really saying is, is that you only believe what you want to believe yourself, you and Roxy both, oh yeah cause you're the old, wise and mighty Ronnie Branning, don't let anybody tell her what to do right!' Robbie said making people look at them 'and what are you lot looking at?'
- 'Oi, cool it, keep your voice down Robin!' Ronnie hissed while looking around at the people who were looking at them, including Ian, from his looks Ronnie could notice a little gloat on his face' where is this all coming from, I thought we could have a nice little breakfast together, just you and me, not talk about ..'.
- 'Mum, not talk about mum, no ofcourse not, cause you ….' Robbie stood up' forget it, I'm done!'
Ronnie wanted to grab Robbie's arm but let go when Robbie gave her an angry look.
- 'Sure run away again' Ronnie said softly to herself, afraid, feeling like she was loosing track on Robbie.
- 'Robbie, what's going on?' Carol asked who had been hearing the two of them argue while serving the other customers.
Robbie gave her aunt a quick look but didn't respond and just walked out the café.
']Carol walked over to Ronnie and asked what was going on between the two of them.
- 'It's about mum, Robbie told us about overhearing Phil and Shirley and we really think it was him nicking Roxy's money it's just….' Ronnie stopped when Ian walked by.
- 'Carol?' He said meaning for Carol to get up and get busy.
- 'I'm taking a break Ian alright, a well deserved break!' Carol said looking at Ian as a strict mum telling her naughty child off. Ian turned red cause of some customers laughing and walked away. Ofcourse his curiosity was so bad that he would've wanted to join Carol at Ronnie's table to hear what the whole discussion was about.
- '15 minutes Carol' Ian then said trying to convince everyone that he was in charge.
Carol just turned to Ronnie 'just what?'
- 'Mum told us that…that she and Phil had been having an affaire, I mean don't ask me how that happened, he dumped her already but ehm.. I think it's …I don't know… it made Roxy and me a little suspicious of her, maybe it wasn't just Phil alone' Ronnie said.
- 'Glenda and Phil?' Carol asked a little surprised' and now you think Glenda was in on the money-scheme too?'
- 'Well, she said Phil dumped her cause it might have been getting to hot under his feet, and Shirley knows about the money too, and mum and Shirley really can't stand eachot…' Ronnie said.
- 'You want me to talk to Glenda?' Carol asked.
- 'Believe me she's a piece of work Carol' Ronnie said' it's Robbie I'm more worried about, she ehm…she's been very defensive of mum since Jack and I've been back from France and I wonder how…well Robbie and me…'
- 'You feel left out?' Carol said straight forward looking at Ronnie's face immediately turning defensive herself.
- 'Left out, no ofcourse not, what Robbie and I have could never…Carol I don't .. Jack and I just left a couple of days and…' Ronnie said.
- 'They grew closer while you were gone?' Carol asked again.
Ronnie sighed and put her head into her hands.
- 'Honey, you think she changed how she feels about you just over the weekend?' Carol asked taking hold of Ronnie's hand 'you silly mare, why would you even think such a thing, I thought you were the self assured Ronnie Branning-Mitchell, nothing can knock you of your feet, she's your weak spot isn't she ?'
Ronnie looked up at Carol 'Yeah…i don't know Carol, she was so happy when we got back from Paris early, she told me she felt so alone while we were gone, it's just this whole thing with mum, I don't get it, maybe that's what it is, I just don't get it, I don't know what to think'.
- 'What don't you get Ronnie, that maybe she has a little place in her heart where Glenda fits in, I mean you talk like you're not allowing her to?' Carol said probably hitting the right spot.
- 'No no it's not that I don't want her to have a spot for her, I mean she's her mum too…well she gave birth to her, it's just that I don't want her to get hurt alright, Roxy and me have been there, it wasn't easy when she left us Carol, I don't want Robbie to get hurt the same way we did, I don't want her to get attached and then have her just dissapear out of her life again, this kid has been through enough already, she doesn't deserve that' Ronnie said taking a sip of her coffee.
- 'Yeah but yóu're not the one that's going to leave her now are you Ronnie, you'll be there to pick her up again if Glenda would get her upset right, Ronnie you're her mum, Robbie knows that, just give her some time with Glenda if she wants, in the end there always be you' Carol said.
Ronnie smiled while her eyes were welling up a little.
- 'Now I got to get back before Ian goes mental on me' Carol said standing up. She gave Ronnie a pad on the back 'now don't you worry about that little troublemaker of yours alright, just give her some space and she'll come back to you, they're kids, in the end they all need their mum'.
Ronnie smiled as she looked at her cup. She sighed again, instead of harassing Robbie immediately with phonecalls or texting she was going to take Carols advice and just go home and let Robbie come to her.
Xxxx
- 'Jack?' Max walked into the apartment on 29A 'Jack you here?'
Jack came walking out of the extra bedroom wearing some old t-shirt and sweating.
- 'How did you get in?' Jack asked wiping his forehead with his arm.
- 'Frontdoor was open, so what is all the sweat about bruv?' Max asked with a grin.
- 'Getting Robbie's bedroom ready so we can move in tonight, you want some coffee?' Jack asked passing his older brother and walking into the kitchen.
- 'Yes ta, so where are the girls?' Max asked sitting down on one of the barstools.
- 'Ronnie took her out for breakfast, have a little girlytime, mother/daughter chitchat you know something like that' Jack said raising his eyebrows to Max who probably knew what his brother meant having two daughters of his own.
- '' Problems?' Max asked.
- 'Well think Ronnie feels a little threatened by Glenda or something, I don't know how that works, you know the maternal thing, she is a little stressed about Robbie being really defensive of Glenda, I think Ronnie thinks she might loose Robbie to Glenda, now I doubt that will ever happen but you know women they get paranoid real quick' . Max started laughing 'just don't tell them you think that way, then you got a killer on your hand, but ehm…defensive for what?' Max asked curious.
Jack, realizing he let that one slip, smiled and said 'well I don't mean defensive but ehm, well you know all over Glenda, it happened when we were in Paris, before we went, Robbie and Glenda were getting along but Robbie was still a little cautious of her, and now Ronnie feels like she really moved in on Robbie, I don't know, women are complicated'.
- 'Tell me about it, we both are surrounded by only women, I mean I have Darren and Oscar around me, ..like I said all women' Max said' sometimes it's better to lay low and let them handle it, and be carefull when they ask you for advice, whatever answer you give Jack, 99% that it's not the answer they wanna hear, believe me bruv, I know'.
Jack smiled 'so you wanna give me a hand then maybe, I'm fixing a little desk for her, where she can do her homework on, we're gonna get her a new laptop for her birthday, then she doesn't have to use Ronnie and Roxy's anymore?'
- 'So when's that then, you're throwing her a pa…' Max said as they heard Ronnie coming in calling for Jack.
- 'We're in here darling' Jack called back.
Ronnie walked into the bedroom 'oh hi Max, oh that looks good hun, she's gonna love that'.
- 'Where is the peanut?' Jack asked giving Ronnie a kiss hello.
- 'Ehm, we had a little argument, she ran off, she'll be alright, I just let her cool down a bit' Ronnie said looking at both Jack and Max 'teenagers ey Max'.
- 'Yeah, right' Max said making faces behind Ronnie's back at Jack, reminding him of what he said before about answering when asked for opinions by women.
- 'Ehm , I'm going over next door, see if we got most of our stuff packed hun, and if bigmouth got most of her stuff together and then I'll be back, maybe we could eat some lunch yeah, you're staying for lunch then Max, you're welcome to?' Ronnie said.
- 'No, I'm just helping Jack out and then I'm off to the carlot' Max said 'but thanks Ronnie'.
Ronnie smiled at both men and then left the bedroom.