It was early in the morning as Jack got out of bed and walked into the kitchen where Ronnie was pouring some coffee into a cup while stirring in a fryingpan scrambling some eggs.
Jack walked up to his wife and put his arms around her waist, pulling her close to his bare chest. Just dressed in his pyamabottoms.
- 'Morning my beautiful wife' Jack whispered in Ronnie's ears as he started kissing her neck.
- 'Morning babe' Ronnie said turning around and putting her hands around Jack's neck.
- 'So the cheeky bugger still sleeping then?' Jack asked.
- 'I guess, I heard her going to the bathroom last night, she closed the door of her room, she has been pretty quiet, I mean I didn't hear her throw up or anything like Roxy does when she's hammered' Ronnie said.
Jack sighed 'can't believe they went for the liquor again, snotty little brats!'
- 'Yeah well she's not off the hook Jack, last night I just let her go to bed cause it was still her birthday but when she gets up I'll…'Ronnie said but couldn't finish because Jack put his finger on Ronnie's lips then kissed her.
Xxx
Carol walked out of the house closing the door behind her. She looked across the square which was looking still peaceful, people at the stalls were already up and about, ready for the people to buy something off them a little later on.
She crossed the street and walked through the garden of the square. From the corner of her eye she saw something, well better, someone.
- 'Robbie?' Carol said surprised 'what are you doing out here, it's nearly 9 o'clock, thought you would be sleeping at least till noon, Whitney's still far off this world'.
Robbie didn't say much and just starred straight ahead, like she didn't even hear her aunt.
- 'Robbie?' Carol asked again walking up to her young niece and folding her arms 'what are you doing here, do Jack and Ronnie know you're outside?'
Robbie looked at her aunt' no' she said.
- 'Shouldn't you be sleeping that alcohol off?' Carol said 'what on earth are you doing here, come on go back inside before they miss you'.
Robbie stood up, she looked around, she then looked at Carol. 'I ehm…I don't know what I'm doing here either, sorry'.
- 'Well you get inside yeah, I gotta go to work' Carol said giving her niece a last glance 'you gonna be alright then?'
- 'Yeah…I guess' Robbie said and walked back to the flat. When she got to the door she leaned her back to the door and sighed, then she turned back to the door, got her keys and opened it. She walked to the front door and opened it. Ronnie was sitting at the kitchentable with Jack, they were both eating breakfast while some soft music was playing.
- 'What the..where did you come from, why aren't you in bed Robbie?' Ronnie said as she looked up when the door opened, thinking it was gonna be Glenda or Roxy walking through it, not expecting Robbie there.
- 'What were you doing outside Robbie, answer your mum!' Jack said serious, not understanding why, on this hour of the day, Robbie wasn't sleeping in her bed like any other teenager, still full on alcohol probably, but had been outside for god knows how long already.
- 'I just needed a breather' Robbie said as she wanted to walk over to her room.
- 'Excuse me, "a breather" sit down here you!' Ronnie said serious 'so where did you go?"
- 'I just sat outside, that's all, keep your hair on' Robbie said as she said down next to Ronnie, opposite Jack.
- 'You better tone down a bit' Ronnie said calmy but strict.
About last night…' Jack started.
- 'I'm grounded for life right' Robbie mumbled grabbing a piece of toast.
- 'You better believe it yes' Ronnie said while looking at Jack.
- 'Stealing drinks from the club, really Robbie?'Jack asked.
- 'Stealing?' Robbie said' it's a club, there's booze everywhere'.
- 'And you're just 16!' Ronnie said standing up 'Now you're lucky that we're gonna be at Ibiza for your christmasvacation but don't think there's gonna be any fun for you, half 9 you're in bed' Ronnie said serious making Jack look up at Ronnie knowing this was never gonna work.
- 'Very funny mum' Robbie said noticing Jack's reaction and taking advantage of it .
- 'You think I'm not serious, and you're new laptop is only gonna be used for your homework till further notice, and I hope you took a good look at that new phone cause that's the most of it you're gonna see, you're not getting that back till further notice either'.
- 'Quelle surprise, can I go to my room now?' Robbie said giving Ronnie the "I've heard this so many times before"-look.
- 'Oi stop being lippy with us!' Jack said looking serious at Robbie.
Robbie got up and walked out of the kitchen.
- 'Arghh' Ronnie grabbed her plate and stood up, Robbie's behavior frustrated her 'that big mouth of hers, even after the trouble she got herself in last night'.
- 'Morning my lovelies' Glenda said opening the door walking in on Ronnie and Jack not looking far too happy .
- 'Morning mum' Ronnie said 'can I get you some coffee?'
- 'Ehm..yes please' Glenda said noticing the tension she just walked in on immediately 'everything alright?'
- 'Robbie' Ronnie said 'that big mouth of hers, we just told her she lost all privileges to the new presents she got and she still gives us attitude'.
- 'Well, it also comes with those wonderful Mitchell-genes remember' Glenda said trying to loosen up the atmosphere in the room.
- 'Not funny mum, we're not her friends' Ronnie said looking at Jack who apparently thought different.
- 'So where is she, our little troublemaker?' Glenda asked.
- 'Her room' Ronnie said 'she just walked in from outside while we thought she was still sleeping'.
- 'What was she doing outside then?' Glenda asked.
- 'We don't know, she didn't really say anything other then that "she needed a breather" Ronnie said making it sound the way Robbie said it earlier.
- 'Do you know if she has opened my little present yet?' Glenda asked as Ronnie was handing her the cup of coffee.
- 'No, I don't think she…' Ronnie said grabbing her bag from the chair 'I guess she did, it's not inhere anymore'.
- 'So what was it?' Jack asked.
- 'Oh some memorabilia I have saved for her, something special to me' Glenda said glancing at Ronnie.
- 'Like what?' Ronnie asked, curious what could be special to her mother to give to Robbie.
- 'Oh it's ehm..'Glenda said as Robbie's bedroomdoor opened and Robbie came out.
- 'Mum where's my…oh hi mum'Robbie said as she noticed Glenda being there.
- 'Where's your what?' Ronnie asked.
- 'Morning little one, how's your head?' Glenda asked.
- 'Yeah..fine…ehm my black skinny, it's not in my room' Robbie said 'I really looked everywhere'.
- 'Maybe it's a good day to clean up that room of yours' Ronnie said 'and your skinny is in the wash by the way, gonna go to launderette today'.
- 'Ahh shucks really?' Robbie said 'thought I was the one to put my dirty laundry in the basket?'
- 'Yeah well, I figured you wanna take them with you to Ibiza so I wanna do as much laundry today' Ronnie said 'wear something else, but ehm, you're not going out today, thought we were clear on that? '
- 'So?' Robbie said 'you're saying I have to wear my pj's all day then?'
- 'Lazy Sundays in your jimmyjams are the best' Glenda said.
- 'Yeah when I have no live anymore' Robbie said walking back to her room.
- 'Well you don't cause you're grounded Robbie so put your most comfortable one on yeah' Ronnie said.
Glenda followed Robbie to her room.
- 'Did you ehm' Glenda sat down on Robbie's bed while Robbie was looking through her closet 'did you open your present, ehm the one I gave you?'
Robbie turned around to Glenda 'Yup' then went through her closet again.
- 'So what was it?' Ronnie, who had also come to Robbie;s bedroom, stood in the doorway folding her arms across her chest.
- 'It was some clothes and a letter' Robbie said 'bit to small really'. Robbie chuckled a bit.
- 'What did you buy her?' Ronnie asked looking at Glenda who was also grinning a bit at Robbie's remark 'where are they Robbie?'
- 'They're in my draw there' Robbie pointed at her bedside table. Ronnie opened it and saw the tiny babyclothes, including the babygrow she bought herself 16 years ago.
- 'Can't believe you kept those' Ronnie sat down on the bed next to Glenda 'do you also have stuff of Rox and me then? '
- 'No' Glenda said' this was the only memories of Robbie I could take with me when I left, well when you're dad ordered me to leave, I already had so many memories with you girls, I always regretted that later but at the time I didn't think I would never see you girls again up till now, I always had hope your dad would get over his anger and ask me to come home'.
Robbie sat down on her deskchair 'he was evil, I cannot believe, the way you write about him in the letter, that that's actually him, I never met that Archie Mitchell'.
- 'He turned way bitter when mum left' Ronnie said staring at the babygrow.
- 'Bitter?' Robbie said 'that almost calling him dad of the year'.
- 'Yeah well he's not here anymore alright' Glenda said'look ehm I'm making Sundaylunch, want you all upstairs round 2 yeah?'
- 'Yeah, sure mum, we'll be there, why don't you start cleaning up in here ey'Ronnie said looking at Robbie.
- 'Can I go upstairs with mum, see Ames' Robbie said obviously trying to get out of her chores.
- 'You'll see her later Robbie now get busy yeah!' Ronnie said walking out of the room.
- 'Talking about bitter' Robbie said.
- 'Better watch that mouth of yours little one and better "get busy" 'Glenda said as she stood up.
- 'Mum' Robbie said 'I ehm, the letter that was with the clothes, ehm, I never knew, well you know, never thought you were that happy with when I was born, I mean not like that, with you leaving and all'.
Glenda put her arms around Robbie 'Ofcourse I loved you as much as your sisters silly, it's cause of your father that I wasn't around you growing up, and that always will be a painful memory for me, but we're here now, and I will not leave you girls anymore, ok?'Glenda took Robbie's face in her hands 'I love you little one alright, now go get your room cleaned, we haven't forgotten about your actions of last night ok, you're still in trouble "trouble"!' Glenda kissed Robbie's forehead and then left the bedroom.