I hope this is ok. I've really struggled with ordering this and the next part and I've spent most of the day switching between which one would be part 3 and which one would be part 4. (I'll probably end up posting 4 later because of it!). Thank you to anyone reading this :)
Jac frowned as she awoke, aware that something didn't feel right. She could feel the warm weight nestled in her arms, and the wet patch against her chest where her daughter's tears had soaked through the material of her nightwear. It saddened her that her daughter had obviously cried throughout the rest of her sleep, even when held in the safety of her mother's arms.
Only Jac is aware of something else too and her frown deepens as she realises the bed, and her pyjama bottoms are wet through. For the first time, since she was two and a bit years old, Millie had wet the bed. She feels her daughter stir, the way she turns her head and Jac looks in to a pair of wide confused eyes as she realises she is damp, her expression turning to panic as she realises why.
"Morning sleepy" Jac whispers placing a kiss on her daughter's forehead, gently stroking away a strand of hair that has become plastered to her cheek, "we'll get you cleaned up ok?" she adds the words softly, trying to instil in her daughter that she has no need to worry, that everything is ok .
A short while later, Jac finds herself standing over the sink rinsing through sodden sheets and two sets of pyjamas before she throws them in to the washing machine in the hopes that they will emerge clean; though she has her doubts that they will.
"You're not angry are you?" Millie asks quickly, appearing at her mother's side. Jac kneels down in front of her little girl, now clad in a clean pair of pyjamas although she will soon need to put on her school uniform.
"Of course I'm not" Jac gives her daughter a small smile, trying to sound reassuring. The child doesn't look convinced, "Accidents happen Mills" Jac tries to reassure her daughter further and she watches as the child considers this.
"Only babies do that" Millie swallows hard as she says the words, her small brow furrowed.
"Not only babies Mill" Jac answers gently.
"I'm dirty mama" it's a sad quiet voice that the child uses.
"No you're not, you had a nice bath remember?" Jac tries to force a smile on to her face, "we used your favourite bubbles, and we had duckie and frog" Millie shakes her head, causing her hair to flicker in to her face. Jac pulls her daughter in to her arms, feels the child stiffen and tense against her. She tries to whisper words of reassurance to the child.
"You love me don't you mummy?" Millie asks when finally she escapes from her mother's grasp. Jac raises an eyebrow unsure by the turn in the conversation but knowing to this question there is only one answer.
"I love you more than anything" she answers, her daughter twists her lips.
"No matter what?"
"No matter what" Jac confirms, and she watches as Millie tries to comprehend this, as if she cannot quite believe the words are true, "I will love you forever and always" Jac adds.
"Would daddy have loved me forever and always?" Millie asks, with an unsure voice. Jac feels the smile on her face waver but she forces it to hold strong for her daughter.
"Your daddy loves you, forever and always" the words feel strange, she doesn't like the taste of them on her tongue. But they are words Millie needs to hear.
"I love you mama" the child whispers, still hesitant, "I love daddy too" she adds, a small smile on her face. Jac feels guilty at that, it is the first time she has ever heard those words on her daughter's lips; that she loves her daddy. The room suddenly feels claustrophobic, as if it is too small for the pair of them.
"You think you can go get ready for school?" Jac asks, needing quiet for a moment. Her daughter nods and disappears from the room, though Jac doesn't watch her go instead she places her head in her hands.
"You're not doing here any good y'know" She is startled by the sound of Liam's voice. She hadn't even realised he was awake, let alone that he had been standing in the kitchen doorway watching her, listening to her conversation with Millie.
"I don't understand" She turns to look at him, still kneeling on the floor. He steps closer towards her, until he is standing over her.
"You baby her" he thinks of the way she is with her daughter.
"She's not even six years old" she thinks of her daughter, she is still her baby even though she is growing steadily more independent, gradually learning to do things for herself and needing her mother that little bit less though she is still so very young.
"You never give consequences for her actions; you treat her like she's a baby" he is still looming over her but she starts to shift herself in to a standing position, not liking the feeling.
"I know how to look after my daughter" she tells him looking up in to his eyes. She watches as his expression changes, and he gives her a look that tells her, he isn't convinced by the statement.
"It's no wonder she acts this way" He informs he, thinking of the way the child acts and how her mother can be so blind to it.
"She's a child, Liam" Jac whispers the words, trying to make sense of what he is saying.
"And you're her mother" he tells her, an edge to his voice. She's sure there's a sentiment underwriting those words but she cannot tease it out.
"I am her mother, and I know what's right for her" she tries to sound more sure of herself than she feels. She sees the look in his eyes once more, the doubt. She tries to push it from her mind. She thinks she is a good mother, and yet the tormenting voice in the back of her head feeds on the doubt, reminding her of her failings, her mistakes. The longer it resides in her mind, the more fuel the voice has and she tries desperately to push it out.
"If you're sure" there's a bitterness to his voice, a low undertone. There's words left unspoken, though she hears them in her head. She looks past him, sees Millie standing in the kitchen doorway, an unreadable expression on her face.