Chapter 22
As soon as it was safe Freddie loosened his grip on the girls, he couldn't believe how lucky he and the girls had been. They were physically unharmed all 3 of them, the driver on the other hand didn't seem to be okay. Passers by rushed over to the car and over to Freddie to see if everything was okay. Elsa was calling for Sandy and Ruby was clinging onto Freddie, he looked for Lindsey and Sandy but they hadn't arrived as the police had to block the road off meaning they couldn't get to the meeting point.
"Are you and the little ones okay?" A female witness asked as she approached them.
"I'm fine thanks, yeah they're just shaken up. What happened I can't understand how quick it happened" Freddie said shaking his head in disbelief.
"A car chase, they missed the bend hitting the wall. Are you sure you don't need to be checked out at the hospital just to be on the safe side? I can call an ambulance for you 3 if you want" the woman offered. Freddie and the girls didn't need medical attention, he just wanted to see Lindsey he just wanted to get as well away from the scene as possible.
"No honest we're okay honestly, I just want to get them home and see my finance, thank you though" Freddie said politely, he grabbed Ruby and Elsa's hands and began walking away.
Once away from the scene he bent down to the girls.
"Elsa, Ruby are you two okay" he soothed, hugging them both tightly.
"Where's mummy!" Elsa cried, with her hands covering her eyes.
"Daddy I'm scared" Ruby said.
"She's on her way right now I promise, don't worry Rubs everything's going to be okay" he said.
Freddie could hear Lindsey calling his and Ruby's name form the opposite end of the street towards the crash scene, he picked Ruby and Elsa up and ran around the back street in hope of getting to Lindsey and Sandy, luckily for him he saw them after a few minuets of running.
"Oh thank god!" Sandy shouted as Elsa and Freddie came into view, Freddie put the girls down and let them run to their mums.
"Oh my god Freddie! I thought I'd lost you both" Lindsey said fighting back the tears, she held Freddie tightly.
"I'm okay, we're okay. I just wanna get home if you don't mind" Freddie said, kissing both Ruby and Lindsey's head. Sandy held a sleeping Elsa safely in her arms.
"I'm going to get this one home, I'll see you all soon" Sandy said, as she gave them all a hug.
Freddie thought back to when Elsa told him about being left with somebody at night while Sandy works, Sandy was dressed like she was about to head to work pretty soon.
"You're not thinking about going to work tonight surely mum?" Freddie said, with wide eyes.
"I've got to darling, they're short staffed as it is plus I can't afford not to" Sandy sighed.
"At least let us walk you home? It's getting quite dark and I don't like the thought of you two out in the dark on your own, isn't that right Linds" Freddie offered.
"Yeah he's right, now come on we insist" Lindsey smiled. Sandy looked slightly worried.
"We'll be fine, you don't have to do that" Sandy said quickly.
"Too bad we are, plus it will be nice to see your gaff" Freddie smiled, hoping to bring her round to the idea.
"I said no alright! Just leave us alone Freddie! We've managed without you for all these years another couple wouldn't go a miss" she spat, Elsa woke up due to the shouting.
"Now look what you've done! I'll never get her settled now" Sandy sighed.
Freddie mouthed something to Lindsey, Lindsey nodded in agreement.
"Right, you're both stopping the night at ours, Elsa can sleep on the ready bed in Ruby's room and you can come and sleep in the spare room once you've finished work, I'm not taking no for answer!" Freddie announced, Sandy didn't seem too fond of the idea.
"No we can't intrude on you like that, plus Elsa isn't good with sudden change" Sandy excused.
"Stop making excuses, the others would love to see you both plus I want to make sure you're both alright" Freddie said placing his hand on Sandy's shoulder. Sandy looked at Elsa.
"What do you want to do sweetheart, go home or stay with Freddie and Lindsey" Sandy asked her.
"Stay with Freddie and Lindsey" Elsa beamed, Sandy sighed.
"There you go then, right come on lets get you both back" Freddie said smiling, he was happy that they were coming home for the night because at the back of his mind he still wasn't satisfied as to why Sandy was being so evasive over where she and Elsa lived. Freddie lead Sandy and Elsa on the 15 minute walk home, Lindsey and Ruby were of course close by. The time was nearing 7pm, Sandy was panicking as she had to be at work in 45 minuets, she worked at a different hospital to Dee Valley and had to catch a bus to get there. She explained to Freddie where she had to be.
"It's alright you go, Elsa will be fine with us. You focus on going to work okay?" Freddie said.
"Oh god Elsa's sleep kitten is at home, she wont sleep without it" Sandy fretted.
"Don't worry mum we'll get her settled, if it takes all night then we will I promise" Freddie gave Sandy a reassuring smile.
"She'll be fine honestly, now go to work as you'll be late" Lindsey said.
"You be good Elsa for Freddie and Lindsey wont you?" Sandy told Elsa, giving her a hug.
"Okay, bye mummy" Elsa walked away from Sandy and grabbed Freddie's hand.
"Come on then" Elsa beamed, causing Freddie and Lindsey to laugh.
Once Sandy had gone they all walked home, Elsa was a little hesitant to go in at first but she soon did. When they got in the house was beaming with energy. Robbie and Jason were having a game of football on the Play Station and Ziggy was cooking some food. When Freddie walked in with Elsa they all looked up in shock.
"There's somebody I would like you to meet, this is Elsa" Freddie announced.
"She's staying over tonight as Sandy's gone to work, she will come round to pick her up tomorrow" Lindsey said smiling, everyone looked at Elsa in shock.
"Wow she's like you Rob, hi Elsa" Jason said smiling widely.
"Hello" Elsa said quietly. Robbie walked out of the room, brushing past Freddie, Ruby, Lindsey and Elsa.
"I'll go sort him out, hiyah Elsa" Ziggy said as he followed Robbie upstairs. Elsa looked around wondering what she'd done to Robbie she didn't say anything but everyone could tell it had upset her little bit, The Roscoe living room had a large toy box with Ruby's name on full of toys.
"Why don't you two go and play for a few minuets hey" Lindsey beamed, Ruby ran straight to the toy box and started playing, Elsa stood where she was not knowing what to do with herself.
"Go on Elsa join Ruby" Freddie said softly, she looked up at him and slowly walked over to the toy pile on the floor.
Elsa didn't want to pick anything up, she knew they weren't hers and it appeared to Freddie that she didn't have an awful lot at home the look on her face told him that she didn't know what to do with the toys, he knew that had to change.
"Ruby why don't you show Elsa how to work your flashing microphone" Lindsey said.
Ruby walked over to Elsa and pulled her down to the carpet and began explaining in her own little way how to work the microphone. Jason pulled Lindsey and Freddie into the kitchen and began whispering.
"What on earth is going on? Why has mum suddenly come on the scene" Jason enquired, looking shocked. Lindsey looked at Freddie, wanting him to explain everything.
"Linds had a meeting at school this morning, I went to find her but she was at the shop getting something for Rubs, I walked in and mum was there talking to the headmistress Elsa has been expelled from school. I couldn't believe how close she has been to us all these years" Freddie sighed.
"How could she have been so close and not come and see non of us, where does she live?" he asked.
"That I don't know, she wouldn't let us walk her home when me and Linds offered. There's something fishy going on somewhere" Freddie informed him.
"I'll go and tell Rob and Zig what has gone on" Jason said, walking out of the room quickly.
Freddie and Lindsey walked back into the living room, telling the girls it was time to get ready for bed they both put the toys back in the toy box and approached Freddie and Lindsey at the door.
Once they were ready to go to sleep Freddie read them a story, midway through the story the girls both fell asleep. He and Lindsey tiptoed out of the room and retreated to their own.
"Why was Sandy worried about Elsa not settling? She's been as good as gold for us" Lindsey said.
"You know what mum's like she's always worrying about something. She hasn't left me a phone number so I can't get hold of her to tell her she's alright" Freddie announced, Lindsey clasped her hand over her mouth.
"You don't think she's abandoned her with us do you?" Lindsey proclaimed.
"No of course not, well I bloody well hope she hasn't, she's probably just forgotten to leave a phone number. If need be we can contact the hospital in the morning" Freddie said reassuringly.
"I'm going to get an early night today has seriously tired me out" Lindsey said with a yawn.
"Same actually, I think me and you are in need of some much needed cuddle time" Freddie winked.
Lindsey and Freddie spent the next couple of hours cuddling, Freddie didn't want to let Lindsey go but when she'd fallen asleep Freddie had a plan to leave the house and try and find out Sandy and Elsa's address. He crept out of the room and made his way downstairs, he looked in Elsa's bag to see if he could locate her expulsion letter luckily he found it at the bottom of the bag, it contained the information he needed. He put the bag back and left.
He got into his car and entered the address into the Satnav, listening carefully as the monotone voice spat out directions Freddie drove as carefully as possible so he could concentrate fully, after 15 minuets of driving he was greeted by the words 'You have reached your destination' feeling relieved he got out of the car and looked around for a relevant building which could show signs of someone actually living in, with the letter in hand Freddie opened it up and checked the address once more, he walked up to a wooden building built like a shed, he pushed the door slightly it opened after one push, he was so shocked at how easily he was able to gain access to the property, the thought of Elsa and Sandy living here killed him inside. There were two small beds inside which filled the space up quite a lot, there was a small kitchen counter with a microwave and a mini fridge close by. A toilet was situated across the other side of the room, a poxy curtain which when opened revealed a small shower and sink came into view.
Freddie couldn't imagine how they both managed to live here, he looked around for any signs of toys and games for Elsa but he found nothing, just her bed with a character duvet and the soft toy kitten which Sandy had mentioned earlier. How could a child be happy here? He thought to himself. Anger erupted inside of him as thoughts of them spending every night here for god knows how long overtook his mind, Freddie picked up Elsa's sleep kitten and slipped it into his jacket pocket and left the place, he made sure the door was tightly closed so it didn't invite any thieves. Freddie got back in his car and made his way to the hospital, he didn't care if Sandy was still at work he wanted to know the truth, why hadn't she come home when she knew she needed support? Nobody should live in the squalor that they were living in let alone his own flesh and blood. He was going to put a stop to it and quick.
He walked into the hospital and approached the reception desk to ask what department Sandy was working in, they told him that she was on home care so she could be anywhere, they wouldn't tell him where she was because of patient confidentiality but at some point in the night she would obviously enter the hospital to sign out, Freddie was going to wait for her he didn't care how long it would be. He took his phone out of his pocket for a bit of company only to find 3 missed calls and a text message from Lindsey, the last phone call was 5 minuets ago so he took his chance and phoned her back:
F- Is everything okay Linds?
L: Freddie! Where the hell are you?
F- Calm down it's okay. I'm at the hospital waiting for mum, I've been to where she and Elsa live.
L- Why didn't you wake me? I was worried sick when I woke up to you not by my side, what do you mean you've been to where they live?
F-I found Elsa's expulsion letter and it had their address on, it's broke my heart Linds seeing where they live, they aren't going back there I swear to you.
L-I've gotta go, somebody's awake. Most probably Ruby, I'll see you soon. Love you Fred.
F- Okay, I'll see you later, love you too Linds.
Once off the phone Freddie sat and waited for 3 and a half hours for Sandy to come back from being on call out all night. When she eventually came into view she was very shocked to see Freddie waiting for her.
"Freddie, what are you doing here? Is it Elsa is she sick?" Sandy panicked, rushing over to him.
"I waited for you, no no she's fine. Why didn't you come home when you could mum" Freddie said shaking his head.
"I don't know what you're talking about, me and Elsa are very happy honestly" Sandy excused, trying to again hide where they were living.
"so you're telling me you're both happy living in a small room with next to nothing inside" Freddie spat shaking his head, partly through annoyance and partly because of the thought of their home.
"How do you know where we live?" Sandy asked, looking shocked.
"I've been mum, I visited earlier. I'm not having you stay another night, you're both moving back in with us lot" Freddie proclaimed in a serious tone.
"Freddie please tell me you haven't" Sandy said in annoyed tone.
"I have, I feel awful that you've had to live in such a state, you should have called" he said.
"You shouldn't have interfered, I'm going to get Elsa right now and we're going! I don't wanna see you again am I clear!" Sandy spat and walked away from Freddie, Sandy was serious she was going to take Elsa again. Freddie quickly phoned Lindsey telling her what was going on, he then was able to catch up with Sandy to try and persuade her to change her mind.
"Please mum, don't do this again. You need help why don't you understand" Freddie said with pain in his eyes.
"We are not a charity case, we've managed there for two years" Sandy sighed.
"You're family mum, both of you. We may not have seen you for over 5 years but that doesn't mean you don't belong to us. Just come back with me and sleep on it, you look tired plus Elsa's settled and why should she be disturbed? She's only been at ours for a couple of ours but she's happy" Freddie pleaded.
"Okay, just one night then" Sandy sighed, admitting defeat. Freddie's face lit up.
"I just want to look after you both, I'm sure the others do too, come on lets get home" Freddie smiled, pulling Sandy into a hug. It felt good to hug her boy again, she had missed him so much.
When they got back, Freddie made sure Sandy was comfortable in the spare room he decided he would question her further when she got up, he needed to know the truth he realised that it wouldn't be easy to get it out of her. What was going on in Elsa and Sandy's world?