Chapter 23
Freddie was one of the first ones up the next morning, he didn't sleep very well at all. His mind was too preoccupied with other things preventing him from getting a good nights sleep. Lindsey was still sleeping when he got up, he gently kissed her head and made his way downstairs. Sandy was already downstairs when he got into the kitchen, she couldn't have had much sleep either he said to himself as she came into view.
"What are you doing up so early mum?" Freddie enquired.
"I couldn't sleep, there was no point in just laying there so I came down and made myself some breakfast. Do you want any?" Sandy offered. Freddie smiled, it felt like old times to have Sandy offer to make him something to eat, it was little things like this that made him miss her when she wasn't around.
"Aw thanks mum you're a star, shove us a couple of pieces of bread in the toaster would you?" Freddie said.
"Of course, what time do you usually wake Ruby up for school?" Sandy asked as she placed some bread in the toaster.
"Usually about 8am, what are you and Elsa gunna be doing today?" Freddie asked.
"I'm going to try and get her into another school, she can't stay out of school for long" Sandy announced, she looked uneasy about something.
"Wont the school allow her back once this bullying has been sorted?" he enquired, Sandy shook her head and sighed hard.
"No, this is the third school she's been expelled from. I've had her tested for all sorts of behavioural problems and she's absolutely fine, she's just been so unsettled lately" she proclaimed.
"Is it always the same thing they're expelling her for?" he asked.
"Yes it's aggression all the time, at the last school she smashed up one of the classrooms and broke somebody's arm. I always tell myself at each new school she starts at that she'll do well but it never seems to happen" Sandy shook her head, she was at the end of her teacher with the little girl.
"Don't worry mum, we'll sort her out. She's a lovely little kid you know" Freddie smiled.
"Thanks Fred, when did you grow up into such a lovely man eh" she said.
"What's really going on mum?" Freddie said once he'd finished his food.
"What do you mean?" she asked, obviously knowing what was coming but wanted to hide it.
"You know what I'm talking about, why are you two living in that hovel" he said sternly.
"Please Freddie can we not talk about it. It's not relevant now" Sandy got up and began washing up.
Freddie got up, he picked up a tea towel and started drying up things that she had washed.
"Of course it is, I want to know what's going on. I know you're trying to hide it but believe me you aren't doing a good job at doing it" he said.
"Promise me now you wont tell the others anything, the more people that find out the more at risk me and Elsa will be" Sandy sighed, looking frightened.
"What are you talking about? At risk from what? I promise" he said in a concerned tone, wondering what he was going to hear next.
"We've been on the run from Fraser for 2 years, when Elsa was a year old he came looking for us. I took him back for a while. He started bringing people into our flat, they were often high on drugs and he would allow them to stay for weeks. They would come in at all hours making all sorts of noise. Just after Elsa turned 4 she got hold of some pills and took one thinking they were sweets. I shouldn't have left Fraser in charge, I was only gone for 3 hours. Once she was released from hospital I upped it and left. I tried bidding for somewhere else to live but the waiting lists were always too long. I bought the cabin of the guy who lives next door. He wanted a deposit of £70 and the place was ours. It didn't take me long to get hold of that money. We've been there two years, its never been ideal but it's warm and clean" Sandy announced, Freddie listened to every word. He was so shocked, he couldn't believe that Fraser had been in their lives again.
"Why didn't you call" Freddie asked, he was so shocked these were the only words he could say.
"I didn't want to worry you all, plus Fraser would have come straight here when we first left. Everyday I've lived in fear of bumping into him, I know he would never hurt us but I just don't want him in our lives ever again" Sandy began to cry once she had finished speaking. Freddie pulled her into a hug.
"He'll never come near you both ever again, You never have to go back to the cabin ever again. You can both move in here, we'll buy Elsa a new bed and she can go in with Ruby. You can have the spare room" Freddie said, Sandy smiled.
"Are you sure we wouldn't be in the way? The house is crowded enough as it is" she said.
"Of course you wouldn't be, we managed before didn't we. Don't worry mum this will be the best decision you've ever made" Freddie beamed, he was very found of the idea of permanently having Sandy and Elsa around. Soon after Lindsey came down with Ruby following closely behind.
"Morning Freddie" Lindsey chirped, kissing his cheek.
"Morning babe, morning Rubs" Freddie beamed, holding his arms out for a cuddle.
"Morning daddy" she beamed, running into his arms.
"You alright Sand? Did you sleep alright" Lindsey asked with a smile.
"Not too bad thanks, are you? Yeah perfectly thanks" Sandy excused, not wanting to go into any detail.
"I'm good thanks, ah good. You can go up to Elsa if you want?" Lindsey offered.
"I will do, thanks for looking after her last night" Sandy said smiling.
"No problem, she was ever so well behaved bless her" Lindsey announced.
"That makes a change, she's usually running riot for me" Sandy laughed, as she left the room.
Freddie explained to Lindsey everything that Sandy had told him, even though he said he wouldn't tell a soul he just had to tell Lindsey. When they first became an item Freddie made a promise that he would never keep secrets from her no matter how big or small they were.
"Will you run Ruby to school this morning Linds? I've got something to do" Freddie asked.
"Yeah of course, Do you need a hand with it? I can come and help as soon as I've been to school" Lindsey offered with a smile on her face.
"No Linds I'll be okay thank you, just meet me in The Dog at 1:30pm" he said with a smile, wishing the time would speed up so he could carry out the plan inside his head.
"Okay then, we're going on a little date are we?" Lindsey teased with a wink.
"Maybe, I haven't decided the title of it yet" Freddie added with a laugh.
"Oh Freddie you're such a tease" Lindsey made her way over to the kitchen to prepare Ruby's breakfast. Freddie lifted Ruby off of his lap and made his way over to Lindsey, putting his arms around her waist hugging her tightly from behind. She turned around kissing him softly on the lips.
Around 20 minuets later Ruby and Lindsey left the house.
"Bye daddy!" Ruby beamed as she picked up her lunch box, clutching it in her hand tightly.
"Have a good day baby" Freddie said as he kissed her head.
"I'll see you in a bit" Lindsey said, as she gave him a hug.
"Oi where's my kiss?" he put on a fake sad face.
"You only had one not half an hour ago!" Lindsey laughed, giving him a quick peck on the lips.
"Well I wanted another, I missed your lips too much" Freddie laughed.
"Oh you're so hard done by. I'll see you later" Lindsey smiled, she and Ruby then left the house.
Freddie went upstairs to get dressed, on his way he bumped into Elsa roaming around alone on the landing. Wondering what she was doing Freddie approached her.
"You okay Els?" he asked, she looked up at him with a quivering lip and tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"I can't find mummy anywhere, she promised she wouldn't leave me again" Elsa cried.
Freddie picked her up and gave her a cuddle.
"Don't cry Elsa, where's your lovely little smile? We'll find mummy don't worry. Do you want to watch a bit of TV downstairs while I go and get changed?" he soothed.
"Yes please" Elsa nodded, with a small smile.
"Come on then, once I'm ready we can go looking for her okay?" Freddie said.
"Okay" she said, he put her down and allowed her to run freely downstairs, she plonked herself down on the floor in front of the TV. Freddie put on one of the many children's channels installed onto the TV, got her a packet of crisps and a glass of squash. Once she was settled he went up and got changed. When he got down, the others were all up they were all talking to Elsa making her smile. He joined everyone in the lounge.
"Right lads I'm off out, Elsa do you want to come?" Freddie announced, Jason and Robbie were having a game on the play station. Elsa was sat on Robbie's knee watching closely at the controller he was holding in his hands.
"Alright bro, she'll be okay with us I think she's fixated on this game" Jason laughed as Elsa stared at the screen.
"Yes mate, you go. You've got a ready made baby sitter here it's called a Play station" Robbie added.
"I'm going to stay here Freddie, I'm next on the game" Elsa beamed as she noticed how near to finishing the level Robbie was.
"Okay then, have fun then wont you" Freddie said smiling.
Freddie left them all to it and sent Sandy a message:
Hey mum, where are you? Elsa was looking for you earlier. She got a bit upset but she's okay now. She's having a game on the play station with the boys. Text or call me as soon as you get this message x
While Freddie waited for a message back he went into town to buy Lindsey a small present which would tie in to the surprise he had arranged for her later on. Around 35 minuets later Freddie's phone buzzed, he quickly took it from his pocket to find he had a message from Sandy:
I've just been to a school not to far from the village, they've said they're going to take her straight away. Because it's so close to the end of the school year she doesn't have to start until September now. I'll see you when you get home x
Freddie smiled at his phone and quickly replied to her message. Now that was sorted he walked around town for a while so he could pass a bit of time on. Finally at 1pm it was time for him to begin making his way to The Dog a thing he had waited all day to do, he couldn't wait to get the ball rolling. When he eventually got to the pub it was 1:20pm, Lindsey was already sat in there with a glass of wine.
"Alright Linds?" Freddie asked as he approached her, she stood up and gave him a hug and kissed him lovingly.
"Much better now you're here, are you okay?" Lindsey smiled as she sat back down.
"I've been counting down to this all day you know. I'm great thanks. Did Ruby get off to school alright?" Freddie questioned.
"Oh Freddie I do love you, Yeah she did they're doing some woodland walk next week which should be lovely for her" Lindsey said, Freddie couldn't help but look into her eyes as she spoke, he still had to pinch himself sometimes that he was actually engaged to this beautiful woman.
"I love you more than the stars above, I bet she'll love that bless her" Freddie said.
Freddie ordered him and Lindsey a bottle of champagne, which delighted Lindsey quite a lot as it was one of her favourite things in the world. They chatted amongst themselves for a while, Lindsey was non the wiser about what was about to come her way. She just thought that Freddie had just invited her out for a few drinks before they went to pick Ruby up. Which was something they hardly ever did but when they did it was always a lovely afternoon out, they would always reminisce on their relationship. Lindsey laughing about old times and Freddie sharing his happy memories of her through the years. When they had been in the pub for a round 45 minuets was when Freddie began revealing why he had asked her to accompany him for drinks. He was nervous, he felt stupid for feeling nervous but there was no getting rid of the feeling.
"What are you doing on the 23rd of August this year?" Freddie asked, Lindsey looked at him oddly.
"I have no idea, but I do know that's the anniversary of our engagement" Lindsey said smiling.
Freddie handed her something inside of an envelope, she looked at the envelope then up at Freddie.
"What's this?" she enquired.
"Open it and find out" Freddie said smiling, he couldn't wait to see her face when she opened it.
She carefully opened it, gently lifting out the circular piece of paper:
Freddie Roscoe and Lindsey Butterfield
would like to invite you to celebrate their wedding
on Saturday the 23rd of August
at The Green Valley Hotel
RSVP 65 Christleton Terrace
Lindsey's eyes filled with tears of joy as she read the information in front of her.
"I take it you're happy" Freddie said, with a smile.
"Yes Freddie I am, I can't believe it. This is such a lovely surprise" Lindsey got up and hugged him.
"I've waited my whole life for this moment, I've waited years and years to marry you and to finally have a definite date for that day to arrive is absolutely amazing. I love you so so much and I never want to loose you. I can't wait to see you on our wedding day looking so beautiful, even if you decide to marry me dressed in a bin bag I wouldn't care" Freddie announced, at this point he had a few tears in his eyes. Lindsey smiled at what Freddie had said to her.
"I love you too Freddie, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me I'm so blessed to have such a kind hearted fiancé like you, this is me saying yes to marrying you" Lindsey beamed. Both she and Freddie shared a moment together.