Sophie emerged that morning ready to deal with Sally. She had been hiding out for the last week and a half since the blow out with Ellie. But now it was getting ridiculous. If she can take stick from everyone else in the village while working at the shop then she could deal with her own mother.
Sally was sitting drinking tea in the kitchen as Sophie came in.
"Oh my god! My daughter lives! She is alive. The endless Adele marathon has come to an end" Sally started mockingly.
"Alright, come on. I deserve it. Just let it all out mum" Sophie said taking it light heartedly. She could take a little teasing, as long as that was all it is.
"No, I'm glad to see you Sophie. I know this was hard," Sally said sympathetically. Her mum offered her a seat as she got up to make her some tea. Sophie sat down and put her head in her hands. She groaned.
"Thank you mum. I know that you'd like to gloat so I appreciate you not doing so" Sophie responded accepting some tea and toast.
"Well I do feel bad for the both of you. I don't know all of the story of what happened but it was nice seeing you so happy for awhile," Sally said sitting down.
"We were" Sophie said sadly. She had gotten past her anger and reached the point where she could now grieve for the loss of her relationship. It had been nice for a while.
"Well I need you to do me a favor" Sally started. Sophie acknowledged that she would. "Meet with that poor girl and forgive her already" Sally said empathetically.
"Mum! I'm not getting back together with her! It's over," Sophie said frustratingly.
"Sophie that girl has been here everyday. Every Day. And she looks like she's going to do a harm to herself. For the sake of my nerves please just meet her for coffee" Sally pleaded.
Sophie sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Sophie, you've forgiven people for more heinous things," Sally said.
For once Sophie hated to admit that Sally was right.
She had agreed to meet Ellie in a teashop in Manchester. She had to go into town anyway to pick up some things so she might as well make the trip worthwhile. It was also outside of Weatherfield so they wouldn't be under a microscope.
"I'm so sorry Sophie. You have no idea how sorry" Ellie started near tears.
Sophie took her hand. She didn't want this to be soppy.
"I know. I know" Sophie said giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"I was just upset because you hadn't told me about her…and I convinced myself that I had every right to just write what I was feeling…and I hit send and then forgot about it…" Ellie rambled.
"It's all right. I've already forgiven you" Sophie gave her a smile. Ellie's face lit up for the first time since they had sat down. "I'm used to being exposed in the papers. It's been awhile since the Webster's were mentioned in the Gazette, like a whole two weeks," Sophie laughed.
"Does that mean?" Ellie perked up with hope. Sophie hated having to do this, but she had to be honest. She shook her head indicating a clear No. She watched as Ellie's shoulders sank. She withdrew her hand from Sophie's and sighed.
"Okay. But you need to realize something Sophie" Ellie said dejectedly.
"What?" Sophie said steeling herself.
"You'll never love anyone else as much as you love her" Ellie said looking Sophie squarely in the eyes.
"So how'd it go for your placement exams?" Chesney asked as he smoothed out his hair.
Sometimes he could be as bad as a girl, Sophie thought as she watched him. She walked over and ruffled his ginger hair laughing.
"Hey, Hey!" he protested pushing her away.
"Like Sinead cares about your hair! Whatever!" Sophie mocked him. She had agreed to baby sit for him this evening so that he could take Sinead out to Manchester for once. He was such a cheapo that this was considered a big night out. Sophie was okay with watching Joseph, since he wanted to avoid asking Katey. The two of them were in a bad place at the moment after all that had happened. Of course Sophie was a good neutral babysitter. She had no dog in this fight. The lesbian could sit on the fence like Switzerland.
And of course Sophie was free. She was back to being single and pathetic.
"I think it went well. Of course I don't know about the essays, I'll have to wait on those scores," Sophie said referring to her placement tests. She felt pretty good about how it had gone, which was surprising since she hadn't been in school for so long. Luckily she had kept her maths up working in the shop, and her English skills were okay. Essay was questionable but she still had to wait and see what her scores were. She was going to meet with Mr. Callahan next week to find out what it all meant. She also knew that she would need all the money that she could get, hence the babysitting gig.
Joseph started to cry out in a high pitch squeal from his playpen. On instinct Sophie went and reached for him. She started to cradle and rock him in a natural way that always seemed to quiet babies. Sophie was a sucker for babies and small children. She always had been. Even though Jack was only her half brother she had been drawn to him from the beginning even before they knew of his parentage. She became known for her ability deal with kids in the neighborhood with an ease. Even after the whole thing with Dev's kids and Claire Peacock. Sensible folk on the street had never believed that she had anything to do with that. She would never harm a child.
"You know Soph, you are really good with kids for a…" Chesney stopped himself.
"No finish that Chesney. Good for what?" Sophie said her voice rising.
"I just meant…" Chesney stuttered.
"For a lesbian maybe? Aye?" Sophie said irritated.
"I'm sorry, it just slipped out" Chesney said quietly. He desperately hoped that Sinead would answer the door. Right at this moment.
"Just because I'm gay, doesn't mean I don't want a family of my own Ches" Sophie pointed out.
"Yes, I know, but how will that happen without some bloke involved..." Chesney struggled. He really wished that he had just kept his gob shut. Sophie just rolled her eyes.
They both heard a knock on the door. Chesney sighed with relief. Sinead saved him. He went to open the door.
"Well you look happy to see me" Sinead smiled.
"You have no idea," Chesney said giving her a peck.
"Hey Sophie! Thanks for setting him free, this gig should be great" Sinead said gratefully. She knew that Sophie was no threat whatsoever. Especially after reading that essay in the Gazette a few weeks ago.
"Yeah well apparently you're lucky that even though I don't want a man I can somehow wipe up baby spittle," Sophie said archly. Chesney gave Sophie a humiliated look and then turned to Sinead. He yelled out thanks to Sophie and pushed Sinead out the door.
Sinead looked at him confused. "What was that about?" She asked. "I said something daft about lesbians" Chesney admitted. "Oh Chesney" Sinead sighed.
Sophie sat down with Mr. Callahan to go over her placement results. She had been very nervous that she had blown it despite what she told everyone else. If she did well on these tests then she would know her chances of being accepted into Further Education at the beginning of Winter quarter in January. It could also open the doors to scholarship money, which she so desperately needed.
As she sat down, she noted that Mr. Callahan kept a very professional demeanor. He was neither happy nor depressed when Sophie sat down in front of him. She knew that he had the results in his hands.
"Well what's the verdict?" she looked at him. He looked at her. Then down at the papers. Then at her again. Then he smiled.
"You did great Sophie. Amazing considering how long you've been out of school" he smiled.
Sophie was ecstatic. She had desperately needed this victory. Things had been so rubbish. She grinned so wide that she thought her face would break. Mr. Callahan had set up an appointment to go over her community school application, which he handed to her to fill out. She didn't even care, she was so happy.
As she walked out of the office she had to stop and take a moment to lean against a wall in the hallway to take a breath. She leaned her head back against the wall and then pumped her fist in self-congratulation.
"See I know you could do it" Sian had cheered over Skype.
"Howse that possible? I sure didn't think so," Sophie said playing it down.
"Well I wish that I could find a way show you how chuffed I am" Sian said with a wink.
"I can think of a few ways," Sophie said with a laugh.
Sian laughed. It was that sound that drove Sophie crazy. She was so excited to see her. It had been too long.
"Well unless one of us jumps on a plane, this will have to do," Sian said with a devilish glee.
She then took off her shirt and thru it over her shoulder with a laugh.
Sophie noted that Sian wasn't wearing a bra.