Clive glanced in his rear view mirror at his daughter strapped in her car seat. The radio was on and playing a song she knew. She was singing along as only a three year old could, painfully out of tune in places, a little like her mother when she sang, but Clive loved every note.
"Livvy?" said Clive once the song had finished and Olivia was looking at the world passing by her window.
"Yes Daddy," she replied, her attention now on her father.
"We're going to have to be really good for the next couple of days," he informed his daughter. "Mummy has a really difficult case ahead of her and she's going to be working really hard. It would really help her to know we were behaving,".
"Ok Daddy. I be really good, I promise,".
"I'll be moving in to help look after you. Is that OK?" He asked and he saw her nod in the mirror relieved to see she looked happy at that idea. "We need to look after Mummy as well, as she is always looking after us. I think we should cook her dinner and make sure your bedroom is nice and tidy all the time. What do you think?"
"Ok Daddy," she said again. "But my room is always tidy," she argued to which Clive smiled.
"Well we'll make sure it's extra tidy ok?"
"Ok," she agreed and started looking out the car window again. A thought struck her though and she turned back. "Daddy where you going to sleep? We only have two beds," she pointed out.
"With Mummy like last night," he replied looking once again in the mirror.
"Like Ruby's Mummy and Daddy?" She questioned. Ruby was her best friend at nursery.
"Yes. Is that ok?"
"Uh huh. Just remember your pyjamas this time Daddy!" She instructed.
"Good point Livvy. They'll be the first thing I pack,".
A little later and Martha was arriving at Shoe Lane. She felt exhausted and was not looking forward to her day ahead. She picked up on the sombre mood in the clerks room as soon as she entered. "Morning Miss," greeted Billy who looked as tired as her.
"Morning. What time am I in court?" She asked.
"Not 'til 11. Will Mr Reader have joined us by then?".
Martha narrowed her eyes at Billy. "He's dropping Liv off at nursery before an appointment at the CPS. He's asking them not to send him to Manchester because he needs to be here for David's trial. He'll be along after that," she explained.
"WHAT!" Spat Harriet. This was the first she had heard about Clive's change of plans, and she was furious. "Why would he risk ruining his career by deciding to do something that stupid?" She asked no-one in particular.
"I'm sure Alan would love to know that you think defending his son is a stupid thing to do," Billy retorted, wiggling his fingers so they looked like speech marks as he said the word 'stupid'.
"Has that CCTV footage of David in the protest arrived yet?". Martha asked, deciding to ignore Harriet's comment altogether and halt any argument developing between Billy and Harriet. Billy instantly handed her the DVD. "I'll be in my office," she finished before heading back to her office.
She was reviewing the DVD when Clive finally arrived. She looked up as she heard the office door open. "Well?" Was her single word question but Clive knew what she was talking about.
"No problem. I'm all yours," Clive revealed as he headed over to Martha's desk to see what she was looking at on her laptop. Once behind her, he leant down so his chin was almost resting on her left shoulder. Martha was greatly relieved knowing he would be staying in London. "I spoke to Liv on the way to nursery as well. She's ok with me moving in as long as I remember my pyjamas apparently," to which Martha smiled. "I can move in tonight if you want," he whispered in her ear. Martha nodded in agreement.
"Not interrupting anything am I?" Asked Billy as he entered the office with David's bail application.
"Billy," warned Martha again.
"Sorry," apologised Billy. "I'm just tired and worried about Alan and David. I'm happy for the both of you, really,".
"Do you know who I'm up against?" Asked Martha steering them back to a safer conversation.
"Hugo Milton," replied Billy looking at both barristers. They both recognised the name. This meant trouble. They both headed out the room, keen to get to the hearing. "And I'll be wanting a word with you Sir about recent developments ok?" Called Billy after them.
"Hello!" Greeted Olivia to all the clerks as Bethany led her into the clerks room. Billy looked up surprised to find it that time of day already.
"Hello Little Miss!" He greeted her in return. "Good day at nursery?"
"Uh huh," was her answer. "We did numbers and readin' and writin' and drawin'," she recounted to the adults in the room. "It was a very busy day,".
"Would you like a drink Olivia?" Asked Bethany as she helped her into the chair beside hers.
"Yes please Aunty Betney. I'm very thirsty," she replied and gave a little yawn at the same time.
"And a bit tired as well by the looks of it," commented Billy.
"I had a bad dream last night so went to sleep with Mummy," explained Olivia as Bethany placed a drink in front of her. "Thank you Aunty Betney," she said as she took a sip from the straw. "Daddy had had a bad dream too and was in Mummy's bed so it was a bit crowded," she continued completely unaware of the impact of that bit of news on her parents colleagues. "I didn't get much sleep,".
"Why don't you draw us another picture," interrupted Billy, before Olivia said anything more, or questions from the others started. "Everybody loves the one on the mantelpiece," he continued placing some paper and crayons in front of the little girl.
It was to a quiet room that Harriet entered sometime later. She noticed Olivia and made a comment. "What is she doing here? Last time I looked this was a law chambers, not a crèche,".
"How many times do I have to tell you Harriet, Shoe Lane is family," retorted Billy getting annoyed. "Miss Costello and Mr Reader are looking after Alan and David Cowdrey and we're repaying the favour. It's what family does,".
Harriet didn't answer, just sat down at her desk hitting the keys on her keyboard a little more forcefully than necessary, casting occasional glances at the child and Billy. Olivia had picked up on the tension in the atmosphere and studiously got on with her drawing, hoping the horrible lady would leave soon. She was in an upstairs office by the time Martha and Clive returned from court. Martha upset her bail app had failed, but she wasn't going to show her daughter that.
"Hey Liv," she greeted her daughter as she entered the clerks room.
"Mummy! Daddy!" She cried in joy at seeing her parents.
"Have you been good for everybody?" Martha asked as she lifted her daughter into her arms.
"Uh huh. I did some colourin'. I helped Unca Jake with some work. He dropped something heavy on his foot and said a naughty word," she recounted to her parents with a giggle. "I told him off Mummy!" She continued.
"Good girl!" Praised Martha.
"I helped Aunty Betney with the post as well. And Unca Billy was cross wiv the other lady who works here," she continued. It didn't take a genius to work out who Olivia was talking about. Harriet and Billy's relationship was rather strained at best. "She was mad I was here but Unca Billy telled her off. I don't like her Mummy," Olivia finished.
"Is she still here?" Asked Clive to the clerks, angry at what he had just heard.
"Upstairs," replied Jake.
"Excuse me," Clive said as he headed out the office keen to speak to Harriet. He was going to leave her in no doubt what he would do if he ever found out she upset his daughter again.
"Sounds like you had a busy afternoon then," Martha offered as Clive left. She had a feeling she knew what Clive was going to do.
"I'm 'xausted!" Olivia said a little melodramatically but sounding very like her Nanna to Martha's ears. She had just finished telling her mother all about her day at nursery when Clive reappeared.
"Let's go home," he simply said before taking Olivia from Martha and guiding his family out the building.
The family had made it home after stopping off to pick up a few things for Clive for the next couple of days. Martha was now at the table working on the case whilst Clive and Olivia were in the kitchen area making dinner. Clive had decided these next couple of days would be the perfect opportunity to try and instil some sort of love of cooking into his daughter. She certainly wasn't going to get that from her mother who considered it a chore and little else. He had now stood Olivia on a kitchen chair, tied an apron around her and given her small little jobs to do whilst he took care of everything else.
Martha had been trying to work but found that she was watching her daughter and Clive a lot more. She had happened to glance up at one point to see Olivia check her father wasn't paying her full attention before sticking her hand in the bowl of grated cheese in front of her and placing a handful of cheese into her mouth. Martha had also seen a couple of pieces of fruit disappear the same way at other opportune moments. She now watched as Olivia eyed up some of the garlic butter Clive had whipped up for some homemade garlic bread. Again Olivia made sure her father's attention was elsewhere before sticking a finger in the butter and scooping some up into her mouth. Martha started laughing at the look on her daughters face as she tasted the large amount of fat and garlic she had just placed in her mouth.
"What's so funny?" Clive enquired on hearing Martha laugh. Surely her work wasn't that entertaining.
"Our daughter," Martha replied. "She has been sneakily stuffing pieces of food into her mouth whenever you haven't been looking. She's just tasted the garlic butter which judging by the look on her face is quite strong,".
Clive stared at his daughter who suddenly found the kitchen top very interesting to look at.
"Have you been snacking young lady?"
Olivia gave a little nod of her head. "Sowwy Daddy," she said as she looked up to Clive with a very upset look on her face. Martha knew Clive couldn't stay annoyed with her for long when she gave him that look. Only three years old and her daughter had already mastered the art of manipulating her father. When it looked like she was going to cry Clive picked her up.
"Don't cry Liv," he soothed. "Daddy just wants to make sure you eat all your dinner when it's ready,".
"I will," she promised. "It's very yummy,". She kept her promise when it was finally time to eat.
Once the table was cleared, Martha got back to work while Clive was in charge of bath time. Picking Olivia up like a plank of wood he headed to the bathroom accompanied by the giggles of the three year old.
"Bubbles Daddy. I want lots of bubbles!" She demanded as Clive started to run the water and add the bubble bath.
"What else do you say?" Encouraged Clive.
"Please Daddy. Thank you," replied Olivia covering both bases. Martha and Clive were trying to teach her manners. Although she knew both words, she was unsure when to use each.
Whilst the water continued running he started undressing the wriggly child. With that job done he turned his attention back to the bath, making sure the water wasn't too hot and the bubbles not getting too out of control. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed his naked daughter making a run for the door.
"Where are you going, Liv?" He asked. "The bath's nearly ready,".
"I getting my bath toys, Daddy," she explained as she scampered off to her bedroom. She quickly returned with a little box of plastic toys and placed them down by her father, heading out again.
"Where are you going now?".
"Getting more toys,".
"Haven't we got enough here?" Enquired Clive looking at the packed box by his feet.
"I don't know what I feel like playing wiv," she explained returning with another box.
"Ok. Well the bath's ready now. How about you get in and I'll get anything else you might need," he bargained, anxious to actually get the bath started.
"Ok Daddy" she agreed, holding her arms up. Clive took the hint and lifted her into the bath.
From her position at her desk, Martha could hear that Olivia was enjoying her bath immensely judging by the shrieks of laughter coming from the bathroom. She didn't want to miss out on all the fun and decided she had done enough work for the night, especially as it was the start of the weekend. She headed for the bathroom and caught sight of her daughter sporting a wet Mohican, leaning towards her father who was applying a beard of bubbles to her face.
"There's a lot of laughter going on in here," she exclaimed entering the bathroom.
"Daddy's giving me a be'ed," said her daughter laughing.
"So I see," replied Martha kneeling down beside Clive at the side of the bath. They sat and watched their daughter splashing around in the bath for a while, Olivia enjoying having the attention of both her parents.
"Mummy can you find my tea set?" She asked. "We can have a tea party,".
Martha found the set of plastic cups and saucers in one of her boxes and handed one to Olivia.
"What would you like to drink, Mummy?" The three year old asked her mother.
"I'll have a cappuccino please," requested Martha. Olivia filled a cup with bubbles and handed it to her mother.
"One 'cino," said Olivia. "What would you like Daddy?"
"I'm not sure. Either the skinny macchiato with an extra shot or the soy latte," replied Clive, teasing his daughter. She just looked at him confused.
"What dat Daddy?"
"I think Daddy's teasing you Liv," explained Martha.
"You have to play popperly Daddy!" Olivia scolded her father.
"I'll have a cappuccino as well please Liv," he relented and he received a cup of bubbles in return. Once Olivia had filled a third she then took charge of the party.
"Now we have to have a conversation," she instructed.
"Why does she sound like your mother when she says that?" Asked Clive.
"She's doing that a bit at the moment. I think she must have picked up a few phrases from Mum when we stayed there,".
"Well as long as she doesn't acquire the Bolton accent," Clive teased which earned him a slap on the arm.