Steve was the first up next morning and went to see how his guests were doing. He found them still fast asleep on the sofa, at least that was what it looked like at first glance. He then became aware that Josh was awake and looked a bit worried about something.
"Morning, mate," Steve said quietly to the little boy, not wanting to wake Kate.
"Mornin," said Josh quietly.
"You ok?" Steve asked.
"I need a wee," Josh said, "but Mummy's squishing me tightly. I can't get up,".
Steve smiled. "Let's see if I can help," he said as he tried to release Josh from Kate's clutches, replacing Josh with a cushion when she eventually released her son. Now free, Josh looked expectantly at Steve and Steve realised Josh was wanting him to take him to the toilet. Taking his little hand, Steve led Josh to the bathroom. He took in the height of the toilet compared to the little boy. "Do you pee like a big boy?" Steve asked Josh, not having a clue what a three year old would do.
Josh nodded. "I have a stool at home," he told Steve, prompting Steve to look for something he could use instead. "Hurry, Steve," Josh urged him as he crossed his legs together as the desire to wee became greater. He didn't want to wet himself like a baby in front of Steve.
"Here you go, mate," Steve said as he quickly placed a box in front of the toilet. Josh climbed on to it before pulling his pyjama bottoms down. Steve lifted the seat so that it was easier for Josh to aim in to the toilet with minimal mess. When he was done, Steve helped him pull his pyjamas up before flushing the toilet.
"Now I have to wash my hands," Josh instructed.
"Well done for remembering," Steve praised as he lifted Josh up to the sink taps so he could clean himself.
"Mummy always makes me," Josh informed Steve.
"Mine did too," Steve said before he gave Josh a towel to dry himself. "Right then, breakfast?" he asked and Josh nodded.
Steve carried Josh through to the kitchen, passing a still sleeping Kate on the sofa as he did so. Making it to the kitchen, he placed Josh on a work top. "So what do you like for breakfast?" He asked the little boy.
"Rice Krispies," Josh replied. "I like listenin' to the popping sound,".
Steve didn't have the correct cereal but he had something similar. "How about Coco Pops?" He asked. Josh looked at Steve. He had no idea what Coco Pops were. "Chocolate Rice Krispies," Steve explained.
"Mummy doesn't let me have chocolate for breakfast ," Josh informed Steve correctly. He didn't know if he would get in trouble or not if he did eat them.
"I'm sure Mummy wouldn't mind this one time," Steve pointed out. "I think she would say you deserve it after what you did last night,". Kate had told him that it was Josh who had called the police. "That was a very brave thing for you to have done," Steve commended him.
"Mummy taught me how to call for help in case I ever had to," Josh informed Steve. Kate had shown him how to phone 999 just in case as soon as he was old enough to understand.
"Your Mummy is very clever," Steve told Josh before getting him a bowl of Coco Pops.
Kate awoke and found herself cuddling a cushion instead of her son. She wasn't worried however as she heard him chatting away to Steve in the kitchen. Stretching, Kate knew she had to get up and try and rescue Steve from whatever Josh was bending his ear about. Her body ached everywhere after her attack.
Slowly getting up, Kate headed to the kitchen. "Morning you two," she said as she entered.
Steve looked at Kate as she entered. The bruising from her forehead had travelled a little south giving her a black eye and the purple bruises around her neck were quite prominent, like a purple choker necklace.
"I'm having Coco Pops!" Josh informed his mother very excitedly.
"So I see," Kate said. Her son's face had chocolate all around his mouth. "You look like you're enjoying them," she observed.
"Yep," said Josh as he shovelled another spoonful in to his mouth.
"It was all I had," Steve said, getting the feeling Kate wasn't totally pleased with her son's breakfast.
"It's fine, Steve," she said. "Thank you for looking after him,".
"Mummy?" Said Josh. "Can we go to the pool today?" he asked, aware that today wasn't going to be a usual day as he wasn't going to nursery.
Kate looked at her son. She hated disappointing him but she was covered in bruises and didn't really feel like showing them off to everyone. "Maybe another day, Josh," Kate said. "I've got to go to some meetings today," she explained. After Mark's attack, Kate wanted to go see her solicitor and update her on the situation before going to the police station and giving her statement. With her undercover case it had been a while since she had spoken to her.
"OK, Mummy," Josh replied sadly, accepting his mother's excuse.
"How about the park?" Steve suggested as an alternative plan.
"Yeah!" Said Josh excitedly.
"Are you sure?" Kate asked Steve at the same time. As far as she knew Steve hadn't looked after a three year old by himself before and probably had no idea what it involved.
"It'll be fine," Steve replied confidently. He'd coped with toileting and feeding the little boy already that morning. It couldn't be that difficult.
"Can I go get changed, Mummy?" Josh asked, running out of the kitchen before Kate had chance to reply.
"Thanks," said Kate, once they were alone.
"How are you this morning?" Steve asked.
"Sore and achy," Kate replied as she walked in to Steve's arms for a hug and enjoyed Steve's closeness for a while.
"You ok going to the police by yourself?" Steve asked as he continued his hug. He felt Kate nod. "We should probably let the gaffer know what's happened as well," Steve mentioned. "Tell him we won't be in today,".
"I'll let you do that," Kate said. She had an urgent phone call to make to her solicitor which was more important. "If he asks, I'll be in tomorrow," she informed Steve as she pulled away from his arms. Time to get the day started. She poured herself some Coco Pops.
"Isn't that a bit soon?" Steve asked, concerned.
Kate caught sight of her reflection in a spoon. She could see what Steve was most likely hinting at as she saw her black eye for the first time. She touched it gently, slightly swollen and a bit tender to touch. "With a bit of make up it'll be fine," she said confidently.
"If you're sure,".
"Yes,".
"Ok, I'll tell the gaffer we're both in tomorrow. Will Josh be going to nursery?".
Kate nodded as she munched on some cereal. "I'm going to speak to the solicitor but I think I'm going to tell the nursery that it's only me or you that can pick Josh up for now,".
"Ok," Steve said. It sounded like a sensible plan for the time being. Mark had been held in the cells overnight and would be interviewed later that day. They would wait to find out if he was charged with anything before talking about access to his son.
Josh ran back in to the kitchen halting any further talk about Mark. Her son hadn't mentioned his father since the previous evening and Kate decided to do the same. If Marks name was brought up then she would talk about him to her son.
"I'm ready!" he declared exuberantly. He had got dressed in record time which Kate guessed was because he was excited to go to the park with his new friend.
"Mate, that was really quick," Steve praised the little boy. "Are you sure you're not Superman?". He was no where near ready to leave yet and realised he was going to have to do something about that.
"Hurry, Steve!" Josh urged as Steve left the kitchen.
"Hang on a minute, Josh," Kate said as she bent down to inspect her son. "Have you washed your face?" she asked. Josh nodded. He was lying. He had chocolate on the sleeve of his jumper from where he'd obviously wiped it quickly. "Done your teeth?". Josh nodded again. "Show me," she instructed. Josh's teeth were covered in chocolate. "Bathroom," she instructed, pointing to Steve's bathroom.
"But, Mummy!" Josh protested, starting to throw a tantrum as he flapped his hands about.
"Josh, the park will still be there if you arrive five minutes later than you wanted," Kate insisted as she took Josh's hand to supervise him in his ablutions. "Besides, Steve isn't ready yet. Teeth. Now. And we'll wash your face. I don't want people thinking you've been dragged up,".
