4th September, 1920
Jack and James arrived home to find Rose, Tilly and Sophia in the garden. "Hey" Jack smiled as he leant down to kiss Rose. "Hi… how did it go?" She asked "yeah, OK" Jack nodded "they're going to contact the Florida police department and see if she lives there… James thinks she does so fingers crossed. Hopefully we'll get the result he wants" he said as he sat down beside her. "I've said we'll keep him with us until we hear something" Rose nodded "Where is he now?" She frowned confused "he went in to the living room" "oh… Jack, are you sure this is what he wants? Is this because of me and how I've treated him with regards to Tilly?" She asked, feeling guilty. "No, Rose. He's been acting up since he arrived. He doesn't want to be here. He doesn't actually know us and I don't think he remembers much of when he last lived here. I don't think his abandonment issues are going to get better here, I think he needs to be with someone he really knows… it doesn't mean we can't stay in touch with him if he does end up going to live with his Grandmother. We can write to him… that might even help the relationship" he shrugged "as long as you're sure" she said, unsure herself. "I am" he said as he kissed her temple.
"What do you want to do today?" He asked "nothing, I want to stay in if that's OK? Maybe go out for tea this evening but with it being their first week at school I think they could do with a quiet weekend" she nodded "sounds good" he responded. "Are they alright?" He gestured to Tilly and Sophia. "They're fine" Rose nodded "I'm glad she feels comfortable enough to call you Dad" she smiled gently and looked at him. He smiled "me too. They've always felt like mine, ever since that day Tilly tripped and cut her arm at the party" he chuckled. "That's the only time I've ever been grateful she's been a tad upset… who knows how long it would have taken for us to find each other if it wasn't for that" Rose said, feeling guilty that she was thankful for her daughter hurting herself. "But really, you've always been more of a Dad to them than Cal ever was… they're lucky to have you" she said as she rested her head on his shoulder "not as lucky as they are to have you" he kissed her head again. "Will we tell Sophia about Cal?" He asked "I guess we'll have to" she nodded "I think Tilly will always remember him, so he may be brought up from time to time, it wouldn't be fair to keep it from Sophia and ask Tilly to keep it a secret… but Tilly see's you as her Dad, and you will be the only Dad Sophia will ever know, so I don't think it'll cause any problems at all" she nodded then sighed "I'm still waiting on him to send the divorce papers back…" "do you think he's dragging it out on purpose" he asked "probably… I'll give it another few weeks and then ask the lawyer to contact him again. He probably thinks by not signing them I will go back, but it'll never happen" she shook her head, adamantly. "Good" he kissed her gently.
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A while later, James came in to the garden and played football with Jack whilst Tilly played hopscotch… of course.
The 5 of them spent the day in the garden before it began to get cold around tea time. "Right you 2, we're going out for tea, decide between yourselves where you want to go" Rose said as she pushed the pram back in to the house. "What do you want?" James asked but Tilly shrugged, still a little intimidated by him. "Well do you like pizza or other stuff?" He asked "pizza…" she replied "we'll ask if we can go for pizza then" he shrugged as he walked in to the house, followed by Tilly. "Can we go for pizza?" He asked "is that where you want to go too, Tilly?" Jack asked and got an eager nod in response "yes please" "fab, go and get your coats" Jack and Rose looked at one another, surprised the kids had managed to make a decision together so quickly. The five of them headed out for tea and but stopped at the park before they went to the restaurant, much to Tilly's delight.