Julia Williams 3 Book Bundle

Lauren shut the door behind him and leant back against it, her heart pounding.

Joel came to pick Sam up after work, and for once he was not late. He was exhausted though; it had been a long and harrowing day as people had started to get wind of the planned cuts to services. Everyone was on edge, not just about their jobs, but about the people they were going to have to let down. Joel had heard countless stories about vulnerable people being left without services they needed that day, and it was heartbreaking to have to tell people the cuts were going to have to come from somewhere. Sadly it didn’t look like they were coming out of the Chief Executive’s salary. As usual Joel had been in a hurry that morning, which had meant that there had been no time for either him or Lauren to mention the awkward scene from the previous day. He wasn’t sure who had been more embarrassed, Lauren or him, by their last encounter, so he decided the decent thing was to pretend it hadn’t happened.

‘Has Kezzie mentioned she wants to do up the Memorial Gardens?’ he said by way of conversation, as he watched Lauren change Sam’s nappy for the last time.

‘She did say something about it,’ said Lauren. ‘There, all lovely and clean, Sammy boy.’ She tickled his tummy and he giggled. Joel felt a spasm of envy. Lauren made it look so easy, but Joel still felt out of his depth when Sam was having a tantrum. He wished more than anything that Claire was here to tell him what to do.

‘We were talking about the playground as well,’ said Joel. ‘I hadn’t realized what a state it’s in. We think we should try and get that renovated too.’

‘Now that is a good idea,’ said Lauren. ‘The kids need a proper play area. I’ll have a chat with Eileen about it next time I see her.’

‘Great,’ said Joel. He looked closely at Lauren; she seemed a bit pale and withdrawn.

‘Everything all right?’ he asked.

‘Why wouldn’t it be?’ said Lauren, though she didn’t look great. There were dark circles round her eyes and she looked tired.

‘You look a bit worn out, if you don’t mind me saying,’ said Joel. ‘If it’s anything to do with what happened yesterday, I’ve forgotten it already.’

‘Oh, that,’ said Lauren, blushing puce. ‘No it’s not that. I just haven’t slept well for the last two nights.’

‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ said Joel. ‘I imagine yesterday was a bit of a shock for you what with Troy turning up out of the blue.’

‘Ah yes, the return of my wonderful ex, no I’m probably not OK, but I just have to work out how to deal with him.’ Lauren sighed.

‘I hope you sent him packing. He doesn’t deserve you,’ then, embarrassed, ‘Sorry, I’ve probably said too much.’

Lauren gave a sad smile.

‘No, you’re right,’ she sighed. ‘It’s not as easy as that though, is it? He wants to see the girls.’

‘Don’t let him,’ said Joel. ‘Why should he suddenly arrive and expect everything to be the way he wants it?’

‘I’ve spent the last two nights lying awake thinking the same thing,’ said Lauren. ‘But despite everything he is their dad, and they have a right to know him too.’

‘But he could let them down again,’ argued Joel, thinking privately that on past performance he was bound to.

‘He says he’s changed, and that he really wants to make it up to them. What if he has turned over a new leaf, and I send him away? I couldn’t do that to the girls. They deserve a chance to get to know their dad, however useless he may be,’ Lauren said.

‘Well, I think you’re being very generous to him,’ said Joel. ‘But make sure you call the shots. I really would hate to see you hurt.’

‘I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself,’ said Lauren, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

‘Well if you need anything …’ Joel said awkwardly, picking Sam up and heading for the door.

‘… I know where you are,’ said Lauren with a half smile.

But as he got in the car, he turned to see her, looking lost and forlorn standing on the step. He had the uneasy feeling that Troy’s arrival was going to change everything for the worse.

‘So I hope you’re not going to let Troy see the girls?’

It had taken Lauren nearly a week to pluck up the courage to tell her mum that Troy had made contact, and now she was on the warpath. Their phone conversation had already lasted half an hour and was going around in ever decreasing circles. ‘When I think about what that man put you through, I could commit murder, I really could.’

‘Mum,’ warned Lauren. ‘Whatever you think of him, he is still the girls’ father. I just want to do what’s best for them.’

‘Hmpph!’ snorted her mum. ‘Letting them see Troy useless Farrell isn’t what I regard as best for them.’

‘Well, it’s not up to you, is it?’ said Lauren. ‘In fact, I’m not sure it’s up to me. I think I should explain it to the girls and see what they want to do.’

Lauren had spent the last week mulling over what to do, and she had decided this was the fairest conclusion. Troy had been ringing her incessantly all week, to the point where she’d switched off her phone, and was ignoring him. Her plan was to tell the girls at the weekend, and if they wanted to see him, invite him over.

‘So long as you don’t let him worm his way back in,’ said Mum. ‘That man is about as trustworthy as a snake. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

‘I won’t,’ said Lauren. ‘But I will let him see the girls if they want to see him. For their sakes, not his.’

She put the phone down and started to get Sam ready to go and pick the girls up from school. Maybe she should tell them now, and get it over and done with. They had to know sometime.

So on the way back from school, she suggested they go to Keef’s Café on the High Street for lunch, something she could rarely afford, but she thought the girls deserved a treat if they were going to find out about their dad. Smiling at Keith, who leant over and tickled the girls under their chins, she ordered the drinks and then went to find somewhere to sit.

‘I’ve got something special to tell you, girls,’ Lauren said, once she’d got Sam in his high chair and the twins had divested themselves of hats, coats, gloves and scarves. They perched on the high bar stools by the window, so they could see who was walking up and down the High Street, while they ate their lunch. Her lovely twins, so gorgeous, so vulnerable. Lauren hoped she was doing the right thing telling them about their dad.

‘What is it?’ asked Immie excitedly.

‘Is it good special?’ said Izzie, looking a bit anxious.

‘Of course it’s good, special,’ said Lauren smiling bravely.

‘Tell us, tell us!’ the twins were wriggling with anticipation.

‘Well,’ began Lauren, ‘you know a long time ago your daddy had to go away.’

‘We don’t have a daddy,’ said Immie.

‘Yes you do,’ said Lauren.

‘No we don’t,’ said Izzie, banging her glass down on the table. ‘He doesn’t ever see us. He never gives us presents. We don’t have a real daddy.’

Lauren swallowed hard, this was going to be more difficult than she thought.

‘You do have a daddy,’ she said. ‘I know he hasn’t seen you very much, but you do have a daddy who has always thought about you. And now he’s come back, and he really, really, wants to meet you.’

The twins looked at each other and then suspiciously at Lauren.

‘Will he bring us presents?’ said Izzie.

‘What if we don’t like him?’ said Immie.

‘I’m not sure if he’ll bring you presents,’ said Lauren, ‘but I’m sure you’ll like him. He’s your daddy and he loves you very very much.’