A Life Plan Without You. (22 page)

The rest of the day flew by with bakery classes. Soon Sam
would be around and make my day. I called in to collect my card
from old Alice next door and I was right she hadn’t opened it, it
was with a load of others, all addressed to me. I had a cup of tea
with her and made her a sandwich. She was so alone bless her deaf
little soul, I came after classes a lot, to look after her and tidy
up, she had a home help, but liked them to sit and talk to
her.

Mum did her shopping, and Aunty Liz took her to hospital and
doctor appointments, she was such a dear old woman, deaf as a post
and a tad scatty, but so full of tales from her days as a land girl
in the war, bloody hell she made my toes curl, with some of the
tales, I think she forgot I was still only a young girl myself. She
was married to a sailor at seventeen, one who never came back from
the war, at my age she was a widow, that broke my heart, she was so
alone, and I’m a tad soppy concerning oldies. After saying goodbye
I went to read his declaration of love and smiled, read and smiled
and cried. The others were valentines cards, I smiled at the cards
they all had a different poem or a message in them.

I waited for him, but the night came and he didn’t, I was a
little confused and a whole lot angry. I did my homework and got my
bag ready, sorted the rabbits out and went to bed. I must admit, I
didn’t get a good night’s sleep at all. College was a bust too, I
half expected him to walk behind me, but no he didn’t turn up. He
didn’t turn up at the end of day either. If he didn’t show up
tonight I would seriously have to go to his and check what was
happening. I was in major panic mode, had he had all he wanted from
me?

I did my homework, and then I decided to feed my rabbits and
whilst in there, there was a knock at the garage door.

“Hold on I’ve got Blue out and Baby isn’t behaving, I will be
two minutes, or we’ll have another load of babies I won’t want to
give up, sorry won’t be a minute. Right, done and dusted what’s the
rush?” Nobody replied, so I tried to get the door open but it was
sticking again, so I gave it a kick, and nearly took Sam’s flaming
head of his shoulders, nearly killing him in the
process.

“Oh shit, are you ok Sam?” He had a massive bunch of flowers
and was on his arse in the back yard, looking damn hot and a look
on his face was priceless, I helped him to his feet apologising as
I did and then I wasn’t sure what was coming next.

“I’m fine Michelle, these are for not coming, yesterday, sorry
but I hadn’t any way of letting you know Mum had a fall and wasn’t
well enough to be left on her own.” I smiled looking at the lovely
flowers, my favourites and so pretty.

“Is she ok, and who’s sat with her now, she isn’t alone is
she?” I kissed him before he could answer.

“That’s the other thing I need to be getting back, I left
Jimmy in charge and I have to get back.” He didn’t look too
happy.

“Tell you what please give me two minutes to finish feeding
Baby and then I’m coming to yours, here hold these.” I gave them
back to him and fed and watered her. Sam came in to look at my
babies all fourteen of them.

“Michelle what are all those ribbons for?” I smiled because
he’d noticed my prize ribbons for the bunny brigade.

“They Sam are from when I enter my babies into shows and they
win or place, all ten of my show rabbits have won prizes, these two
are champions. I‘m just a little bit proud of those two, but they
excuse the pun are at it like rabbits when they get out, I might
change his name to Sam, waddaya think? Right I’ve finished, come on
what you waiting for? Oh I need to change.” He was laughing at me
again. I grabbed his hand taking the flowers from him. “Do you mind
if we give these to your mum? Mines not having them, Dad will only
ask who’s been sending them to her again. Sam you don’t have to buy
me stuff, just explain?” I looked down I only had scruffs on,
whilst I changed, the rabbits. “Shit, I must look a right mess.” He
smiled. I hadn’t let him get a word in edgeways, something he’s
going to have to get used to, I babble, when I’m nervous, and I
wasn’t sure what Sam was hiding something, about not coming
yesterday? Did he have someone else too? No, put those thoughts
away, now.

“You will be fine, are your rabbits not going to miss you, his
names fine, Blue right? Just like the colour of my arse, it may
very well be blue too. I may have to get you to check it later. Umm
yep one day we will be at it like rabbits, that fact I find really
interesting, do I get a ribbon if I place or show?” I gave him a
playful push.

“I can always stay and spend my time with them if you want
Sam? I haven’t spent much time with them over the weekend! Umm
sorry about your bum, yep I can check it for you later, looking
forward to it. You’d absolutely win best in show angel…” I grabbed
his hand and walked him through the kitchen and started to tell mum
I was going to Sam’s. I do a quick change, and braided my hair,
grabbed a quick wash, and spray of my perfume.

“Mum, I’m off to Sam’s for a bit be back before ten.” Fingers
crossed she doesn’t argue.

“Right ok, are you walking her back Sam, I expect so. He’s
promised to have you back safely Saturday too, you’re lucky Dad has
said your safe with Sam, so just as long as you come back in one
piece, he will be fine, we are going to have to get used to the
late nights! I did tell him as requested that you’re not ten
anymore, he wasn’t happy but he seems to like you Sam, he’s asked
about and you’re alright he will be having words in private
though.”

Shit Sam is going under inspection again, what has he heard
and why would it warrant more words? Gramps perhaps? Nope he’s
asked around the pubs. I’m sure he will be fine, he’s told me he
had a past and from what I gleam he’s had sex with a fair few other
girls, perhaps he has a reputation? He was good at charming folks,
this man of mine, so no worries as long as he doesn’t lie to dad he
will be fine. I grabbed his hand and walked through the hall to the
door another bunch of flowers were on the hall table.

“Did you buy all the bloody flower shop? No wonder she’s
giving in, you’re a charmer, Samuel Todd. Did you even have enough
left for your Mum?” He shrugged his shoulders, he hadn’t thought
about it.

“Yes Missy, I just thought I’d get them for my girlfriend to
say sorry, for messing her night up. Then buttering up her Mum, for
the weekend. Which seems to have worked, what do you think your Dad
wants to have words for?” I’m not sure if I have hurt his feelings
now?

“I love the flowers so much, but I bet your Mum would love
them more? Besides, the kiss was a damn good apology. Dad says if I
go out or not and you have his seal of approval already, so not to
worry you, but it seems we were watched on Sunday, he has bloody
eyes everywhere. I need to explain the no drinking and going out
thing to you, then if you still want this to continue, it’s up to
you?”

“We were watched? Shit good job we didn’t do anything major. I
promised him to keep you safe I hope he trusts me with you?” I hold
on to his arm tightly.

“I went out just the once when I was seventeen, I was drinking
coke, as I don’t drink a lot, just with meals and the occasional
glass with my Aunt Liz and the late Aunt Lillian, whilst eating in
those posh restaurants I told you about. Well, I’m getting off the
point here angel, I was sticking to coke and a man came chatting to
me in the Night Owl? I don’t remember getting home, only waking in
the morning with a headache from hell, it turns out my drink had
been spiked and luckily for me those watchers of my Dad’s spotted
me getting into trouble and my Cousin Shane swept to my rescue and
took me home. I had to promise not to go outside of Stockton, and
if I did go in local pubs, not to drink alcohol and to keep hold of
my drink, but I never went out after that because after the pill
incident, it worried Dad too much when I even went out of the door,
well that was until you asked to take me out.

If he’s asked around about you, and he will have done, sorry
you need a security pass to date me an as I’ve never dated before
this is, oh hell sorry this is all new to him and me! He’s like me
though, don’t lie and tell him what you told me and you’ll be fine,
make the assurances he needs and tell him the truth, chances are he
already has the info he needs, he just will want your take on
things, don’t worry he would have been here if he didn’t trust you.
You said all the right things to him in your first interview, sorry
you are wondering what the hell you’ve got involved in aren’t
you?

He loved you for actually asking, his permission to date me,
fancy telling my dad I would want for nothing? Angel, he likes you,
because your allowed to take the Princess out, and that wasn’t easy
thing for him to agree to. Here give me the flowers, your brothers
laughing at you holding them, I hope Emma likes them?”

“Of course I will talk to him, I don’t want to lose you and he
needs to know you’re safe with me and you are. I don’t want anyone
hurting you, so that’s why you don’t drink? Was it bad for you, I
bet it put the fear of Christ in you didn’t it? You Mi cielo, can
have anything you want baby, I’m not going to take my eyes off you,
such a task.” He laughed as he swept me into a kiss.

“I was just hung over for days and moody as hell and I’d been
good and only drank coke and yes he did check up on who’d served
me, they confirmed I asked for and received just coke. I think the
pubs have a picture on their walls, do not serve with anything
other than coke. I am dead careful now and now I know the full
reasons why Dad panics I’m not as bolshie with him as I was. I hope
Emma likes these they are beautiful thank you for my flowers, that
I’m willingly re gifting to your mum.”

We would soon find out, we were at his door. His mum was on
the couch with her foot up. His dad, had obviously, from the smell
emanating from the chair where he was slumped, been drinking. He
was rough and unpleasant even as he slept, Andy was in the kitchen,
Sam looked embarrassed, I smiled and gave him the look, you can’t
choose your folks baby, don’t worry…

“Oh. Michelle those are lovely are they for me?” She has a
lovely smile.

“Yes Sam, got them to cheer you up, aren’t they pretty? How’s
the leg? Are you in pain? Do you need anything?” Emma holds her
arms out for them and I handed my flowers over, and quite gladly
too, I slipped a couple of cushions under her foot and
sighed.

“It needs elevating Emma, so do you need pain killers or
anything?”

“I’m fine Michelle, stop worrying these really are so nice
Sam. Are you staying for a bit Michelle?”

“Yes if that’s all right? Shall I put them in water for you?”
Sam took them from his mum, who gave him a hug, kissing his face.
“Here give them me, have you a vase?” His face was a picture, with
that, oh-all-right-you-were-right-look!

“Under the sink please. Michelle, thank you.” I got a smile
from Andy and Sam as their mother patted my hand, Andy went to make
everyone a brew. Five minutes of fifing about and they were
perfect.

“Here by the telly?” I actually would have said on the window,
but given the possibility that Sam’s dad would probably knock them
off when he returned, to the land of the living, here was the safer
option.

“Yes dear they are fine just there. Thank you, Michelle, thank
you Sam they really are beautiful.” I smiled, as he blushed, so
sweet.

“Yes they are, really lovely Sam.” He smiled at me, and then I
saw a look of horror on his face. His dad seemed to be getting his
second wind and had actually realised I was in the
house.

“Who’s this then Emma?” She looked at me, she panicked and I
saw that she flinched. What were they frightened of him
for?

“I’m Michelle, Michelle Welles pleased to meet you, and I’m
Sam’s girlfriend.” Andy brought through the drinks.

“I drink in a pub with a chap called Mick Welles?” I nodded at
him

“That would be my Father.” Andy passed his dad his
tea.

“Thanks Son, better be careful with this one Sammy.” I looked
at him shocked. “Her Dad’s got a wicked right hook and the lefts
not too bad. Be on your best behaviour with his daughter. What’s it
they call you Princess?” Sam looked at his dad in
disbelief.

“They do and it’s quite a funny nick name and not a term of
endearment Mr Todd, you do know how I got that name right?” He
grinned and looked at me with that evil look in his eye!

“My ‘Princess’ nick name is actually, ‘Fighting Princess,’ and
yes it’s on my boxing shorts! It was my Dad’s little idea of a
joke! It has though become my boxing name Mr Todd. It’s silly thing
really how I got it and quite the laugh around my Dad’s
friends!

I got it because the last guy who didn’t think I could hack it
in a real, just for men’s boxing ring, so he challenged me to a
friendly sparing session, well he took the micky of me trying to
box, tried a dirty below the belt move and when he couldn’t catch
me, because of my lightness of foot, I can move well in the ring
and he was way too slow and out of condition, he fell forward. I
landed a really good punch on the bridge of the arrogant idiot’s
nose and broke it, that done he sat and he cried and he cried
because it hurt so much, that and his pride was dented, he landed
on his stupid backside because of a fifteen year old girl, and when
I asked him did the Princess need a tissue for his poorly nose? He
got up at me and yes another punch meant I then crushed his nose
again, really badly that time too?