Hold my hand.

~1~

[Tuesday morning.]

'C'mon baby, it's time to get ready.'
...
'Last call for Blake, you both get out of bed or I'm gonna eat your cereal.'
Blake growled from under the duvet on the old sofa bed, causing Perrie to smile. Neither her or her son were morning people. She put the bowl of cereal on the table, waiting for the boy to join her.
'I want porridge.'
Perrie sighed. 'Don't do this to me. We're already really late this morning. You like cornflakes!'
'I want toast then!' Blake crossed his arms on his chest, frowning.
'We don't have any bread, sorry buddy.'
Blake stared at Perrie for a while, before eventually giving up and starting to eat his cereal.
'We never have any bread.' The boy said with a mouthful, spilling milk down his pyjama bottoms.
Perrie stopped doing her makeup in the small bathroom to go check on him.
'I promise you I'll try to go to the shop before I pick you up from school.' She laid the boy's school uniform on the sofa, after tidying up pillows and blankets they used to sleep.
Blake quickly finished his breakfast and started to get dressed, helped by him mum. As Perrie helped him put his trousers on, she noticed something.
'Blake Johnathan Edwards!' She held the trousers up showing the little boy the rather large hole on the trousers, just below the knee. 'This is the third pair of trousers you ripped in the last two months! I can't keep on buying new ones.'
'I'm sorry, mummy, but it just happens! It's not my fault! When I play football...'
'I don't want to hear it. Maybe you shouldn't play football then.'
'That's not fair!' The boy, who was about to put his t-shirt on, threw it on the floor instead, shouting. 'I love football. How can I become a famous footballer if you don't let me play football?!'
'Bad news son, professional footballers still have to listen to what their mamas say! Now get dressed, you've got five minutes. If you're not ready, I'll take you to school in your pants. Hurry up, mummy cannot be late today.'

-Honestly Leigh, biggest meltdown ever.

Leigh-Anne laughed down the phone.

-He's five, every five years old thinks they're gonna be famous footballers one day. You're crashing his dreams, man!
-His dreams of having jam on toast for breakfast every morning will be crashed if I don't get this job.
-C'mon, you've got this. You're like... the smartest person I know! They'd be fools if they didn't give you the job.
-Smart or not, my time is very limited. I cannot find any single office that will accommodate my hours.
-What do they expect you do with your child then?!
-Pay for childcare, I don't know. I can barely afford rent at the moment, and I work three jobs. I still owe the Cowells so much money. And now I'll have to go buy Blake new bloody school trousers. Sometimes I think I'll never see a way out...
-Don't be silly, of course you will!
-Good job I've got you to make me smile. I've got to go, wish me luck.
-Good luck baby, you've got this!

Perrie got off the bus and tried to straighten her jacket as much as possible.
The bus let her just in front of the accounting office she was about to have a job interview for.
She always liked numbers. Counting, adding and multiplying always calmed her down. Funny, considering how much financial troubles she endured during the past few years.
As soon as she entered the office, she was mesmerised. Everyone looked friendly and smiled at her. The two men in charge of holding the interviews immediately greeted her and invited her into their office.
Perrie always had the ability to think quickly on her feet and was very well spoken, so answered every question with ease.
'Miss Edwards, I think I can speak for my colleague as well when I say that I'm genuinely really impressed with you.'
Mr. Peters looked over to Mr. Parsons, who smiled before looking back to the papers he had in front of him. 'Yeah, I mean... you definitely pulled this off. But I'm still a bit concerned... you're 22 years old, you're a single mother and you've got no experience at all. Sorry if it sounds rude, Miss, but I'm worried about deadlines and working under pressure.'
'I can manage, Mr. Parsons. I work three jobs right now just to be able to put a roof on my son's head. And I look after him full time. Yes, of course I wouldn't be able to spend as much time in the office, but I could finish my work from home in the evenings or at weekends. I can assure you I'd give my all.'
The two men looked at each other without saying much.
'Oh c'mon Micheal!' Mr. Peters laughed at Mr. Parsons. 'Have a little faith. I've got good feelings about this young lady. I'm sure she'll prove you wrong.'
Mr. Parsons smiled again, looking at the blonde this time. He looked straight into her eyes, making the girl blush. 'I'm sure she will.'

-I've got the job, mum!
-Oh my gosh, that's brilliant my darling! I'm so proud of you! We all are. And Blake, he's gonna be so happy!
-It's only a temporary contract. I'm on trial for three months, then they'll review it.
-It's still a very big achievement.
-Mum, are you crying?!
-I'm not crying... I just feel a bit... emotional. I miss you both lots. I wish we could be together.
-I know mum, we miss you too. And nana and grandad. But you know we can't...
-Yes, yes I know. Too risky. I just hope we'll be able to put an end to all this very soon.
-We will. Have faith. Listen, I've got to go and do some food shopping. I'll call you later with Blake. Love you, mum.
-Love you too my darling.

'Mummy!'
'Hello trouble!' Blake jumped in his mum's arms. 'Did you have a good day?'
'Yes and no.'
'Why, what happened?'
Perrie held Blake's hands and quickly run to get the bus. Once they sat down on the bus, Perrie asked Blake again about his day.
'It was good because Mrs. Thirlwall said I did good sound work.'
'Well done my baba! And why was it bad?'
'Because Thomas was laughing and he said that my trousers have holes in them because my mummy don't have any money and I don't have a daddy.'
'What did Mrs. Thirlwall say about it?'
'I didn't tell her.' Blake was now visibly upset.
'You make sure you tell her next time.' Perrie put her arm around the little boy's shoulders. 'He's just being silly. I went to buy new trousers today. And it doesn't matter if you don't have a daddy, because your mummy loves you more than a mummy and a daddy put together!'

[Good morning everyone :) first day of my week off and I'm starting it in bed with pancakes for breakfast ☀️
How are you all? :)
New content here for you and I'm so excited!
I started writing this book a while ago so I've got a lot of chapters ready and I couldn't wait to post it anymore lol
This is a bit of an introduction, that I hope leaves you all with lots of questions so that you'll read the next chapters lol
Let me know what you think ;)
Peace and love and keep safe xxx]