Hold my hand.

~7~

[Monday.]

'But why? I want to go to the park!'
'Blake, please, just drop it. I told you already.'
Blake huffed and puffed whilst dragging his feet on the pavement.
'Please lift your feet up when you walk. We definitely have no money for new school shoes, son.'
'You always say that. Why?'
'What? That we have no money?'
'Yes.'
'Because it's the truth.'
'Are we poor then?'
'We're not poor. We're just... not rich. We need to be careful with our money, that's all.'
'Matthew's mummy and daddy get lots of money from their jobs. They're doctors. Maybe you should be a doctor.'
'Maybe I should've gone to university and become a doctor, but I had you instead.'
'Lydia's mummy and daddy have lots of money too.'
'That's because there's two of them. In our family I'm the only one working, and I can't work a lot because I've got you to look after.'
'Maybe we just need a daddy then.'
'No we don't, really. We're fine. We've got a house, we've got food and we've got warm clothes for winter. That's all that matters. Now, if you're good whilst mummy talks to Mr. and Mrs. Cowell, we can go to the park for a few minutes before dinner. And...'
Blake smiled excitedly. 'And?'
'And... you can have chips for your tea.'
'Just chips. No vegetables.'
Perrie rolled her eyes as she high-fived her son. 'Deal.'
'Mummy?'
'Yes?'
'Where is my daddy?'
'He's not here.'
'Why?'
Blake, like any other child, started to ask "why" and he was about telephone years old. Unfortunately for Perrie, he never stopped.
She always managed to swerve around having that conversation with him, but deep down knew she couldn't avoid it any longer.
The girl started to walk slightly faster. Some of it was because she was nervous talking about Blake's dad. On the other hand, she hoped that the quicker they arrived to Mrs. Cowell's house, the quicker Blake would drop the conversation.
'Because your dad did something bad and can't come and see us now.'
'Really bad? Did the police take him away?'
Perrie sighed, relieved to see the apartment materialising in front of her eyes. 'Yes.'
'See?' Blake frowned. 'I told you. You always say it's not true but I told you I remember.'
Perrie still found it hard to believe that such a young child could remember so far back. She knocked on the door.
She kneeled down to look at Blake in the eyes. 'Remember? Be good.' The girl then stood up, waiting for someone to open the door.
'Hello?'
'Oh, hi Mr. Cowell.'
'Hello, Perrie. How are you doing?'
'We're all good, thanks. You?'
'All good, apart from getting old.'
Perrie smiled nervously. 'Mr. Cowell, I really need to talk to you and your wife.'
'What is the matter, love?'
'It's about the money I owe you.'
Mrs. Cowell, who was listening from the living room, immediately joined her husband at the door. 'I already told you, Perrie, we...' but her husband immediately stopped her, asking her to listen to the girl.
'I know I still owe you lots of money and I've not been great in the past few months. But I started a new job a few weeks back, we're a bit more settled now. And I started another weekend job.' She handed the man an envelop. 'I'll get paid weekly. It's about a hundred pound per week, cash in hand. You've got my word, I'll come and drop it off every week if you want me too. And if I skip a payment or the money is not all there, you can take me to court.'
Mr. Cowell looked at his wife. The woman shook her head, taking the envelop. 'You're lucky my husband is an idiot and he still trusts you. A hundred pound, every Monday. It's your last chance, young lady.'
Perrie smiled from ear to ear hearing those words. 'I cannot thank you enough! I promise you, you won't regret it. Thank you so much.'
The couple closed the door.
'You're all smiley now, mummy.'
'Yes babe, mummy's really happy now.'
'Can we go to the park now then?'
'Just for five minutes.'
Perrie and Blake walked towards home, stopping at the little park nearby. Perrie sat on the bench, scrolling through her phone, whilst keeping an eye on Blake, who was playing on the slide with some of his school friends.
'Mrs. Thirlwall!' The children all shouted, excited to see their teacher outside of school.
'Hello everyone. I see you're all having lots of fun.'
Perrie looked at Jade from the corner of her eye, almost refusing to acknowledge her presence.
Jade, who was walking her dog, discretely walk behind the bench where Perrie was sat, trying not to get too much attention from the other parents.
'Hey.'
'Oh, hi.'
'How are you.
'I'm really good, thanks.'
'How are things with Blake?'
'He's great. I'm sure you read it in the social worker report anyway.'
Jade sighed. 'Perrie, I'm sorry.'
'But you're not, really, are you?!'
'Of course I am. I felt horrible having to go to the head master, but it's my duty. It's part of my job.'
'You could've talked to me, Jade. Me! I feel betrayed. I know we haven't really spoken in years, but still... you know everything me and Blake had to go through, there was no need for that.'
'I just thought that maybe a professional could help you and Blake sorting out things.'
'You were wrong. Our life is fine. This is the second time social services open a case about me and my child. Do you know what that means?! Probably nothing to you.'
'Perrie, I'm s...'
'Blake!' Perrie called the boy across the field. 'Say bye to your friends, it's time to go home buddy.'
Blake waved at his friends. 'Bye, Mrs. Thirlwall.'
Jade smiled at the little boy. 'Bye sweetie, see you tomorrow.'
Perrie looked at her for the first time since they started to talk. 'Keep your nose out of our businesses!'

[Hello everyone xxx how are you all doing :)
I've been really busy with work again so I've literally been eating dinner and went straight to bed this week so far lol
New chapter's here :) I didn't really read it again since writing it so apologies is it has mistakes in it 😂
Let me know what you think, as usual I love to reading all your comments xxx
Peace and love and keep safe 💞]