I Loved You | CHONI |

Six

Toni helped Cheryl get the twins into the car that evening, Phoenix had stopped being sick a couple of hours ago so his parents hoped he was over the worse of it.

'Bye I love you both' Toni smiled as she shut the car door before looking up at Cheryl.

'Thank you again Cheryl for coming to the rescue' Toni said.

'It's fine Toni, you can keep that bottle anyway I've got plenty at home. Thank you for breakfast and welcoming me into your home' Cheryl said as she reached for her car door.

'Anytime. Would you mind keeping me updated on how he's doing?' Toni asked.

'Of course' Cheryl nodded with a smile.

'Thank you, I'll see you around' Toni said taking a step back.

'See you' Cheryl smiled before stepping into her car.

Toni waved as she watched them drive away, her new home feeling even lonelier than it did when she first moved in.

***

'So how's he doing now?' Sweet Pea asked as he watched Toni throw a dart at the dart board in the dim light of the Whyte Wyrm.

'Well Cheryl texted me about an hour ago saying that she'd managed to get him to sleep but only in her bed and that he hadn't been sick again' Toni answered as she switched places with her friend.

'That's good then, hopefully he'll be much better tomorrow' Sweet Pea patted her shoulder.

'I hope so' Toni nodded as she watched Sweet Pea get into position.

'So, how is Cheryl? I haven't checked in for a couple of weeks' Sweet Pea asked.

'She actually seemed pretty relaxed, I mean it was awkward at first but that didn't last long' Toni said trying to keep her voice even and not hopeful.

'Thats great, even if just for Aaliyah's and Phoenix's sake. They deserve to have two parents that get along' Sweet Pea said as he threw his dart.

'They do' Toni agreed.

***

Cheryl spent Saturday night laid in bed watching television with her son sleeping soundly beside her.

She always comforts her children when they are ill or just need it, a kindness her parents never showed her.

As she ran her fingers through his curly red hair she thought about her day with the twins mother.

It had been so easy, so natural just like it used to be before the arguments and coldness towards each other, she missed Toni as much as she did on the night she kicked her out.

She wouldn't admit it to anyone but she missed her wife and her family being together and today just made it harder even if she did enjoy it.

As she snuggled down into bed, still wearing the T-shirt Toni had given her this morning she heard her phone ping.

With a small sigh she carefully sat back up and reached onto her nightstand to grab her phone forgetting that Raven had texted her this morning.

Raven
Hi how are you this morning?

Raven
Hey, is everything good?

Cheryl
Hi Raven, sorry for the late reply. My son hasn't been well today so I've been a little busy.

Raven
You don't have to apologise for being a mom, I just wasn't sure if I scared you off. I hope he's okay?

Cheryl sat up a little straighter, Raven was nice and she seemed to understand that she was a mom before anything else.