Fatal attraction (Waterloo road)

018

Harper had been staying with Charlee since Rachel wanted to ship her off. She hadn't seen her since and she wasn't sure she wanted to.

Harper didn't like how her mum was trying to get rid of her. She wasn't going at all. She wanted to stay in Rochdale.

Harper smiled as she looked to see Esmè as she toddled in. Charlee behind her. "Hey. Did you sleep okay? You're up before Esmè and that's rare," she said.

Harper nodded and sighed. "I couldn't sleep. Too many bad dreams. I close my eyes and all I see is Freya. And the doctors taking her from me. And I don't want that in my head," she mumbled.

Charlee sat down next to her and smiled. "I know. I know you're struggling so much right now. But it will get better. You might not think it right now. But it will get better."

"Really? It doesn't feel like it. And I'm scared that if I have another baby, it will happen again. And I'm scared. Scared that everything is going to go wrong," Harper said.

Charlee took her hand and smiled. "Trust me when I say it will definitely get better. It may take some time. But I know that it will."

"How did you know? That you wanted to be Esmè's mum?" Harper asked.

Charlee smiled. "When I left, she was so small. And I sat there in the hospital thinking, I walked away from my daughter when she needed me. And I thought about coming back sooner. But I couldn't. Which is how I know you'll be a better mummy then I ever could," she said.

***
Harper went into school. Rachel walked over to her. "I think we need to talk. I do think it's for the best you go and stay with Melissa. Get away from Rochdale for a little bit. It really will help you my love."

Harper rolled her eyes. "I'm not leaving. You can't make me. So just stop it."

Rachel sighed. "I want you to get better. And being around Esmè and the crèche won't do that."

"Just back off! You're trying to get rid of me and it's not happening!" Harper yelled as she turned and walked off.

Rachel sighed. She could see that Harper needed help. And she was going to get her help.

***
Tom smiled as Harper walked into his classroom. He looked at her. "Hey. How's it going?" He asked.

Harper shrugged. "My mum. She wants me to go and stay with my auntie. And I don't want to. I'm not going. I want to stay here. I'm with Charlee at the moment. But I don't think I can stay there for much longer. I just...I don't think she wants me around."

Tom laughed and smiled. "Your sister wants you there. Trust me. She was telling me the other day that she loves having you there. She loves you."

Harper shrugged and looked at him. "I want to be happy. And I want our baby back. But that's not going to happen. I just miss her so much. And we didn't even have her for long."

"I know. But she will always be our little girl. No matter where she is," Tom said as he took her hand.

Harper smiled and nodded. But could something beautiful emerge from what had happened to them?