The Backbone

Chapter 8

Edna's POV

After my date with Andy last night and he dropped me back home I walked in and saw dad sitting on papas lap like he used to at home but I haven't seen it here for ages and I relax as that means that dad and papa are ok because if they weren't dad would not be sitting in papa lap and he also wouldn't hide his face in papas chest. They are so sweet together, but I want to talk to Uncle Tim, but I can't as he has Uncle Ant in his lap. Maybe tomorrow we have the day off and I was actually going to see if papa can take me for a driving lesson so I might speak to Uncle Tim first then I will see if papa can take me for the driving lesson.

I walk over and kiss my entire family goodnight before I wonder upstairs to my room.

The next morning luck was on my side as I messaged papa after I woke up and he said he would take me about 10am and its 8.30am now so hopefully Uncle Tim is still here, and I can maybe talk to him alone.

I get up and wonder downstairs to Uncle Ant singing one of his songs and I walk in the kitchen to see those 2 smiling at each other. They look up when I enter the kitchen and Uncle Tim gets up and gets me a coffee then brings it over. I thank him as he knows me. I say to him "Uncle Tim can we talk for a bit this morning please as I need some advice and I know last time when I spoke to dad and papa dad said I was too young, and you helped me"? Uncle Tim looks at me and says, "for sure baby girl are you ok"? I nod my head and say, "yes I am just something that Andy asked me last night". Uncle Ant walks over, and he hugs me and says, "baby girl you can talk to us we can maybe help you". I think for a bit and say "ok here goes last night Andy asked me to be his girlfriend but I'm afraid of this long-distance stuff and I see what you both and dad and papa went through when one goes away. I don't think I can handle that". I put my head in my hands and just cry as I didn't sleep well last night thinking about it.

Next thing I know I have 2 arms wrap around me and I look to see that's its Uncle Ant hugging me. I snuggle into his arms and he says "baby girl please don't over think this. Uncle Tim and I chose to be apart whenever we travel and it's the same for your dad and papa. I know for a fact that your dad chooses to stay at home with you when your papa goes away because for number 1, he has you and number 2 your dad hates all the stuff to do with traveling. He would rather spend time at home with us then to be surrounded by your papa's fans and all the press that we get. Number 3 and the last one we have learnt that we are both a lot stronger when the other returns same for your dad and papa. The old saying is Absence makes the heart grow fonder. So really what I am trying to say is don't worry about this long-distance thing because if you really love each other then you will work through it". I think about what he said and whether I can stand it but I'm just not sure. I am not as strong as dad and papa and Uncle Anthony and Uncle Tim. I see the tears that are shed by either one when their husband goes away.

I thank them both and Uncle Tim stops me before I go to walk out and he says, "baby girl you do what you think is right". I nod my head and say, "well I'm off I have a driving lesson with papa very shortly I will see you both when I get back". They both nod their heads and say good luck when I walk out the door.

We have the driving lesson and I talk to papa about this as well and he says the same thing as Uncle Anthony does so I say thanks papa I will take my time at thinking about this.

As we start to head back, we have stopped at the traffic lights and I was about to say something to papa when I heard a screech of brakes behind us. I don't think much of it until I hear a crash behind us, and I feel papa's arm against my chest to stop me from going forward into the steering wheel, but the jolt sends a sharp pain through my ribs. I try to breathe through it but cant and before I know it, I black out. I only hear papas voice saying baby girl please talk to me, but I can't talk to him.