From across the hallway

Part 10

Missy sighed, staring out of the window...

Snow had begun to drift across the city, barely enough to make a light dusting on the sidewalk, but nevertheless, snow was still snow, and Emily was transfixed by it.

Anything that couldn't take the little girl's mind off Wade was a blessing..

Wade had unfortunately broken his promise...and had not returned that night with Christmas decorations for them ...neither Missy nor Emily heard from him the following day...

Missy had wanted to swallow her pride and send him a text, even going so far as to pick her phone up, her fingers hovering over Wade's number, but she had quickly placed her cell down again.

Perhaps he was just like the rest of them...

Missy had worried at her lip as Emily had asked about him...wondering where he had got to.

"Waydee pwomis?" the toddler had said in a slurred voice, titling her head up at Missy.

In Emily's eyes a promise had been a promise. And to let her down like that....yes, he was definitely just like the others.

It was now Monday evening, around a day and a half since they had seen or heard from their neighbour.

"Snaw," said Emily, who had crawled up onto the back of the couch to watch the white whispy-flakes drift by the window.

Missy smiled gently, nodding and toying with Emily's tufty brown hair which was today tied up with a bright red bow.

"Yeah, snow, baby," she said in a soft voice.

"Ca we see Waydee?" asked the little girl after what was barely a beat, peering up at Missy with wide green eyes.

Missy gave a gulp.

This was why it was always just the two of them...other people only let them down........broke their hearts...

"I don't know, sweetie," murmured Missy, trying to desperately think of a way to change the subject.

A promise was a promise, in her eyes too.

"Listen...how about we get you in the bath and ready for bed, ok?" smiled Missy, picking Emily up into her arms, with a slight groan. "You can wear your new Rudolph jammies your Great Aunt Leslie sent up for you, yeah?"

Emily nodded, chewing on her finger as Missy carried her into the bathroom.

Missy, having bathed Emily in a tonne of bubbles and read her a story before she drifted off, walked into the kitchen.

She hadn't even had a chance to change from work, still in her navy pencil skirt and pale blue blouse. But her high-heels had long been kicked off. So now Missy padded across the tiled floor on bare-feet, grabbing a mug, and flicking on the kettle.

All she wanted now, was a hot drink and her own bed.

But before the kettle had even had a chance to boil, there came a sudden gentle knock on the front door.

Missy froze momentarily, not knowing whether she had been hearing things. It was only 7.30 but Missy never had visitors.

It was only one person it was likely to be and Missy was still angry with him. After all, he had let Emily down. Broken a promise to her.

That was all Missy was angry about...of course it was...

She scowled, storming through into the living room and out into the hallway, before tugging the front-door swiftly open. But her angry expression faltered slightly as she saw what was on the other side...