Millie

Chapter Forty Six- Connecting

Six weeks. It doesn't seem such a long time does it?! But I had been here in Manchester now, for that long. Six weeks, and when you are spending a lot of that time alone, it's not easy. I still had my work place at Laurelwood, and so I didn't look instantly for a job, perhaps holding out hope I wouldn't be here so long, and that Veda and I would have returned by now. We were still here though, and Veda was back at her old high school, which she didn't mind, but she didn't love either. She missed Josephine, and I know when she was here atleast, she was always texting her or calling, nearly as much as I was Wren.

Wren.

When your heart wants a person that's a million miles away, there's this ache in your chest, always, because they are so far, and all you want is them so close. There is no longing quite like that of a long distance love.

Wren and I had spent more time talking recently than we ever did before, and if anything, for our relationship, this boost in communication, it was good for us. We only had conversation, and so we communicated openly and deeply, and made a hundred plans of what we would do when we finally came back together. I grew to feel thankful that we had this time, to tentatively discover each other over phone and text, with nothing physical getting in the way. I yearned now though, after so long, for her touch. I wanted to kiss her, to hold her, to make love to her, and I didn't know how I would ever let her go again, and so I made a promise to myself that after this period of distance was done, we would never be parted again.

Not ever.

Veda came over every Friday still on the weekly, and Charlie had come Saturdays the last three weeks for dinner together, before he took her home.

Charlie, my little brother, a guy who under any other circumstances, would get on with me famously. He was good people. Under these circumstances though, we still kept each other at arms length. Every now and again we seemed to forget we locked horns in mediation, and instead we would find ourselves laughing at Veda together, or sharing stories of our lives.

Wren was due with her family at the weekend, and I took that moment to invite Charlie and his Gramma for an actual home cooked dinner. Not a takeout. Allie had told me she would be cooking a dinner for everyone on Saturday, and that I should invite them. I did. He surprised me, by saying yes. He didn't think his Gramma would come though since she wouldn't cope with the amount of people anymore. It was important to Veda he come though. I think she had a lot to do with his decision to attend, because she had not stopped telling him about the Jamesons, and the Nomikos family. She missed them, as much as I did, and he could see it, we both could. In Charlies absence, Veda had made new connections, and grown to love, and be loved, by others that she had now claimed as family. Her chosen family.

With so much time on my hands now, I had been grateful to my Mother when a delivery arrived one afternoon for me. The box was long and heavy. The delivery guy set it down on the kitchen island for me.

"Thanks" I told him as he went back through the front door and I closed it.

Norman jumped up onto a stool beside it to inspect it with me "I don't think it's for you" I told him, rubbing behind his ears.

I found a pair of scissors and cut it open on one end. The moment I saw the metal, and the jagged sharp edges, my heart began to sing.

A chainsaw.

There was a note from my Mother inside the box.

Millicent,

Don't kill anyone! And be careful, no running with it ; )

I love you darling. Look forward to seeing you soon. Will call you Thursday night. Send Veda my love.

Mom x