I'll keep you safe

Chapter 75

It was 6:30AM when Philip came down the stairs. Rachel had already been up for an hour and was completing some work on her laptop. She smiled at Philip when he entered the kitchen.

"Morning, Philip" she greeted

"Hi" he mumbled, smiling politely

"Did you sleep ok?" She asked

He nodded

"Can I make you some toast? Or a drink?" She offered

"No, I'm ok thanks"

Eddie entered the kitchen, fully dressed and yawning. He walked over to Rachel, wrapping his arms around her waist. She giggled.

"Morning, Rach" he smiled, kissing her cheek

"Coffee?" She offered, wriggling out of his embrace and switching the kettle on

"Yes please" he nodded, putting some bread in the toaster

"Philip? Are you sure you don't want anything?" Rachel checked

"No thanks, I've got to leave in a minute to get the bus to school" he confirmed

"Don't be daft! We'll drop you off!" Eddie insisted

"No, really, I don't want to impose" he argued

"Philip you're not imposing. We can drop you off, it's no problem" Rachel reassured

He nodded

"Thanks"

"But you're having some breakfast first" Rachel decided, putting two more slices of bread in the toaster

Philip didn't object this time. He sat at the table, Rachel passing him a glass of water.

"Have you heard anything from your Mum yet, Phil?" Eddie asked, buttering the toast

Philip shook his head. He'd had a blissful, worry free sleep last night, with no contact from his Mother whatsoever. It was the first good night's sleep he'd had in months.

"Don't worry Philip, I've asked her to come by the school this afternoon. We're going to sort this out" Rachel reassured, handing him the toast Eddie had just made

Philip nodded quietly. It wouldn't make a difference. His Mother didn't want him. She was going to go to Spain and leave him behind whether he liked it or not. He was better off without her, he knew that now.

At 7:30AM, Rachel, Eddie and Philip left the house and clambered into Eddie's car, making the 15 minute journey to Forest Mount Secondary School. When they got there, Philip bid them goodbye, walking through the school gates. Rachel couldn't help but notice how miserable he looked.

"He'll be fine, Rach. We'll sort it" Eddie reassured, squeezing her hand gently

Rachel nodded

They pulled out of the school, driving in the direction of Waterloo Road.

...

The morning had flown by in a blur. Before Rachel knew it, it was lunchtime and Eddie was stood in front of her with two lots of sandwiches and a big grin on his face that Rachel couldn't help but smile at.

"I thought we were eating in the canteen?" She questioned

"We were, but if Philip is staying with us again tonight, we won't get much time together. So I thought we could have lunch here" he shrugged, passing her a chicken and bacon sandwich

Rachel was about to respond, when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" She called

The door opened, revealing Bridget. Rachel smiled at her.